Seduction of a Highland Lass (McCabe Trilogy #2)(85)

Alaric stared down at his sister-in-law and saw the tears in her eyes, the grief shadowing her face. “I can’t leave her,” he whispered. “I’ll not have her die alone.”

“Damn it, Alaric. Get the hell out of here,” Ewan barked. “If things go badly, I’ll summon you at once. If we are to have a chance to save her, we must act quickly.”

Mairin reached and took his hand in hers then squeezed. “Come, Alaric. Leave them to their business.”

Alaric closed his eyes, his shoulders slumping. He turned to where Keeley lay on the bed and then he went down on one knee. He touched her shoulder and gently caressed the soft skin before leaning over to kiss her ashen brow.

“I love you, Keeley. Be strong. Live. For me.”

Caelen and Gannon pulled Alaric and this time he allowed them to push him from the room. He stumbled outside of the chamber, his heart hammering like a drum.

The door closed, bathing the hallway in darkness. He turned and pounded his fist into the stone wall. “Nay! God damn it, nay!”

Caelen wrapped his arms around Alaric and hauled him the rest of the way down the hallway to his own chamber. He kicked in the door and thrust Alaric inside.

Caelen’s eyes glittered with anger as he shoved Alaric onto his bed. “You do her no good like this.”

Alaric stared down at his swollen hand and at the blood seeping from the broken skin. He wanted to smash something else. He wanted the bastard who’d dared do this to Keeley.

He glanced up at Caelen as coldness crept over him.

“Did you apprehend the one who did this?”

“Aye,” Gannon said from the doorway. “He is chained in the dungeon.”

“Did he act alone?” Alaric demanded.

“We know not yet. We await the laird to question him.”

Alaric sucked in air through his nostrils. “He is mine to kill.”

Caelen sank onto the bed next to his brother. “Aye, when we’ve extracted the necessary information from him, he is yours to kill. No one would deny you that right.”

“She saved me again,” Alaric said bleakly. “The arrow was meant for me. She stepped in front of it and gave her life for mine.”

“She is a fierce lass. She loves you.”

That Caelen spoke of love without derision in his voice was surprising. But there was only grudging admiration and truth in his tone.

Alaric buried his head in his hands. “I’ve made such a mess of things.”

“Don’t torture yourself, Alaric. You were in an impossible situation. You and Keeley handled it as best you could. Much was riding on your marriage to Rionna.”

“I’m married to Keeley,” Alaric said quietly.

“Aye, I heard it. I bore witness to the handfast.”

“It brings me no comfort when she lies dying down the hall.”

Caelen glanced at Gannon and then back to Alaric. “You sell the lass short, Alaric. She’s tough. She’s not a quitter. I confess I’ve never met another woman of her ilk. She’s earned my respect and my allegiance.”

Alaric pushed himself to his feet. “I cannot sit here not knowing what happens a few doors down. If she is brave enough to step in front of an arrow for me, the least I can do is stand at her side while she endures the worst. I know Ewan means well, but she needs me and I won’t let her down.”

Caelen sighed. “If ’Twas my woman in her position, I’d not let anyone make me leave her side either.”

Gannon nodded in agreement.

Alaric walked to the door but then paused and turned to face his brother. “I haven’t thanked you for standing by Keeley during the last days. It’s been hard for her, I know. It should have been me. It will be me from now on.”

Caelen smiled. “ ’Tis no hardship. ’Tis the truth the lass amuses me.”

The corners of Alaric’s mouth lifted in a half smile and then he left the chamber and strode down the hall. He paused at Keeley’s door, afraid to open the door. There was no sound within. No cry of pain. Nothing to signal that she breathed still.

With a whispered prayer, he eased the door open and stepped within.

Ewan was bent over the bed, his face creased in concentration. Rionna was at Keeley’s head, stroking her hair and murmuring soothing words.

Ewan cast a quick glance in Alaric’s direction but didn’t deviate from his task. When Alaric stepped closer, he could see that Ewan had cut around the shaft of the arrow to open the flesh enough for the arrowhead to be pulled free.

The cloths surrounding the arrow were soaked in her blood and it had seeped onto the bed.

“Let me hold her so you can concentrate more fully on the arrow,” Alaric said. He barely recognized his own voice.

“You must hold her still. She mustn’t move,” Ewan said.

Alaric nodded and then carefully crawled onto the bed. Keeley faced away from Ewan and was scooted to the edge so that Ewan had access to her back. Ewan waited until Alaric lined his body alongside Keeley’s and then carefully secured his arm over her hip. He slipped his arm underneath her head and carefully pulled her from Rionna’s lap.

“You can help wipe the blood so I can see what I’m doing,” Ewan said to Rionna.

Keeley’s breaths were a mere whisper against Alaric’s neck. When Ewan returned the blade to her skin, she went rigid against Alaric and a whimper escaped her lips.