“I see that,” Kaiden grumbled. His father had gone to pay the McLeish clan a visit and work on a fragile alliance. Ever since the McDougal Highland games a few years ago, the alliances that had held fast in previous generations could no longer be trusted. It was every clan for themselves, and only the strong survived.
Yet another reason that Kaiden should consider taking his own life.
His father crossed the room, glancing down at Kaiden’s offended leg until Kaiden covered it with a fur. “Any news that it will get better?”
“Nay,” Kaiden stated firmly. “She wants tae cut it off.”
The laird blanched. “Cut it off?”
“Aye,” Kaiden said wearily, the fight leaving him. “I would rather die.”
“That won’t be necessary,” his father ground out. “I’ve brought ye something...something that will help the situation.”
Kaiden sat up in bed, wincing as he moved the injured leg. “Wot is that?”
The laird moved to the door, and Kaiden watched as a young woman walked in. She was petite compared to him and his father, with rich hair the color of a fine, aged whiskey, and dressed in the McGregor tartan.
Was she a healer? Surely she couldn’t do any more than his own healer had done. They were all the same, using their poultices to draw out the infection that ravaged his leg and rendered him unable to perform the basic necessities of life.
He was nothing but a shell of a man, a great warrior cut down because the gods deemed him unworthy. “I dinnae need another healer,” he grumbled, waving his hand at his father. “Leave me in peace.”
His father did nothing of the sort, instead motioning the lass to follow him as they moved closer to the bedside. “This is yer wife,” he said.
Kaiden stared at his father before erupting into laughter as he stared at the wide-eyed lass. “I dinnae know wot tricks ye have told the laird, but I dinnae remember marrying anyone, lass.”
“That’s because ye didnae,” the laird growled. “I did it for ye.”
Kaiden wasn’t so certain he heard his father correctly. Marriage? Surely not. Why would he want to do such a thing to a useless man who couldn’t even piss on his own, much less raise any other parts of himself?
“Ye jest.”
“Nay,” he answered, straightening his shoulders. It was then that Kaiden realized how much of a toll everything over the past few months had taken on his father. The wrinkles on his face were much more prominent, and his normally bulky frame looked far too thin under his clothing.
All because of me.
Kaiden looked over at the lass, but she was eyeing his injured leg now covered under the furs, wrinkling her nose against the smell.
Yes, he smelled. If it weren’t the infection, it was the sweating he did at night, when a fever would sneak up on him and ravage his body for hours. He hadn’t even gotten into the tub in months, choosing to wipe down his body whenever he felt like doing so.
Most days, he didn’t feel like doing much at all.
“I dinnae know wot jest ye are pulling,” he finally said, clearing his throat, “but I dinnae want nor need a wife.”
“Too bad,” his father stated, his expression harsh, “because ye got one, Kaiden, and she’s a healer.”
“I’m Ferra,” the lass finally spoke up, her voice soft. “And I would like vera much tae help ye.”
Kaiden gave the lass a once-over. “Ye cannae help anyone,” he growled, wanting her and her torture out of his chambers immediately. “Look at ye. Ye’re weak.”
“Kaiden!” his father growled, but Kaiden was far from listening to the man who had betrayed him. Kaiden watched as the lass bristled at his verbal assault, and he pressed on, wanting them all to leave. “Wot can ye do? Cut mah leg off? That was wot the last healer threatened tae do. Tell me, lass, wot makes ye special?”
Her cheeks flushed, and Kaiden found himself surprised by the anger that bloomed in her eyes. “’Tis no wonder ye have been laying up in this bed,” she said tightly, all traces of kindness gone from her expression. “Ye are nothing but a stubborn Scot who’s going tae die from it!”
Kaiden chuckled, the pain in his leg increasing as he looked at his father, who was watching the interaction with rapt attention. “I see why ye married her. I hope ye enjoy each other because ye both bloody deserve it!”
His father’s jaw tightened, but he said nothing as he escorted the fiery lass out of the chamber, shutting the door soundly behind him. Kaiden waited a moment to ensure that they were truly gone before he collapsed onto the pillows, feeling the anger drain out of him nearly immediately. He knew his father was trying to help him, trying to bring back the warrior that Kaiden was known to be, but it was no use.
Kaiden beat his fist on the bed, anger welling up in his chest. He didn’t want to be this shell of a man, someone who couldn’t protect his clan when they were threatened!
