Catriona lay on her back, hair spread out in a halo across her pillow, eyes closed. Sweat beaded her brow, and the sheet was rucked up where she’d been tossing and turning.
He flung himself to her side, going onto his knees by the bed. He grabbed her hands, clenching them tight in his own.
“It’s all right, sweetling,” he said softly. “I’m here. I’m here.”
His daughter made no response. Her brow was furrowed and her head moved from side to side as if she was having bad dreams. Her hands were hot and as he reached out to place one palm against her forehead, he felt the fever there, burning through her like flame through kindling.
No. No. No.
“Sweetling?” he said. “Cat? Can ye hear me?”
There was no response and Cailean’s heart began to beat so fast that he was sure it was going to burst out his chest. Not her. Anyone but her. Oh please God, no.
Rose lowered herself to Cat’s other side. Cailean flicked a glance in her direction and found her eyes wide, her skin waxy. She pressed two fingers to Catriona’s neck then swallowed thickly.
“What happened?” she asked, turning to Beatrice and Maggie. Her voice shook a little.
Beatrice pressed her hands together at her heart in the prayer position. “We were in lessons,” she said. “Studying the Gospel of Mark when Catriona suddenly said she didnae feel very well. Next thing I knew, she’s swooning out of her chair and running a fever the like of which could set parchment alight.”
“When was this?”
“Earlier this afternoon, during the storm,” Maggie replied. “It came on so suddenly. We didnae know where ye both were. We sent out riders to look for ye but they couldnae find ye.”
Guilt punched Cailean in the stomach with the force of a hammer blow. He glanced at Rose and saw the same emotion mirrored in her wide, horror-filled eyes. They had been in the hut. Together. He’d been with Rose, indulging his lust instead of being here when his daughter needed him most.
He felt sick. He had to grip the edge of the bed to fight the sudden wave of dizziness that swamped him.
Gods, not Cat. Please not Cat.
Rose took a deep breath and closed her eyes. For one, two, three heartbeats, she breathed steadily. Then she snapped her eyes open. When she did, Cailean saw the guilt and horror were gone. Instead, a fierce determination burned in her bright gaze. This was no longer his Rose. It was the MacFinnan spellweaver who sat before him now.
“Beatrice, Maggie, clear the room,” she commanded in a tone thatbrooked no argument. “Go check on the other patients. Leave Catriona to me.”
The two women shared a look but neither dared raise an objection, and they quickly strode from the room.
“Cailean, look at me,” Rose said. Reluctantly, he tore his gaze away from his daughter’s sweat-soaked features and looked at Rose. She reached across the bed and laid her hand atop his and Catriona’s. She squeezed and he felt strength and determination in that grip. “She isnotgoing to die, do you hear me? I will not allow it.”
He swallowed. “What are ye going to do?”
“I’m going to put her asleep, into the same deep sleep as Drew and the others.” A low growl escaped her throat, and she turned her head to study Catriona’s writhing form. “And then I’m going to find a way to end this curse and make whatever sent it wish they’d never been born.”
Her voice throbbed with anger. Releasing Cailean’s hand, she placed both of her palms flat against Catriona’s chest and closed her eyes. The air in the room suddenly seemed tighter, closer, like the charged air before a thunderstorm. Catriona let out a long sigh and relaxed. She stopped writhing, and the furrow left her brow. Her breathing seemed to come a little steadier.
Cailen cupped her face. “Cat? Sweetling?”
There was no response. He turned to Rose. “Can she hear me?”
Rose shook her head. “I… I don’t know.” She gulped in air. “Oh God, Cailean, I’m so sorry.”
“Sorry?” he said, looking at her sharply. “For what? None of this is yer fault.”
It’s mine, he thought.All of this is my fault. I’m supposed to protect her and I’ve failed, just like I failed to save her mother.
A cold spear of despair stabbed through him, so sharp and biting that for a moment it took his breath. Rose raised a hand as though she would reach out to him but then let it drop.
“Let me know if there is any change,” she whispered before climbing to her feet. “I’ll be in the study if you need me.”
Cailean held her gaze. Unshed tears shone in her eyes and Cailean had to look away in case it undid him. A stew of emotions roiled within him just beneath the surface and if he weren’t careful they would come bursting out and he would be lost. He couldn’t let that happen. Catriona needed him strong, in control.
