Page 61 of Wicked Kilted Highlander

CHAPTERTWENTY-SIX

"Get out of me way! She needs the healer, now!" he barked, scanning the faces of the people who had gathered around them.

"This way, Darragh," Elsie said from his side, “Faither’s given her the healing chambers in the tower." He followed her as she moved rapidly along the hallways until they came to a stone staircase leading up to the tower rooms. Elsie ran up them quickly and waited for him as he hoisted Lara's limp form more securely in his arms. Her brown hair cascaded over his arm, soft as silk, as simple drove him on.

"Please, hold on, Lara," he whispered into her hair, the words falling from his lips like a prayer. "I cannae bear tae lose ye, too.”

The steps behind him echoed with the hurrying footsteps and hushed murmurs of the rest of the family, who were following on his heels.

“Stay with us, lass,” her father implored her as they arrived at a door and stopped. Elsie threw it open and beckoned him inside.

“Ye’ve got to pull through, Lara,” Gil told her as he followed Darragh inside, his eyes shimmering with unshed tears.

“This is the healer, her name is Nona,” Elsie told him.

They entered the room, where the healer gestured for him to lay Lara on the bed. He obeyed and stood back with the others while the healer began to attend to Lara immediately, with the precision and care of a seasoned professional. She moved like a shadow, her deft hands darting from one task to another as she examined the unconscious girl. Darragh watched her work, unable to tear his gaze away from Lara's pale, still form.

The healer called for a basin of iced water to be brought in and set about soaking strips of linen, wringing them out before placing them gently on Lara's forehead and neck.

“I’m nae sure what’s wrong with the lass, m’laird,” the healer said, turning to Harris. “It disnae look promising, but still I cannae be sure until I understand what it is that ails her. Have her in yer prayers.”

Darragh's heart thudded against his chest, a frantic drumbeat echoing the chaos of his thoughts. He saw Quinn’s face go pale while he thanked the healer for the information before the woman returned her eyes to Lara. Darragh clenched his fists tightly, knuckles whitening as he fought to keep his emotions in check. The air was thick with tension and anxiety, like a fog that refused to dissipate. Lara's labored breathing cut through it all, each shallow exhale an invisible knife piercing his soul.

"Ye seem awfully concerned, Darragh," Quinn said, his voice laced with suspicion. "Tell me, what exactly are yer feelings for me sister?"

Though the question caught him off guard, Darragh knew it was one he could no longer avoid. He swallowed hard, feeling the weight of those words on his tongue. "I love her, Quinn," he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. "I've loved her since the moment I laid eyes on her."

Quinn studied Darragh's face intently, as if gauging the sincerity behind his confession. "Are ye willing tae dae whatever it takes tae ensure her safety? Tae stand by her side through every trial she may face?"

"Aye, I would give my life fer her," Darragh replied fiercely without hesitation.

In that moment, he would have traded all the gold in Scotland for a single miracle.

"Remember, Darragh," Quinn said softly, placing a hand on his shoulder. "We're all in this together. If we stand united, there's nothing we cannae overcome."

Darragh offered a tight-lipped smile, appreciative of the sentiment but still consumed by worry. He understood all too well the harsh reality of life's fragility. But as he continued to look at Lara's pale face, noting the labored rise and fall of her chest, he found solace in one unwavering truth: he would not let her go without a fight.

As Darragh's gaze remained locked on Lara, he had a moment of clarity. He recognized that Quinn had been doing his best to navigate their fraught circumstances, and perhaps it was time they truly joined forces.

"Listen, Darragh," Quinn began, his voice tinged with reluctance. "I ken I've nae been fair tae ye up to now. I've let me own anger and fear cloud me judgment when it comes tae me sister. Fer that, I apologize."

Darragh's eyes flicked towards Quinn, acknowledging the gravity of the admission. He knew all too well how difficult it could be to set aside one's pride.

"Ye care fer her deeply," Quinn continued, his tone softening. "And I can see now that she means as much tae ye as she does tae me. I want us tae work together. We can protect her better if we stand side by side."

The sincerity of Quinn's words resonated within Darragh, stirring memories of his own family. He hesitated before responding, his thoughts drifting to a painful place he rarely allowed himself to visit. "Aye, I understand that need tae protect. Me sister Lillie was abducted by Kier MacNeil not so long ago."

Quinn's expression shifted from surprise to empathy, as he leaned in closer, offering his full attention. "What happened?"

"Me parents were killed when we were all very young, and then, recently, Lillie was taken," Darragh explained, his voice cracking under the weight of the memory. "She was saved after some time being held captive, thanks to MacNeil’s own daughter, yet still, every day it haunts me that without her help, Lillie could have perished."

"God's wounds, Darragh," Quinn murmured. "I had nae idea. We both ken the pain of loss, the fear of losing those we love."

Darragh nodded, feeling a bond beginning to form between them. "Aye, and together, we can make sure Lara disnae suffer the same fate. We can give her the protection she needs."

"Agreed," Quinn said firmly, extending his hand in a gesture of solidarity.

Gil stepped forward then to join his brother and Darragh, his tall, muscular frame casting a formidable shadow across the floor. His dark eyes held an intensity that seemed to pierce through Darragh, and he couldn't help but feel a twinge of anxiety in his presence.

Just behind him was Elsie, her fiery red hair cascading like a waterfall down her back. Her delicate features were etched with worry for her sister, and her eyes glistened with unshed tears. The siblings shared a striking resemblance, both exuding an air of authority that demanded respect.

"How is she?"

"Still unconscious, and the healer says she’s right poorly but disnae yet ken why," Quinn answered, letting go of Darragh's hand and moving to stand beside his brother.

"Och, God preserve her!" Elsie murmured, crossing herself.

Darragh watched the siblings, feeling the weight of Lara's father's disdain for him still heavy on his shoulders. But despite that, he found solace in the bond he'd forged with Gil, and the understanding he now shared with Quinn.