Killian saw Fletcher’s brows furrow together, and his expression slid into a frown. “M’laird.”
“Ye do naethin’ until I command it. Right now, we re-group and help the villagers here recover from their loss in any way we can. Send word to the castle and have the workers in the main village send carts of crops—as many as they can manage for the people here.”
Fletcher seemed displeased with Killian’s decision. He hesitated before sighing and bowing. “Aye, m’laird.”
Killian watched him march away, and then he walked back to the body of the dead man and searched him for any clues. A second later, he pulled out a dirk from the man’s pocket.
It had the same markings as the one found on his brother’s body years ago. He stared at it hard, remembering Lily’s words and her conviction of Laird McLennan’s innocence.
What if she is right? What if I’ve been chasing the wrong shadow all along?
Sighing, Killian went into the cabin and found Lily still unconscious. He went to her, knelt by the side of the bed, and took her hands in his, linking their fingers so he could warm her cold skin.
She risked her life to save mine.
He brushed the tendrils of hair stuck to her sweaty forehead away, then kissed the tip of her nose and her cheeks. What shehad done was brave, and it was also the reason why he could trust her.
Whatever happened next, he was only certain of that one fact. Lily was his ally. He could trust her with his life. She had proved that to him when she had taken the arrow to save his life.
Even though it was incredibly stupid and risky.
Killian felt tears prick the back of his eyes as he held her hand to his cheek. He realized right then how terrifying the thought of losing her was.
If it ever happens, I dinnae think I would survive.
That one thought stayed with him as he watched and nursed her.
Somehow, this woman had managed to creep into his heart, and he could only hope that his growing feelings for her did not blind him from the truth.
19
The dull throb in the side of her head spiked higher when she opened her eyes that morning. The slicing pain in her chest made her whimper, and raising her body from the bed was almost impossible.
A sob erupted from deep within her chest when she tried to ignore the pain and sit up on the bed.
Where am I?
She let her eyes scan the chamber. It was more of a small shed. A chamber pot lay on the far end, and beside it was a tall chest leaning against the wooden walls.
Lily squeezed her eyes shut. She summoned the courage to pull herself upright, crying out as she succeeded because the pain in her chest was too much to bear.
She remembered the screams and trails of dust clogging her nostrils from the chaos on the battlefield. She had taken the arrow for Killian, saving him from the archer that had attempted to take his life.
I survived.
She lifted her hand to her head and touched the cloth wrapped it. Then, she looked down and found her chest wrapped in white cloths. Blood soaked the sheets beneath her, and an empty chair sat beside her bed.
Lily gasped when she heard footsteps approach.
The door burst open, sending rays of sunlight into the chamber, and she closed her eyes against the harsh glare.
“Ye’re awake,” Killian rasped when he stepped inside and saw her sitting upright. He slammed the door shut and rushed towards her. Then, he put a hand on her back and tried to lower her to the bed again. “Ye shouldnae be sittin’ up. Ye lost a lot of blood, and the healer says ye need rest.”
Lily sighed as he helped her relax on the bed again, and then she blew air through her lips. “Did you capture any of those men? Did you find out who sent them?”
The look in Killian’s eyes scared her. Lily had hoped they would find out who was behind this. She did not mind risking her life to make sure he lived.
“Why did ye do that?” Killian asked, ignoring her question, as his eyes locked on hers. “Why did ye get in the way of the arrow?”
