He steeled himself. “What is it? What’s happened?”

The room fell to a dead silence as if no one wanted to answer him. Finally, Bruce motioned to MacLeod. “Let him see it.”

Alex read the short missive dated June 19 that had finally found its way to John Ross, the Earl of Ross’s youngest son. Each word felt like a sword in the gut.

Cousin imprisoned. I fear they mean to make her disappear. Send help. With all my love, Margaret.

Somehow Alex remained standing, but it felt as if every ounce of blood had been sucked from his body. His stomach lurched sideways and his head swam.

How could this have happened?

He turned on Bruce. “You were supposed to protect her! I thought you had men watching her.”

“We did,” the king said. “Something must have happened.”

“Damned right something happened!” Alex said, furious. “You put her in danger and you screwed up.”

“I’m sending a team to get her,” Bruce said. “She’ll be all right.”

He didn’t know who Bruce was trying to convince, Alex or himself.

Alex didn’t need to ask what team he meant. He turned to MacLeod. “I’m going.”

Chief’s expression didn’t flicker. “I’m not so sure that’s a good idea.”

Assuming it was because of his former place in the Guard, Alex clenched his jaw. “Do you need to see me crawl through the mud and beg your forgiveness? Because if that’s what it takes, I’ll do it—I’ll do whatever it takes, damn it, but I’m going.”

MacLeod’s only reaction was a slight lifting of one brow. “I don’t think that will be necessary.”

“I wouldn’t mind seeing it,” Boyd quipped.

“Sod off, Raider,” Alex shot back to him, not taking his eyes off MacLeod.

“Are you sure you can stay rational about this? I don’t want any more rogue operators like MacRuairi when Bella was taken.”

“I’m not like MacRuairi.”

It turned out Alex was wrong about that, too.

Chapter 24

24

AFTER ELEVEN DAYS in the hellish dark depths of Berwick’s pit prison, Joan was beginning to lose hope.

They will come. Lachlan would search for her to the ends of the earth. But how long would it take for him to realize she’d been taken? And what if he couldn’t come? What if he and the rest of the Highland Guard were fleeing for their lives right now?

Don’t, she told herself. Don’t think like that. They will come.