Two weeks passed after Elle and Kevan had returned. No one spoke of the time that they were gone and everyone acted as if Kayleigh's presence was completely normal. Elle spent much of her time with Rose in her room, or out on the grounds, far away from everyone. The first night back, she went down to supper only to find Kevan gone and Kayleigh sitting in her place at the table. Two seconds of watching her drape herself over Aedan and Elle left the room. She hadn't taken a meal outside of her room since.
Aedan had only seen her three times in the two weeks. He barged into her room, late into that first night. He smelled as if he had bathed in several pints and stumbled to the bed. Elle assumed he was confused and tried to push him away. He angrily yanked her to him, flipping her onto her belly and took her roughly. She screamed out and cried into her bedsheets. It was worse than any other time he had taken her. He finished and left the room merely muttering, "Don' kill 'im dis time."
He did this twice more, each time the same. No warning, no gentleness and leaving as soon as he was done. Aedan was upholding his duties as the lord of the manor. He was determined that Elle bear him a son. She was terrified of what might happen if she didn't.
On this particular day, Elle needed air. She left her room and made her way outside without looking up. She didn't want to run into anyone. Not even Kevan. He had left her on her own with his brute of a brother, not even checking on her once. It hurt her heart but she didn't care where he was. After walking for nearly an hour, Elle realized she was on the far outskirts of the grounds, near the rear gate. The wall back here was run down and crumbling in places. She continued to follow the wall around, lost in thought until a snapping branch made her pause. She looked up as blackness surrounded her.
---
Elle awoke with a thick cloth covering her face and her hands aching and bound behind her back. She tried to cry out but another cloth was in her mouth. A musty stench caused her to gag. Where was she? The sound of footsteps coming near, made her back up into a cold, damp wall. She heard a door open and the footsteps grew closer. Suddenly, bright lights blurred her vision as the cloth was removed from her head. " 'ello Lady Callaghan." A gruff voice entered her ears. "Make yerself at 'ome. Yer gonna be 'ere awhile." A toothy grin spread on her captor's dirty face.
Over the next several weeks, Elle learned that her captors were from the Higgins clan. They were starting a war with the Callaghans because they wanted to expand their lands and take over. Apparently, they had poisoned Lord Reece and attacked several villages on their way. They had been laying in secret along the back wall of the grounds when she came walking out. They took the opportunity to snatch her. Five days ago, they sent a letter for Aedan to surrender his claim to the lands for her safe return. There has been no word since. She chuckled dryly to herself at this, knowing he wouldn't surrender anything for her. If she was dead, he could marry his mistress and declare Ciaran his rightful heir.
Her guard came to the door with her dinner, the food from lunch sitting untouched. "Eat.", was the only grunt command as he walked away. She couldn't eat. Her stomach lurched at every smell and bite. She was weak and unable to keep anything down. She hadn't felt like this since...."Shite." Elle muttered realizing the problem. She was pregnant again.
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Kevan returned to the manor after being gone for weeks. Aedan had sent him out to help the villages that had been attacked by the Higgins clan. While he didn't want to be away from Elle, he took on his role as a Callaghan to protect and help his clansmen. Now that he was back, he wanted to check on her. He knew he couldn't have her in the way that he did back at the inn, but he could at least be her friend. He made his way up the stairs to her room only to find it empty and disheveled. Heading back down again, Kevan only just noticed the hurried way the servants moved around the halls. Something was going on.
He made his way quickly to his brother's office. Without a knock, he barged in. "What's goin' on 'ere?" he demanded. Aedan barely glanced up from his maps. "Da Higgins clan attacked and took me wife." He continued on muttering commands to his men while studying the maps. Kevan wavered on the spot. Elle? They took Elle... He marched up and slammed his hands on the maps. Aedan slowly raised his gaze to his brother. Kevan growled, " And why 'aven't yer got 'er back?" Aedan chuckled and explained that they wanted him to give up his claim to their lands. "She innit worth dat."
Fury rumbled through Kevan. He ripped the map from the table and threw it across the room. Without another word, he stormed from the room and gathered his gear. He would get Elle back on his own.
A/N : I hope you enjoyed this chapter as well. Things are getting more and more tangled for our characters. More to come very soon.
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Caught Between Brothers
RomanceA young girl is married off to an older man, who seems to only want her to give him a son. His younger brother, however, is sweet and caring towards her. What happens when she can't give her husband what he so desperately wants? or when a miracle pr...
