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“I’m nae,” Niel said. “They left ye Sionn. It was yer wife who came to me brother’s clan beggin’ for help. She groveled at his feet for a place among the clan. So that she may rid herself of ye and the kind of man ye are. My brother took pity on her and the child wit’ her. For years they kept the secret from everyone. It was last sprin’ when Laird Lowry married, I saw her and heard her confession to my brother. I could have stormed in and stopped the weddin’, but I didnae. My brother’s happiness meant everything to me.”
“She loved me,” Sionn shouted, his voice bounced through the valley below. Olivia noticed her father’s steely gaze. It was the look he would give her as a child when she was lying to him.
“Nay,” Niel said. “She was scared of ye and what ye would dae to yer own son. I saw the bruises on her. I saw the markings yer love left on her.”
“She was my wife,” Sionn screamed as he turned and shoved Olivia as hard as he could. Olivia had no defense against such a mighty blow. The loose gravel at her feet gave no assistance. She gasped as the ground under her fell away.
“Olivia!”
* * *
“Nay.”
Conner yelled out with every fiber of his being as he watched helplessly as Olivia slipped over the edge. His heart sank and died as the rage consumed him.
“Damon,” Conner pulled his sword from its sheath, lips twitching. “See to Olivia.”
“Stay back, lad,” Niel said as he pushed back on Sionn’s blade and ducked as Sionn’s sword sliced through the air over his head.
“He killed her,” Conner growled as he watched Damon race to the edge. Conner’s eyes focused on Sionn as he slipped off his horse’s saddle and landed hard on the ground. He knew that only one of them was leaving here alive.
“M’Laird I need yer help!” Damon shouted. Conner shifted his eyes to Damon for but a moment. His mouth parted as he noticed Damon dangling over the edge. Confusion flickered through him.
“Olivia,” Conner gasped as he raced to Damon. Throwing his sword down, Conner skidded to a stop and dropped down. His eyes widened as he reached his arms down to her.
“Yer alive,” he gasped. It was as if his heart had stopped and was jolted back to life.
“Conner,” Olivia cried as she tried to grab onto his arm in panic.
“Olivia, look at me,” Conner said in a calm steady voice. “I love ye. Dae ye remember what I told ye, I will protect ye. Now right now, I need ye to focus on my voice and only my voice.”
Slowly the panic that consumed Olivia drifted as she locked her eyes on him. Conner nodded as he held her gaze and her fear in check. There was love buried in terror, but also absolute trust.
“That’s it,” Conner said as Olivia shifted and swung on their arms a bit until she latched onto his out stretched hand. The moment her fingers curled around his wrist, he tugged. With Damon’s help they pulled Olivia up. She crumbled in Conner’s arms and wept.
“Faither?” Olivia asked as she glanced to the crash of steel on steel. Conner followed her gaze as he noticed Sionn towering over Niel.
“Damon, help him,” Conner said pointing to Niel. Damon dashed to snatch Conner’s sword and rushed like a mad man into the fray.
“We need to get ye out of here,” Conner said as he tucked a wild lock of hair back behind her ear.
“But my faither,” Olivia said just as quickly as her hands flew to her mouth. “Faither.”
Conner turned about to find Niel on the ground, Sionn’s blade lodged into his chest. The sight of Niel was too much for even Conner to bear. He instantly cupped his hand over Olivia’s eyes, shielding her from the sight.
“We are goin’,” Conner said as he scooped her up into his arms. He moved swiftly and stopped when he felt her body rocking.
“He is dead, oh my faither…” Olivia wept as Conner slowly lowered her to the ground.
“We daenae ken that,” Conner said, trying hard to catch her eye.
“Sionn, I thought…”
“I ken, so did I,” Conner said. “But he fooled us both.”
The crunching of boots on the rocks caused Conner to jump. He turned, hand on his dirk ready to strike. The moment he caught sight of Damon he relaxed.
“Where is Niel?” Conner asked as Damon greeted them. Damon’s eyes shifted to Olivia as he shook his head.
