“My thanks,” Coira told her.
Once Elizabeth had gone, Coira ran a hand through her hair, then regarded Logen. “I couldna tell anything, Logen. I’m sorry. So many people...” She wrapped her arms around her middle as if she were still being pummeled by all the feelings in the great hall. “Suddenly, the pain became too much. That must have been when I fainted.”
“Then ye must no’ subject yerself to that many people again, lass. Why bear such pain if ye canna learn anything from it?”
Coira gave a rueful chuckle and shook her head. “Would that no’ be true for all the wars in Scotland’s history?”
The mere thought of a battlefield sent Logen’s pulse racing.
“Ach, I’m sorry. I did it again.” Coira reached out to him.
Logen fought to control his reaction. He stepped back.
“Breathe, Logen. Please.” She stood and came to him, laying her hands on his arms and sliding them down to his clenched fists. “All is well, at least for the moment.”
Logen was finally able to drag in a deep breath of air, redolent with her scent and heat. His pulse kicked up again, for a very different reason this time. But she had blanched again, her jaw clenched tight. Was she ready to be on her feet? It appeared not.
“Step away, lass, please. Sit down. Ye fainted no’ so very long ago. I willna have ye do it again.” The excuse sounded good to his ears, but in truth, he needed some distance from her, too, or he would take her in his arms, and Elizabeth would return to find them locked in an embrace. Or worse.
Without a word, Coira reseated herself on the edge of her bed.
Logen kept his distance and watched as her face gained color. What was happening to her? Then the truth came to him. “Ye said the presence of so many people could become painful, but even that could be easier to bear than the strong emotion of one person.”
Coira’s gaze snapped up to meet his, yet she still did not speak.
“It hurt ye, again, just now, when ye touched me, aye? Ye went pale. Ye were gritting yer teeth.” He crossed his arms over his chest and waited, giving her time to decide how to answer. The tear that suddenly glimmered at the corner of her eye surprised him. He knelt and took her hands in his. “Coira, what’s amiss? Tell me the truth. Did I hurt ye? Do I hurt ye now, touching ye?”
She sucked in a breath. “Aye, ye did. And nay, ye dinna hurt me now. Yer concern is a comfort. But I...I need to learn how to build walls against what others are feeling.”
“Is such a thing possible?” If the Lathan healer had done this to her, why had she not taught Coira to protect herself? He squeezed Coira’s hands and released her, rocking back on his heels.
“I dinna ken. If it is, I dinna ken how.”
“Perhaps we should return ye to the Lathan Healer...”
“Nay!”
Because Logen only meant to help, Coira’s sharp reaction surprised him, but it made her objection clear.
“Why no’, lass, if she can help ye?”
“If she couldha helped me, she wouldha.”
He tried again. “If she doesna ken ye’re in trouble...”
“I canna return there, Logen. Please, dinna try to make me.”
This made no sense. “Let us think on this a while.”
“There’s naught to consider. I willna go. Now, please leave me, Logen. I need to rest.”
Logen pursed his lips, confused by her refusal to seek help. “Verra well.” He stood and went to the door. “Elizabeth will be back in moments. I’ll leave ye in her care.”
After the door closed behind him, he leaned against it and shook his head. What had the Lathan escort failed to tell him?
****
“So, she is the lass returned to us. Like the prodigal daughter, aye?”
