Highland Tigress (Tiger Series) Read Online Free

the stench that covered her and felt his dread increase. Her skin held an odd pallor under the bruises and he felt that her death would soon be upon them. He had seen women like this before and the memory of their anguish before death stirred his heart.
    “Yes, my Laird?”
    “Alice, these lads have traveled far and require our hospitality,” at his words a look of horror crossed her face. “Alice, they require baths and they will dine with us. Make the arrangements. Get some of the other girls to see to the baths if you wish.”
    “Thank ye, my Laird.” Her relief was apparent. “I fear I would nay be adequate to see to their needs tonight.”
    “No need, lass,” Liam spoke. “The water is all we need. We’ll not linger in our baths. We just seek to wash away the dust before we dine.” Then he looked her in the eye and compelled her to trust in him. “You have no need to fear us. Not all men get pleasure from the pain of others. Rest easy Lass.”
    “As you say then.” Alice turned disbelieving and led the men to a small bathing room. Liam was astonished by her strength of mind. She hadn’t even thought to trust him. Her mistreatment had been so severe that she had closed her mind to everyone without even knowing it.
    She gave orders for water to be brought and turned to leave. Deaglan’s low words stopped her.
    “There is a foul stench in this place Liam.”
    “Aye, Lad I ken it. Smells of wet dog,” Liam said with a look to Deaglan.
    “Say there lass, who is to marry the Lady on the morrow? Deaglan asked.
    Alice shuttered and rubbed at her purple cheek. “’Tis Ramsey McKenzie.”
    At her words Liam froze in horror. “Nay. She’ll not wed that monster,” Liam declared. “’Twill be the death of the lass.”
    “Aye she will. ‘Tis the wedding or he’s vowed to kill us all. I heard it from his own lips not an hour ago. He means to have her. I fear for the lass. That man is evil. He is poison to any woman. He is the vilest of all the creatures from hell.” She shuttered and barely stayed on her feet. Liam felt it was more from fever than fear.
    “That he is, was it he who struck ye then?” This from Euan. He detested the mistreatment of females. He and Evan had lived through the torture of their mother and the murder of their father at the age of seven and then had to watch as she lost her mind due to the loss of their father. They both felt the crawling need to kill and they wanted Ramsey McKenzie.
    “Aye,” she said and blushed. “He said I could not please him well enough. I think it is more that he enjoys the suffering of others.”
    Evan clenched his fists and tried to control his beast. “Stay clear of him Lass.”
    “That I will try to do, but I fear he has done me in as it is. ‘Tis death to be near him. Death is better than his touch though, I think I would prefer it.”
     
    Alice left them to bathe.
    “He had killed the young Alice,” Euan stated plainly, his words little more than a low growl.
    “That he has and she doesn’t yet know it, I fear her anguish has just begun too. ‘twould be kinder to slit her throat before we leave here.” Deaglan put in.
    “There has to be a way to save her from his evil. We cannay just leave her here to die like that, Liam. We must tell someone. Something could be done to ease her pain at least,” Balor pleaded. He had seen a woman slowly die of McKenzie’s poison and he did not wish it on another. Her insides slowly rotting away as his evil ate at her from the inside.
    “There is no time, lads. She will not last long any way, if he keeps at her. Her suffering will be short. We cannot arouse any suspicion.” He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “I feel for the lass, and I ken what she will face if she lives for long, but I will not put Cara at risk to save her.”
    The men nodded their agreement, however reluctantly and made short work of their baths.
    After refusing the service of several voluptuous wenches the men