Total pages in book: 101
Estimated words: 92771 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 464(@200wpm)___ 371(@250wpm)___ 309(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92771 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 464(@200wpm)___ 371(@250wpm)___ 309(@300wpm)
Shade didn’t hesitate, she ran to Angus to help him.
One of the five men rushed forward and before Shade could reach Angus, the warrior gave her a vicious shove that sent her tumbling to the ground. A sharp stone caught just past the corner of her eye and blood began to pour from the wound.
Shade was swept up on her feet so quickly that she grew dizzy, and she was relieved to find her husband’s arm around her waist. But a frightful chill ran through her when she saw the fierce rage swirling in his eyes.
“Stand back or you’ll get the same as her,” the man who shoved her ordered.
The next thing Shade knew Nug’s hand gripped her arm, and her husband had his hand around the man’s throat and with a swift lift had his feet dangling just above the ground.
“You are going to die for harming my wife,” Quint threatened, the man digging desperately at Quint’s fingers in a useless effort to free himself.
Shade watched as Quint sent the man flying a good distance to land with a bounce on the ground, he tossed him so hard.
It all happened so fast that the other four men only now reacted, rushing toward Quint. He hit one then the other with two of the three daggers kept at his waist and had the last one in his hand before anyone could take a breath. “I will see you all dead if you take one more step.”
The two other men had stopped when they saw the dagger in his hand.
The man who led them paled. “You’re The Monk.”
There was no denying it now. Quint’s fearlessness, the rage burning in his eyes, the scowl that marred his fine features, and his skill with the daggers all made it clear that he was The Monk. But everyone stood silent waiting for him to confirm it, and he did.
“Aye, I am,” Quint said and went and retrieved his daggers from the two dead men, caring not what anyone thought, while keeping close watch on the three remaining men. Though the one he had nearly choked to death was in no condition to oppose him.
“Asher never said anything about The Monk being here, James. I want nothing to do with this.” The slim man turned to The Monk. “I have no fight with you. I’ll take my leave and keep my life.”
“Asher will make you pay for your disloyalty, Ewan,” the leader warned.
“Only if he survives The Monk. Besides, I will be long gone before then.”
“Tell me where Asher is,” The Monk said, “and I will not stop you from leaving.”
Ewan shook his head. “I don’t know where he went, but I do know he was furious when he received a message and left soon after ordering us here to make sure Clan MacLeish wasn’t planning any retaliation.”
“This is none of your concern,” James said with bravado that the tremor in his voice betrayed.
“You made it my concern when you harmed my wife,” The Monk said with an angry sneer that sent a shudder through James that all could see.
Still, James tried to speak bravely. “When Asher hears of this—”
“Asher will hear of this only when I allow it,” The Monk said and looked at Ewan. “If you go to Asher with the news, I will hunt you down and your death will not be painless or quick.”
Ewan shook his head vigorously. “I know nothing. Absolutely nothing and you will never find me in this area again.”
“Go!” The Monk snapped and Ewan ran off as if the devil was chasing him. He looked at James. “You and your friend over there,” he said with barely a glance where the man lay, his breathing still labored. “Are now prisoners of Clan MacLeish.”
“This clan belongs to Lord Torrance,” James said.
“Not until he comes here and claims it.”
“I am here to claim it in his name,” James argued.
“How can you claim the land when you are a prisoner here?”
“You cannot fight all of Lord Torrance’s warriors.”
“I don’t have to. I only need to fight one man, then the others will fall along with him,” The Monk said with confidence.
“Asher will stop you,” James warned.
The Monk’s sneering smile spoke loud enough, though his words carried a heavy impact. “I’m counting on it.” He looked at Nug and was annoyed when he didn’t see his wife there. A quick glance showed she was tending Angus’s wound and paying no heed to her own wound. “Is there a place these two can be imprisoned?”
“There are two cells in the dungeon in the bottom of the keep, but they haven’t been used in years.”
“Let these two ready the cells for themselves, though the one will not be in there long. He has a date with death today,” The Monk ordered with a glance at the man now struggling to get to his feet.