The Highlander Series

by Maya Banks

  Ewan laid a hand on Caelen’s shoulder when another spasm of pain crawled over Rionna’s face. “Let her go, Caelen. Let Alaric carry her back into the keep. The battle is over. Cameron is dead, and the few men who still live are scattered and running. We must see to both of your wounds.”

  “Caelen?”

  Caelen looked down and brushed away the hair from her eyes. “Aye, lass.”

  Her unfocused gaze found his and she licked her lips. “I seem to have a dagger in my back. Could you take it out for me?”

  CHAPTER 33

  “If you don’t let me tend your wounds, you’ll die, and what good will you be to Rionna then?” Ewan demanded in exasperation.

  Caelen snarled back at his brother, his impatience simmering like a cauldron. “You should be with Rionna. She is who needs tending. If she dies because we stand here arguing, I’ll make Mairin a widow, I swear it.”

  Ewan blew out his breath in frustration. “If I have to sit on you and have Alaric clean your wound, I’ll do it. The sooner you allow me to tend you, the sooner Rionna will get the care she needs.”

  Caelen swore viciously. “Would you allow me to tend you if Mairin had suffered as Rionna has? Nay, you would insist that Mairin be taken care of first.”

  “Gannon is with Rionna. He’ll call if he has need of me. Rionna’s wound is fresh. Yours is not and it has already begun festering. Damn it, Caelen, give over so that you can rest beside Rionna.”

  ’Twas the mention of being able to be with Rionna that made Caelen yield. While they stood arguing, Rionna was alone and without comfort and it twisted Caelen’s stomach into knots. He still remembered his harsh words, the fact that he had at first believed the worst of her. He would not have her believe he thought ill of her any longer.

  “You burn with fever,” Ewan said grimly when Caelen was laid on the bed in one of the chambers. “You worry for Rionna, but ’tis the truth you are far more seriously wounded.”

  “She’s with child,” Caelen said in a low voice. “I know not even if you were aware of it yet. She was out fighting for my life when she carries a child. She had to have ridden nonstop to arrive here when she did. God’s teeth, Ewan, but it makes me want to weep like a babe.”

  “Aye, I know it,” Ewan said. “But Rionna is a strong-willed lass. I don’t see her giving up without a fight. She was hell-bent on saving you, damn king and country and whether I agreed or not. Gannon rode into Neamh Álainn and delivered her orders as imperiously as a man ever did.”

  “She’s one of a kind,” Caelen murmured. “And I didn’t appreciate her for the wonder she is. I tried too hard to change her and mold her into what I thought I wanted.”

  Ewan chuckled. “I don’t imagine she put up with that.”

  Caelen smiled ruefully then swore when Ewan began cleaning the arrow wound. “Nay, she didn’t. She’s a fierce lass. I …” He broke off, unable to voice the words. Nay, he wouldn’t speak them here. ’Twas not for his brother to hear, but for Rionna, and he wouldn’t give them to anyone but her. She’d fought for them. She’d demanded them. She’d bloody well have them.

  “Tell me of Neamh Álainn,” Caelen said through gritted teeth, as pain swamped over him.

  “ ’Tis the most beautiful place I’ve ever seen,” Ewan said quietly. “The keep has existed for over a century and it looks as though it were constructed yesterday. The king’s men have guarded it well since Alexander’s passing. He provided well for Mairin and her firstborn. ’Tis a fine legacy bestowed upon Isabel.”

  “Men will seek Isabel as they did Mairin,” Caelen said grimly. “ ’Tis a fine legacy, aye, but it won’t be an easy burden for the lass.”

  “She’ll have protection that Mairin didn’t,” Ewan said. “Mairin was left without someone to guard her until she married. It won’t be the same for Isabel. I’ll watch over her well until she decides who she’ll marry.”

  Caelen smiled at the edge in his brother’s voice. “You’ll give her a choice then.”

  “Aye. She’ll have better than Mairin had. I never want her to feel as desperate as Mairin felt or be forced to choose the lesser of two evils because she’s backed into a corner.”

  “ ’Tis a good thing. We’ve brought exceptional women into the McCabe clan. We’ll breed little warriors with the fire and intelligence of their mothers for sure.”

  Ewan chuckled. “Aye. That we will.”

  Caelen winced again when Ewan poked at the wound. “God’s teeth, Ewan, are you done yet?”

  “It needs stitching and you’ll lie there and allow it or so help me I’ll sew your mouth shut.”

  “Just get on with it. I want to get back to Rionna. I’ll not have her think the worst when she doesn’t see me.”

  “I’ve sent Alaric to tell her that you’re carrying on as usual and making threats. She’ll know you’re fine when she hears that.”

  “If I didn’t hurt so badly, I’d hit you for that.”

  Ewan grinned. “You can try. You’re as weak as a newborn babe at the moment. I think Rionna could take you even with a dagger in her back.”

  Caelen sobered. “She amazes me, Ewan. I don’t even know how to act around her. How can I ever go beyond the fact that she risked all for me?”

  “You’d do the same for her,” Ewan said bluntly. “It stands to reason she’d stand up for you as well. They broke the mold when they made her. You’re well blessed, Caelen. I hope you know it.”

  “Aye, I do,” he murmured.

  “There,” Ewan said as he sat back. “ ’Tis stitched and the bleeding has stopped.”

  Caelen tried to rise but he fell back on his side, every bit of his strength gone. His muscles felt like mush, and he was so weak he could barely lift his arm.

  He cursed and struggled to rise again. “Help me up, damn it.”

  “I’ll help you to the chamber where Rionna is if you swear to stay abed.”

  “I’ll not bargain with you over Rionna,” Caelen growled. “I’ll not leave her even for a moment.”

  “ ’Tis a serious wound, Caelen. You’re fevered and your strength is gone. You could die if you won’t have a care.”

  “Help me up,” he said again.

  Ewan shook his head and pulled Caelen to a sitting position. “I swear I have no idea whose loins you sprang from. I’m convinced you were left on the steps to the keep when you were a wee bairn.”

  Caelen sobered as he struggled to his feet. Cameron’s words about their father drifted back into his hazy consciousness. He would never know if there was any truth to Cameron’s rantings. But he wouldn’t relate the story to his brothers. There was no need to plant any doubt in their minds. Cameron had existed on hatred and revenge for years and it had brought him nothing. In the end, he’d brought dishonor on himself and the father he claimed to avenge.

  “ ’Tis over, Ewan,” he said quietly as they hobbled down the hallway. “After eight years, ’tis over. Cameron is dead and neither of us dealt the killing blow.”

  “Aye,” Ewan murmured. “Our father can rest now. He has been avenged.”

  “Nay,” Caelen said swiftly. “ ’Tis not about vengeance. ’Tis about what is honorable and just. Cameron acted without honor. He died without honor. ’Tis enough.”

  Ewan’s brow furrowed as he cast a sideways glance at his brother. “I owe your wife a debt I can never repay. She not only saved your life, but she killed a man who has caused much grief to my wife and who threatened my daughter.”

  “ ’Twould seem there are many of us indebted to my wife,” Caelen said dryly.

  Ewan knocked at the chamber door and Caelen pushed impatiently in before the summons was issued. His heart nearly stopped when he saw Rionna sprawled facedown on the bed, face turned to the side and eyes closed.

  Gannon immediately put up a hand. “She passed out awhile ago, but she’s breathing. The pain became too much for her.”

  “Can’t we give her a potion? Is there a healer in this clan?” Caelen demanded. “I’ll not hav
e her suffer unnecessarily.”

  “Be at ease,” Alaric said. “You don’t want to frighten Rionna if she awakens. We’ve convinced her ’tis a minor wound and nothing to worry over. She fears more for you than for herself and ’tis better that way. ’Twill give her something to fight for.”

  Caelen went to her bedside, battling pain and the mugginess of fever. His head swam and it felt as though he walked through a bog, but he was determined that he’d remain by her side.

  “The dagger is deep, Ewan.”

  “Aye. It’s going to bleed more freely once the blade is out. I’ll have to work fast to stop it and stitch the wound.”

  “She’s a fighter,” Gannon said gruffly. “This is naught for her.”

  Caelen had never seen his commander so pale. He hovered over Rionna, clenching and unclenching his fists as if he had no idea what to do.

  “Has there been other bleeding?” Caelen asked fearfully. “She carries a babe.”

  Alaric shook his head. “None that I’ve been able to see. She’s complained of no pain in her stomach. Just in her back.”

  “Get on the bed with her before you fall over,” Ewan said crossly. “Get to one side so that when you finally pass out, you won’t be in the way.”

  A knock sounded at the door and Gannon and Alaric both drew their swords. Gannon hurried to answer, opening it just a crack. Then he opened it wider to admit a gray-haired woman who looked to be as old as Methuselah.

  She looked extremely agitated and she wrung her hands in front of her.

  “Begging your pardon, Laird McCabe, but I was told you had need of a healer.”

  Ewan gazed sharply at the old woman. “Have you skill?”

  The woman drew herself up and pinned Ewan with a beady stare. “I was versed in the healing arts long afore you were born, laddie.”

  “I need a drought for pain and a poultice to rub on the wound after it’s been stitched.”

  She nodded. “Aye, I have those things. Would you be needing a steady hand to do the stitching? I’m old, aye, but my hand hasn’t wavered in all my sixty years.”

  “Nay,” Caelen interjected. He turned to Ewan. “You do it. I trust you.”

  Ewan nodded then gestured toward the older woman. “Fetch the items I requested.”

  She nodded and backed from the room.

  “I’ll need help to pull the dagger from her back,” Ewan said with a grimace. “ ’Twill have to be done quickly, and then we have to stop the bleeding. Caelen, lie down. If she awakens, it will soothe her to have you near.”

  Caelen crawled onto the bed and collapsed next to her, as his strength finally gave out. His smoothed his hand over the back of her head, stroking her hair that was matted with blood at the ends.

  “When ’tis done, I’ll bathe you as you once bathed me,” he murmured close to her ear. “We’ll sit by the fire and I’ll brush your hair and then feed you by my hand. I’ll read you all the thoughts I’ve written down since the day I first laid eyes on you. ’Tis the truth I wanted you even then. Even when you belonged to my brother.”

  He touched her cheek, trying to infuse some color. It was pale and cool.

  “Build up the fire,” he said to Gannon. “I don’t want her to be cold. I’d have her as comfortable as possible.”

  “Place your hands on either side of the dagger,” Ewan instructed Alaric. “I want you to push down when I pull. As soon as the dagger is free, press your hands firmly over the wound.”

  Alaric nodded and Caelen moved in close until his lips brushed her temple.

  “Be brave, lass,” he whispered. “As brave as you’ve been through everything else. I’m here. I’ll not leave you.”

  Ewan nodded at Alaric and then took hold of the dagger and pulled. Rionna jerked. Her eyes flew open, panic flaring in their depths. She cried out and began to struggle.

  The knife came free, bathed in blood, and Alaric pressed down on the wound as Rionna writhed beneath him.

  “Shh, Rionna, ’tis I, Caelen. Be at ease, lass. We’re helping you. ’Tis Ewan my brother who has pulled the dagger from your back.”

  Ewan cut impatiently at her tunic until her back was bare. Caelen closed his eyes as he saw blood stream from underneath Alaric’s palms.

  Rionna whimpered as Alaric pressed harder, and Caelen reached for her hand.

  Her fingers bit into his palm, her nails digging deep. He didn’t mind the pain for if it helped her to bear hers, he’d do anything.

  “ ’Tis like fire,” Rionna gasped. “Oh God, it burns.”

  “I know it, lass. It will be over soon. I swear it. Breathe for me. Look at me. Only at me and put this from your mind.”

  Her gaze found his, her eyes wide and panicked.

  “He’s going to stitch the wound,” Caelen said calmly. “I want you to focus on me. Push the pain from your mind and imagine holding our bairn.”

  Some of the wildness eased from her eyes and soft joy replaced the pain.

  The next hour was a test of Caelen’s endurance. Weakened from his own injuries, fevered, and in a great deal of pain himself, he coaxed Rionna through every stitch that Ewan set. When her face went gray with pain, he kissed her and talked of their child. When she was near to passing out, he stroked her cheek and told her he loved her.

  By the time Ewan was done with the last of it, Caelen was barely conscious himself.

  Ewan stepped back from the bed and wiped his brow with the back of his arm. “ ’Tis done, Caelen. ’Tis in God’s hands now.”

  Caelen didn’t respond.

  “Caelen?”

  Ewan bent over the bed to see that his brother had finally succumbed to unconsciousness. He glanced up at Alaric and Gannon.

  “I’m worried for them both. They both have grievous wounds and have lost a lot of blood. But ’tis Caelen’s that went the longest without care and they’d already began to fester. He has a fever already.”

  “What do we do?” Gannon asked quietly.

  “We bear them back home and pray that God is merciful.”

  CHAPTER 34

  Rionna woke, awash in pain. Her entire body felt stretched and tight as if her skin fit too snugly. Her lips were dry and cracked and she’d sell her soul for just a taste of water.

  “Ah, there you are,” a sweet voice soothed.

  “Oh God, I’ve died, haven’t I?” Rionna said in disgust.

  There was a light chuckle. “Now why would you think that?”

  “Because you have the voice of an angel.”

  Rionna pried open one eye, never imagining it could hurt so much to do something so insignificant.

  “Keeley,” she breathed. “You’re here.” Then she frowned because she wasn’t sure where here was. She looked around to see that she was in her old chamber at McDonald keep.

  “Aye, I’m here. Would I be anywhere else when those I love are in need of my skills?”

  Keeley eased onto the bed beside Rionna, holding a goblet of water. “Would you like a drink?”

  “More than I want to breathe.”

  Keeley laughed again. “Not dramatic, are you?”

  Rionna sucked thirstily at the liquid, ignoring the pain that her movement caused. When she was done, she eased back down onto the pillow and closed her eyes to ward off the spasm of discomfort that gripped her.

  “Why am I in here?” she asked. She didn’t want to read too much into why she wasn’t in Caelen’s chamber—the chamber they’d shared ever since Caelen had fetched her from this very room.

  Keeley placed a cool hand on Rionna’s forehead and rubbed soothingly.

  “I wanted you in a room with no windows. You burned with fever for so many days. The draft from the windows was too cold and yet I didn’t want a fire to keep you overwarm.”

  “That made no sense to me,” Rionna said tiredly.

  Keeley smiled down at her as Rionna opened her eyes again.

  “Where is Caelen?” she asked, voicing the question that had burned in her mind from the moment sh
e woke up.

  “He hasn’t yet awakened.”

  Rionna struggled up, nearly fainting from the red-hot pain that lanced through her back. “How long have I lain here?” she asked hoarsely, ignoring Keeley’s attempts to make her lie back down.

  “The journey back here took two days and you’ve been insensible with fever for the last seven.”

  Panic gripped Rionna by the throat. It took every bit of her strength, but she pushed Keeley aside and forced herself up from the bed.

  “Where is he?” she demanded, even as she staggered toward the door.

  “Where is who? Rionna, stop at once. You’re too weak and you’ve still got a fever.”

  She threw open the door. “Caelen,” she replied. “Where is he?”

  “In his chamber, of course. Now come back. For God’s sake, you’ve naught on but your nightdress.”

  Rionna warded off Keeley’s grasp and strode down the hallway and around the bend. Gannon stood outside Caelen’s door and he didn’t look at all happy to see her.

  He rushed to catch her before her knees gave out. “Sweet Jesu, my lady. What are you thinking?”

  Keeley caught up to Rionna just as she tried to shake off Gannon’s grasp.

  “Move out of my way,” she gritted out. “I would see my husband for myself.”

  Gannon’s eyes softened and he wrapped a strong arm around her waist. “If I let you inside, you have to swear you’ll return to your bed. ’Tis the truth you look like death.”

  “Thanks,” Rionna grumbled. “You flatter me so.”

  Keeley turned her lips in to hide the smile. “I’ll wait out here, Rionna. But I’m coming in to get you after a moment. Don’t think I won’t.”

  “It might take more than a moment to convince my stubborn husband he’s not going to die,” Rionna bit out as she walked through the door.

  Gannon and Keeley exchanged puzzled glances but Rionna was already gone.

  Rionna barely made it to Caelen’s bed before her legs gave out. She perched herself on the edge and looked upon her husband’s face. He looked at peace. No lines carved across his forehead. He lay so still that it frightened her.