Page 118 of A Touch So Wicked

Just as he turned away, an ungodly shriek resonated up the staircase, raising the hair on the back of his neck. Motioning for Elissa to remain behind, he sped along the passageway and down the treacherous stone steps. When he reached the bottom landing, he saw Dermot bending over a figure sprawled limply at their feet.

“Gordon?” he asked, kneeling to examine the body.

“Aye,” Dermot said. “Broke his neck. Are ye and Elissa all right? I saw her follow ye up to the tower.”

“I’m fine,” Elissa said from behind Damian.

Damian swiveled around and glared at her. “I thought I told you to stay where you were.”

“Whenever did I do what you asked?” she said pertly. “Is that Tavis? Is he dead?”

“Aye to both questions. I’m sorry, love, I never intended to kill him.”

“Don’t be sorry, Damian. Tavis lost my respect long ago. Mama was against the marriage from the beginning; it was Papa who wanted it. Tavis and I both hated the English, but we differed in that I wanted no more bloodshed. There has been enough to last a lifetime. What Tavis planned could have destroyed us.”

“His days of planning treason are over,” Damian said, rising when he saw Jem striding toward him.

“The guards on the parapet are no longer a threat to us,” Jem reported.

Before Damian could answer, Sir Richard and Sir Brody returned from their missions.

“Gordon’s men have been rounded up and confined in the storeroom,” Sir Richard said.

“Did they put up much of a fight?”

“Nay. It was a bloodless coup. They surrendered without a struggle when we awakened them.”

“The guards in the courtyard threw down their arms when they saw us, and we had to awaken the gatekeeper so he could surrender,” Sir Brody reported.

“Is that the Gordon chieftain?” Richard asked, prodding Gordon’s lifeless body with his toe. “Is he dead?”

“Aye,” Damian said. “He fell down the stairs and broke his neck.”

“Good riddance,” Richard said. “It looks as if Misterly is yours again. Have you seen Maggie?”

“I left Maggie in the solar,” Dermot said.

“I’ll fetch Lady Marianne and Lora if you tell me where to find them,” Sir Brody offered.

“I’ll show him the way,” Dermot said. Damian nodded and the two men departed.

“What shall we do with Gordon?” Sir Richard asked.

“Take his body to the tool shed for now. The rest of you are free to seek your beds. I expect no further trouble.”

“Is it really over, Damian?” Elissa asked. “Has the king truly given his blessing to our marriage?”

“’Tis over, sweeting.” He held out his hand. “Shall we go to bed?”

Hand in hand they climbed the stairs to Elissa’s bedchamber. It was nearly dawn; the eastern sky was turning from black to gray as Damian helped Elissa undress. Then he swept her into his arms, carried her to their bed, and tucked her beneath the quilt. He felt her gaze following him as he stripped off his clothes and washed the blood from his body.

“You’re hurt!” Elissa exclaimed.

“’Tis just a nick.”

“Let me bandage it.”

“No need. It’s already stopped bleeding.”