Free Ashlyn (The Highland Clan Book 5) by Keira Montclair Page A

tracks when she came upon him.
    Rage emanated from Magnus as he delivered blow after blow into Osgar’s face, ignoring the arrows sticking out of the fool’s belly and the bow and arrow at his feet, ignoring the fact that the man was almost certainly dead. “You shoot at a fellow Grant warrior? Bastard. I’ll kill you with my bare hands if those arrows do not.” It looked like that would not be necessary, but Ashlyn believed him.
    Art rode in behind them on his horse. “Hellfire.” He glanced down at Osgar. Uncle Logan and Jamie had pulled Magnus off the dead man. A bellow ripped out of him, but when he finally wrestled away from them, he took a step back, panting, and stood there with his fists clenched at his sides.
    “Art, you are part of this?” Jamie asked.
    Art’s face turned pale. “Nay. He left, saying he had to relieve himself, but when he didn’t return, I decided to see where he had gone. I knew he was upset about having a lass on our team, but I never thought he would go this far.”
    Magnus, still panting, whispered, “Ash, you are hale?”
    Jamie turned to her, a stunned expression on his face. “Sorry, lass. We should have seen this coming.”
    “Nay,” Uncle Logan barked. “How were you to predict that he would ambush his own clan? He turned traitor, not just on the lass, but on all of us. ‘Tis good we discovered him before he could see his plan through.” He walked up to Osgar’s body and spat on him. “The buzzards for you.” He mounted his horse and left, the rest followed—all but Magnus and Ashlyn.
    Ashlyn glanced up at the giant warrior, her eyes misting. “Twice. ‘Tis twice you’ve had to protect me on this journey. I must thank my uncle Alex.” She could not speak any more or she would lose control of her emotions. Her excitement for the journey had blinded her to the dangers. She’d had no idea she would be the target of two different people, especially so early on. Mayhap she’d made a big mistake. She’d hoped to be an asset, not a detriment.
    Magnus wrapped his hands around her waist and set her up on her horse. “Remember, ‘tis not your fault. You were the only one to see the trail MacNiven’s men tried to cover. I know ‘twill be difficult, but you must put this behind you. We need you, Ashlyn.”
    Ashlyn nodded and tugged on the reins, guiding her horse forward.
    When they finally made it back to the cave, Jamie said, “Ready yourself, Ashlyn. “We leave in ten minutes.”
    Uncle Logan mounted and said, “I’ll see you in Edinburgh. I wish to scout on my own for a bit.”
    Ashlyn stared after he beloved uncle. How she wished she could be as strong as he was. She forced herself to finish her task and focus on what was in front of her.
    None of them discussed the incident further, but it was clear to Ashlyn that Jamie had said something to the other warriors before she and Magnus had arrived. This was a matter of honor. She’d often heard her uncle Alex say that lads who battled together must trust one another.
    This was no different.
    ***
    Days later, they arrived in Edinburgh. Magnus had to admit the royal burgh set his stomach to churning, since he’d never been in such a place before. He’d spent all his days at Clan Grant or fighting for Clan Grant. True, they’d had minstrels and fairs and weddings at their festivals at Clan Grant, but this was so grand. It made him feel small in comparison. Of course, it was not only the city that unsettled him—he had to admit that his feelings toward Ashlyn were growing even stronger. After all the times he’d sworn he’d never fall for another, he did not like the way his heart yearned for her. The way she’d leaned in to him as he plaited her hair had made him want her—a frightening sensation for a man who’d sworn to shut himself off.
    The loss of Rhona and his son had been almost unbearable. He’d felt abandoned, and though it shamed him to think about it, he’d even felt angry with his wife for