"I'm nae as fragile as ye think I am brother. I can get more sunlight if that will help."
"Sunlight and food? That is yer remedy? Any fool on the moors could have given me that answer."
"The garlic will help clear out the cough lingering in yer brother's chest. As for what else is botherin' him, I'd need to examine him further," Leah countered, trying to keep her tone neutral. Killian's fierceness to protect his brother only exposed just how hurt and worried he was for his brother.
"Do what ye can," Killian said, stepping away from the bed as if to give her full command of the room and situation.
Leah pulled in a long, deep breath as she gave Mason her full attention.
"How is yer chest? Is it tight? Or does it feel like ye're breathin' fire?" Leah asked as she leaned closer, pressing her ear to his chest.
"Please, ye cannae stay here. Forget about me and leave as soon as ye can. Trust me, ye daenae want to be here," Mason whispered. His voice was so low that Leah doubted anyone else in the room could hear him.
"I leave in the mornin'," Leah answered as she checked around Mason's ears and neck for any boils or sores. Relief flickered in his eyes, but the urgency and warning in his tone lingered like smoke.
"Good. Ye must save yerself."
"Well?" Killian asked. His voice had dropped and was like silk to the ear. Leah closed her eyes, savoring the sound of his seductive tone as it taunted her. She glanced over her shoulder at him, daring to find his gaze. His eyes were deep with sparks of intrigue skipping on the edges of her mind. How did he hold such power over her? She’d been in O’Malley’s service after all, and yet here was a man who stripped her to her core with a mere glance.
"Give the lass a moment, what do ye think she is? An angel with the powers to miraculously heal?" Alan chimed in. His kind words made Leah blush as a smile tugged on her lips. She tucked a loose strand of her hair behind her ear. Embarrassment flushed through her like a flood ripping down the canyon. If only they knew what was really going on inside the darkest recesses of her mind.
"I can tell that Mason needs herbal tea to sooth his throat, more garlic and rosemary in his food to help counter the congestion. Sunlight will help him improve significantly. Even if it's openin' the curtain and lettin' fresh air into the room."
Killian stared at her as she gave her report, his stoic expression never once failing as he dropped his arms to his side.
"I've got to say that ye've given him more of a diagnosis than anyone else has," Alan said with a hint of pride ringing in his voice. "For that, surely the lass deserves some boon for her troubles."
"Thank ye, truly, but ye daenae have to give me anythin'," Leah said. "Ye're already providin' me with a place to lay me head tonight, which is more than kind of ye."
"Nonsense," Killian said. "The councilman is right as usual. Ye rendered services to me brother, and for that ye shall be paid. Follow me."
Leah glanced over her shoulder to Mason. The warning on his lips was like an alarm to her heart. She swallowed hard as she tried to make out what he was trying to convey.
"Leave as soon as ye can," Mason mouthed as Killian escorted her from the room.
"With a bit more time, I'm sure I could figure out how to help yer brother more."
"Ye've done enough."
Killian's tone was coarse and stern as he charged down the hallway. The castle was like a maze as they made one turn after another until Leah found herself standing before a mighty oak desk in the middle of the study.
"Here," Killian said, reaching into one of the drawers and pulling out a hefty bag. The coins jingled as she caught it. "For yer services."
The weight surprised her. She whipped her head up, surprised by the laird's generosity.
"This is too much," Leah said, offering to give him back some of the coins.
"Who is to say it is too much? Ye've done more than any healer. Most walk into the room and tell me me brother is on death's door. Ye walk in and give me practical solutions. Why should I nae pay ye for yer work?"
Leah clutched the purse, feeling more than grateful. The money would help her start a new life and while her day may have started off horrifically, it had drastically improved in the blink of an eye.
"It's late," Killian said as he extinguished the candles around the study with a single touch. "Ye should rest."
"Thank ye," Leah whispered. Her words lingered in the air like a secret. She found herself drawn to him as the room faded into darkness. Killian didn't speak as Leah reached for his hand.
A gasp escaped from her as her fingers brushed over unfamiliar bumps riddling the palm of Killian's hand. She snatched his palm and studied it as if it held the secrets to the universe.
Her questions lingered in the silence as her eyes met his.
