Highland Vengeance Read Online Free Page B

clan being slaughtered and beaten while you lay here
helplessly. Don’t worry husband, you will not live to see the
remains of your clan,” she whispered in his ear with her hot
breath.
    Donal used all the strength he had in
his aged body to push Lorna off him but in one quick movement she
slashed the dagger across his neck and a pool of warm blood quickly
soiled the bridal linens. The former laird of the Sinclair clan
managed to strangle out, “Camden” as the very life of him poured
onto the bed.
    The evil woman smiled in her small
victory thinking to herself that everything was going exactly as
she had planned for this night. The stupid Sinclairs had fallen for
the marriage proposal and the MacKay men made sure their victims
were good and drunk before bed tonight. Once Lorna went to the
bridal chamber, she knew her clan would then attack. The ruthless
MacKay clan killed the Sinclair men while they slept and the women
and children were rounded up to the center of the village. Other
MacKay soldiers began to torch the thatched roof houses while
people still slept in them.
    Lorna’s personal guards were attacking
the Sinclairs that were in the main keep while they looked for
Camden and his men. As soon as they had the new laird dead, this
battle would be an easy conquest. Lorna joined her guards within
minutes of murdering her new husband and together they swept the
holding in search of Camden.
    “ Find him!” She
shouted.
    The hunt for the small group of
warriors was unsuccessful. No one could find Camden or his trusted
men. Lorna was livid when she heard the news, wanting the legendary
defender gone forever. Her brother Malcolm would be coming tomorrow
to help make sure the Sinclairs understood who their laird was now.
Not only would they succumb to Lorna but also they would obey all
the MacKay clan and serve them well. She knew Malcolm would be
furious that Camden was not dead but she would send men to find him
soon enough. Lorna wickedly grinned into the cold night air as she
realized her time to rule was finally here and she had seized the
valuable prized land.

    Camden and his men had grown tired of
the celebration early in the evening and had left to find rest
elsewhere. The new laird hated to watch people drink and he refused
to let his men drink, for he believed it confused the mind. The
warriors had ridden south, down the edge of the sea to a private
cove they often used for training. The Sinclair land was vast and
covered a large area of northern Scotland. It was rich with
Highland cattle and the North Sea gave them plenty of fish during
the warmer months. Camden often hunted in this private area for
fresh game but tonight they just camped there to get away from the
fools at the feast.
    As the early morning dawn approached,
Camden rinsed off in the icy seawater and then the small group of
soldiers headed back to the holding. The laird wanted to observe
the newly joined clans and see what needed to be done. The seven
huge men rode through the chilly morning air and the bitter cold
wind stung their bare legs the faster they went.
    Within a mile from the holding, Camden
knew something was gravely wrong. He slowed his stallion and
silently commanded his men to spread out. The giant warrior guided
his large beast without a sound through the dense trees. He was
grateful there was not any snow on the ground, for the noise would
have surely given him away. Camden came to a stop when the Sinclair
Castle and the large village that surrounded it, were in sight. His
heart sank deep into his chest as he realized what had
happened.
    Smoke softly billowed from the charred
remains of burned houses and he could hear the whimpering cries of
the children. The laird was sickened at the sight below him. The
Sinclair women and children were bundled together in the center of
the village and only a few men were visible to Camden. Lying face
down on the cold earth was the lifeless body of his father. It was
obvious to Camden that his