“Finn, ye are too predictable. Ye love nothing more than to play the hero but ye never see anything through. I’d wager ye’ll have forgotten about this pretty lass by the time I’ve wedded and bedded her.”
Finn broke the hold of the soldier holding him and lunged for Gillean but a squeak from Catriona and the tightening of the hand on her neck once more had him surrendering. He eyed Catriona as he was dragged up the stairs and along the gallery to the stone staircase. Only when they were hauled into the stairwell did he snap his head around and eye the spiral steps.
A chill swept through him but determination steeled in his gut. Gillean might have thought he had the upper hand but Logan and he were within the castle walls—a better situation than previously. He would not fail Catriona again.
The odour of dank reeds and rusted iron swirled through the atmosphere as the soldier holding Finn pushed open the door to the donjon. Lorna leapt to her feet and flung her arms around Finn’s shoulders but the man at his side shoved her back. He debated swinging his bound hands at the man, but the drawn sword erased that notion.
Lorna flattened herself against the wall, the pale light from the arrow loop of the tower room highlighting her filthy gown and swollen lip. Finn clenched his jaw until his teeth hurt.
Gillean would pay.
Logan stumbled in behind him and the door slammed shut, the clank of keys solidifying their imprisonment.
Lorna stepped forward, as if she might throw herself at Logan too but retreated suddenly, shoulders stiffening. “Logan, why are ye here? Why have the men not fought back? What is happening?”
“Gillean has hold of the keep now, Lorna. He intends to wed Catriona and willnae allow anyone to prevent it,” Logan told her, no hint of his earlier desperation in his tone.
Lorna shook her head. “I barely comprehend what is happening. Gillean said we had been deceived and Katelyn is actually her twin sister.”
“Aye.” Logan pressed himself against the wall while Finn paced the small circular room. “A ruse to keep Gillean happy it seems. I heard his men say he intended to attack Bute and the marriage was to appease Gillean.”
“Ach, I dinnae know why she went along with such a fool notion.” Finn paused and eyed Lorna’s lip. Fire whirled in his belly.
“Ye cannae say ye have never done aught foolish for yer family,” Lorna reminded him with small smile, “but she should have confided in us. She must have known the truth would come out eventually.”
Logan shook his head. “The king was to send men to Bute to help with its defence. Likely her father never thought the ruse would need to last long. But he is dead and none knew where Catriona had gone—save Gillean who heard word on his travels near the coast of her dead sister.”
“So he wishes to marry the other sister now? I imagine her dowry is great,” Lorna mused.
“He wants more than her dowry,” Finn spat. “I never liked the way he looked at her. I should have acted sooner. He will take her against her will.”
“Why have the men not risen up, Logan? Why did ye no’ lead them into battle? Our men outnumber his, surely?” She folded her arms across her chest.
“Gillean threatened yer life, Lorna,” Logan explained through compressed teeth. “None would rise up when yer life was at stake.”
“And what of Catriona’s? Ye should have killed him when ye had the chance.”
Logan’s nostrils flared. “Yer life may be of no import to ye but ‘tis to others. Besides, while I may foolishly bow to yer every whim, yer men are still Gillean’s too. Mayhap they dinnae wish to put their necks on the line for ye.”
Lorna blinked and dropped back. Finn shook his head slowly. If he knew Lorna’s men they would have fought to the death for her, but Logan was right, none would risk her being harmed and none would fight as hard as Logan for her. He cursed inwardly. Why his sister seemed to be denying such a good man, was beyond him, yet hadn’t he denied a good woman?
“Enough,” Finn barked. “We need to escape and rescue Catriona.” He eyed the solid door. “Somehow.”
Chapter Ten
Catriona twisted against Gillean’s hold and tore herself away. He let her, eyeing her with amusement as she stumbled. She rubbed her neck and glared at him. “What are ye planning to do with them, Gillean?”
A cat-like smile stretched across his face. “Whatever I wish. Lorna seems to have forgotten that this is my keep, my land, and I am the law here.”
“And what shall ye do with me?” She staggered toward the stairs, hand to her head. The knock to her skull and falling into a swoon had left her aching and unsteady.