Page 94 of Highland Ruse

But it was not just Donnan’s face which emerged from the shadows of the trees. Another man stood beside him, his skin had been darkened like Donnan’s to aid in making him invisible within the forest.

Perhaps that was why it took her a moment before she recognized the man in one pulse-pounding second.

Kaid.

Chapter Twenty-Five

The moonlight became brighter when she appeared.

Delilah.

Kaid’s soul was awash in her light, flooded with the relief of her safety. And damn proud of how she’d put down her attacker without a moment’s hesitation.

The lass could fight.

She ran toward the forest with two women huddled against her, but her gaze was fastened on Kaid. There was a fierceness there, something protective and determined, and he locked the image in his mind to capture in his book later.

She would be with him soon.

But not soon enough.

He was moving forward before he realized what he was doing, eager to scale the fence to get to her faster. Something hard and solid pushed against his chest.

“Nay, laird.” Donnan’s voice. “More movement will only draw attention.”

Kaid gritted his teeth against the logic of his friend’s words, but held his place.

An eternity passed, and finally the women were clambering over the fence. First Leasa, and then a red-haired woman with a look of wild fright about her. Torra.

She allowed herself to be pulled over by Donnan long enough to have her feet set on the ground before lurching back from them all. The odor of greasy hair and unwashed body hung thick in the air around her.

Delilah came next, deftly hurtling over the fence.

Kaid caught her in her midair leap and let her topple them to the ground together so their breathless laugh tangled into a breathless kiss.

The passion of their kiss was explosive, stoked into a fevered longing with the threat of danger swelling around them. She sighed into his mouth, and her body arched against him.

Donnan cleared his throat.

Kaid pulled back from Delilah, and they shared a laughing look before getting to their feet. Torra watched them from the veil of her thick hair, her eyes wide where they flicked back and forth between him and Delilah.

Donnan grinned. “Dinna mind us, we’re just waiting to no’ be caught.”

Kaid slid him a dark look, but couldn’t help the smile creeping over his lips. He nodded toward Torra. “Lady Torra?”

Torra spread the tatters of her gown and gave a bow fit for a formal gathering. Her gaze remained fixed on him, as if she did not quite yet know what to make of him.

Delilah’s face shone with pride at her success.

“Ye’ve done well, my love,” Kaid said.

“I’d never let you down.” She glanced toward the castle where all appeared still. “But Donnan is right. We mustn’t tarry.”

Donnan put a hand on Leasa’s lower back. “Follow me, and mind ye stay quiet.”

Together they moved through the forest, backs hunched, footsteps careful. All of them but Torra. The woman clattered through bushes and tripped over roots with such regularity, it was as if she were aiming for them.

Delilah, ever the pragmatic lass, gave Kaid an apologetic smile and squeezed his hand before falling back to aid the other woman through the brush with meticulous patience.