Chapter 23

CHAPTER 23

"Are ye all right, lass?" Ewan asked, handing her his flask.

She took it from him, turning the top and taking a quick sip. It was whiskey; she could tell by the sweet burn and the warmth that spread down her throat and into her stomach. It didn't do much to quench her thirst, but it did flush her skin just enough to act as some respite from the chill.

They had been riding for a while, longer than she had thought. She turned slightly, glancing back at him in the saddle. Heat radiated off him as he kept his eyes trained forward, his gaze narrowing. "Ewan, should we nae make more north?"

He shook his head, and offered a small smile. "The storm is shifting as we move, lass. Forgive me," he said as he motioned to the dark skies that seemed to surround them. "But daenae worry, ye will be wed tonight."

Ewan's words brought some comfort and she sighed, closing her eyes and focusing on the movement of the horse beneath them. Her thoughts floated and turned into air; her body swayed and drifted. Leona felt almost drunk. She knew she did not drink enough from the flask to have herself feeling this way, wondering if it was due to the cold and the storm that had turned her this way.

Thunder crackled loudly around them, making them both jump from their skins. Leona blinked and looked up at Ewan, but something in his expression told her something was very wrong. His head turned, his gaze following something moving. Leona let her gaze take the same direction and cursed under her breath.

Running away from them was her horse.

"Forgive me, lass," he said, watching with a frown. "I thought I tied her tight to us. Normally, I would say we best chase her down, but with ye shaking like a leaf, I think it's best to rush ye somewhere warm and dry."

He was right. Leona could see the figure of her mare becoming smaller; the beast seemed to be tracking back from the way they had come. She felt a pang of guilt but knew she was in no condition to follow.

They pressed on, watching ahead as the sky flashed over and over.

Her mind wandered to Caelan, wondering if he had noticed her absence or not. It was her wedding day, so it only made sense that someone who took note of the bride was no longer present. She sighed, knowing this was all her fault.

"I am sorry for draggin' ye into this mess,"

He shook his head, chuckling. "Dinnae concern yerself with it."

How could she not? Her actions had led them here, both soaked and cold, hoping to ride out a storm that seemed to have a mind of its own. Ewan had gone out of his way to help her, and this was what he received in thanks.

As her body felt more light, she leaned back against Ewan, her brow furrowing as the world around them began to spin. She opened her eyes and looked up at the sky. The gray clouds seemed to be dancing overhead. "Ewan… I daenae feel…" her words trailed off as her stomach twisted.

"Ye feel what, lass?"

She felt as if she were weightless and yet heavy as a boulder. She opened her mouth to speak, but it was as if the words could not be found.

It felt as if they were coming to a slow halt. "Leona? Are ye well?"

Her eyes narrowed, trying to focus on him. Ewan's face blurred and twisted until he was almost completely unrecognizable. As her mind faded in and out, she felt her body being moved and floating through the air. Then, everything around her turned a shade that matched the shadows.

When she opened her eyes, she was greeted by the soft, amber glow of a fire. The flickering of the flames moved gracefully across the walls of the unfamiliar room, like shadows dancing to a quiet tune. Leona groaned as she sat up in the bed, her eyes narrowing in confusion as they landed on the only familiar thing there. Ewan.

He was seated at the small table, leaning over the surface in a way that made her think he had fallen asleep in the same position. She could see the steady rise and fall of his shoulders as he breathed.

Leona's gaze fell to the window, revealing that the last hint of day had lowered into the horizon. Her mind wandered to Caelan, wondering if he had gone to look for her. Or worse still, was he happy to be without her now? With her gone, he did not have to be wed. The thought gripped at her chest, leaving an ache like one she had not known before.

She pulled the covers off her body and swallowed back the ache in her bones and muscles. Leona felt as if she had drunk all of the ale in Scotland the night before. Her vision spun, ebbing and flowing like embers as she tried to maintain her composure. Whatever she had drank, it had dug its claws into her head and body.

"Ewan?"

"Aye," he mumbled through sleep, raising his head.

"Where are we?"

Something shifted then; a thickness filled the air like smoke. He looked over at her, the dim light alluding to the shadow that crossed over his face. "Ye fainted, lass," his voice was soft, his brows furrowed. "Ye daenae remember? One moment ye were fine, and the next ye just about fell from me horse."

But that doesnae explain this. Her eyes widened.

He did not bring her back to Gleann Cloiche.

Ewan seemed to sense her panic, and he shook his head. "I'm sorry, Leona. The storm was too much and shifted right on us," he motioned around the room with a frown. "The only thing that made sense was to return home."

"This isn't home," she whispered, her eyes narrowing.

She did not understand how they had arrived here, wherever here was. Even if the storm had been so terrible, it seemed strange that he did not plan to just wait it out.

He nodded slowly. "It might nae feel that way right now."

She blinked. "What do ye mean by that?"

"I ken that this isnae the type of home suited for such a lady, but when ye take yer role as the Lady of the Castle ye can make any changes ye wish," his voice turned her blood cold. Ewan's eyes were on her, almost seeming to threaten to devour her whole. He stood from his seat, turning his gaze to the door. "Once the priest arrives, we will be wed, and from there, ye will have all that I own. This is the way it was meant to be."

"Ewan, I daenae wish to wed ye. I am to be Caelan's wife– I want to be Caelan's wife," she said, trying her best to keep her voice level, controlling the emotions that were beginning to bubble to the surface.

Something told her that there was more to Ewan than she had imagined or had ever known. Leona, holding her breath, knew that this was dangerous. As far as she knew, she had not said or done anything that would lead him astray like this.

"Caelan Lennox will never love ye."

She swallowed hard and shook her head. Even if he never could, she knew that she wanted to be with him. In truth, anywhere but here would be a vast improvement. Leona slid her legs over the edge of the bed and set her bare feet on the cold, stone floor.

"I am to wed him just the same," she took an uncertain step forward, keeping the door in her field of vision. "Ye need to return me to Gleann Cloiche, Ewan. Ye cannae do this."

"Leona, ye are in no position to stop me. Maybe ye just need some time to consider it all," his gaze swept over to the door before returning to her. "I am doin' this for ye. Do ye truly want a man who will have a maid in his bed each night? Do ye truly believe that he kept Flora away? Why is it that she managed to find ye at Gleann Cloiche?"

Leona stared back at him, her eyes slowly narrowing. "How do ye ken about the maid?"

He had not been there long enough to know a single thing about Flora. Shaking her head, she began to seethe, her temper firing and crackling with a rage that would burn through him.

"Well, it is clear as day. His reputation–"

"Nay, daenae lie to me."

"I wouldnae–"

"Ye spoke to her," she stated, her tone falling flat. Judging by the look that crossed his face, she knew it to be true. Leona crossed her arms over her chest, clenching her fists so that her nails dug into her palms. She knew she needed to be careful with her words here. "And I can forgive it, Ewan. Just let me go to him. Bring me back, and we can call it a misunderstanding."

If he had thought of consideration, he did not show it. Ewan moved for the door, opened it, and stepped out into the hallway. He stood there, his eyes fixed on her with a half-hearted smile. "The priest will be here within a day," he told her. "I hope ye will come to yer senses by then."