Page 34 of The Best of Madeline Grant

“A messenger,” Maddie motioned to the door.

Brodie returned a few moments later, holding a scroll. “A messenger handed me this and hustled away.” Maddie followed him in.

All conversation stopped as they waited to hear what Brodie had to say. Alex motioned for Maddie to come to him behind the desk.

Brodie read the message on the scroll. “This is from Glenn of Buchan,” he said, looking up. “He has Kyla and promises noharm to her in exchange for…” he paused, reading it again as if to convince himself of what it said.

Alex pulled Maddie down onto his lap, afraid she would collapse onto the floor. He could feel her fine tremors. This was too much for his wee wife.

Robbie stared at him. Alex said, “Go ahead, Brodie.”

“He’ll return Kyla to us safely when we relinquish Grant Castle to him. We have two days to decide.”

Maddie gasped and fell against Alex, but after a moment, she stood up and squared her shoulders.

She folded her hands in front of her and said, “Husband, you need to put a dagger in that man’s black heart.”

Chapter 13

Alex and Maddie at their best.

Alex Grant sat in his solar, staring at the wall of weapons. They were symbols of his ancestry, of the clan that he held so dear, of his pride in his land, and he was suddenly acutely aware he was at risk of losing all of it.

But nothing frightened him as much as the possibility of losing his eldest daughter. Kyla, with eyes the color of Maddie’s and a heart as big as they came, was in the hands of brutal men, and he was almost close to vomiting over it. He knew what bad men did to women, had spent half his life fighting against it.

This was his daughter. His enemies could bring him to his knees.

What unsettled him most was how powerless he was. Aye, there had been many threats over the years, but he’d always had a strong sword arm and worked hard to maintain that strength. His recent injury had changed all. His wife would remind himthat he’d spent years training their sons and nephews to be equally mighty.

Would it be enough?

A knock sounded at the door and he heard his wife’s voice. “Come in, Maddie.”

Maddie stepped inside, a small smile lighting her face and her blue eyes sparkling. “Alex, I have something to tell you.”

“Wonderful, Maddie. Come sit with me.” He patted his lap.

“Oh, Alex. I’m quite sure I shall cause you pain. I can sit in my own chair.”

He shook his head and tugged her to him, plopping her down on his lap before he kissed her.

She pulled back and placed both hands on his chest. “Alex, I have good news.”

“Go ahead. I could use some about now.” He settled his hands on her hips.

“Before Kyla left, Maggie taught her how to use a dagger. She said our daughter was the quickest learner she’d ever seen.”

“Aye, that is good news.”

Maddie hung her head, absently rubbing a circle on his chest with one hand.

“What is it, wife?”

“I am troubled that Kyla did this after the previous trip, but I know how upset she was about Davina. She came to us about her, and we both turned her down. She made this decision because of two reasons. First because she was worried about us. Jamie said she truly believed she could convince Davina to talk to her sire and stop the battle. The second reason is she could not believe what Davina’s sire had forced on her in the past, and what he planned to do. She is so innocent, she couldn’t comprehend such cruelty.”

“Aye, I think you’re right. The problem with our eldest daughter is that she has a big heart. Her concern for othersoutweighs her sense of danger, and I cannot fault her for that. She believed Davina needed help to get her out of a terrible situation. I also believe she didn’t wish to cause us any concern. She was here the day my pain returned.”

“Aye, it makes sense.”