Page 85 of Kilted Hate

Whether he would survive was a different matter, however, for he could feel his very soul slipping out of him. He had remained strong for Katherine’s sake, but now his body was slowly closing down and he simply was not sure how long he would last.

Soon afterwards, Magnus and Kai hurried down the stairs.

“Domhnall,” Magnus barked.

Domhnall opened his eyes, but he had no energy to speak.

Magnus shot Kai a look, and the two went to work.

With one on either side of him, they each took an arm and a leg and, with great effort, carried him to the top of the stairs.Huffing and panting, they eventually laid him down on the floor of what once had been a salon.

There, Katherine was waiting for him, her eyes brimming with tears.

“Domhnall,” she gasped, clearly terrified.

“We need tae get him back tae the castle now,” Magnus declared. “He needs Enya, and he needs her soon.”

A cart would have been ideal, but there was no time, and thus, Magnus mounted his horse. Between him and Kai, they managed to get Domhnall on behind him. Taking rope, Kai wrapped it around Domhnall and Magnus’ waist to make certain he would not fall backwards. With that done, Magnus flicked the reins and sped away.

“Ye can ride with me,” Kai said, as Katherine watched Magnus ride away.

But she shook her head.

“No. It will take longer with both of us on one horse.”

Turning away from him, she hurried to grab another horse grazing near the house. Hauling herself up onto it and throwing a leg either side of the horse’s broad body, she stilled for theslightest second, remembering the first occasion she had ever done that.

Domhnall had taught her how to ride, he had taught her to feel pleasure, how to love herself and let go of the rules and boundaries that held her back. He had taught her how to feel free.

Now, though, as she and Kai hurried to catch up to Magnus, Katherine worried that she might never get another chance to gaze into his beautiful, strong, stoic face again. Reginald might now be dead, for she knew Domhnall had killed him, but her brother had done a great amount of damage.

Upon reaching Magnus, the three rode side by side, but Katherine could not help throw glances across to Domhnall as his head lolled against Magnus’s back, his body looking as lifeless as a rag doll.

It took another two hours to reach the castle. Two hours of agony, fear, and worry, but eventually, they arrived. Once inside the city gates, Katherine ran to find Enya, while Kai was left to help Magnus.

Enya was distraught at hearing Katherine’s account as the two hurried back out to the courtyard, but when they reached it, Katherine nearly gasped at the sight before her.

No less than ten men carried Domhnall toward the castle on their shoulders, with Magnus and Kai at the front, leading the way. For a second, it looked identical to a funeral procession, butthen, Katherine shook her head. She could not think in such a way. Instead, her heart filled full of gratitude, for his men dearly loved their laird, and it show by the concern that rippled across their faces.

Once in Domhnall’s bedchamber, they gently placed him on his bed, and the men hurriedly left, leaving his brothers and sisters and Katherine in the room.

Enya went to work straight away, while Katherine comforted Thora, who struggled to contain her tears. Magnus and Kai were far more stoic, but still, their faces betrayed their worry. Katherine knew from Enya that she could not use her power on a person too far gone because it would take away her life. When Enya finally began healing Domhnall, Katherine released the breath she didn’t know she was holding. Healing him meant he was still there.

It took some time, but Enya finally finished, looking more tired than Katherine had ever seen her, and when she could do no more, she stood and looked at them all.

“Now, we must wait.”

Katherine was confused. “But he is not awake.”

With a sad smile, Enya said, “Ye ken, ye and Domhnall are as impatient as each other. When ye were injured, he said practically the exact same thing.”

“I will go and fetch some fresh water,” Thora said pragmatically. “He is still covered in blood.”

“And I will go and make him a tonic fer when he wakens,” Enya declared, following her sister from the room. She then stopped and turned back to Katherine. “And perhaps when ye are ready, I could dae with looking ye over too, Katherine.”

“I’m fine,” Katherine replied.

Enya shrugged. “Perhaps, but ye have blood on yer hands and a cut on yer neck.”

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