“Nay!” Lily cried.
The man who stabbed him kicked him to the side and stepped forward, his shadow long in the doorway.
“Fancy meeting ye here, Lady MacRay.”
She swallowed as Nathan’s face came into full view.
Her blood ran cold. She stumbled back, her hand flying to her mouth. “‘Tis ye,” she whispered. Then, her voice hardened with rage. “Ye’re the traitor.”
Nathan smirked. “I really,reallydaenae like that word.”
Lily’s eyes flashed. “Ye’re the one giving orders to these men. Telling them where to go.”
He shrugged, as if it were nothing. “Well, ye didnae make it very hard, did ye?”
Anger burned hotter than fear in her chest. “What did we ever do to ye, ye traitorous bastard?”
Brigid gave the baby back to Clara and stepped in front of Lily. She threw out her arm, shielding her. “Stay back,” she shouted, her eyes never leaving Nathan.
Nathan chuckled. “If ye ken what is good for ye, ye’ll stand aside, Lady MacKane.”
“Or what?”
Nathan smiled darkly. “Or I give the word. Fifteen of me men are outside, fighting yer husband as we speak. I daenae think ye have the upper hand here.”
Lily swallowed hard. “Ye’ve been behind everything, have ye nae? The archer in the woods. The whispers that I am a witch. Ye spread those lies.”
Nathan only lifted an eyebrow.
Her eyes dropped to his leg, where a bandage was wrapped around his thigh. Her breath caught. “It was ye last night, too, was it nae? Ye tried to kill me in me own room.”
Nathan stepped closer. “It was supposed to be quick. A painless death. But ye fought back. So now, I’ll take me time. I’ll make ye feel every bit of the pain ye deserve.”
Brigid screamed. “Stop this right now!”
Nathan brought his fingers to his lips and whistled loudly.
Heavy booted steps sounded outside, and soon, six armed men rushed into the room, their blades ready. Conall followed shortly after, his blade already blooded.
“I didnae finish with ye,” he said as the men turned towards him and the battle continued.
Lily’s eyes fell on Timothy’s body and watched the blood pool beneath him. Her chest tightened with grief.
Conall looked at her, his jaw clenched tight. “I can hold them off, but ye must run.”
She shook her head. “What about Timothy?”
“Ye can help him later, Lily,” Conall said sharply. His voice was firm but gentle. “I promise ye I’ll protect yer sister and this family. But when I say run, ye run. Do ye understand?”
Tears pricked her eyes, but she nodded.
“More men!” Nathan’s voice cracked through the air.
Four more men charged, and Conall lifted his sword from a dead body.
“Run!” he barked.
Lily bolted through the doorway as the clash of steel rang out in the air. She sprinted outside, her breathing ragged.
