Page 99 of The Highlander's Virgin Widow
His face fell as Arthur walked into the room, stark relief etched on his face.
“I kenned the heart failure wasnae going to get ye, ye stubborn bastard,” Arthur grunted.
He made a rough sound in the back of his throat as he moved closer and drew Evander into a hug—at least as much as his supine body would allow.
“I told the others to stay back, ye dinnae need all of us fussing over ye right now.”
He broke the hug and stared at his friend, his green eye dancing with happiness and gratitude. In another world, in another time where the situation was not urgent, Evander would have cared. But for now, he didn’t.
“Arthur, where is me wife?” he pressed.
Arthur’s eyes darted from Evander to Lesley, his brow furrowed his confusion.
“Ye havenae told him yet?” he asked, an unusual edge to his voice.
Lesley shook her head.
“Told me what?” Evander interjected, the wariness in his voice growing with each word.
Arthur cleared his throat. “She’s in the dungeons. She was imprisoned, because… Well, she was accused of killing ye.”
Evander’s eyes widened. “What?”
“Now, ye just woke up, Evander. Ye’re still weak. Perhaps when ye’re properly awake, we can discuss?—”
The remainder of those words fell on deaf ears. Perhaps it was the thought of Keira being in danger. Perhaps it was because he had been awake long enough, but Evander didn’t know where the strength came from. He rose from the platform and lowered his feet to the floor.
“Evander, what are ye doing?” Arthur protested.
“M’Laird.” The concern in Lesley’s voice was evident.
Evander ignored it.
He ignored all of it and stepped across the cold floor, the coarse stone scraping the soles of his feet. He didn’t bother asking for shoes. Then, he broke out into a run. Out of the apothecary, out of the wing, and across the halls.
His bare feet skidded over the soft earth, his arms whipping back and forth as he continued to run down the stairs and even more stairs.
This was not happening.
This was definitelynothappening.
He flew down a third set of stairs and felt the cold air hit him as soon as he stepped foot in the underbelly of the castle.
He foundherthere, slumped against one of the walls in her cell, her head hanging down in resignation.
A curse escaped his lips at the sight. Her head snapped up, and their gazes met. Her eyes widened, and she rose from the floor, a weak smile spreading across her tear-streaked face.
“Ye’re alive!” she cried.
Evander moved closer to the gates and tried to pry them open.
“They’re locked,” Keira murmured.
Evander’s eyes settled on the giant padlock that straddled the gates. Then, he looked around the open space, his eyes searching for something he could use to?—
He spotted a big rock a few yards behind him. He hurried to it, grabbed it, and returned to the gates.
“Stand back,” he urged, his voice soft.
