Page 137 of The Laird’s Sinful Claim

"It's not over until I have what's mine!" Langley's voice was raw with obsession. "Send her down, MacDonald! She belongs with me!"

"I belong with no one!" Elinor stepped forward, her voice carrying clearly despite the bruises on her throat. "I'm not property to be claimed! I'm a person! And I've made my choice!"

"You were coerced! Forced into marriage by this barbarian!" Langley gestured wildly at David. "I'm here to free you! To take you away from this place and give you the life you deserve!"

"The life I deserve?" Elinor's laugh was bitter. "You mean the life where you own me? Where I have no say in anything? Where I'm just a prize you won?" She leaned over the railing, making sure Langley could see her face clearly. "I'd rather die than go anywhere with you."

"You don't mean that. You can't mean that." Langley's facade was cracking, revealing the madness beneath. "I did all of this for you! The planning, the waiting, the siege! All so I could save you from him!"

"I don't need saving from David." Elinor's hand found David's, gripping tightly. "He's my husband. My choice. And if you truly cared about me at all, you'd respect that and leave."

"No!" Langley yanked his sword free. "No, you're coming with me! Even if I have to burn this entire castle down to take you!"

He spurred his horse forward, clearly intending to storm the keep itself.

But MacDonald guards closed ranks, blocking his path. Langley fought them, his sword flashing. His personal guard joined the fray.

"I need tae end this," David said quietly. "If I dinnae, he'll keep comin'. Keep tryin'. He'll never stop."

"Then go." Elinor released his hand. "Finish this. But be careful. Please."

David kissed her hard and fast, then turned and ran for the stairs.

By the time he reached the courtyard, Langley had cut through three of his guards and was advancing on the keep entrance. His men formed a protective circle around him, fighting desperately against overwhelming numbers.

"Langley!" David's voice cut through the chaos. "Enough! Ye want a fight? Fight me! Leave me men out of it!"

Langley turned, his face twisted with rage. "MacDonald. Finally. I was beginning to think you were a coward."

"Says the man who sent assassins in the night." David raised his sword. "Says the man who hid behind infiltrators instead of fightin' honorably."

"Honor?" Langley laughed. "You talk to me about honor? You stole my bride! You disrupted a lawful gathering! You've been living a lie this entire time!"

"The only lie here is the one ye tell yerself." David moved forward, and MacDonald guards cleared a space, creating a circle. "That Elinor was ever yers. That she wanted ye. That any of this was justified."

"She doesn't know what she wants! She's been deceived by your Highland tricks!" Langley advanced, his sword raised. "But I'll free her. And I'll start by removing you from the equation."

They clashed in the center of the courtyard, steel ringing against steel. Langley was good—better than David had expected. His strikes were precise, controlled, the product of years of training.

But David had something Langley didn't.

Desperation. The memory of Elinor's bruised throat. The knowledge that if he failed, Langley would keep coming. Would never stop until he had her or they were both dead.

David pressed the attack, ignoring the fire in his wounded shoulder. Each strike jarred his injury, sent fresh blood seeping through his shoulder. But he didn't care.

Langley blocked, countered, tried to use David's wound against him. He aimed strikes at David's left side, forcing him to defend with his injured shoulder.

"You're weakening," Langley taunted. "How long can you keep this up? You're already wounded. Already exhausted from defending these walls. Just surrender, MacDonald. Make this easy."

"Never." David's blade caught Langley's, twisted, sent the English knight's sword wide. "I'll never surrender. Nae while I draw breath. Nae while she needs protectin' from ye."

"She doesn't need protection from me! I love her!"

"Ye dinnae love her." David blocked another strike. "Ye love the idea of her. The possession of her. But ye dinnae love her as a person. Ye never have."

"What do you know about it?" Langley's control was slipping, his strikes becoming wilder. "I've loved her since the moment I saw her! I offered for her properly! I would have given her everything!"

"Except freedom. Except choice. Except the one thing she actually wanted." David saw his opening—Langley's guard dropping as emotion overwhelmed technique. "Ye would have made her miserable. And ye knew it. Ye just didnae care."