Page 17 of To Claim His Highland Bride

“You’re no MacLeod, or have you forgotten?” Bryce snarled. “Besides, kidnapping Rowena again was simply a ruse to get the castle to let down its guard. By now, my men have captured your parents. Since you wouldn’t turn over your portion of the treasure for Rowena, then perhaps you’ll do so for the safe return of your parents.”

Dredging up every fibre of strength and speed in his powerful legs, Marcus dropped his sword and launched himself into the water and drove a fist upwards into Bryce’s jaw.

Bryce staggered back a step, his head whipped violently to one side by the blow. Marcus delivered a second blow, but Bryce lifted his left arm to block it and punched Marcus in the gut with his right, sending him staggering backwards.

It didn’t take long for Marcus to recover as he lunged forward, the two cousins coming together like enraged bulls. Grunts and curses rent the air as they traded punches in the thigh-deep water. The smell of sweat and rage steamed the air between them.

Ten guards entered the water. It took three men to pull Bryce back to the shore and seven to keep Marcus from following.

Aria stood between them at the water’s edge, her gaze fixed on Marcus. “Killing this man will not help us to free James and Agnes.”

“I’d rather die than tell you where I’ve hidden them.” Bryce strained against the men who were holding him as he spat out a bloodied chip of tooth along with an indecipherable curse.

“You would bring harm to your own aunt and uncle?” Marcus surged forward, dragging the guards with him.

“I’ll kill them if I have to in order to get that treasure from you.”

Marcus’s chest heaved as he tried to suppress his anger. Beating his cousin to a pulp would not help his parents. “I will not give you that treasure until I make reparations to the families of the men who died bringing it to the surface.”

“Then prepare to never see your parents again.”

Marcus looked directly at his cousin. “I did not say there wasn’t something I could offer you now.”

Bryce’s shoulders relaxed as the fight went out of him. “Go on.”

“There is another treasure that still needs to be recovered. Though in order to obtain it, you must first release my parents, then come with me aboard The Cliodna.”

Bryce’s gaze narrowed. “What? So you can toss me overboard? Nay. You bring the treasure to me.”

Marcus shook himself free from the men who still held him but did not advance on his cousin. “If you want this treasure, then for once in your life you are going to have to earn it.”

Bryce wiped a trickle of blood leaking from his lip. “And where will you take me? To some foreign land where once the treasure is recovered, you will leave me behind?”

“The treasure is in Scotland. You will receive your cut just like everyone else aboard the ship and will be offered the same protections as any of my men.”

Bryce pressed his lips into a thin line. “I am a MacDonald. Your cousin. I deserve better treatment than your men.”

“You are a cheat and a scoundrel. This is the only offer I will ever extend. Take it or find yourself an unwilling guest in the MacLeods’ dungeon for the rest of your life.”

Bryce’s gaze narrowed. “To make certain you protect me, I will not release your parents until after the treasure is found.”

Marcus set his jaw uncompromisingly. “Nay. No parents, no treasure.”

Bryce shot him a malevolent glare. “How do I know you aren’t lying to me? Perhaps there is no treasure at all.”

“We will find gold and silver ingots, coins, gemstones, jewellery, and wine, from what I was told.”

Bryce’s features brightened. “I’m still not certain I can trust you.”

“You have nothing to lose by doing so,” Marcus replied, noting a shift in Bryce’s stance. Had his cousin finally realised he had no other option?

Bryce heaved a heavy sigh. “Very well. I will return your parents to Dunvegan this evening. But if you are lying to me or betray me in any way, I will find a way to kill you.”

“I’d like to see you try,” Marcus replied as he walked back to the shoreline. “Return my parents unharmed, and we have an accord.”

The tension amongst those gathered drained visibly as the two men clasped each other’s shoulders then stepped apart. “Be forewarned, Bryce. The desolate cave we seek is shrouded in superstition and believed to be a portal to either Hell or the fairy realm. Many have tried to uncover the secrets held deep within the Cave of Gold never to be seen or heard from again.”

“I’m already living in Hell as a fringe MacDonald, accepted by no one.” Bryce shrugged. “I’ll take my chances on a bunch of superstitious nonsense.”