Page 81 of Wedded to the Twisted Highlander
Astrid’s heart stopped. She grabbed Melody by the shoulders and pulled her back, studying her little face and praying that she had heard wrong.
“Come again?” she demanded, trying to keep her anger under control as her attention shifted to Thomas for but a moment.
“Laird Chalium,” Eileen chimed in, “hecame. We were attacked. They came out of nowhere, and Reid jumped up to protect us. He was gravely injured tryin’ to defend us.”
Astrid felt a wave of horror crash over her. She couldn’t believe what she was hearing, despite seeing the evidence around her. Her gaze shifted back to Thomas. His face had darkened, and he balled his fists as he clenched his jaw.
“I’ll kill him,” he whispered, his voice so low and deadly that it sent an icy chill down Astrid’s spine.
“Thomas, nay,” she said softly. “We need to tend to Reid first. Make sure that everyone’s safe. This was just a test. He’s tauntin’ us.”
“He’s made a grave mistake,” Thomas said.
“Perhaps he has. But for now, we need to—Reid. Eileen, please take Melody to her room and stay with her. I’ve got to go check on Reid’s injuries. We cannae afford to lose anyone tonight,” Astrid instructed, handing Melody off to Eileen.
She glanced at Thomas, seeking confirmation that she was making the right choice. He nodded and turned his attention to the servants around them, barking orders to get the castle cleaned up.
Without hesitation, Astrid took off in the direction of the infirmary, her feet pounding against the stone floor. Uncertaintyhovered over her like a dark cloud as she burst through the doors and instantly looked for Reid. She clapped her hands over her mouth, trying to stifle the shock that washed over her.
“Och, Reid!” she gasped, rushing to his bedside.
There was no telling how bad his injuries were until she got him cleaned. She went to work instantly, cleaning his wounds. A huge gash stretched from his brow to his chin, before trailing down to his chest.
Astrid couldn’t believe Reid had managed to survive such an attack.
“Olivia!” Reid shouted as Astrid wiped the dry blood from his forehead. His fingers curled around her wrist, halting her. His eyes flew open, filled with horrors that Astrid couldn’t even begin to fathom.
“Ye’re safe now,” she said tremulously, fighting back tears as she tried to tend to his injuries.
“Olivia,” Reid called.
“Hush now,” Astrid urged, trying to calm him as he thrashed in the bed.
She knew that if he kept moving, there was a greater chance he would lose his life from blood loss.
“Ye need to be still,” she snapped.
He released her wrist, his pupils narrowing and dilating as if he was trying to focus not on the battle he had seen, but on the here and now.
“I couldnae stop it. Do ye hear me?” Reid said, pulling her closer to him. “Laird Chalium has Olivia,” he added, before exhaustion overtook him.
His hands dropped to his side, and the room filled with the sound of his snores.
“Reid, ye have to wake up. How do ye ken that Laird Chalium has Olivia? Reid, please…”
Despair crawled up her chest. All this chaos and terror because she had gone out.
Astrid had felt a sinking feeling before they even left the loch. She knew in the marrow of her bones that something was going to happen, and now she was witnessing the consequences of her actions.
She pressed her lips into a tight line and dropped her head to the mattress as tears pooled in her eyes.
This isnae happenin’. Oh God, what is he doin’ to Olivia? This is all me fault.
27
Thomas stormed through the Great Hall, his eyes ablaze with fury as he paced before his councilmen and clansfolk. The air was thick with tension, palpable enough to slice through.
“How could this have happened?” he thundered, his voice echoing off the stone walls like the crack of thunder outside. “Me own castle, raided,.What kind of incompetence is this?”
