Medieval Ever After (59 page)
Read Medieval Ever After Online
Authors: Kathryn Le Veque,Barbara Devlin,Keira Montclair,Emma Prince
The glimmer was back in Mathias’ eyes. “I will, I swear it.”
When Sebastian found out where Mathias was going, he tried to follow until Mathias slugged the man in the chest so hard that he fell into a big puddle of horse urine and got covered in the stuff.
As Mathias and Cathlina walked off, Sebastian vowed to get even.
Read the rest of
THE FALLEN ONE
, a prequel to the Dragonblade Trilogy, in eBook or in paperback.
ABOUT KATHRYN LE VEQUE
Medieval Just Got Real.
KATHRYN LE VEQUE is a USA TODAY Bestselling author, an Amazon All-Star author, and a #1 bestselling, award-winning, multi-published author in Medieval Historical Romance and Historical Fiction. She has been featured in the NEW YORK TIMES and on USA TODAY’s HEA blog. In March 2015, Kathryn was the featured cover story for the March issue of InD’Tale Magazine, the premier Indie author magazine. She was also a quadruple nominee (a record!) for the prestigious RONE awards for 2015.
Kathryn’s Medieval Romance novels have been called ‘detailed’, ‘highly romantic’, and ‘character-rich’. She crafts great adventures of love, battles, passion, and romance in the High Middle Ages. More than that, she writes for both women AND men – an unusual crossover for a romance author – and Kathryn has many male readers who enjoy her stories because of the male perspective, the action, and the adventure.
Kathryn loves to hear from her readers. Please find Kathryn on Facebook at
Kathryn Le Veque, Author
, or join her on Twitter
@kathrynleveque
, and don’t forget to visit her website at
www.kathrynleveque.com
.
RESCUED BY A HIGHLANDER
KEIRA MONTCLAIR
TITLES BY
KEIRA MONTCLAIR
CLAN GRANT SERIES
Healing a Highlander’s Heart #2
The Brightest Star in the Highlands #7
THE HIGHLAND CLAN
Lily-Book Three
THE SUMMERHILL SERIES
REGENCY
RESCUED BY A HIGHLANDER
CHAPTER ONE
Scotland, the 1200s
Warm fluid meandered
down her cheek into the cracked corner of her mouth. Madeline MacDonald caught the blood with her tongue, and the saltiness invaded her senses. She forced herself to stand tall and unflinching as she watched her stepbrother’s hand swing in a wide arc before it connected with her other cheek. Steeling herself not to cry out in pain, she stared into his eyes, trying to gauge his mood. Experience had taught her that if she cried out, he enjoyed it more, and the beating would last longer.
The chamber was silent except for the distant sound of a slow, piercing drip off in the distance. Blood pounded through her heart in fear. Her instinct was to run, but she knew there was no escaping Kenneth. Her hand trembled as she reached up to wipe the blood from her face. The touch of her own fingers sent pain rippling through her body, but still she made no sound. Her breathing became faster, more frantic. She needed to stay in control. Closing her eyes, she willed her heart to slow, but to no avail. How long would this beating last? Each time she toughened a bit, so he wouldn’t be able to break her so easily today.
A perverse pleasure washed over her stepbrother’s face. He was a cruel, uncaring man—a fact she had learned all too well since her parents’ death two years ago.
He leaned in close to her, grabbing her by the throat. “You will marry him. Do you hear me, bitch? You will not ruin all my plans. You will marry Niles Comming in less than a fortnight. Agreed, Madeline?” Kenneth MacDonald’s spittle just missed her face.
In a quick turnabout, he released her and began pacing the chamber. “I could force you. I don’t need your approval. I know just the priest to bring here. He would never deny me.” Kenneth’s head bobbed as he continued to walk back and forth in front of her. “But you have the following of half the clan. I cannot afford any revolt from my guards or the servants. You will do my bidding so as not to upset your clan. Understood?”
Madeline reached down to her core for the effort she needed to shake her head. She would never marry the Comming—the man who had raped her—no matter how her stepbrother threatened her.
“You dare to refuse me again?” Kenneth bellowed.
Yes
,
just as I have before
.
I will endure the beatings.
They could never be as bad as the humiliation and pain she had endured at the hands of their neighboring laird.
Madeline willed her body to relax. Bones were less likely to break if she was calm. But Kenneth’s fist aimed straight for her belly, sending visceral pain exploding through her body. She lost her footing and slammed into the cold stone floor. As her stepbrother’s foot shot out toward her middle, she attempted to curl into a ball, but her reflexes were too slow. The pain that shot through her body made the world around her fade to darkness.
***
Sitting at the dais of the MacDonald keep, Laird Alexander Grant found himself staring at the filth coating the rushes on the floor of the great hall. The place had definitely deteriorated since his last visit. He glanced at his brother, Brodie, as their host, Kenneth MacDonald, barked orders.
“Get us ale, you lazy wench,” Kenneth bellowed to a maid as he swatted her behind to motivate her.
“Aye, my laird,” she mumbled, hurrying toward the kitchen.
“My apologies, Laird Grant. My stepsister usually handles everything in the kitchens, but she is ill at present. See how lazy the wenches are when she is no’ around? My servants are no’ worth the food I give them.” Kenneth clambered onto the bench at his table, sweeping crumbs and debris onto the floor around them.
Alex checked his annoyance before he spoke. “Laird MacDonald, we do no’ mean to be a bother. We will be on our way as soon as we discuss our concerns with you. We are dealing with more and more small attacks and thievery on our lands. There must be new reivers. Have you seen the same here?”
“Nay, no one dares to bother us. My guards are too strong. Reivers, you say?” Kenneth turned his head away as he spoke.
Alex caught a subtle shift in his host’s eyes. He assessed his neighboring laird carefully before he spoke. “We have not caught up with them, but rest assured that we will. Summer is the time to call on neighbors, in any case, and it was time for us to visit.”
“I cannot help you with your problem. You are welcome to stay the night before you are on your way,” Kenneth said.
Brodie spoke quickly, “Nay, there is no need. A drink will be much appreciated before we take our leave. We have much ground to cover before we return to our lands.”
Alex’s vision wandered around the dirty hall. There were no beautiful tapestries here, and no chairs with cushions. The stench of sour food permeated his nostrils. His sister, Brenna, kept everything spotless in his keep. His hall spoke of the rich Grant clan history. He was proud of the weapons on display, of the craftsmanship evident in the high-back chairs and tables. After seeing this disaster, he would be sure to thank his sister more often for her hard work. Unlike this laird, Alex believed in treating all his clan well. Even the man’s dogs stayed far away from him.
Instinct took over as he turned back to face his host. “Nay, Brodie, I will accept the laird’s offer. I would like a good night’s rest before we continue. Tell the guards we stay one night.”
Brodie glared at him, clearly wishing to be away from this place. Alex knew his decision to stay did not make sense, but something was not right here. He could hear his father’s words clearly in his mind:
Follow your instincts, son, they will never let you down.
His instincts told him to stay.
***
Madeline attempted to open her eyes. One must’ve been swollen shut, as it didn’t move. She could see well enough to realize she was in her chamber. It was not the beautiful chamber she had resided in while her parents were alive, but the spare, cold chamber her stepbrother had moved her into after their death. Attempting to roll, she groaned as her bruises hit hard wood and sharp pain seared through her midsection. The pallet was no longer filled with soft feathers—he had taken her every comfort. Instantly, her maid, Alice, filled her line of vision.
“Maddie, oh, Maddie, are you all right, my dear?” Alice asked.
Her feeble attempt to follow Alice’s nervous movements failed. “Alice, please stay still, my head is pounding enough.”
“Oh, Mac and I have been beside ourselves with worry. You may have at least one broken rib, and your eye is swollen shut. Can you see? Tell me he did not blind you. Please, Maddie.”
“Alice,” Maddie croaked, “I am fine. Mayhap some water, please?”
“Of course.” Alice brought a cup to her lips to help her drink. “What shall we do? He will kill you eventually. Would you not be better with Niles Comming? He cannot be as bad as Kenneth. Say yes, please! Agree to the wedding. I cannot bear to lose you. I promised your dear mother I would take care of you.”