Page 32 of The Thief
With one last cold look around, Art stormed out of the parlor and the castle, yelling for his things to be brought back to the carriage. The front door slammed shut behind him and Scarlett collapsed against Alastair, grateful for his warmth and strength.
He drew them together down to the couch and slipped his other arm around her, his heat warming the chill that filled her.
“Everything will be all right,” he whispered, pressing kisses to her head.
“How can you be sure?” she asked, watching as Ragan left the room and shut the door behind him.
“As long as I live and breathe, I will make sure you are safe. I promise you.”
She sighed against his chest and closed her eyes, her breathing soon evening out as she slipped into slumber.
Alastair called for Ragan to come back in. When he slipped quietly in, Alastair whispered harshly, “I want you at her side anytime I am not. You will be moved across the hall from her so that you can be near her.”
Ragan nodded.
“I will let Bard know that I am moving and will get my things together.”
Alastair nodded and picked up Scarlett, settling her into his arms and walking over to the door.
Ragan held it open and Alastair slowly left the room, careful not to bump Scarlett and then headed upstairs to her room. Ragan followed him to the room, waiting outside as Alastair made sure Scarlett was tucked comfortably in to rest.
“Stay here and I will work as fast as we can to move everything and will relieve you when we have everything done.”
Alastair nodded and turned to go back into the room, shutting the door behind him as Ragan took off down the stairs. Alastair went ahead and sat at the vanity on the stool, looking around the bedroom at the small personal items that Scarlett kept there.
They had been able to retrieve the carriage with all of her and Catriona’s things so that had at least been a good thing. At least she was able to have a few of her things from home while she stayed with them.
When they had recovered their belongings, he had asked if Scarlett wanted Catriona’s trunk as well and she had agreed. Scarlett kept her trunk against the window and Catriona’s sat right next to it, unopened. He could tell it had never been opened—the lock was still on it.
At least he assumed it had not been opened for that reason.
Alastair could not imagine going through what Scarlett dealt with. Losing someone one loved was difficult to deal with and she didn’t actually know if Catriona were alive or dead.
Catriona could still be alive and Scarlett was absolutely determined to find her.
Alastair looked at Scarlett lying in the bed, her face gaining some color back; her lips no longer a light pink but instead a dark red.
Unbidden, he stood, walking over to the bed and going to sit on the edge of the bed. He pressed his palm against her face, the warmth of her cheek burning his palm. Scarlett unconsciously pressed her cheek against his hand, scooting her body closer to the source of warmth.
His mind reeled and a small warning bell went off in his head, telling him that he should get up and walk away before anything happened or Ragan came back. Alastair blocked the warning bell out of his mind and slid down onto the bed, pulling her close to him.
She sighed and her lips turned up into a smile, happiness filling his heart. Dropping a kiss on her forehead, he relaxed next to her, eventually falling asleep himself.
Scarlett woke up to a knock on her door, opening her eyes and looking around.
“Your Highness, are you all right?” Ragan called, knocking again.
She went to get up and was stalled by an arm around her waist. Shocked, she looked down at the arm thrown across her waist. When she saw that it was Alastair, her jaw dropped.
She heard the door handle jiggle and jumped out of the bed, calling out, “I am all right, Ragan! Thank you for checking on me.”
Scurrying to the door, she opened it, smiling when she saw him standing there looking concerned.
“I apologize, My Lady. I wanted to double check and make sure you were all right. I will go ahead and finish moving my things.”
“All right. Thank you again.”
With one last look at him, she shut the door, turning back to the man laid out in her bed. She walked over to the bed and checked on him, making sure that he was still breathing. When she was certain of his health, she reached out and shook him roughly, jolting him awake.
