Chapter 20
"Ye need to get up. Leah, do ye hear me? The mornin' has come and we need to get back to the castle."
Brilliant orange light blinded Leah as her eyes fluttered open. Her head pounded with each pulse of her heart as she slowly propped herself up on her elbow.
"What time is it?" she mumbled as she pinched the bridge of her nose, trying to remember if or even when Killian had returned.
All she could remember was pacing the room until her legs ached.
The sleep overtook everything the second her head hit the pillow.
But by Killian's rude awakening, it was clear he was still angry.
The only problem was Leah didn't know the source of Killian's ire.
"Does it matter? I've got to get Marcus to the dungeons where I can interrogate him properly."
"Are ye goin' to kill him?" Leah asked. The very thought of taking another's life so casually disturbed her.
But more so in seeing how nonchalant Killian seemed about the matter.
He turned his attention to her, gazing deep into her eyes.
The emotion and connection Leah had felt only a few hours ago was gone.
It was as if she were looking into the soul of a stranger.
"Would that bother ye?" Killian asked as his eyes narrowed.
"I daenae understand how ye do it," Leah said as she slipped out of bed only to find her dress laid out at the foot of the bed. It didn't go unnoticed by Leah how Killian rose a bit too eager to put space between them. It was as if she carried some sort of rare disease that he dared not pick up.
"What is that?" he asked as he circled to the door.
"Does life mean nothin' to ye?" Leah asked as she raked her fingers through her hair to untangle it. Killian flinched as she stared him down. She didn't like hurting him, but it was the only way to get him to listen.
"I'd choose yer next words carefully," Killian warned. His voice was heavy with emotion and laced with warning.
"Ye ran two men through yesterday. And that I can understand. They were foul men and deserved what they got," Leah started to explain as she braided her hair to the left and slipped her shoes on. "But ye spared one only to question him? Is that nae torture?"
"Tell me, healer, what would ye have me do? I have spies and assassins comin' out of the woodwork. I need to ken who is sendin' them and why."
"Do ye really think ye'll get one of them to talk to ye?
" Leah asked as Killian tried to open the door.
Leah reached her hand out, grabbing him by the arm, refusing to let him leave.
"Answer me. Ye want me to answer ye? Then aye, I would have ye kill them all outright.
But ye dinnae do that. Ye spared one, and now the moral thin' to do is to let the man live. "
"Aye, and I have. He's alive until he has nay further purpose."
"That is cruelty."
"It is war," Killian snapped as rage flickered across his face. "Nay matter which way ye look at it. It's war. There are men hidin' in plain sight and now I have ye questionin' me moves. Ye are nae the Laird MacMillan. That title belongs to me."
"And as such, ye have the power to show mercy do ye nae?"
"Tell me, where was the mercy for me when his sword was swingin'?
Had his aim been better I would have died in that alley.
And ye'd be having an entirely different conversation with someone else.
Nay doubt a councilman wonderin' what ye were doin' here with me.
And what would ye tell them? Because ye ken they would pin me death on ye if anythin' were to of happened to me. "
Leah opened her mouth and closed it quickly once more. It was clear that no matter what she said, he'd have a counter for it. Pursing her lips into a tight line, Leah marched for the door.
"I'm glad ye think so highly of me," Leah whispered as she stormed out of the room and made a beeline for the stairwell.
The thumping of Killian's boots on the wooden floor irked Leah as she charged for the front door.
It was petty, but she couldn't stand the thought of even looking at Killian, not after the verbal lashing he gave her.
"I'll meet ye back at the castle," Leah said over her shoulder, only to step out into the morning air to find a wagon at the ready and the cage with Killian's prized prisoner.
Leah couldn't help but feel a prick of guilt and pity for the man.
She barely had time to put his face to memory before Killian charged out of the front door.
"Thought ye said ye'd meet me at the castle," Killian said, his voice tainted with an arrogant pride that grated on Leah's nerves.
"And I will."
"Ye’re nae walkin' if that is what ye think ye’re about to do," Killian said as Leah made a sharp turn to dodge the wagon and start on foot down the path.
"Fine, ye want to be stubborn, be stubborn," Killian called after her. "We'll see who caves first."
"Are ye goin'?" Leah asked. "Because it looks like ye’re stallin'."
"I'm nae stallin', merely givin' ye time to reconsider."
Leah pursed her lips tight together and made a sharp right turn. She didn't have a clue where she was going or where she'd end up as long as she didn't have to have Killian on her heels the whole way.
"Ye cannae go that way," Killian called after her. "Ye'll be headin' right for the bog. Come back and I'll keep me mouth shut."
Leah paused as she noticed water licking her feet and toes. Somehow, taking just a few long strides from the trail landed her near the shallow bits of the bog. She shook her head, frustrated with the turn of events. It was bad enough she would pass Killian again, but to do so out of shame was sad.
"Last chance, ye can ride with me or ye can ride with him," Killian said, nudging his head to Vance, who was still unconscious in the cage.
"I'll meet ye at the castle," Leah repeated and started down the road.
"Ye’re as stubborn as a mule ye ken that?" Killian grumbled as the crack of the reins caught Leah's ear.
"And ye’re as mean as an ox, what's yer point?" Leah asked as the wagon rolled past her, kicking up dust and dirt in its wake. She stumbled to the side and waited for the air to be clear. Once she could see the road clearly, Leah started down it.
As she walked back to the castle, the crisp morning air carried the sweet scent of blooming heather.
Leah's heart felt weighed down by the unspoken tension between her and Killian.
The fact that he refused to see her point of view rattled her.
Was he truly that stubborn? She ran her fingers through her hair and let out a heavy sigh.
There was no telling how long she had walked, but the sun had passed over the road and kissed the tips of the hills.
Leah's mind raced with thoughts of their argument the night before. She had never meant to hurt him, but her words had cut deep, and she knew it. She had been so caught up in her own emotions, her own fears and doubts, that she hadn't stopped to consider the impact her words would have on him.
As she approached the castle gates, Leah spotted Killian's wagon stopped at the stone archway. Filled with conflicting emotions, Leah tried not to pay any heed to Killian as she made her way down the slope to his location.
"There ye are," Killian said with a pinch of relief tainting his voice. "I was about to go lookin' for ye."
"Ye need nae worry so."
"Were ye even in the village with me or was that someone else? Because I remember bein' attacked in the alley with ye. So, aye, there is in fact a reason for me to worry about ye."
Leah glanced at Vance, who was still locked in the cage but alert to his surroundings. Clearly, there was no hope for him; Killian had already made his mind up, and there would be no one around to change it.
She was hurt by Killian's brutal display, yet she couldn't deny the thrill that ran through her when he'd saved her from the bandits.
And then there was the confession he'd made about killing his father.
.. surely, there was a reason behind that act, a reason that would explain the depth of his pain and anger.
"Well, as ye can see, I'm fine," Leah answered, hoping to keep the lashing out of her tone.
"Aye, but are ye?"
"Depends on if ye’re goin' to be merciful to yer prisoner," Leah asked.
"That's to be determined. If he sings for me, then there will be nay reason for me to hurt him. But if he doesnae give me what I want, then there will be consequences. Surely, ye can understand that? Or did yer faither spare ye the rod growin' up?"
"I've been switched me fair share," Leah answered as pity struck through her. " I understand where ye're comin', from I do. An eye for an eye? Is that it now?"
"Has it ever been any other way?" Killian asked. "If altered, ye'd have all sorts of problems to deal with. I daenae think me clan could handle a break in our traditions. And right now, that noble tradition is questionin' the prisoners of war."
"I hope ye get what ye’re lookin' for," Leah said as she started through the archway. Although welcoming, the castle felt like a prison. Leah wanted to be there, to spend time with Killian, but she just wished she knew which version of him she would be getting.
Climbing the steps to the castle felt like a chore. The moan of the doors widening caught her off guard. Leah glanced up to find Elsie rushing down the steps to greet her.
"There ye are. I was so hopin' ye come back today," Elsie said, scooping her arm into Leah's before pulling her faster up the stairs.
"Ye see, there's been a bit of a problem.
Mason has been worried sick that Killian might have killed ye or somethin' horrific.
He wants ye to go and see him in his study the moment ye come through the doors. "
"Can I nae unburden meself first?" Leah asked as she glanced at the leather bench next to the steps.
Elsie smiled and nodded as Leah took a moment to herself.
If she was going to see Mason, she would need a clear head.
Surely, he was going to bombard her with a ton of questions she wasn't sure she wanted to answer just yet.
"I daenae think Mason will take too kindly ye keepin' him waitin'. He was up all night expectin' ye to come and visit him," Elsie explained as Leah slowly rose to her feet. Despite her legs aching and muscles cramping, Leah knew she'd have to see Mason eventually.
"What in the world put that notion in his head?" Leah asked.
"Nae what, who," Elsie said.
"Alan," Leah grumbled, saying his name like a curse.
"Aye, he's been around," Elsie said as they walked down the long corridors and stopped at the doorway of the infirmary. "But I think it would best ye go in alone."
Leah rolled her eyes and took a long, deep breath as she pushed open the door to the infirmary.
A strong whiff of alcohol and herbs poured out of the room, making Leah's nose crinkle.
She spotted Mason's familiar form lying on the bed, his eyes scanning the room with a mix of worry and frustration etched on his face.
"Leah?" Mason's voice was raspy and strained, almost as if he'd been screaming all night. Leah took a step closer as she wiped her sweaty palms against her skirt.
"Aye, it's me," she answered as she stepped into the light.
"Where have ye been? I thought ye were goin' to have dinner with me last night and ye never showed. I thought maybe ye had left for good."
"There was a fire in the village," Leah started to explain as she moved to Mason's side.
"So I was told," Mason said as she felt his eyes boring into her. "But are ye sure ye’re all right? Me brother, he dinnae…"
Leah's cheeks flushed as her heart skipped at the memory of last night.
She swallowed hard, hoping there wasn't enough light coming through to give her blush away.
She couldn't help but think of Killian's tongue tracing the curves of her body, the memory sending a shiver down her spine.
Forcing a laugh, Leah tried to shake off the question lingering over them like a blade.
"Oh, Mason, ye worry far too much for someone so young," she said, her voice a little too bright.
"I'm seventeen."
"Aye, but as ye see, nay one was hurt or ye'd have far more company. I just wanted to see the fair and Killian wouldnae allow me to stay alone."
Mason's brow furrowed, his eyes narrowed, "And ye think that is to make everythin' all right then?
Me brother was doin' the noble thin' and seein' ye werenae harmed, aye? Do ye have any idea how much danger ye’re puttin' yerself in?
Me brother is dangerous. There is a dark side to him. Please, ye have to believe me."
A chill raced down her spine as it caught her breath. Leah fiddled with the tip of her braid as her mind played back Killian's rescue. It was violent and brutal. The images scarred her thoughts.
"I ken yer brother has a dark side," Leah answered, her voice barely over a whisper.
"I daenae think ye understand," Mason said as he grabbed her by the hand. "He's dangerous. I implore ye, daenae spend any time with him. He'll find a way to manipulate ye and control ye. Daenae give him that satisfaction. I want yer word."
Leah stared at Mason. The intensity burning in his eyes rattled Leah to her core. She took his hand and slowly bobbed her head. "Aye, ye have me word."