Page 44 of Scot of Seduction

Her fingers scratched her own skin, drawing blood from the sheer fervor of her actions, that was when she heard it. Bran’s and Tad’s voices.

“We’ll come quietly,” Tad barked. “Just take us tae see her.”

Cillian smiled as he watched Catreena.

“Like lambs tae the slaughter, eh?” he said, for her ears only. He walked toward her, just as the door was kicked open by the soldiers. Flanked by two men, Tad and Bran walked in.

Any hope Catreena might have felt at seeing them both faded within an instant. Tad was still heavily bruised, and he now didn’t even carry a weapon for the soldiers had taken it off him. Bran looked injured too, and hardly steady on his feet. Tears sprang to her eyes at the sight of them. She fought them, refusing to let them fall.

Her lips parted to say their names, but then something cold and hard met the underside of her chin.

“Nae a word,” Cillian ordered, his lips revoltingly close to her ear. “Stand,” he ordered, his voice firmer now. He drew her up with that dirk pressed to her throat, until she stood in front of him. “Outside,” Cillian said to his guards. “We can have this conversation alone.”

The soldiers stepped out, sharing uncomfortable glances, though Catreena felt Cillian smile behind her, his lips practically pressed into her hair in a way that made her shiver in fear. He wanted control of this room, and he wanted no one else to see but his enemies.

“Dae ye ken? I never thought I could hate someone this much. I was wrong. I detest yer clans, and ye both,” Cillian said with derision. The dirk shifted on Catreena’s chin, and she felt a thin trickle of blood run down her skin.

Her eyes found Tad’s. His widened a little, his hands balling into fists at his sides as he watched her.

“What better way tae get revenge, eh?” Cillian said with a disconcerting laugh. “Tae torture the man who killed me faither.” His gaze was set on Tad, for she could see Tad’s flicked back to meet it. “And the best way tae torture a man, is tae take a woman he loves away from him. And whether that is sisterly love or romantic love I ken nae, but I have a feeling it may be the latter as ye brought her tae yer castle tae protect her.”

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

“Enough.” The word erupted from Tad as he took a step forward. Cillian threateningly shifted the dagger on Catreena’s throat, making Tad fall still again. Just to see that dirk pressed into her pale skin was torture in itself. Tad would have gladly laid down his life if it meant just seeing Cillian release her. “I’ll dae whatever ye ask, Cillian. Have yer revenge on me, if ye need it, but just release Catreena. Dinnae lay another hand on her.”

“Would ye beg me?” Cillian asked with an abrupt and malevolent laugh. “Would ye beg for her life?”

“Aye.”

“So me suspicions were correct. Ye are in love with her. Then dae it,” Cillian said with pleasure. “Beg, Laird MacBean. Beg me.”

“I beg of ye, nae tae hurt her,” Tad said with feeling. He took another tiny step toward the pair of them, a step that this time didn’t seem to be noticed by Cillian at all. “Hurt me, I beg ye, but nae her.”

Out of the corner of his eye, he could see the surprise on Bran’s face.

I cannae blame him. I am nae sure I have ever begged fer anything in me life before.

“Would ye give up yer land and clan fer her? Would ye?” Cillian asked sharply.

“Take them,” Tad said. Taking another small step forward.

He saw a tear sliding out of Catreena’s eye. He had a feeling she would have begged him not to give into this man, but he couldn’t help it. He would give Cillian anything he asked for.

“I’ll be yer slave, if that’s what ye want.” Tad went on. “Ye can have everything from me, just let Catreena and Bran leave. Let them go home. Ye would like that, wouldnae ye Cillian? Dae we have a deal?” Tentatively, Tad took another step forward. The distance between him and Cillian was much smaller now. He offered his hand to Cillian, as if they were purely making a business deal, and that no dirk was between them.

“Pathetic!” Cillian suddenly roared. He threw Catreena aside.

“Nay,” Bran’s voice broke out as Catreena was flung against the stone hearth. She fell in a twisted way, her hands bound to a metal loop in the wall. Tad couldn’t get to her though. Cillian had marched toward him. He took hold of Tad’s collar and pressed that dirk close to Tad’s neck, threateningly, ready to slit his throat.

Tad stared him down, looking at the empty eyes of Cillian.

“This is what love daes tae a man,” Cillian muttered, his voice wild. “Pathetic, weak, willing tae dae anything –”

“Tae save her life? Aye, anything,” Tad said, matching Cillian’s venomous tone.

“I’m going tae enjoy this,” Cillian said, starting to turn the dirk. “I’m going tae enjoy watching as ye –” Yet Cillian had broken off sharply. He halted, his eyes going wide.

Tad couldn’t resist the small smile that spread across his lips as he looked over Cillian’s shoulder at Bran. Standing close behind Cillian’s back was Bran, with another dirk pressed against his back.