The Warlords Revenge (2 page)

She planted a swift knee in his groin, hoping he'd let go of her. It only enraged him more. He swept her feet out from under her and sent her crashing to the floor. The air rushed out of her lungs and he was right on top of her, pinning her arms over her head as she struggled to catch her breath.

“Like I said—” He panted. “—you’re no match for me.” He stared down at her with a satisfied smirk.

Jane took deep breaths, finally getting the air she needed. She went back to struggling with
Gavyn
, trying to pull her arms free and buck him off her. The heavy weight of his big body was crushing. It felt silly trying to fight him, but she wasn’t going to give up. The hard ridge in his pants pressed into her stomach and she stilled. He ground his hips against her.

“Keep thrashing about, and I’m only going to enjoy it more.”

“Get off me!”
Gods
, would he rape her before killing her? She’d imagined he would, but the reality of being beneath him was terrifying.

“You’re in no position to make demands.” His gaze travelled over her body.

When he released one of her hands, intending to capture both of hers in only one of his, she slithered out of his grasp and dug her nails into the fleshy part of his cheek. Right over his scar.

A roar bellowed from him and he grabbed at her hand. Rising up, she sank her teeth into the groove of his thumb, biting down on him as hard as she could. He brought the back of his hand across her face, hitting her so hard her head bounced off the floor. Everything went cloudy. Her thoughts grew distant. Scattered. She was losing this fight.

He
startled
her when he locked one of his hands around her neck, choking her. Frightened, she clawed at his hand, trying to pry his fingers loose.

He brought his face in close to hers, snarling, blue eyes blazing. “I could kill you now and be done with it!” He squeezed harder.

“Then why don’t you?” The words barely squeaked past his crushing hand.

“Are you in such a hurry to die?”

Jane went limp under him.
No
. She didn’t want to die at all. She wanted to live. To laugh. To fall in love. Have children of her own and give them a permanent, stable home. A good home. Like all children deserved.

Her gut wrenched, eyes watered, brimming with tears. The drops flowed out of her, making wet tracks down her face. She would never get the chance to live a decent life. A normal life. The wish to be rid of her family had been granted, only now she was going to die rather than find freedom. Maybe that’s exactly what she deserved for having years of betraying thoughts about them.
Gavyn
loosened his grip around her throat and her breaths came in uncontrollable sobs.

Biting out a curse, he pushed himself to his feet. Jane covered her face with her hands, not wanting to let him see her cry, but unable to stop herself. His sword scraped along the floor as he lifted it and she peeked through her fingers to see where he would run her through.

With a fluid motion, he stabbed his sword into the sheath secured around his hips. “Get up!” he barked.

Jane froze. Now what? She rolled to her side, head spinning as she climbed to her feet, her jaw suddenly throbbing from where he’d hit her. Ignoring her discomfort, she focused on
Gavyn
. A sheathed sword was a good sign. Death was no longer imminent, unless he intended to use his hands. Every second he wasn’t trying to kill her became a chance for her to escape him. She’d be better about it the next time. Quicker. Smarter.

She met his icy, cold stare with a bold indifference, smoothing out her skirts with shaking hands, pretending she wasn't as rattled as she felt, even as her tears dried on her face. She flinched when he latched onto her arm and started dragging her along behind him. As she tried to wriggle out of his grasp, he came to an abrupt halt, turning to stare down at her.

“Still have a little fight left in you?” He
cranked
down on her arm. “I won't be so forgiving again.”

Jane settled. Her entire body ached; bruised, beaten, choked. Another round with the warlord would be the end of her. Fighting him was pointless anyway. She lacked physical strength, but she made up for it by being smart. Resourceful. If she was going to find an opportunity for escape, she needed to get her energy and concentration back.

“Good choice.” He dragged her along again, heading out the front door of the house.

She felt numb as she scurried to keep up with him, having no idea what he planned to do with her and knowing she wouldn't be able to stop him. It was strange, feeling so helpless. Vulnerable. When would she wake up from this nightmare?

He led her over to his horse, a dark, lean thoroughbred saddled and waiting in the front drive. Ellen came rushing out of the house after them.

“I'll ask you again to spare her,” she pleaded with
Gavyn
.

“Keep your distance, woman,” he warned. “Be grateful I spared
you
.” His arms went to Jane's waist and he hoisted her up onto the horse, sliding her into the leather saddle. Her first thought was to take off with the animal, but he was already clutching the reigns in his bloodstained hands.

Ellen narrowed her eyes at him. “I'll tell you this,
Gavyn
MacLaren
,” she hissed his name through clenched teeth. “If you do anything to harm that girl, I
will
find you. I'll see you suffer so deeply, die so painfully, you'll wish you'd never set eyes on her.”

“That's a fine threat, woman.” He swung up into the saddle behind Jane, pressing his body against hers and caging her with his strong arms as he tugged at the reigns. “I'll try to remember it while I’m taking what's owed me.”

Jane panicked as he turned the horse and started it running down the drive. Away from her home. Away from her family and everything she’d ever known. Taking what he was owed? She wondered what exactly that was. What terrible fate did he have planned for her?

As he steered them onto the road, she slipped in the saddle and had to grab onto his leg to stay seated. He tightened one of his arms around her waist, pulling her up against him and bracing her with his firm hold. The move seemed so natural for him. Like he was practiced at riding with women. It made her wonder how many others he'd taken against their will.

“Where are you taking me?” she demanded. It was time to start thinking ahead, plotting her escape.

“To my home.”

“Where exactly is your home?”

“North.”

Okay
. Maybe she needed to be more direct in her questioning. She wasn't getting much information. “How far north?”

“It's about a four day ride. Five if you slow me down.”

“And what am I to do once we get to your home?” She held her breath, anticipating his answer.

“Whatever I tell you to do.”

“Well, that really narrows things down.”

“Your father took my family, my children, it only seems fitting that his daughter should give it back to me.”

“What?!” Jane didn't try to disguise her outrage. Was the man insane?

“I will get back what was taken from me, at least part of it,” he said, spitting the words. “And you've good enough looks that I'll enjoy it as well.”

She couldn't believe what she was hearing. Good enough looks that he'd enjoy it? What a boor he was; a savage, a ... a ...
barbarian
! The very thought of him repulsed her. “If you think I'll cooperate with this, you've got another thing coming. I'm no broodmare!”

“Oh, yes ...” He chuckled, sounding pleased. “I'm certain you'll put up a good fight. Which I'll also enjoy.”

“You're a beast!”

“You only know the half of it.” He flicked the reigns, making the horse carry them faster.

Asking more questions or doing anything to provoke his temper was something that could wait. Jane honestly didn't want the details of what he had planned for her. Even though she was still a virgin, she'd seen enough to know what happens between a man and a woman, and her imagination knew no bounds. That was all she needed to completely terrify herself.

They rode for hours, well into the night. She figured
Gavyn
wanted to put as much distance between himself and his crime as possible. She wondered how long it would be until someone discovered her dead family. She also had a sneaking suspicion no one would give any hints as to who had stormed into their home and killed them. They weren't a very likable lot.

That also meant no one would be looking for her. No help was coming. There was no hope of rescue. She had only herself to rely on now.

When they finally stopped at an inn, she thought about making a scene as
Gavyn
pulled her from the horse, but she was too tired. She'd fought off sleep to avoid resting in his arms and she could barely keep up with him as he led her inside.

The inn was quiet at this time of night, warm and inviting. The woman who gave them a room had rosy cheeks and a nice smile, and the smells of cooking food drifted upstairs from the kitchen. Jane might actually have liked the place in different company.

She was almost dead on her feet when
Gavyn
ordered food to be sent up and some new clothes for both of them. At least he was partially civilized. When she heard him also order a fresh bath to be drawn, she shot him a hateful stare.

“I'm not bathing with you,” she announced. “It's bad enough you expect us to share the same room.”

He strode over to her. “I’m no' letting you out of my sight, lass.” He chucked a finger under her chin. “You've blood in your hair and dirt on your face and under your nails. You won't sleep next to me unless you wash.”

“It's your fault I'm dirty and there's blood in my hair,” she fumed. Normally appearance and grooming were priorities for her. “And I won't be sleeping next to you, or anywhere near you, so you don't have to worry about it.” How bad could the floor be?

He sat on the bed and began pulling off his boots. “You can eat first. I'm sure you'll be ready for bed after a nice, hot bath.”

“Are you so sure?” she argued. “You don't know what I need.”

“I know you almost fell asleep a dozen times on the ride here.”

Damn
. Score for the warlord.

He arranged two chairs at the small table in the corner. “You need rest. We have an early morning.”

There was a knock at the door and a young girl came into the room and poured some water into the basin on the dresser and set out a clean towel before leaving. Jane eyed the open door, and frowned when
Gavyn
closed it.

Crossing the small room, she washed her hands and face in the basin and stared in horror at her reflection in the mirror. Hollow blue eyes stared back at her. Her blonde hair was tangled and matted. Her cheek and neck bruised from where he'd hit her and choked her. Blood was smeared across the front of her favorite blue dress.

“See?” His cold eyes glanced in the mirror over her shoulder. “You're in quite a shape.”

“Thanks to you!” She spun on her heel to face him. “Didn't your mother ever teach you not to beat up women?”

“You're no woman,” he spat. “You're a Stewart, with plenty of fight. Be glad I'm not having you spend the night out in the stables where you belong.”

Jane gasped.
The bastard!
He was the animal, not her. Maybe she'd stolen some things in her life, told a lie or two, and so she'd cheated at cards a few times. She'd never killed anyone or kidnapped anyone. Unlike this man and her family, she had some sense of right and wrong. Her version of morality might be slightly skewed, but at least she had one.

She opened her mouth to shoot him a heated reply when another knock at the door interrupted her. The woman from downstairs brought in a tray of food and wine. She gave Jane a sideways look, obviously studying her bruises, before hurrying out of the room.

Jane plopped down in one of the chairs next to the table, picked up a fork, and began nibbling at the potatoes. “I assume I can eat, or are you going to have some oats brought up from the stables?”

“You demonstrate a knowledge of silverware, so that won't be necessary.” He took the seat next to her and began slicing the chicken, placing a few pieces of the meat on her side of the plate.

She tried to eat slowly, taking small bites. The last thing she wanted was to let him see just how hungry she was. As they ate, the woman came back to draw the bath
,
quietly issuing instructions to the few servants who were coming and going with buckets of hot water.
While the servants worked, she started a fire in the hearth, then disappeared, to return when Jane and
Gavyn
were finished, with a bundle of fresh clothes that she left on the bed.

Jane watched the people move around, performing their duties.. The distraction helped her avoid looking at
Gavyn
. The way he was eyeing her made her nervous. She felt him taking in every little detail of her appearance and did her best to ignore him. And the fact that he might be seeing more of her shortly.

When they finished the meal,
Gavyn
put the tray out in the hall. He pulled his shirt off over his head and tossed it on the floor before reclining on the bed with a rumbling sigh.