Page 55 of Taken By the Devilish Highlander
“Aye, but we’ll be there soon enough. One more treatment—something I can do for ye before I go.”
“Treatment?” he asked. His mind flashed to kissing in the woods, to Feya laid out on his bed. “What did ye have in mind?”
“Not like that,” she laughed, staring at him with wide eyes. “Just be ready tomorrow at midday. I’ll meet ye in the healing garden.”
26
At midday, he walked through the healing chamber, headed for the meeting point Feya had given him.
“Look who it is,” Ayla said, her eyes on Holly as they watched him cross the room. “And where are ye headed?”
“I’m sure ye ken, Ayla,” he said, rolling his eyes at her. He hadn’t missed how close Feya and his sister had gotten over the past few weeks. Sometimes it made him wish he were closer to Ayla, that he could ask her what Feya was feeling or thinking. Though, of course, something told him she wouldn’t tell him anyway.
“Don’t let her tease ye,” Holly said. “Ye must spend time with Feya while ye have the chance.”
He nodded, unable to voice his agreement with the statement. It only made him think of their impending departure. In two days, they would leave at dawn, headed back to McKenzie land. He would return Feya to her family, where she would no doubt catchthe eye of some ambitious Lord. Before he knew it, he would be back at McKenzie Castle for Feya’s own wedding.
He walked through the open doors and saw the colors of late summer blooming throughout the garden. Roses in all shades of pink, white, and red, lined the walkway until he reached the containers of herbs and plants that made up many of the concoctions Feya had brought to him. He glanced around, slightly nervous about what he would find out here, but Feya was nowhere to be seen.
What is she up to?
He heard her before he saw her, her voice carrying across the lawn. She called his name, and he looked up to see her running, her hand up in greeting. She held a large basket in her arm as she rushed from the direction of the castle kitchen. A blanket was draped over one shoulder.
“Apologies, I’m late,” she said, catching her breath as she reached him. “They werenae ready with the food.”
He looked down to the basket in her hands where a clean cloth had been carefully arranged over its contents. Even so, he could smell the yeasty aroma of bread and something sweet that made his mouth water.
“Food?”
“Aye. A picnic,” Feya announced. She practically bounced when she said it, overcome with excitement about the idea. “I hope you’re hungry.”
“Starving,” he said, and it wasn’t a lie. He took the basket from her and felt the satisfying weight of it. “Lead the way.”
She rushed forward as soon as he said it, leading him with urgency. The shadow of the council meeting he had just suffered through was quickly receding. Elijah had even warned him not to leave, saying it wouldn’t be a good look for Archer to spend more time with Feya. Of course, he didn’t listen, and now he found himself smiling as he followed her off the castle grounds.
“How far are we going?” He laughed when their stroll turned into a hike. Feya only looked over her shoulder and smiled at him.
“You’ll see,” she said. She veered left and walked up a hill, bringing up memories of Archer’s childhood. He and Ayla used to explore these woods all the time. As a child, he would have known exactly where Feya was taking him. But today, it was a surprise when they crested the hill and the clear, still blue of a pond spread across the horizon.
“I forgot this place,” he said, half to himself.
“Holly’s brought me here to collect from the water plants,” she explained.
Feya pulled the blanket from her shoulder and unfolded it. She held the corners as she lifted it into the air, letting the fabric settle onto the ground. She looked at him with an expectant look and Archer smiled as he walked the basket to the blanket. He settled onto it as Feya smoothed the wrinkles with her palms.
“Jan outdid herself,” Feya said. She pulled aside the fabric, and tantalizing smells emerged. He watched Feya unpack it, stretching his long legs in front of him as he rested on his hands. With each new food, Feya narrated a description.
“Fresh rolls and clotted cream, strawberries, sweet onion tarts, chicken legs with rosemary, goat cheese, and peach preserves.”
The food kept coming.
“How many people did ye tell her to cook for?” he asked. There was enough food to feed four of them, and they both jumped in, sampling each dish with fervor. Jan had packed them plates and knives, but they mostly ate with their fingers, pulling apart fresh bread to scoop up the cheese and the cream or making sandwiches with the chicken.
They ate until the warm sun and their full stomachs made them tired, until they found themselves lying back, their heads cushioned with their arms.
“I want to thank ye,” Feya said as they both stared at the blue sky and the wispy clouds that moved across it.
“Ye daenae have to?—”
