Seduction of a Highland Lass(86)
“Exactly where you belong,” he spat as he advanced.
Several things happened at once.
The door splintered and exploded inward. The laird’s eyes widened with fear. And then suddenly he flew across the room, hitting the wall with a loud smack.
Keeley stared in astonishment as Caelen advanced on the laird, his entire body bristling with rage. She scrambled backward on the bed, hoisting herself so she could see what went on.
Caelen hauled the laird to his feet and then flattened him with a fist. Never had she seen someone so angry. If she didn’t intervene, Caelen would kill the other man. Not that she particularly cared of his fate, but the implications would be far-reaching.
Ignoring the fiery pain in her jaw and the cold shock creeping over her body, she ran toward Caelen and latched on to his arm.
“Caelen, you must stop!”
Caelen dropped the laird and whirled around, cold fury brimming in his eyes.
“You would defend him?”
She shook her head, precariously close to tears. “Nay. Leave him, though. Please. Think of what you do. Think of the implications.”
Her gaze skittered downward to the limp form of the laird and she shuddered in revulsion. Realization sunk in and her knees wobbled and she collapsed.
Caelen caught her and swung her into his arms. He strode from the chamber and down the hall to Keeley’s door. Not hesitating, he bore her within and gently set her on the bed.
“Do you want me to summon Maddie or Christina?” he asked in a quiet voice.
She shook her head and cupped her hand to her aching jaw.
“I’ll kill him,” Caelen bit out.
She shook her head mutely, too stunned to do more.
Caelen swore and then turned. “I’m going to fetch Alaric.”
At that, Keeley flew from the bed and grabbed Caelen. She pulled him back from the door and slammed it shut. “Nay! You cannot. Caelen, you mustn’t say a word.”
Caelen gaped incredulously at her.
“Think of what you do,” she said hoarsely. “If you tell Alaric, he will be furious. He’s already angry at what happened years ago. If you go to him with this, there is no telling what he’ll do.”
“Rightly so! No man tolerates such treatment of a woman,” Caelen growled. “He deserves killing. ’Tis an insult he’s offered to all McCabes. Ewan will never let him live.”
“ ’Tis exactly why you cannot breathe a word. This alliance is important to your …” She broke off and thrust her chin upward. “ ’Tis important to my clan. What think you Alaric would do? He cannot afford to insult the father of the woman he is to marry. Alaric is to take over as laird of the McDonald clan. His destiny is a great one. If he knew of what happened, he would be furious. He would retaliate.”
Caelen dragged a hand through his hair and made a sound of acute exasperation. “So you want me to do nothing?”
The question came out strangled, like he was close to exploding.
She raised her gaze, her eyes brimming with tears. She was holding on by a thread and very close to hysteria. It was either laugh or cry and she was unsure of which would win out.
Caelen sighed and settled on the bed next to her. He hesitated and then carefully put his arms around her in a hug.
“It’s understandable if you need to cry,” he said gruffly.
She buried her face in his chest and burst into tears. She cried noisily while he patted her awkwardly on the back. She cried until her eyes were puffy and her head ached vilely. After a while her sobs turned to painful hiccups.
She drew away and wiped at her nose with the back of her hand. Then she started laughing.
Caelen looked warily at her and she didn’t blame him. He probably thought she’d lost her mind.
“I bloodied his nose,” she said.
Caelen smiled. “I saw that. Very impressive. You’re a fierce lass.”
“I also kneed him between the legs.”
He winced but nodded his approval. “Between the two of us, I don’t think he’ll be in any shape to accost any more lasses.”
“Good,” she said fiercely. “While I know we can’t kill him, ’tis the truth I hope he suffers.”
Caelen chuckled.
She sighed and looked up at him. “Thank you. I’m sorry to have sobbed all over you. Your tunic is wet.”
“ ’Tis the least I can do after all you’ve done for my clan,” he said quietly. “ ’Tis the truth I had little liking for you in the beginning. I thought no good could come of Alaric’s infatuation with you. But ’tis the truth he is a most fortunate man. Even now when ’twould be easy to wreck his impending marriage to Rionna, you think only of the clan. You’re a hell of a woman, Keeley McCabe.”