Page 18 of Awoken
A murmur of worried voices followed these words, echoing through the Great Hall. Those at the table shared confused looks, and even Drew lost her smirk.
Leanna swallowed, a chill flowering through her belly. She wondered how many here had heard of the plague. She only knew of it because Sister Coira had mentioned the sickness a few times over the past months. The nun, who was also Kilbride’s healer, had gleaned snippets of news from the odd traveler to Torrin who brought word about the goings-on beyond their secluded corner of the world.
Until now the terrible pestilence that had brought Europe and England to its knees had seemed like something far off, something that wouldn’t touch this remote isle. But this news changed everything. Now, not only had it reached Scotland, but it had crossed the water and appeared upon their shores.
“I’m sure Father Athol won’t take any unnecessary risks,” Drew said finally. The unusually subdued note to her voice betrayed her own nervousness. “And once he returns, he will perform the wedding ceremony as ye wish … ye will just have to wait a day, that’s all.”
MacKinnon cut his sister a dark look, and Drew wisely dropped her gaze, refraining from making further comment.
Leanna stared down at her platter of untouched food. The news about the plague was unsettling to be sure, but right now she had more pressing issues to deal with. Unexpectedly, these ill-tidings had brought her a reprieve.
She now had time to figure out how she was going to escape this union.
8
Ye Have No Heart
LEANNA CLIMBED THE stairs, her pulse accelerating with each step. A stay of execution, albeit a short one. One more night out of MacKinnon’s clutches. Nerves clenched her belly, and by the time she reached the second-floor landing, her heart was beating so hard she could feel it in her ears.
Ross Campbell walked two steps behind her, accompanying her to the chamber where she would be lodged until the following day. They walked down the hallway in silence, although Leanna was aware of the man’s gaze boring into her back. He’d said little during the noon meal, and when he’d escorted her from the hall afterward, his face had been an enigmatic mask, his gaze shuttered.
His lack of reaction made her already racing heart beat faster. Anger quickened like a stoked furnace in the pit of her belly. How could he be so heartless? How could he let MacKinnon away with this? She wanted to rail at him, tell him once again that he was no better than a hound, but desperation overrode the instinct.
Without allies here, she was doomed.
“Yer bed-chamber is up ahead, milady,” Campbell said, breaking the tense silence. “The last door on the right.”
Stopping before the door, Leanna turned to him. They were alone in the hallway. This was the only chance she’d get to ask Campbell for help. She was grasping at shadows, she knew it. After all, this was the man who’d crossed MacKinnon territory to abduct her.
“Ross,” she said softly, meeting his eye. “Please help me.”
The slight quaver in her voice alarmed her; it wasn’t feigned.
The warrior had stopped before her. His dark-blue gaze narrowed at her use of his first name. However, he didn’t answer her plea.
Clinging on to her courage, Leanna took a step closer to him. “Ye can’t let this happen.”
Ross Campbell’s beautifully molded lips flattened into a grim line. “Ye shouldn’t be saying such to me, milady. It’s best if ye go into yer chamber now.”
Pain flowered under Leanna’s breastbone, and her mouth went dry. Instead of obeying him, she took another step closer, her clenched hands rising to the broad wall of his chest.
Her knuckles pressed against his leather vest, yet he didn’t move, didn’t reach up to remove her hands. There had to be a beating heart inside there. He had to see how much danger she was in.
“I can’t keep silent any longer, Ross,” she said. It choked her to plead before this man, yet she pushed on. “We have time now that the priest is delayed. Help me leave this place … don’t let this wedding take place.Please!”
“Leanna.” Did she imagine the husky edge to his voice? He took hold of her hands and pulled them from his chest, his fingers tightening over hers. “Stop this talk. Ye aren’t helping yerself. Dunan is yer home now.”
“But my kin don’t even know what’s become of me.” Her voice rose as desperation clawed at her throat. “My mother will think I’m dead. She’ll be going mad with worry.”
A shadow moved in those midnight blue eyes. Up close, she noted that he had long dark eyelashes and that he smelt of leather and warm male. However, his expression had turned grim, his firm grip on her hands tightening.
“As soon as ye are wed, I shall send word to Duncaith, if ye wish … so they know ye still live,” he replied, his tone gruff. “But ye must stop resisting this. It’ll only make things worse for ye.”
“No!” The word exploded from her. “Wedding MacKinnon will be the end of me … why can’t ye see that?”
“Enough.” His voice was strained now. “I can’t do anything more for ye … ye know that.”
A sob rose within Leanna, despair bubbling up. She twisted her hands free of his grip, clawing at him. “Ye are a merciless bastard, Campbell,” she gasped. “No better than the beast ye serve. May ye rot in hell for aiding him!”
