Page 3 of A Rogue and a Noble Lass

He started to back away, but Warnock’s reach was too long. Warnock grabbed him by the scruff of the neck and clipped him with the back of his hand. Pain bloomed over Logan’s cheek and tears filled his eyes.

“That’s for spying.” He then brought his hand back and struck Logan again, this time on the other cheek. “And that’s for attacking a guard.”

Warnock released Logan this time, and the force behind the strike was enough to send Logan crashing to the floor.

“Nae!” Abigail yelled, but Warnock flung an arm in her direction. The guard ignored his bloody nose and hauled her out of the room.

Logan didn’t know it in that moment, but it was the last time he would ever see his sister.

Warnock carried him outside. The wind was howling and the clouds roiled. Warnock threw Logan into a deep pit.

“I will nae tolerate this behavior from the nothings of ye,” he spat.

Then he turned.

Logan threw himself against the sides of the pit, but it was impossible to find any purchase. He slid back down, getting his clothes and copper hair stained with dirt. In the end he resorted to hammering his fist because there was no other way to release his anger.

And then the rain came.

There was no use calling out for help. Anyone in the clan knew better than to go against Laird Warnock’s wishes.

“Get up. I hae something tae show ye.”

A rope was thrown down. Logan grabbed hold of it and struggled up.

The sun had barely risen when his feet sank into the soft mud and he had to be careful not to lose his footing. He clambered up and rolled onto the ground.

Warnock’s cold eyes looked down at him. He nodded for him to follow.

They walked towards a ridge. Warnock’s step was stiffer than usual. The ground below disappeared into a jagged valley, where sharp rocks protruded and thorny shrubs were nestled against the grim terrain.

But Logan saw none of that.

All he could see was the woman strewn across the rocks, her legs bent at an unnatural angle, the stone stained with her blood, her hair hiding her face. He would know that woman anywhere.

Abigail.

Logan felt so many emotions at once that he froze. He wanted to cry. He wanted to scream. He wanted to fall to his knees. He ended up doing none of these things.

“I ken I am harsh on ye because of yer half blood, but I want ye tae be strong. The world is far crueler than I am, Logan. I tried with Abigail, but her heart ruled her. This is because of Ryan Knox. The news of his wedding ruined her. It’s because of him that she died.”

Logan stared at Abigail’s corpse. His green eyes stung and fury filled his heart. Warnock placed his hand upon Logan’s back.

“He hae taken something dear from us and now he must pay. There’s only one thing ye need tae dae in this life, Logan. One goal to achieve. Kill Ryan Knox. And avenge yer sister.”

“Would ye look at that? A thing of beauty, is nae it?” Brody gasped in awe.

He and Logan stopped for a moment, drinking in the sight of the Knox Keep. It was tall and proud. The subject of so many stories of glory.

But while Brody looked on in awe, Logan grit his teeth.

“Aye, but I would nae stand there and admire it too much. If I must, I will burn it tae the ground,” Logan rasped.

Brody rolled his eyes. “Och, can we nae hae a wee bit of fun before ye take yer revenge? I heard that the lasses here are the finest in all the Highlands,” Brody wiggled his eyebrows.

Logan glared at him.

“I hae waited long enough.”