Semua Bab Satisfying Her Darkest Fantasies: Bab 751 - Bab 760

Alan sucked in air through his nostrils. “He is mine to kill.”Caleb sank onto the bed next to his brother. “Aye, when we’ve extracted the necessary information from him, he is yours to kill. No one would deny you that right.”“She saved me again,” Alan said bleakly. “The arrow was meant for me. She stepped in front of it and gave her life for mine.”“She is a fierce lass. She loves you.”That Caleb spoke of love without derision in his voice was surprising. But there was only grudging admiration and truth in his tone.Alan buried his head in his hands. “I’ve made such a mess of things.”“Don’t torture yourself, Alan. You were in an impossible situation. You and Keeley handled it as best you could. Much was riding on your marriage to Rachael.”“I’m married to Keeley,” Alan said quietly.“Aye, I heard it. I bore witness to the handfast.”“It brings me no comfort when she lies dying down the hall.”Caleb glanced at Gannon and then back to Alan. “You sell the lass short, Alan. She’s toug

He turned then to face Edward. “I know this will lower me in the esteem of my family. My brothers. My clan. My king. But I cannot be the man you’ve always known me to be if I do this thing. There has to be another way to make the alliance work. Me being laird of the McDonald clan should not be the hinge that holds us all together.”The king let out a deep breath, his eyes glittering with anger. “Think what you do. Cameron nearly destroyed your clan. This is your opportunity to finish him once and for all.”“With or without this alliance, Cameron is a dead man,” Alan said in a menacing voice. “What you seek is an alliance that will prevent Malcolm from a successful bid to the throne, and you would use our clan to achieve your means.”The king’s scowl grew darker.“I won’t do it.” Alan glanced to Rachael, apology in his eyes. “I’m sorry, Rachael. I would not humiliate you for the world. You are a good lass who deserves a husband who does not love another. I cannot marry you.”“I’ll marr

Rachael’s eyes were glazing over and she wasn’t entirely sure it was due to the lengthy accolades being tossed about. Her goblet had been refilled more times than she remembered but she drank on, ignoring the way it swirled around in her belly and made her head swim.Laird Woods had decreed that despite the many issues that bore discussion and the decisions that must be made, today would be spent in celebration of his brother’s marriage.Rachael suspected that Mary had everything to do with that decree. She needn’t have bothered, though. There was little cause for celebration in Rachael’s mind.She glanced sideways to see Caleb sitting back in his chair, lazily surveying the occupants of the table. He tossed back an insult when one was flung his way by one of the Woods men. Something to do with his manhood. Rachael shuddered and purposely blanked her mind to the innuendo.She gulped down another mouthful of the ale and put the goblet back down on the table with a bang that made her wi

Caleb grunted.“The question is, why your lass is out of your bed the morning after she wed with you. One might draw some interesting conclusions.”Caleb sent him a chilling glare.Not in the least bit worried over Caleb’s mood, Cormac continued. “Why, the very fact that she has the strength to spar suggests that you did something … well, not right.”Cormac’s smug teasing made Caleb’s lips turn up into a snarl. “I’d wager that Christina wouldn’t care too much for a toothless husband.”Cormac held up his hands in surrender, but he wore that stupid grin all the way outside.Caleb welcomed the brisk chill. It was a reminder to him never to get too comfortable. Never let his guard down. When men became too ensconced in their own comfort, it was inevitably their downfall.That wouldn’t happen to him. Not if he could help it. Nor would it happen to his clan—both new and old.“She has skill,” Cormac noted.Caleb scowled again as they approached the area lit by the torches.“Rachael!” he bark

It was stupid of her to allow Maddie to interfere. Playing dress up was for beautiful women who knew all the social niceties. How to talk. How to walk. How to be quiet and deferential. All the things Rachael wasn’t.All she had accomplished was making an even bigger fool of herself. And she’d given Caleb yet another opportunity to humiliate her.She hated him.It was bad enough he thought himself some noble self-sacrificer for taking on his brother’s discarded bride, but he had to be a smug, overbearing jackass to boot.If only she’d had a sister to marry off. Then she could have dressed the way she wanted, acted as she wanted, and she could damn well pick up a sword when she wanted.Realizing she was standing in the nude and it was quite cold, she pulled on the scruffy trews and then pulled her favorite tunic over her head. Her boots were old. There was a hole in the heel, but they fit her like a glove and they’d never let her down.Taking only a few extra moments to plait and secure