When a Laird Loves a Lady (Highlander Vows: Entangled Hearts Book 1) by Julie Johnstone Read Free Book Online

snapped. “I’m offended that you believe
I would lie.”
    Iain gave Rory Mac a triumphant
smile while biting back a burst of laughter at how outrageous the woman’s
comment, given her situation. The Sassenach looked as though she meant it true
enough to Iain.
    Froste offered her a bored look,
and when he did, the Sassenach, to Iain’s astonishment, turned the dagger on
herself and held it to her throat. “If you or any of your men move again
without giving me your solemn vow that you will not kill this man”—she motioned
to the man on the ground—“I will slit my throat, and you’ll not get what you
most want.”
    Now this was a most curious plan.
Iain exchanged an amazed look with Rory Mac. With the bold claim she’d just
made, he hoped the woman knew what she was doing.
    “And what is it I most desire?”
Froste asked.
    “Me,” she answered promptly and
without a trace of boastfulness. “And you want me alive, to be sure. It
certainly makes it easier to acquire the land you covet from my father if I’m
alive, now doesn’t it?”
    Iain felt himself gape. Marion de
Lacy was alive? And she was no cold, proper Sassenach after all, and she most
certainly was not weak. His wonder vanished with his next breath. She was
alive, and she would soon be his wife.
    “Iain, is—”
    “Aye, that’s my bride,” Iain
answered, fierce anger now flowing through his veins as he determined how to
most effectively attack Froste while ensuring Marion would not be harmed.
Marion waved her dagger in the air, stealing Iain’s attention for a moment.
    “I’ll have your vow to let the Scot
go,” she demanded in a voice of steel, as she tilted her head toward the form
on the ground.
    As Rory Mac hissed in disbelief
beside him, Iain found his gaze drawn briefly to where the man lay. He was
dressed in a plain wool cloak, and whoever the man was, he’d taken pains not to
be noticed. Was he here for Marion? Had she planned to escape marrying Froste?
Iain found he hoped so.
    As one of the knights moved his
hand to his weapon, Iain’s thoughts raced forward, establishing a plan in his
mind. He nudged Rory Mac. “Ye take the two men farthest from us. I’ll get
Marion and take out Froste and the other knight.”
    Rory Mac nodded.
    “Now!” he said in a fierce whisper
as the knight closest to Marion lunged toward her.
    Iain surged forward, withdrawing
his sword and closing the distance between himself and the knight who had
grabbed Marion. Her eyes widened in shock at the sight of him, and her dagger flashed upward, then hovered as if she wasn’t sure who was the greater threat. In a
rush, her lips pressed grimly together, and she plunged her dagger into the
knight’s arm. The man roared, drawing his sword up to counter. Iain knocked the
sword away with his own, then brought his blade down to finish the knight. He fell
to the ground in a heap.
    Iain glanced over at Rory Mac, who
had already felled one knight and was engaged with the other. Iain looked away
just in time to see Froste launching toward him. Behind Iain, Marion screamed.
Iain raised his sword once more and his weapon met Froste’s in midair, the
sound of metal against metal echoing in the night. They withdrew, circled each
other again, and met once more in midair, but Iain spun, brought his sword down
quickly, and struck a blow to Froste’s back.
    He stumbled and cursed, but
straightened. He stared hard at Iain, as if he only just realized who Iain was.
The knight wiped a hand across his face and moved his sword from one hand to
the other, his gaze moving from Iain to behind him where Iain could feel Marion
hovering near his feet. He had no idea what she was doing until suddenly she
moved to his side, her bloody dagger in her hand. He barely knew the woman, but
he already respected her courage.
    “What are you doing in England,
MacLeod?” Froste thundered.
    “I came to speak to yer king
regarding David’s release, and now I’m here to collect my bride, Lady