Clenching her teeth, she glared at him for a long moment. "I would wager you sent a missive to Gavin MacTavish about Alpin's death. I so look forward to the murderer's arrival. You will help me kill him."
"Never!" Torr yanked at the ropes again, trying his best to break them.
"We'll see." She smirked. "You'll change your tune when your wee whore's neck is on the block. I could've easily killed her last night. I had a knife at her throat while she slept. But I chose to have pity. You see, I am kind." She grinned bitterly.
A shock of fear for Cat's life detonated within him, and he thanked God her life had been spared.
"Either you will kill Gavin or your whore," Wilona proclaimed.
"You are mad!" Torr raged.
"Choose wisely, or they will both die."
Torr's arms ached from being stretched taut. Taking the rope into his hand, he focused all his strength on pulling with his right arm, the strongest, his sword arm. The damnable rope was too thick, tied too tightly. "Bitch," he growled.
"I see the hatred and lust for vengeance in your eyes. But I shall teach you that what you want means naught. I own you now." Her thin lips quirked in an icy sneer, and her eyes glinted evil.
While he remained still and rigid, his mind scrambled for an escape, a way to lash out.I will kill you. That is a promise.
"Are you thirsty?" She swung away and returned with a goblet. She tipped it to his lips. His extreme thirst overrode all else for the moment. She'd deprived him of food and drink. He drank a long swallow, and before he knew it, he'd emptied the goblet. Saints! What if the wine contained poison? The wine dribbled from his mouth and down his body.
"Oh no. You've spilled it." Her gaze turned lustful and ran over his bare chest. She touched his shoulder with a cold hand, her sharp nails digging in. Nausea latched onto him.
"Keep your hands off me, hag!"
She grabbed a handful of his hair and yanked his head back with unnatural strength.
He ground his teeth, growling his outrage at the pain in his scalp and neck.
"I told you I own you now, kelpie slave! I'll treat you as I see fit." Venom and outrage glowed dark green and poisonous in her eyes.
"Understand this, oh daughter of evil, I shall kill you! Your day will come."
She gave a mad laugh. "I'm glad you ken who I am. And violence excites me. Are you ready for your twenty lashes?" She tapped a horsewhip against her hand.
