Page 55 of Kilted Abduction
“Let’s get this over with.”
Ciara lay on her back beneath the covers on the bed. Her hands were folded over her chest on top of the covers, and she was snoring.
“Ciara,” Magnus said loudly and snapped his fingers. “Are ye awake, lass?”
The only response was a louder snore. The draught he’d given her earlier had obviously done its work.
Enya turned to him with a grin on her face. “Ye werenae kiddin’ about the snoring.”
“I told ye.”
Giggling softly, Enya made her way over to the side of the bed and motioned for Magnus to join her. With a sigh of discontent, he walked over and stood beside his sister. She turned and looked at him for a long moment, her expression growing more impatient by the second.
“Well?” she demanded. “Get on with it then.”
Magnus shook his head. “Enya?—”
“Magnus, Domhnall ordered us tae dae that,” she said. “Are ye goin’ back to tell our laird ye disobeyed him?”
“This just feels wrong.”
“’Tis nae like we’re goin’ tae hurt her.”
“’Tis exactly what we’re doin’.”
“But nae really,” she demanded. “And if ye dinnae dae it, Domhnall will make somebody else dae it. Somebody who may nae be as gentle as ye.”
“Enya—”
“Just dae it and let’s get this over with, eh?” she snapped impatiently.
“Fine.”
Magnus took a step towards her and checked her neck, arms and the rest of her, with the help of his sister, to make sure she was not wearing some sort of charm. Then he removed his dagger from its sheath on his belt. Gently taking one of Ciara’s hands in his, he drew the edge of it along her upturned palm. The shallow cut in her skin immediately welled with blood and he turned to Enya.
“Hurry up then,” he said.
Enya took Ciara’s hand from him and held it. She held her other hand over Ciara’s upturned palm and closed her eyes, her face a mask of concentration. The air stood still as it did every time Enya was healing someone using her gift. Magnus watched as the furrow in Ciara’s palm began to close. Watching his sister’s gift at work never failed to surprise him. This time though, it came with a breath of relief as Ciara’s wound was healed before his very eyes.
Her work done, Enya set Ciara’s hand back on her chest and turned to him. “Well, I guess she’s nae immune tae all our gifts. She isnae immune tae gifts of the body. Only tae gifts of the mind like yers and Kai’s.”
“What does it mean?”
She shrugged her shoulders and met his eyes. “I’ve got nae bleedin’ idea, braither.”
Magnus frowned. “That makes two of us then,” he muttered. “Bleedin’ hell.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
In the days since she’d been allowed her own chambers, Ciara had held true to her word and had not attempted to escape again. She had not even given it much thought. One lesson she’d learned from her father that she’d held to religiously, was that when you gave your word, you kept it. Ciara thought perhaps she adhered to that lesson more rigidly than her father, but integrity was important to her, even if it wasn’t to him.
Magnus, perhaps seeing she was being true, had granted her a bit more freedom. It was as if she had earned his trust somewhat. She was allowed to roam the castle and the grounds around it, though she did still have men following her around. And she was still not allowed into the village without Magnus to escort her. Nonetheless, she didn’t feel as if she was being shackled and bound every minute of the day anymore.
“I’m goin’ tae find ye,” she said as she stalked through the long, wide corridor of the castle, a grin on her face.
Her guards stood casually at the far end of the corridor watching her, amused grins on their faces. Giggling up head drew Ciara’s attention, and she had to keep herself from laughing.
“Where can Clara be?” Ciara called aloud.
