Page 116 of A Touch So Wicked

“Elissa, obey me in this. I won’t be able to concentrate knowing you’re inside the keep. Don’t you know I love you?”

“You love me?”

“More than my life. I’ve known it for a long time but couldn’t find the words to express what’s in my heart. The thought of losing you gave me the courage to unburden my soul.”

“Oh, Damian, I love you, too, but feared you dinna return my feelings.”

“I’m sorry it took so long. Please keep yourself safe for me, love. Please go now, and take your mother and sister with you.”

“You’ll let me know when I can return?”

“The very moment.” She nodded and took the lantern from Dermot. Damian touched her shoulder and turned her toward him. “Elissa, I love you,” he declared, then kissed her.

Chapter Twenty-one

“We’re nearly at the end of the tunnel,” Dermot said. “Sir Richard and the others are confined in the storeroom off the armory.”

“I know the room,” Damian replied. “’Tis a large, windowless chamber that the previous lord of Misterly used as a temporary jail. If I recall correctly, it has a wooden bar that slides into place on the outside. Is the chamber guarded?”

“Aye, but the cell was rarely used by Lord Alpin. There is a guard, but he’ll likely be asleep. Here we are, me lord,” Dermot hissed as he doused the lantern and eased the door open.

Damian stepped past Dermot and glanced into the hall. He saw nothing but flames dancing in the hearth and an empty chamber filled with shadows. He stepped out of the tunnel but remained concealed beneath the staircase until Dermot joined him.

“Wait here for Jem and the others,” Damian ordered. “I’m going to free Sir Richard and the rest of my men. I won’t be long.”

Damian crept through the hall to the narrow stone steps leading down to the armory. Flattening himself against the wall, he slowly descended the stairs. When he reached the bottom, he peered around the corner into the chamber used to store ancient armor and more modern weapons used by the fortress guards. A lantern hanging from the ceiling revealed a man stretched out on a bench, apparently sound asleep. Moving stealthily, Damian rendered him unconscious with a quick rap on the head with his pistol butt.

Then he turned his attention to the storeroom where his men were confined. It took but a moment to lift the bar and throw the door wide.

“You’re free. Come out,” Damian called through the opening.

Sir Richard stepped out, squinting against the sudden glare of light. “Is that you, Damian? Bloody hell, man, you’re the last person I expected to see. How did you get into the keep?”

A stream of men surged out of the storeroom. “I’ll explain later. Is everyone all right?”

“More or less,” Richard allowed. “Thank God you came when you did. We’re ready and eager to reclaim the keep.”

“Arm yourselves first,” Damian said as he chose a sword for himself. “Select your weapons from the armory and do it quietly, lest we rouse the Gordons from their sleep.”

One man dragged the limp guard into the storeroom and secured the door while the others chose the weapons that suited them best.

“We’re ready,” Sir Richard said.

Sir Brody fell into step beside Damian. “I’m worried about Lady Marianne and Lora. They could be in danger.”

“They’re no longer in the keep,” Damian replied. “Elissa took them to safety.”

“Elissa was here?” Sir Richard said. “I had no idea. What about Maggie? Did she follow Elissa and the others to safety?”

“I didn’t see Maggie, Dickon. She wasn’t with Elissa.”

Damian reached the top landing and led his men into the deserted hall. Dermot stepped from the shadows. Then Jem and the men who had followed Damian through the tunnel revealed themselves.

“Ye met with success,” Dermot greeted. “I hope yer men fared well.”

“Aye. They are all accounted for. Gather close for your orders. Jem, take two men up to the parapets and disable the guards. No killing unless it’s absolutely necessary.”

“Aye, my lord,” Jem said, as he and two men broke away from the group and melted into the shadows.