He stepped closer to her, molding his body to hers. She flinched in pain but made no sound. He knew it had to be excruciating but didn’t stop until his body was pressed completely against her. He reached behind her to cut the ropes that held her hands as Gavin cut those around her ankles. Her weight fell forward immediately, but his body kept her upright. He would not let her topple before Malcolm. ’Twas the reason he’d stood so before cutting her loose.

Greylen pulled her with him as he took a step back. Gavin stood behind her and slipped the shirt over her head. Then Gavin wrapped his arms around her waist, his elbows bracing her hips while his forearms held her torso upright against his chest. This allowed Greylen to give his wife another piece of dignity. He secured her medallions around her neck, then reached for her left hand, gently lifting it to his mouth. He placed her ravaged fingers inside and wet them so he could return her band. She made no move, no sound at all, as he slipped it on her finger. Her silence was more frightening than any hysterical outburst could have been.

As God was his witness, he would have welcomed such a display.

He pulled her against his side and turned to face MacFale’s keep as Gavin pushed his body to her other side for support. He knew his men would have easily gained entrance, and whatever struggle had occurred should be over. If their fury was even half of his, the task would’ve taken mere seconds. Malcolm would be the only man left when they were done. Purposely, as if on cue, his men came through the keep’s front doors, dragging Malcolm between them.

Greylen waited as Duncan and Ian brought Malcolm before them. They threw him to the ground. Gwen started shaking uncontrollably as Malcolm fixed her with a sneer.

At the same time, Greylen and Gavin kicked him in the face. They waited until he righted himself. “Look at her, Malcolm,” Greylen demanded. “Look at her!”

Instead, Malcolm turned away. They lowered Gwen, then grabbed at Malcolm and sat him upright. Greylen clutched the back of his head, forcing him to look at his wife.

“You shall die for what you’ve done to her. And your soul will rot in hell—FOREVER!”

Greylen threw him to the ground again but feet away from Gwen, who continued to stare unseeingly before her. She sat upon the spot where they’d placed her and had not moved at all.

Greylen and Gavin knelt on either side of Malcolm as Duncan and Ian held his arms and legs. Their daggers still in hand from releasing Gwen, they sliced diagonally through their palms. Then they joined their hands together above Malcolm’s prone body.

This kill would be both of theirs.