Free The Seduced by Donna Grant Page A

Blairs, Donald. If you had stood beside me, we could’ve stolen our sheep back and fed our people. Your so-called plan sent our people away and gained us a potential enemy in the Sinclairs.”
    Donald lowered his sword until the point was in the ground and set both of his hands on the hilt. “I’ve got my men with me, Alistair. Who do you have? One man who is supposed to save our clan? He willna last against my men.”
    Daman swung a leg over his mount’s head and slid to the ground. He gently shoved the horse away.
    “Nay, Daman,” Alistair said. “This is my fight.”
    Innes tried to dismount, but Daman was too quick. He kept her atop the horse and gathered the horse’s reins beneath its chin. He then turned the horse toward the Sinclairs.
    “Daman,” Innes whispered.
    He looked up into her dark eyes. Gypsy eyes. Why hadn’t he noticed that before? She had the same coloring as a gypsy. It was exotic and beautiful.
    And deadly.
    Where had that thought come from? Daman shoved it aside and drank in her features. She had to be kept safe. There was about to be a bloodbath, and the only ones who could keep her out of it were the Sinclairs.
    Daman turned to David and raised a brow in question. David nodded once. Daman walked Innes and her horse over the border and handed the reins to Ronan.
    “Daman,” Innes said again, louder this time.
    He turned his back to her and returned to MacKay land. Alistair and Donald were already circling each other, their swords drawn and at the ready.
    Donald was the first to attack. The clang of swords was loud in the quiet. Alistair easily blocked the swing and sidestepped, knocking his shoulder into Donald. Donald stumbled backward, his lips twisted in rage.
    Alistair was quick, his attacks calm and on target. Donald let his emotions rule him, causing him to miss Alistair several times. Daman began to relax when it became apparent Alistair would win. Donald cut Alistair’s arm, but Alistair turned away before it could go too deep.
    Donald attacked again. Alistair didn’t turn away this time. He met his brother’s attack and used Donald’s force to turn him slightly so that Donald fell on his back.
    Alistair put the point of his blade at Donald’s throat. “Call your men out here.”
    “Nay.”
    “It’s over, brother,” he said and kicked the sword out of Donald’s hand. “I’ve defeated you, and since I can no’ trust our people no’ to release you again, I’m going to hand you over to The Sinclair.”
    Donald’s dark eyes blazed with hatred. “You’ll have to kill me.”
    Alistair lowered his sword and took a step back. “I’m no’ spilling the blood of my brother. Everyone here saw your defeat.”
    Daman couldn’t be happier. Alistair’s actions proved he was meant to be laird. The best thing to do would be to kill Donald, but Daman understood why Alistair hadn’t been able to.
    Daman was walking toward them when Donald reached for his boot. Daman opened his mouth to call out to Alistair, but there was no sound. Daman rushed to Donald, but Donald had already risen to his feet and plunged a dagger into Alistair’s back by the time Daman reached him. Daman could hear Innes screaming.
    Daman slammed into Donald, sending him crashing to the ground. Daman knelt beside Alistair and cradled his head as he looked into the dying man’s eyes.
    “Doona let him rule,” Alistair said. “Doona let him hurt Innes.” Then he issued his last breath, his eyes closing.
    Daman gently laid Alistair down and gathered his sword as he stood. He pointed to Donald’s sword with his own, waiting for Donald to pick up the weapon and face him.
    As soon as he did, Daman attacked. He swung his sword in wide arcs as metal met metal time and again. Donald was taller by a few inches, but he didn’t have the skill Daman did.
    Daman blocked Donald’s sword countless times. He kicked Donald and slammed his elbow into his face, which only caused Donald to become angrier. His swings went