Page 142 of Bond of a Bewitched Highlander

He twisted, jerked Elsea aside, and slashed out, though he couldn't see the hag. He barely connected.

The witch shrieked, and her scrawny naked body appeared, a cut on her side. But it hadn't stopped her. She lunged toward Elsea, a dirk in her hand. Twisting, Brodie threw himself on the ground in front of her and stabbed upward with the sword, running her through.

The witch flew backward, slammed to the dank dungeon floor, and writhed, her eyes turning dark and rolling back in her head. She screeched like a banshee.

Pulling the sword free, Brodie released a breath and rose to his knees again. He stared down at the gruesome sight of Wilona's lifeless corpse. Was she truly dead? Or could she resurrect herself? She appeared near skin and bones, her skin pasty white, her eyes and cheeks sunken. Her hair turned from red to silvery gray. An icy chill passed over him.

"Saints," he hissed and pulled Elsea to him. "Are you alright?"

"Aye."

Footfalls raced down the stone steps, and Brodie lifted the sword again.

Chapter 28

Elsea tensed as the footsteps approached. When Gavin and Torr halted at the bottom of the steps, swords in hand, Elsea sagged with relief.

Their wide gazes took in the scene.

"What the hell?" Gavin asked, lowering his sword. He pushed at the earl's facedown body with his toe. "Is he dead?"

"He should be by now. My wee warrior gutted him," Brodie said, hugging her to him.

Even though she was still shaken and nauseous at having taken at least two lives, she released a breath and relaxed into his embrace, the only place she'd wanted to be since she'd met him.

Torr's mouth hung agape as he stared at Elsea. "You did that?"

She nodded. "He was trying to kill Brodie."

"What about her?" Gavin nodded at Wilona MacRae's skeletal corpse.

"Unless her evil magic can raise her from the dead, aye," Brodie said.

"The curse?" Gavin asked in a fierce tone, his gaze darting from Wilona to Brodie and back again.

"Also dead." Brodie grinned, sounding genuinely happy, then kissed Elsea's temple. "Thanks to this bonnie lass."

When he faced forward again, she kissed his cheek and hugged him to her.

Torr and Gavin whooped, shouted, and hurried toward him and Elsea.

"Come. Let's get you out of here," Gavin said.

"The lead ball from Talnaroch's pistol grazed his skull," Elsea said. "He's lost more blood. Make sure he stays upright."

Torr helped Elsea up the steps, though she assured him she didn't need it, while Gavin helped Brodie. Aye, her legs were weak, but she would be fine. In the bailey, she walked close by Brodie in case he became dizzy.

In the middle, they stopped and surveyed the area in the early dawn light. Shock overcame her at how many of Talnaroch's men lay dead on the blood-spattered flagstones, but she was glad Brodie and his friends had defeated the knaves.

Thankfully, several men from all three allied clans milled about.

"Chief." Kenneth hastened forward and inclined his head. "Thank God you're alright!"

"Aye. Glad to see you're alive and well, too. Did we lose any men?" Brodie asked.

"Nay. Several injuries and cuts. But they'll heal."

"Thank the saints."