He grinned as he slumped to the floor. At least Alana was safe.
***
Dirt bit into her hands as she landed and her feet stung with the impact but Alana was surprised she hadn't hurt anything else. She remained crumpled for a moment, her cheek pressed into the ground as the nausea in her stomach sapped her strength. She raised her gaze to the Old Castle. Smoke poured from the front windows and the main door had almost completely gone. Sitting, she took a steadying breath. Mayhap Morgann could get back through the hall and escape. A crash made her jump to her feet and she stumbled away to get a better view. A hand to her mouth, she gaped as fire danced out the top of the building.
The roof had fallen in.
Tears clouded her vision. Damn the man. He'd known he'd never get out alive. How could he leave her on her own? How could he promise her that all would be well?
A movement caught her eye and she turned toward the loch.
Margot.
Seething rage made her skin hot as saw the woman, a wild smile on her face as she watched the keep crumble. The witch who had taken so much from her was now enjoying the sight of Morgann burning to death. Alana curled her hand into a fist until her nails bit into her palm and a wild cry tore from her as she raced toward her.
Margot only spotted her at the last moment as Alana barrelled into her. The woman screamed and Alana knocked her down and snatched at her hair. She smacked a fist into her cheek as Margot tried to fend her off. She scratched at Alana's face, wriggling and clawing at her as they rolled to the water’s edge.
Somehow Margot scrabbled to her feet and pushed Alana down into the water. She coughed as water seeped up her nose and into her mouth but she forced herself up and turned, kicking out at Margot. Alana gritted her teeth as the woman fell into the loch with a scream and she grabbed her skirts, hauling her close so she could bring a fist down on her again. Blood blossomed from Margot’s nose and oozed down her face.
Dazed, Margot tried to crawl away but Alana kept a determined grip on her clothing, the fabric ripping as Morgann’s stepmother tried to free herself.
“Ye willnae get away,” Alana spat as Margot’s thrashing drenched her in freezing water. “Ye’ve taken everything and I will make ye pay for what ye’ve done, I swear it.”
Her fist throbbed, lungs ached but Morgann’s face swam in front of her, images of their lovemaking plagued her, words of love lingered, and fired her anger as she pinned Margot beneath her, holding back her arms.
The dark-haired woman opened her palms. “Pray cease. Forgive me,” she sobbed. “I’ll no’ fight anymore. Just dinnae hurt me.”
Alana sucked in a long breath and studied the woman as the roar of the fire echoed in her ears. Loosening her hold on her wrists, she eased away. As much as she wanted to tear Margot apart, she couldn’t bring herself to. Nay, the MacRaes could decide her fate.
But then she caught a glint of something in Margot’s expression. A hint of a smile or a spark of triumph. Margot shoved suddenly at Alana but she reacted quickly, smacked her forehead into hers and knocked the woman out cold.
Sinking back into the water, Alana rubbed at her head and grimaced at the tender spot she felt. Margot floated at the water’s edge and, with a sigh, Alana clambered out and dragged her onto the bank.
She lay across the pebbled shoal and finally released the sob that had been building inside her. Tears dripped down her face, mingling with the water from the loch. Behind her, the castle groaned as it surrendered to the flames.
She tried to control her ragged breathing but her chest ached too much. She may have lain there for only moments but time seemed to drift as her world fell from beneath her. She glanced over at the woman who had destroyed it. Somehow she needed to get her to Glencolum. Morgann’s mount still waited for her master, tugging at her reins as if she knew what had happened to him. Alana swallowed the knot of grief trapped in her throat and came to her feet.
Her knees shook as she walked unsteadily to the horse’s side and untethered her. She whinnied as Alana smoothed a palm over her muzzle and urged her over to the water’s edge. Caraid obediently dropped to the ground while Alana dragged Margot over. The slender woman was not particularly heavy but her waterlogged clothes made it hard to lift her over the saddle. Alana took little care in hefting her over, taking bitter enjoyment in carting her around like a sack.
Palms pressed to her eyes, she blotted away fresh tears and inhaled deeply as she dug into Morgann’s leather pouch and pulled some rope from it. She stroked the twine, remembering a time when it had been held in Morgann’s hands, before tying it tightly around Margot’s limp wrists. Hopefully that would hold her until Alana returned to Glencolum and Finn could ensure justice prevailed.