Never Love a Highlander - Maya Banks [105]
By the time Ewan was done with the last of it, Caelen was barely conscious himself.
Ewan stepped back from the bed and wiped his brow with the back of his arm. “ ’Tis done, Caelen. ’Tis in God’s hands now.”
Caelen didn’t respond.
“Caelen?”
Ewan bent over the bed to see that his brother had finally succumbed to unconsciousness. He glanced up at Alaric and Gannon.
“I’m worried for them both. They both have grievous wounds and have lost a lot of blood. But ’tis Caelen’s that went the longest without care and they’d already began to fester. He has a fever already.”
“What do we do?” Gannon asked quietly.
“We bear them back home and pray that God is merciful.”
CHAPTER 34
Rionna woke, awash in pain. Her entire body felt stretched and tight as if her skin fit too snugly. Her lips were dry and cracked and she’d sell her soul for just a taste of water.
“Ah, there you are,” a sweet voice soothed.
“Oh God, I’ve died, haven’t I?” Rionna said in disgust.
There was a light chuckle. “Now why would you think that?”
“Because you have the voice of an angel.”
Rionna pried open one eye, never imagining it could hurt so much to do something so insignificant.
“Keeley,” she breathed. “You’re here.” Then she frowned because she wasn’t sure where here was. She looked around to see that she was in her old chamber at McDonald keep.
“Aye, I’m here. Would I be anywhere else when those I love are in need of my skills?”
Keeley eased onto the bed beside Rionna, holding a goblet of water. “Would you like a drink?”
“More than I want to breathe.”
Keeley laughed again. “Not dramatic, are you?”
Rionna sucked thirstily at the liquid, ignoring the pain that her movement caused. When she was done, she eased back down onto the pillow and closed her eyes to ward off the spasm of discomfort that gripped her.
“Why am I in here?” she asked. She didn’t want to read too much into why she wasn’t in Caelen’s chamber—the chamber they’d shared ever since Caelen had fetched her from this very room.
Keeley placed a cool hand on Rionna’s forehead and rubbed soothingly.
“I wanted you in a room with no windows. You burned with fever for so many days. The draft from the windows was too cold and yet I didn’t want a fire to keep you overwarm.”
“That made no sense to me,” Rionna said tiredly.
Keeley smiled down at her as Rionna opened her eyes again.
“Where is Caelen?” she asked, voicing the question that had burned in her mind from the moment she woke up.
“He hasn’t yet awakened.”
Rionna struggled up, nearly fainting from the red-hot pain that lanced through her back. “How long have I lain here?” she asked hoarsely, ignoring Keeley’s attempts to make her lie back down.
“The journey back here took two days and you’ve been insensible with fever for the last seven.”
Panic gripped Rionna by the throat. It took every bit of her strength, but she pushed Keeley aside and forced herself up from the bed.
“Where is he?” she demanded, even as she staggered toward the door.
“Where is who? Rionna, stop at once. You’re too weak and you’ve still got a fever.”
She threw open the door. “Caelen,” she replied. “Where is he?”
“In his chamber, of course. Now come back. For God’s sake, you’ve naught on but your nightdress.”
Rionna warded off Keeley’s grasp and strode down the hallway and around the bend. Gannon stood outside Caelen’s door and he didn’t look at all happy to see her.
He rushed to catch her before her knees gave out. “Sweet Jesu, my lady. What are you thinking?”
Keeley caught up to Rionna just as she tried to shake off Gannon’s grasp.
“Move out of my way,” she gritted out. “I would see my husband for myself.”
Gannon’s eyes softened and he wrapped a strong arm around her waist. “If I let you inside, you have to swear you’ll return to your bed. ’Tis the truth you look like death.”
“Thanks,” Rionna grumbled. “You flatter me so.”
Keeley turned her lips in to hide the smile. “I’ll wait out here, Rionna. But I’m coming in to get you after a moment. Don’t think I won’t.”
“It might take more than a moment to convince my stubborn