Page 40 of The Laird's Dark Obsession

Vengeance, anger, and betrayal surged through his veins making him stronger, sharper, and ready for a fight. The chuckling grew nearer and Hunter’s hands gripped the hilt of his sword tighter.

Emerging from the shadows came Laird Fairbairn, two of his men, and Edine. Fairbairn held Edine, a dirk pressed to her throat. Before he could let his eyes settle on the man who destroyed his life, he assessed his sister. Her eyes were wide and frightened, but she looked unharmed. At last, his gaze shifted to his enemy.

Fairbairn wasn’t particularly striking. In fact, if one didn’t know him, he would likely be unassuming. Average height and an average build, with white hair combed back and tied at the base of his head. The years hadn’t been as kind to Fairbairn as they had to MacDougal, lines etched into his face to show his age and the usual scowl of an expression he had worn all his life. And then there were his eyes. The same arctic blues that Kira had and the only physical sign betraying she was his daughter. When shefirst arrived back at his Keep it had been hard for him to look at her because of those eyes, but right then he could see just how different they were.

Kira’s eyes were the color of cold water, but they had the warmth of blue fire. They danced with hope and sadness and all the things that made a person alive. Laird Fairbairn’s were flat and still, holding nothing but calculation and murderous intent. Hunter had been a fool to never notice before just how different the two were, even in this small detail.

“Little Hunter Galbraith, it’s been far too long,” Fairbairn called over, his voice taunting and saccharine. “Have ye been enjoying lairdom? Quite an honor, isn’t it? Nay need to thank me for expediting the process. It was no trouble at all.”

“Only weak men weaponize women in their plans,” Hunter growled. “Let go of Edine.”

Fairbairn tutted and smiled. “I dinnae think I will. She’s here for assurances. Besides, I would highly suggest ye reconsider that statement of yers. After all, what would that make yer captain?”

Hunter’s brow furrowed. What did Calum have to do with any of this?

“Ach, so ye still have nae pieced that together. How a man like myself and all my warriors managed to sneak through the gates all those years ago, undetected. Just the same as today.”

Hunter shook his head, refusing to get distracted by his nonsense. “Let her go. I will nae say it again,” he barked.

“Save us both the trouble and don’t, then. And go fetch my daughter for me. After all, even I would nae trust her under Calum’s watch. Nae if he just handed over sweet little Edine so easily. Nae if he was the one who opened the gate all those years ago that led to such tragedy.”

His eyes widened in realization. He thought Fairbairn was only distracting him, but when he looked to Edine whose face said it was true, Hunter’s stomach sank. The man he had entrusted the only two people he loved in the world with had betrayed him? He had let in the enemy today and all those years ago? Betrayal clawed at his insides and fury ripped through him.

But he took a steady breath. Right then wasn’t the time to delve into that. What mattered was getting Edine away from Fairbairn and getting back to Kira.

With a steady tip of his sword to the right twice, Hunter casually signaled his men. In the next heartbeat, an arrowwhooshednext to his ear and soared in Fairbairn’s direction. It grazed his neck, making him curse and lose his footing. Hunter took that split second of Fairbairn being thrown off to lurch forward and grab hold of Edine. He grabbed her wrist and hurled her behind him.

He could hear his men surround Edine and bring her into the thick of their protection, but his gaze never left Fairbairn. He didn’t know if it was the right thing to do, to stand there and face him while he didn’t know the state of Kira back at the Keep. Butall of this started and ended with Fairbairn. He couldn’t waste his opportunity.

He lunged forward and Fairbairn’s face brightened in excitement. The older man levied his dirk against the might of Hunter’s sword, managing to parry the attack at the expense of the dirk flying from his grasp. Fairbairn laughed and dodged Hunter’s hungry, mighty swings as he unsheathed his own sword. Fairbairn’s teeth were on full display with how wide he was grinning. The man was truly mad.

Hunter didn’t slow down, following Fairbairn’s every step, swinging his sword with all the strength and skill he possessed. Fairbairn hadn’t grown to be infamous just because of his cruelty, however. He was a skilled fighter, more agile than strong, and made easy work of dodging Hunter’s advances. But Hunter had proven all his life that his greatest skill was the determining factor in most combat–endurance. And even if his breathing was heavy from effort and his head aching from the racing thoughts, Hunter didn’t give up his pursuit.

Fairbairn was laughing again when their swords collided together and Hunter’s pressure was overtaking him. “So focused, so determined!” Fairbairn praised. “I must commend ye. I dinnae think I could be so immersed in a one-on-one fight when my castle is under siege.”

Hunter’s world stopped completely for that split second, feeling daft and ignorant. His anger, his hatred truly was his downfall. It blinded him even to the simplest assumptions. The trap wasn’tto get him alone out there and attack him, it was to get him away from the Keep.

To get Kira.

A sharp pain penetrated Hunter’s side. Even letting Hunter overpower him had been in Fairbairn’s plan, that way he was close enough to strike as he distracted him with the reality of the situation. The blade of the knife was still in his flesh as Fairbairn leaned in and said in a low chuckle, “Rory Barclay is very motivated to get his bride back. I’m sure they are making easy work of the numbers ye left behind.”

Fairbairn pulled out the knife and Hunter stumbled back, clutching his side. His anger yelled at him to pursue Fairbairn as he made his escape between the trees, to not stop hunting him until he claimed that man’s last breath for himself.

But he couldn’t. He couldn’t be blinded anymore. It was high time he got out of it to protect the ones that truly mattered.

“To the Keep!” Hunter ordered as he stormed to his horse.

Edine was already on the back of one of the steeds. She nodded in agreement and he knew she understood the danger they were in.

I’m coming back for ye, Kira. Please be alright.

Kira’s hands shook as she clutched her necklace and stared out her bedchamber window. It was just like before, when her father had invaded the Galbraith Keep only this time she was on the other side. Her stomach churned and her thoughts raced, feeling useless and pathetic for being unable to help.

This is all because of me. The valuable pawn that can do nothing. When will the bloodshed stop just because I exist?

There was a thunderous commotion underneath her feet, screams and heavy footsteps reverberating through the stone. A hand was around her wrist then and she looked up to Calum. His bright jade eyes were wild with worry and something else, something she couldn’t quite decipher.

“Forgive me, M’Lady. We have to move now. We’ll be fodder if we stay in here.”