“Evie pulled it out. I’m fine.”
“Youneedstitches,” Evie said.
Chloe wobbled, lightheaded. From the blood loss or the use of the keystone, she didn’t know which. She leaned heavily intoMalcolm, who wrapped his arms around her to steady her on her feet as she groaned. Without a word, Malcolm swept her into his arms and carried her toward the keep.
“Malcolm, put me down,” she protested, but she knew it was a weak one.
Truthfully, she liked being in his arms. She liked when he took charge and took care of her.
“Evie, fetch Dougal. Have him meet us in my bedchamber at once.” Then his heated gaze landed on her. “And I’ll have no arguments from ye, lass.”
“No argument from me,” she said. “Tell him to bring whiskey and a lot it.”
CHAPTER 31
Chloe lay on her side in the aftermath of her shoulder being stitched. It throbbed with a deep pain that shifted through her entire body. It was a horrible experience, one she hoped never to repeat. She had known it was going to be and tried to brace herself for it. Nothing could have prepared her, though.
Malcolm remained by her side, holding her hand, letting her squeeze it as tight as she wanted. Her fingernails dug deep into his palm, but he didn’t seem to mind. She clenched her jaw, refusing to cry out the entire time Dougal stitched. Before he started, she ordered him to douse the open wound with the whiskey. It was the only thing she could think of to sanitize the wound to keep it from getting infected. When he finished, Malcolm snatched the bottle out of Dougal’s hand and gulped a long drink.
Now, he sat by the bed, his head on his chest as he dozed. Across the room, the fire blazed in the hearth.
It was a miracle, she thought, that he hadn’t been injured during his fight with Rory MacDonald.
She had caught a glimpse of him when he entered the bailey while she stood at the end of their enemy’s sword point. She had seen the rage cross his face before he emitted his fierce war cry and then charged.
She had never seen anything like that before. Her breath caught in her throat when he attacked the older man. It was in that moment she realized she would forever love Malcolm MacLeod.
Callum had skirted around their fighting as he headed right for them, his face creased with worry for his wife. He had pulled her into his arms and held her close, asking if she was all right. Then he had cut her a glance and asked after her.
“She’s hurt, Callum,” Evie had said. “She took an arrow in her shoulder. She needs a doctor.”
“I’m fine,” Chloe had said, her words terse as she kept her eyes on Malcolm. “We have to do something to help him.”
Evie’s gaze had followed hers to the two fighting men. “But what?”
And that’s when she had gotten the crazy idea to use the two pieces of the stone together.
A soft knock on the bedchamber door roused Malcolm from his dozing. He lifted his head and jumped to his feet as he hurried to the door, pulling it open to shoo away whoever was on the other side, no doubt.
“I came to check on her.” Though Evie tried to keep her voice low, it carried into the bedchamber.
Before Malcolm sent her away, she said, “Let her in, Malcolm.”
He glanced over his shoulder at her with question deep in his eyes. As if asking if she were sure. But Evie didn’t wait for him to grant her entrance. She slipped by him and headed right for the bed where she perched on the edge, reaching for her. Gently, she took her bandaged hand in hers.
Evie’s hand, too, was bandaged. Against his better judgment, Callum had allowed them to use the edge of his sharpened dagger. The cuts were deep on each of their palms. After they arrived back in the Dundale bailey, they each had pocketed their own piece of the keystone. Chloe’s now resided on the bedside table. Evie, likely, carried hers on her person.
“I’ll give ye both a moment,” Malcolm said. He slipped out of the room and closed it behind him with a soft snick.
“How are you?” she asked, concern flickering through her deep brown eyes.
Chloe managed a weak smile. “I’m all right.”
“Dougal said you did well. He said you didn’t even scream.”
“That’s because I clenched my jaw shut and refused to scream,” Chloe said. She pushed that aside. “Evie, when we put the two pieces of the stone together, did you sense something?”
Contemplation slipped over her features as she kept her focus on their hands. “Yes.”
