The Broken Highlander Read Free Page A

he’d cleaved,
and how many of those men had given him similar injuries.
    Soon enough, the fight shifted and they no
longer looked to injure him enough for capture. They were trying to
kill him. After what felt like hours, the self-professed king
called a halt to the bloodbath. Before Nevin could find him, the
bite of steel sliced through his neck. A familiar feeling, he’d
forgotten how much it hurt.
    But death wouldn’t come easily to one such as
him. Nevin gripped the blade as it bit into his flesh and with
sheer brute force, was able to maneuver it out of his throat.
    “Interesting,” murmured his attacker. “I can
see why she likes you.”
    Darkness took over the edge of his vision,
closing in on him until he couldn’t see anything. The last thing he
heard before he fell was that smooth accented voice.
     

Chapter 5
     
    Once more, Nevin woke from death. His eyes
were crusted shut with blood, and his throat burned. Decapitation
was a bitch. When he tried to rub the grit from his eyes, he found
couldn’t move his arms. His legs felt useless too. Was he bound? He
obviously hadn’t lost his head, but from what he remembered, it was
a near thing.
    Muttered voices caught his attention.
Feigning unconsciousness wasn’t difficult since he could barely
move. Keeping his breathing even was a feat, though, as he was
certain he had a gaping wound in his throat. Straining to listen,
he only caught a few words.
    “ It’s unnatural.”
    “ No one should survive that.”
    “ But he pulled the blade from his neck. I
saw it!”
    “ Demon Blacksmith...”
    “ He kills his own kind…”
    “ The queen won’t like this.”
    Finally prying open his eyelids, Nevin risked
looking around. He saw bars and stone. A dungeon? Wouldn’t be the
first time.
    Dropping his head back down, he listened and
plotted. He’d escape. His arms strained at the chains. He was a
blacksmith, he knew the links would have a weakness. Systematically
pulling, there was no give. But he was still weak. As soon as his
strength returned, he’d try again. The blackness took him once
more.
    When he woke again, there was no confusion,
Nevin instantly remembered where he was. He began working at the
chains once more.
    “Ah. You’re awake.”
    Stiffening, he tried to turn his head, but
with his neck still unhealed, he couldn’t move much. He’d had no
warning that he wasn’t alone. No telltale scent or sound. That was
unnerving. His senses had never failed him.
    “Go fook yourself.” His voice was gritty, it
didn’t sound like him at all. Nearly losing his head must wreak
havoc with the vocal chords. He once more pulled at the chains that
held him.
    “My queen will find favor with my gift.”
Nevin knew the man smiled, amused at his attempts to free himself.
It didn’t matter. Nevin would get free. There was no
alternative.
    He means me , Nevin thought. I’m the
gift. What had he been called earlier? Pet . He was no man’s
pet, least of all this mysterious queen’s. He was burning with
curiosity, and although this man seemed chatty, Nevin refused to
ask.
    “There is interest in your gaze. You must
remember our queen?” Nevin simply glared.”No? More’s the pity.
She’s never forgotten you.”
    Nevin wouldn’t rise to the bait. He still
didn’t know who held him, but he memorized the man’s face. One
didn’t forget the man who’d tried to behead him.
    The cultured voice interrupted his thoughts
again.
    “I’ll see to it that you’re healed. Once
you’re healed, you’ll be kept chained. I can’t let my Lady’s pet
loose, now can I?” Nevin scented a woman being brought in.
    “Drink.”
    “Nay. I’ll no’ drink anything you have to
offer.”
    “Oh I think you will,” his amusement was
clear. “Given enough time, you won’t be able to help yourself.”
    Nevin feared he was right. Healing from an
injury this severe was hard, and made much more so when he wouldn’t
feed. The man walked out, his guards dragged the woman