Page 75 of Secrets of a Kilted Seduction

Alana tottered, and she might have fallen over if she had not had the door to lean against. “Ye’re me faither,” she breathed, struggling to take it in.

He didn’t say anything but kept staring at her in awe.

Alana, shocked to her core, was fighting to compose herself. She wanted to believe it, but as she studied the old man’s face, doubt crept in. “If ye’re me faither, and ye’re the laird, then what are ye doin’ locked up in yer own dungeons?” she asked in a harsh whisper.

The answer came back instantly, laden with mistrust and dislike. “Blaine.”

As soon as she heard the name, things began to fall into place. “It was Blaine all this time? Blaine’s been keepin’ ye down here, locked up, while claimin’ ye’ve been abducted?”

“Ye have yer maither’s keen brain, I see. He intends tae kill me and take over the lairdship and the clan,” he took a deep breath and then continued. “I’m ashamed tae admit I trusted him completely, fer which I’m about tae pay with me life.”

Neither of them said a word for a minute, before Laird MacIver hesitated for a second and looked around as if making sure there were no steps in the distance. Then he began speaking again. “Ye’re in terrible danger, Alana. Ye must leave this place and get away from him at once. Dinnae believe anythin’ he tells ye otherwise.”

“I dinnae trust him, never did,” she replied, her fingers grappling with the lock of the cell door.

“What are ye doin’?” the laird asked, frowning.

“Settin’ ye free, of course. Now I’ve found ye, I’m nae gonnae leave ye down here tae rot, am I?” She fumbled again at the lock, hissing with frustration when she realized she needed a key. “Ach, where are the bloody keys!” she exclaimed softly, casting about the area.

“Nay, nay, Alana. Ye cannae set me free. There’s nae tellin’ what Blaine’ll dae if he finds I’ve escaped. Besides, there are men on the council who support him and are helpin’ him. I need those councilmen loyal tae me tae see how Blaine has been foolin’ them. Ye have tae leave here at once before the guard comes back and find Ruger Huston right away. Tell him everythin’, and he’ll ken what tae dae.”

“What if he daesnae believe me?”

Her father thought for a moment. “Give him this,” he said, pulling something from his finger and handing it to her through the grill. It was a silver ring, and when she held it up to look at it, she saw it was inscribed with a hawk holding a sprig of heather in its beak. “He’ll recognize it and ken ye’re tellin’ the truth,” he assured her.

“All right.” She put the ring in her pocket and gazed up at him, still reluctant to go. “But I cannae leave ye here.”

“Ye must, I tell ye, fer yer own safety. I couldnae bear it if he hurt ye,” he insisted, his face riven with worry. “Look, a little more time down here willnae kill me, as long as ye go now and tell Roger before Blaine comes tae finish the job, eh?” he said coaxingly.

“All right,” she finally agreed. “I’ll go, but I’ll be back with help as soon as I can,” she promised, hating to leave him there all alone.

“Good lass, I’m proud of ye,” the laird called softly as she waved him a quick farewell. She had just reached the door leading to the passageway when it suddenly swung wide. To her horror, she found herself standing face to face with Blaine.

They gaped at each other for a split second. Then he gave a heavy sigh and said, “By the Wee Man, Alana, this is the last way I wanted things to go.” There was no time for her to say or do anything before he punched her hard in the side of the head, knocking her senseless. He caught her limp body in his arms before she hit the floor.