He pressed his mouth gently against hers, needing to taste her, even if briefly. He felt her immediate response as she opened her mouth for him, melting against him in sweet surrender.
Hearing Ruaidri approach with Robbie, Alex broke the kiss. How the lad had managed to find him so fast, Alex didn’t know, but he was grateful. He moved aside to allow the older man to examine Meg, though he held her hand the entire time. Needing the connection. He couldn’t stop touching her, assuring himself that she was going to be all right. That she wasn’t going to die.
After a few minutes, Ruaidri stood up. “It will need to be stitched, and I suspect she’ll be weak for a few days, but with a proper poultice the lass will be fine.”
Alex sighed with relief. It was the first relaxed breath he’d taken since Dougal had appeared with Meg.
When he thought of what she’d done, risking her life for his, he was moved beyond words. Humbled, awed, and now that he knew she would be all right, not a little bit angered. Butthatdiscussion, he would save for later. Now, he just wanted to carry her away from here.
Meg was floating on a wave of pure euphoria, feeling nothing but the strength of Alex’s love. The searing pain in her side seemed strangely detached, almost not her own. Everything was going to be all right. Alex was safe. Dougal was dead, and she…well, she had everything she ever wanted. The perfect man for herandher clan.
Alex slid his arm under her back and started to lift her. She winced at the sharp reminder of her injury.
“I’m sorry, love. This might hurt, but I need to lift you up to get you on my horse, all right?” When she nodded, he added, “Put pressure on it like this.” He moved her hand over the pad he’d fashioned as a bandage. “It has stopped bleeding for now, but tell me immediately if it starts bleeding again.”
“I think I can stand,” she offered.
“No.”
He looked so charmingly worried, she decided not to argue. It was too wonderful being cared for so lovingly. Gently, Alex lifted her and bundled her in his arms. She pressed her cheek against his thick quilted cotun, the tiny plates of metal cool against her cheek. She wanted to stay in his arms forever. And she could when…
All of a sudden it hit her.
“Alex! The battle. Is it over?”
He shook his head. “’Tis just begun, love.”
Her stomach lurched. Her own need to have him near her, holding her, warred with the knowledge of what she had to do. She knew how important this was to him. Knew precisely what was at stake. Knew the men who were relying on him.It wasn’t over.No matter how tight she wanted to hold on to him, no matter how much she needed him, he wasn’t hers—yet. Her chest squeezed as she forced the words from her mouth, releasing him. “You must go to them. Your men need you. Jamie can take me to the village.”
“My men are well trained. I’ll not leave you. Not until I see you to safety.”
“But it might be too late—”
His expression turned obstinate and forbidding. “Don’t argue with me, Meg. Not about this. You could have died.”
Something in his eyes stopped her. The raw emotion. The hint of lingering fear.
“But I didn’t,” she said softly. “Promise me you’ll go—”
“I will. As soon as I am assured of your safety.” They’d reached the area where his horse was tethered. Meg listened proudly as Alex gave orders to his men. His quick decisiveness and utter command never ceased to impress her. Most of the men he sent to help those battling the castle guards. A few of her father’s men who’d accompanied her on thebirlinnwere to keep watch over the MacDonalds, and Robbie would ride to Neil and explain what had happened.
“Is there anything I can do?” Jamie asked.
Alex nodded. “Ride ahead. Find a healer and have her come at once to the inn.”
Carefully, he handed her to Robbie while he mounted his horse. She felt a fresh stab of pain at her side but smothered her cry, not wanting to alarm Alex. Soon, she was settled before him, happily ensconced against the protective wall of his chest.
The ride to the village did not take long, but Meg wasn’t feeling so well. She felt queasy and unbearably weak. But she forced herself to be strong and fought the nausea rising in her throat. She realized that her wound had opened and blood was seeping from her side, thankfully well hidden under herarisaidh.
It was getting harder and harder to keep her eyes open. She was so tired, so horribly tired. Her eyelids felt so heavy. Her dreams beckoned, tempted. No, there was something she had to do. One more thing before she slept.
She felt a prickle of alarm, knowing she was losing too much blood. But she dared not say anything to Alex. If she did, he would never leave her. And he needed to do this. Needed to help his kin, or the past would always haunt him.
“How are you feeling, my love?”
Awful.“Fine. I’m sure it looks worse than it is,” she said, nearly exhausting what little strength she had left to make her voice sound normal.
“We’re almost there.”
