Highland Vengeance (20 page)

Camden tried hard to contain his anger.
The low growls he made as Malcolm walked to stand by Olivia, easily
gave Camden’s emotions away. The sinister MacKay man slowly ran his
fingers down the side of Olivia’s face and then rubbed his thumb
against her bottom lip. The countess instantly opened her mouth and
bit down hard on Malcolm’s finger, making the man scream out in
pain. He instantly swung his hand back towards Olivia’s face and
she bent back enough to miss his attack. Malcolm was impressed with
her reflexes and her feisty temper. She would be a hard one to
break, he thought, but then maybe I do not want her
tamed.

“
She has spirit in her
Camden. Is that what you love about her? Is that what draws you to
her?” Malcolm taunted.

The Highland warrior knew to keep his
silence. Olivia was already a pawn in this game and the stakes were
too high for Camden to lose.

“
Lady Sinclair, you aren’t
aware of this but I have offered Camden his freedom at least three
times since he has been here but the crazed man has refused my
offers,” Malcolm explained, “I have only asked for a simple thing
in return. The Sinclairs.”

For the first time since he had
arrived, Camden spoke to Malcolm.

“
You ask of me what I cannot
give you.”

“
Oh come now Camden, you and
I both know that all you have to do is say the words and it will be
over. Show the Sinclairs that you were never good enough to be
their laird and tell them to bow to me,” Malcolm
demanded.

“
Never!” Laird Sinclair said
defiantly.

“
What a shame. I was hoping
your arrogance would not get in the way but I can see that your
Highland pride is going to cost you greatly,” Malcolm boasted and
then turned to his guards, “now get him out of my sight and make
sure that pays for his defiance.”

The men began to drag the tied laird
back to his cell and one soldier kicked him with each step he took.
Olivia screamed out for them to stop but the filthy men just
laughed at her pleas. When her husband was gone, Olivia turned to
Malcolm and started to move closer to the man. His guards
immediately took hold of her arms and stopped her from going any
closer. Malcolm was intrigued by the brave woman’s actions and her
feminine appeal was starting to drive him mad with
desire.

“
It seems you obviously have
feelings for Laird Sinclair. Does his power entice you my little
temptress? Does my power do anything for you? When Camden is no
longer laird will you still desire him?” Malcolm
questioned.

Olivia stood still as he moved closer
to stand behind her and his warm breath on her neck had a stench
that made her nauseous. The countess noticed the change in his
voice and it reminded her of the conceited aristocrats in England
that tried to court her. Malcolm circled around her and Olivia
decided to play his game and see where it took her.

“
You are obviously
perceptive Laird MacKay. Coming from English royalty, I have always
held a bit of power with my title but when the king wed me off to
Camden, I am afraid the Highland wife has no say. I think my
feelings for Laird Sinclair are more of jealousy than anything
else. His power does entice me and I believe your power is rather
alluring as well,” she whispered.

Malcolm was sure she was jesting but
when he looked into her eyes and Olivia smiled, the evil man was
captivated. His erection instantly pounded for the she-devil and he
wanted her alone. Maybe she was being truthful, he thought, after
all that smile of hers is genuine.

“
Perhaps maybe I should
rethink my plans for now Lady Sinclair. I think I have found
something that I may want far greater than the Sinclair clan,”
Malcolm admitted.

Olivia new the idiot man would not
continue to think with his head. She felt a little more comfortable
knowing that he would be easily turned on and Olivia hoped she
could use this to her advantage. Malcolm’s constant gaze burned
straight through her and Olivia tried hard to return his lustful
look.

“
Take Lady Sinclair to my
chamber until I have decided what to do with her,” Malcolm ordered,
“and tie her up tightly so there will be no escaping.”

Time seemed to pass by faster in the
Highlands, Olivia thought to herself as she started to fall asleep
in the chair that she was tied to. The countess had ridden through
the night to reach the MacKay holding and her tired worn out body
gave into the rest as soon as she was alone in the chamber. Malcolm
had been away from Lady Sinclair for almost an hour and already the
evil man was missing the sight of her. When the MacKay laird
entered his chamber and found the English beauty sleeping soundly,
he thought she looked like a present tied up just for
him.

He stood in front of Olivia and slowly
touched the soft skin of her face. Malcolm gently ran his fingers
through her hair and brought his lips close to hers. Remembering
her bite from earlier, the villain became even more turned on. He
would much rather have an aggressive woman to bed than a limp body
under him. Malcolm thought of how much he would enjoy this
temptress and carefully pressed his lips to hers. He moved his
mouth down her neck and then Malcolm let his hands squeeze her full
breasts. The mad man knew to stop soon enough for he wanted her
awake and looking at him with her emerald eyes when he took her. He
would have to be patient a little longer.

Olivia had no idea how long she had
been in Malcolm’s chamber when the MacKay soldiers had come to get
her. The countess realized she must have been tied there longer
than she first thought because her arms were numb from the elbows
down. As she stood to follow the soldiers, pain shot through her
side and Olivia tried desperately to fight the lightheaded feeling
that came with the throbbing. Soon, she stood in front of Malcolm
again and the excitement she saw in his eyes for her was a bit
startling. Olivia gave her captor a small smile and then watched
the man instantly relax.

“
Bring the Sinclair man to
me, I have a new offer to make him,” Malcolm demanded.

The English woman was persistent in the
game she played with Malcolm. She knew what the man wanted and it
was now, that her years of training at the abbey were paying off.
Olivia’s mind wondered back to the time she spent growing up in the
convent. As a young woman, she never would have imagined herself
married to a Scottish laird let alone being held captive in an evil
man’s crumbling castle. Olivia thought back to all the times she
had obeyed when she needed to but defiantly got what she wanted
from everyone. Whether it was with the nuns or her brother, Olivia
felt as if she were the puppet master of all the conflicts between
them. Now, the countess would use her skill to make Malcolm believe
her every word.

While standing in front of Malcolm,
Olivia heard the soldiers reporting to him what they thought was
happening outside. The MacKay men had heard rumors that several
other clans had joined the one that Camden trained and they were
all coming to fight. The warrior woman believed she saw a hint of
defeat in Malcolm’s eyes but she knew the crazed man would never
give in.

“
Has anyone actually seen
the other clans?” Malcolm asked frantically.

“
Nay m’laird.”

“
Well, keep the men posted
and watch for any movement in the forest,” he ordered.

Within a few moments, Camden was
brought in to stand before Malcolm and the married couple stood
side by side in front of their captor. Olivia fought hard to mask
her emotions when she saw her husband even bloodier than before.
Laird Sinclair tried to make eye contact with his wife but he could
tell that Olivia was not going to look at him.

“
Laird Sinclair, I have
given you multiple opportunities to bow to me and give me your
clan. You do realize that with my army, I will take it from you
anyway. What I have wanted most from you was to hear the words from
your mouth. Well that has changed, I have found something that I
want far greater than your humble words,” Malcolm continued, “ I
suppose I could still bargain this item with you but the price will
be steep. What do you say Laird Camden Sinclair, will you make a
deal to trade your people, land and the new army you have trained
in exchange for your wife?”

The roar was deafening as Camden
screamed out loud. The Highland laird had always been told that
love would make a man weak and now he understood why. Olivia
immediately knew the inner turmoil that Camden faced. He was first
a Highland laird and that meant protecting his people. She knew her
husband’s valor and he would never let his people be slaves to
Malcolm just to save her. Olivia decided not to give Camden the
chance to make any other decision.

“
Laird MacKay,” Olivia
interrupted, “may add my thoughts to this conversation?”

“
Of course, my little
temptress,” Malcolm smirked.

Camden watched as his wife moved her
hips ever so slightly towards her captor before she spoke to him.
Her face seemed to have a faint smile and Olivia looked as though
she were attempting to seduce the man.

“
I am afraid that Laird
Sinclair seems rather weak at the moment and I fear he may make the
wrong choice, Laird MacKay. He is not thinking rationally and if he
gives you all that you ask for, then I have to leave with him. I do
not wish to be bargained for. Let him go to his people and I will
stay willingly here with a powerful laird.”

“
No!” Camden
yelled.

Malcolm stared into her eyes and he
understood exactly what she meant. He feared Camden would not make
the trade and then he would miss out on the English beauty. The
elation that ran through Malcolm’s body had never been so great.
The villainous man had just heard Lady Sinclair say that she wanted
to be here with him.

When Olivia turned back towards her
husband, Camden noticed that Malcolm was beaming and he wanted to
knock the smug look right off his face.

“
Camden, my good friend, it
seems we no longer have any means to fight at least for now. I have
decided that I do not want your clan or your land. My men will be
escorting you off of the MacKay land,” Malcolm said
calmly.

“
What is your game Olivia?”
Camden snarled.

“
What do you mean?” She said
innocently.

Malcolm had not heard her first name
before but he thought it fit her perfectly. He could hardly wait to
yell her name when he fought her in bed. He decided that keeping
the beauty here was worth losing the Sinclair clan, for
now.

“
You will not stay here
Olivia. You are my wife and you will leave with me,” Camden
argued.

“
I no longer wish to be
something that is bargained with, like a piece of land. I made it
clear that I wish to stay here him,” she replied.

Camden’s eyes met Olivia’s and he could
see the love she had for him burning inside the emerald crystals.
He was not sure what his wife was up to but if Laird Sinclair knew
one thing for certain, Olivia would never stay freely with Malcolm.
Camden tried to imagine what her plan was, for the woman was always
calculating something. He knew she could not deny the love they
shared for one another. As the husband and wife continued to stare
at one another, Olivia added more to her statement.

“
I want to stay with a laird
that can keep his power unlike you that has lost it twice in such a
short time. Go running back to your clan, I doubt they will accept
you anyhow after you abandoned them before,” she said trying to
make Malcolm believe her façade further.

Malcolm was thrilled with the feisty
woman and her harsh comments to Camden. He thought she was
brilliant for coming to him and she was correct about Camden’s
people, which would make taking over the Sinclair’s land even
easier than before. Malcolm’s lust for Olivia was almost
overwhelming and he pictured himself ruling with her by his
side.

Laird Sinclair tried to figure out what
his wife was doing and it nearly killed him to let her follow
through with her scheme. Camden hoped to God that she had a plan
and the warrior could only go by the faith he had in Olivia’s
abilities. The MacKay soldiers grabbed Camden, keeping him tied up
and threw him on the back of a horse. The men rode out to the
distance to where they knew the rest of the Sinclair warriors
waited and dumped their laird onto the frozen ground.

Chapter Ten

Not far from the walls of the MacKay
holding, the four Sinclair warriors knew that something must have
gone wrong and that the plan in motion was an apparent failure. It
had been hours since Olivia had been taken into Malcolm’s eroded
holding. Broderick was getting more anxious by the minute and he
wanted to storm the castle to get Camden and Olivia out of there
but he was unsure of what was happening inside. The other three
clans that were prepared to fight for Laird Sinclair and his wife
had come with their uninjured men and waited for Broderick to give
the battle commands. The new laird was faced with a huge dilemma,
as he stood there with a massive army ready to attack. Broderick
knew moving in on the castle would put the captives lives in danger
so Laird Kincaid only choice was to wait impatiently with the
others. Broderick prayed to God and wished that Camden were there
to make the next decision instead of him.