Whoever it was has come back. They’ve come to finish me off. They’re here to harm me. They’re here to well and truly kill me.
“We heard someone scream,” a familiar voice came from behind Arthur. “We thought…”
Peering around Arthur’s massive form, Marissa found her entire family plus Joseph, Ayla, and Amara rushing toward them.
It was Joseph who had spoken, but now his grey eyes were raking over the scene. She watched his expression shift from one of confusion to anger as his gaze raked over the ground, spotting the dirk buried in it.
His gaze darkened with fury before it landed on Arthur. “Someone attacked her,” he said.
It wasn’t a question, but Arthur nodded anyway. His eyes fell on her once more, quickly assessing her.
“Are ye all right?” he asked, his voice filled with more worry than Marissa had ever heard it.
She nodded quickly. “Just a bit shaken, is all.”
He grunted in acknowledgment before immediately turning to his brother. Guards were rushing up behind him, their eyes frantic and on high alert.
Immediately, Arthur began barking orders to everyone around them, informing them of what had happened.
“We didnae see much,” he explained. “But he came from that direction. We need to see if we can track him.”
Joseph nodded, the men quickly falling into line beside him and Arthur.
They began walking in the direction Arthur had indicated. Before he followed after them, he turned and gave Marissa a lingering look.
She was still shaking. Wrapping her arms around herself, she released a shaky breath. Immediately, her sisters were at her side.
“Go,” she said, her voice stronger than she felt. “Find him.”
Michael and Cody stepped on either side of them.
“We’ll make sure she’s safe,” Michael said, his voice filled with protective fury.
A muscle in Arthur’s jaw ticked, but eventually, he nodded. He turned and followed after his men. With every step that he took away from her, Marissa felt a knot growing larger in her belly.
She didn’t want him to leave, she realized with a jolt. In the past few days, she’d come to feel safe around him. She’d come to trust that Arthur would do whatever was in his power to protect her.
And now, with everything that had happened just moments ago, she craved that protection more than she’d ever craved anything in her life.
Breathe. Cody and Michael have spent the last few years protectin’ ye. They can manage it for a little while longer.
A warm arm fell over her shoulders, and she turned to find Cody. He was gazing at her with concern.
“I’m all right,” she assured him, careful to make her voice sound sure and confident. “I’ll be all right.”
The look on his face told her that he didn’t believe her. But thankfully, he didn’t argue.
The small group walked back along the path, toward the courtyard where just a few moments ago, a celebration had been taking place. People still milled about, a bit unsure of what had just occurred.
The councilmen stood on the platform, speaking to concerned clansfolk as they worked to keep everyone calm.
“I’ll let them ken what happened,” Michael murmured, shooting Cody a glance. “Dinnae leave her side.”
He didn’t wait for Cody’s agreement before powering through the crowd, making his way toward the councilmen.
The small group continued on their journey, making their way around to the entrance of the castle.
Once inside, Marissa let out a long, shaky breath.
