"Nay!" she yelled as the two men locked together in a knife fight.
Blackburn hooked his foot around Leith's ankle, knocking him down, then stabbed him in the upper chest near his shoulder.
"You bastard!" Rushing forward, Anna jabbed the dirk she held into Blackburn's back, but it hardly penetrated his tough leather armor.
He rose up, yanked the dirk from her hand and shoved her into the chamber.
A rush of terror and alarm shooting through her, she backed away from Blackburn. His eyes gleamed with triumph.
"Where is Kristina?" Anna demanded.
A sneer on his face, Blackburn bolted forward, grabbed her and shoved her against the wall. "How dare you stab me, bitch? The only reason you're alive right now is because I allowed it." He crushed his mouth against hers.
She gagged. Turning her head aside, she pushed at him but he wouldn't budge. She yanked her knee upward, smashing it into his groin.
He growled. "Damn you!" He grabbed her hair, yanked it painfully and threw her on the bed, face down.
Fury and panic consumed her. "Where is my sister, you bastard?" she yelled, kicking at him and trying to pull away, but he held her in place on the bed.
"Is this where you sleep with that Neacal whoreson?" he thundered.
"Nay! I want no man touching me!" Anna knew she had to lie, else he might kill her in a fit of jealousy.
"Then why are you in his bedchamber, slut?"
"'Tis the safest place."
Blackburn gave a humorless laugh. "Or so he thought."
Dear God, please keep Neacal and Kristina safe,she prayed. She would endure much hardship if only she could be sure they were unharmed.
"I ken where your sister is," Blackburn said. "If you'll be quiet and cooperate, I'll take you to her." He drew her hands behind her back and tied something around her wrists.
He was lying, she knew. But even the smallest chance she would see her sister stilled her actions.
"Is she all right?" Anna asked, starving for the least bit of information. "Is she in the great hall as Constance said?"
"Nay, she's outside the walls and fit as a fiddle." He gave a short laugh that made her nauseous.
"Did you hurt her in any way?"
"Nay! Now cease your questions." He clamped her legs between his, wrapped her skirts tightly around her ankles then tied them together.
She prayed her sister was well, but she knew better than to trust the word of this devil.
If only she could get to the other knife secured on her leg, but that was impossible now.
"How could you drag a blind lass across the country?" Anna asked. "What kind of monster are you?"
"The kind who wants his wife back," he muttered, wrapping his hand around her throat and breathing heavily against her ear. "If you want your sister to live, you will do everything I say. By the way, you have become very fetching of late, much prettier than when you left." He ran his hand downward and squeezed her breast. "Did you allow that scarred whoreson to bed you?"
"I already told younay. Get off me, you bastard!" She shoved backward, trying to dislodge him.
"Such unladylike language, my sweet." He laughed. "But I like it." He ground his hardened shaft against her derriere.
"Ugh." Chills of revulsion covered her. Though she struggled against him, he forced a twisted piece of material between her teeth, then tied it behind her head. While she lay on the bed, he rolled her up in the plaid blanket, covering her from head to toe.
"Now, I'm taking you home, m'lady." Blackburn threw her over his left shoulder, the hard muscle and bone jabbing into her stomach painfully, near knocking the breath from her. He carried her out into the corridor.
