“Well...”

“We don’t have time for explanations. Simon, what did you see?” Lora redirected them.

Steel watched through the eyes of a hawk, Grainna at his side, twisting her hands and pacing. “The brothers come from the west.”

“The others?”

“I don’t see them.”

“Find them!” She stormed out of the room. The first soldiers she came across she ordered to intercept Fin and Duncan. They scrambled out of her way to do as she commanded. Seconds later, they rode out of the yard in the direction she pointed.

She opened her arms to the sky, a roar of thunder was so loud it shook the bricks of the walls.

Oh, yes, her powers were back, and the sweet seduction of that power poured in her veins. She sneered from the eaves of the yard, bellowing orders to the remaining men who prepared for battle. As much as she would love to end the lives of every MacCoinnich by her very own hands, her premonitions told her of defeat if she insisted on it today.

Today she would weaken their numbers, those who survived would return to their precious Keep and their women, and she would follow. There she would take her revenge on the family, one at a time, sucking the power and life out of them all.

The falcon Grainna had seen earlier caught her gaze. Its eyes watched her every move. She lifted her hand bringing with it fire.

“The men have split up. Fin and Duncan have their swords drawn and are…” “Are what, Simon. What are they doing?”

Aunt Tara’s frantic question reminded him of how vulnerable they all felt so far away. He thought of his Aunt and her unborn child. Of the responsibility of relaying what happened before his eyes inside the falcon. “They are… kicking butt.”

He heard his mother laugh.

“Duncan, eew.”

“What?” the women cried.

“He sliced through the first guy.”

Simon glanced toward Fin, his sword clashed with that of another man, quickly pushing him from his horse. Behind him, another took aim with a crossbow. Simon’s heart leapt in his chest. He wanted to call a warning but knew his cry wouldn’t be heard above the storm that Ian had called.

“What’s happening?” Auntie Tara’s voice grew frantic. “Tell me, Simon, I don’t want to ask Duncan.

I’m afraid of distracting him.”

Below him, Duncan’s hand went to the air and a ball of flame caught the man with the crossbow and threw him into a fiery death.

Another man came behind Duncan, who met his foe with his sword. Simon didn’t have time to relay what happened.

“Oh, God!” Tara cried.

They all looked up. Tara’s face was covered in sweat, her eyes were wide and her breath hitched.

She doubled over, grasped her belly and they all fell to the floor.

Chapter Twenty-Four

Lizzy, with the help of Cian, moved Tara to the bed. Simon stared wide-eyed while another wave of spasms took over Tara’s body.

“How long have you been in labor?” Lizzy pushed back the covers on the bed and placed several pillows to support her sisters back.

“I don’t know. I’ve had a backache for the last few days.”

Lora shooed the boys from the room, who were happy to leave. Myra and her mother helped Tara out of her dress, while Amber went to fetch one of the maids to bring more pillows and water.

“This can’t be happening now,” Tara protested.

“How are we going to help them?” Her eyes were wide with panic.

“Worrying now will do you no good.” Myra grasped her mother’s hand when she spoke. Her quick and forceful squeeze told her she worried, too.

“Duncan promised me he would be here for our child’s birth.”

“And if he could, he would.” Lizzy passed a concerned look to Lora when Tara’s abdomen clenched in yet another contraction. This one less than ten minutes from the last.

“What do you mean, you can’t hear them?” Todd whispered to Ian who sat like him, back against the wall of Grainna’s fortress.

“They’ve been cut off.”

“Grainna?” Todd asked.

“Could be.”

Todd thought of their options, sheathed his sword, and reached for his gun. “I’ll go in first, bullets should slow them down. Cover me.”

Ian eyed him. Todd knew he wasn’t used to taking orders.

With a nod, Ian conceded.

They inched their way to the edge of the courtyard. Half a dozen armored men gathered.

Todd placed his fingers in the air and silently counted down from three.

He came in low, taking careful aim and fired off two rounds before the enemy realized they were under attack.

Ian sent a ball of fire at a man fleeing the yard.

Horses reared with the noise of the gun, and in a panic pulled free of their tethers and bolted.

Several men in the yard fled along with the animals. One larger and more skilled than the others pulled his sword, charged at Ian, and caught him from behind.

A warning from Todd kept the blade from making a deadly strike. Ian tumbled to the ground and rounded on his heels. The man lunged on him fast and hard, knocked him to the ground again.

Ian hit the earth dazed. Todd saw the man lift his sword, prepared to plunge it home. Todd put two bullets in him before he could.

Ian moved out of the way of the falling body, kicked his way to his feet. Back to back, Ian and Todd circled the yard.

Two more stood with swords at the ready. Todd took aim, the gun jammed. His enemy sneered and advanced. Todd had no time to reach for his back up weapon. Sword in hand, he prayed Finlay’s torture over the last months would keep him alive.

Behind him, Ian clashed blades with his attacker. Todd listened to the fight, but kept his eyes on the man in front of him. His eyes glossed over, and his look turned fierce.

The first time his sword met that of his opponent, Todd knew he was in a fight for his life.

Not that he didn’t before now, only this man thrusting his blade, pulling back and heaving again, didn’t show any sign of letting up. Keeping his stance, Todd pushed against his foe, matching his attack and wearing him down.

Unlike Fin, he couldn’t predict his enemy’s movements. The enemy lunged twice, then brought his sword down from above his head, clashing his blade into Todd’s. The sword’s weight started to pull at his shoulder. His strength started to fade. A deep burning ache began low in his back, working its way to his shoulders.

He thought of Myra, ducked his opponents blow, circled around, and dodged a direct hit.

Behind him, Ian’s grunts and his attacker’s filled the yard. From the gut-wrenching sound, Todd knew someone was mortally wounded. He refused to look and see who went down. Lucky for him, his foe’s eyes glanced behind him. Todd took the opportunity and thrust his blade through the man’s chest.