Page 106 of Taken By the Ruthless Highlander
“Go,” Ryder urged, releasing her. “Ye’ve been lookin’ for her. And here she is. Come to me later.”
Morgana’s heart fluttered as he pressed his lips to her forehead, before stepping back and walking away. She watched him climb up the steps and disappear into the hallowed halls of the castle.
With Ryder out of sight, it was like the world opened to her again.
She turned to face her sister. “Feya…”
How long had it been since she had last seen her?
She darted forward and threw her arms around her. “I’m so glad ye’re safe! I cannae believe this. Do the others ken? Poppy and Eloise?”
“Aye,” Feya answered, hugging her back for a long moment.
Eventually, she linked their arms and led her back to the castle.
“They all ken. It was ye we were concerned about. I’m so glad that nothin’ happened to ye. What happened to Cohen?”
“Orella,” Morgana answered. “She took Ryder’s dirk and stabbed him with it in the chest.”
“Well, she’s free from him now,” Feya said. “And good riddance. That man was vile and twisted.”
“Enough about me. What happened to ye?” Morgana asked as they stepped into the entrance hall.
She spotted Ryder rounding the corner. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Feya’s suspicious gaze on her before it flicked to Ryder.
“Laird McKenzie, huh? I never thought ye would marry a man like him,” Feya remarked.
There was a lightness to her tone that made Morgana wonder if her sister was trying to ease the tension.
“Ye can say that again, but ye ken what, I wouldnae have it any other way,” Morgana shot back, finally tearing her eyes away from her husband and giving her sister her full attention. “I dinnae think any of us expected life to turn out this way.”
“Well, I’m just glad that ye still have a head on those shoulders of yers. When I heard what the council was plannin’ to do to ye, I tried, Morgana. I tried to get here, I swear it.”
“Whoah, easy.” Morgana pulled her sister to a stop. “Take a deep breath. I dinnae blame ye for anythin’ that happened.”
“I ken ye dinnae,” Feya said. “But I saw Cohen murder the former Laird McKenzie.”
“What?” Morgana gasped, clapping a hand over her mouth.
“It’s why I couldnae get to ye,” Feya said.
Morgana suddenly felt the hairs on her arms stand up. She glanced over her shoulder.
“Och, dinnae mind him.”
“Is that… Laird Dougal?” Morgana asked, trying to keep her voice low. “What is he doin’ here?”
“He’s came here with me,” Feya confessed. “He’s been followin’ us for a bit. I think he likes to ken where I am.”
“That’s a bit intense, wouldnae ye say?” Morgana remarked, doing a double take.
“It can be, but ye ken most of it is rumors. We all thought Laird McKenzie would skin ye just as much as bed ye if he had the chance.”
Morgana blushed. She hadn’t thought of it before, but that would be a good way to describe Ryder.
“Aye, suppose ye’re right. I guess we shouldnae hastily judge others.”
“Morgana!” Poppy squealed as she darted out of the sitting room and raced down the hall. “Ye’re home. Feya’s home. It’s wonderful! Come look at what we did. Tormod and Ronnie set up the room for us. Now, we can all be together tonight.”
