Page 72 of The Highlander’s Savage Vow

Gordon lifted the lid. The spring-loaded blade shot out with a sharp snap, missing Gordon's face by mere inches as he jerked backward in surprise. The mechanism was cleverly concealed, designed to trigger the moment the box was opened, and if Gordon hadn't possessed quick reflexes, it would have taken him in the throat.

The cheerful atmosphere in the room died instantly.

"Christ almighty," Gordon breathed, staring at the gleaming steel that protruded from what had appeared to be an innocent gift. "That was meant tae kill whoever opened it.

Iona's blood turned to ice as the implications sank in. Someone had sent them a weapon disguised as a wedding present, had sat in their great hall the night before and smiled while planning murder.

"It was meant fer me," she said quietly, her voice barely above a whisper.

Ruaridh was already moving, his face hard as granite as he began examining the other unopened gifts with new intensity. "Dinnae touch anything else. Gordon, can ye see any other markings on that box? Anything that might tell us who sent it?"

Gordon carefully maneuvered the deadly gift, his usual easy manner replaced by grim focus. "Naething. Whoever sent this covered their tracks."

Iona wrapped her arms around herself, watching Ruaridh systematically examine each remaining package. The joy of the morning had evaporated, replaced by the familiar weight of fear and the knowledge that even their most intimate moments weren't safe from Murray's reach.

"He was here," she said, the words tasting bitter. "Last night, during the celebration. Either Murray himself or someone working fer him sat at our table, drank our ale, and smiled while planning to murder us."

"Aye," Ruaridh said grimly, not looking up from his careful inspection. "And if we hadnae decided tae open gifts together this morning..."

The sentence hung unfinished, but they all knew how it would have ended. If she'd opened that box alone, if Gordon hadn't been there to reach fer it first, if any number of small details had been different...

"I need tae question every servant who handled these gifts," Ruaridh continued, his voice carrying the cold authority of a man pushed beyond his limits. "Find out how this got past our security, who had access⁠—"

"Ruaridh," Iona interrupted softly.

He looked up at her, and she saw the moment when the full weight of their situation hit him. The realization that no matter how strong he was, no matter how many guards he posted or walls he built, he couldn't protect her from an enemy willing to corrupt even wedding gifts into weapons.

"He'll never stop," Ruaridh said quietly. "Nay matter what we dae, nay matter how careful we are, he'll keep finding ways tae reach ye. We have tae stop him."