“Wh…” She stopped and cleared her throat. “Where is Fallon?”
She hated herself for asking, but she had to know. He had seemed like the kind of man that would have stayed by her side the entire time.
Cara chuckled. “He’s been wandering around the castle since late last night looking at all the improvements. I know he was eager to get to work after the morning meal. I’m sure he will be here shortly.”
There was a quick knock on the door before it opened again. This time a tall, slender woman with fiery curls walked in carrying a tray with a bowl of soup and some bread. She placed the tray across Larena’s lap and offered a wide smile.
“Hello, Larena. I’m Sonya.”
The name suited her, and Larena liked her instantly. She returned the smile. “The other Druid. My thanks for helping to heal me and for the food. I didn’t realize how hungry I was until I smelled it.”
“Don’t let us stop you from eating,” Cara said. “We’re the only two females in the castle, so we tend to band together against the males.”
Sonya laughed, the sound light and airy. It was evident there was a good bond between her and Cara. “So true,” she said, and pulled another chair over beside Cara.
Larena listened to the two women as she ate. They kept up a steady stream of conversation, talking about nothing in particular, and it was obvious to Larena they were there to keep her engaged.
She finished the broth and put the last bite of bread in her mouth. She was ready to get out of the bed and into some clothes.
“Would you like some more?” Cara asked.
“Thank you, but nay,” she said.
Sonya jumped up and hurried from the chamber. Larena watched her go, wondering what made the Druid leave so quickly. It wasn’t long before Sonya returned pulling a wooden tub into the chamber.
She straightened and dusted off her hands. “We thought you might like a bath.”
Larena nearly sighed at the idea of soaking in hot water. “That sounds like heaven.”
“We’ll start bringing the water up,” Cara said.
After they left, Larena rose from the bed and walked to the window. She looked out to see cliffs of jagged rock that plummeted to the dark water below. The waves crashed and spray flew into the sky to shimmer in the sunlight. Larena imagined she could almost feel the mist of water. The smell of salt filled the air, and the breeze from the water cooled her face.
She couldn’t wait to see the rest of the castle and surrounding land. Her bare toes squeezed against the cold stones beneath them. She turned and looked at the bed. Fallon’s bed, she corrected.
Would she share the bed with him? Was that why he had put her in his chamber? Could she allow herself to become more attached to him than she already was?
When he had spoken of Quinn and their plan to rescue him, her hand had gone to her ring, ready to give it to him or anyone in need of rescue from Deirdre. Then she remembered the vow she had made to her clan and Robena. She couldn’t forsake that vow, even if she did want to help Fallon, nor could she put everyone else at risk if the plan failed.
She touched her side where the wound had been, but there was no pain. When she lifted the chemise she found no scars either. It was as if she had healed as she always did. Yet, she knew the
The door opened and Cara and Sonya entered carrying buckets followed by Lucan and another man with light brown hair and laughing hazel eyes. He gave a quick nod to Larena before dumping his buckets and leaving.
“That was Logan,” Cara told her. “He’s always smiling and jesting. I don’t think there is anything that can get him down.”
It took a few more trips before the tub was filled and the three women were left alone again.
Larena looked at Sonya. “I don’t have a scar. Shouldn’t the poison have at least given me a scar?”
Sonya hesitated and cast a glance at Cara. “You were all but dead when Fallon arrived here with you in his arms. I used magic, aye, but it wasn’t enough.”
“You needed blood,” Cara said. “Lots of it.”
“Blood,” Larena repeated, confused. “So that’s what saved me?”
Sonya nodded.
“Who gave the blood?”
Cara handed her a bar of soap and cleared her throat. “Do you need help?”
Larena shook her head and allowed her to evade the question. She wanted some time alone to think. And she wanted to soak for as long as she could in the water. Even now curls of heat rose from the tub, beckoning her.
“Welcome to MacLeod Castle,” Sonya said before she left.
Cara grinned after the Druid. “I have a few gowns I’ve let the hem out of that should fit you.”
“I don’t want to take your gowns.”
“Don’t think anything of it. There are many gowns that were taken from the village after Deirdre killed everyone. I alter them as Sonya and I need them. I’ll return with one as soon as I finish.”
When the door closed behind Cara, Larena jerked off the chemise. She dipped her toe into the scalding water to test it, and then slid beneath it with a sigh.
Her hand went to her side. She had needed blood. But then whose blood was inside her now?
She thought of the attack from the two Warriors and the pain that had devoured her. The blackness had taken her soon after, but she remembered opening her eyes to find herself in Fallon’s arms. His beautiful dark green eyes had been focused on her as he said her name over and over again.
Larena covered her face with her hands. She should tell him about the ring and what was inside. He wanted information about the Scroll. That was easy enough to give, but what if he asked for the Scroll? She would explain that as much as she wanted to give it to him, she couldn’t. He would understand. Wouldn’t he?
More disturbing than that thought was wondering if he would want her in his bed again after she confessed to having the Scroll.
Chapter Sixteen
Fallon looked out over the castle from the tower and smiled. He hadn’t expected so much to have been accomplished while he was away. All but two of the towers had been restored, including the one he stood in now.
His heart hurt as he thought about returning the castle to its former glory. He could well imagine his father standing in the bailey with his arms crossed over his thick chest and his dark hair streaked with silver nodding in approval.
At least this was one thing Fallon had done right.
The sound of footsteps on the stairs announced the arrival of his brother even before Lucan stepped through the doorway.
“I’ve been looking everywhere for you,” Lucan said, his brow furrowed.
Instantly Fallon thought of Larena. “Is something wrong with Larena?”
“Nay. She’s woken.”
Fallon let out a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding. “Is Cara seeing to her?”
“And Sonya as well. Logan and I helped bring up water for her to bathe.”
Fallon swallowed and turned his head away lest his brother see the flare of lust that spiked in him when he thought of Larena in the water. “Is she feeling well?”
“She seems to be.”
He wanted to inquire if she had asked about him, but somehow Fallon kept his mouth shut.
“You need to tell her what you did for her,” Lucan said.
Fallon nodded. “I’m sure I will.”
