Page 94 of The Highlander's Virgin Widow
Keira didn’t respond. She was still trying to catch her breath.
Evander fell silent momentarily, and she stared at the ceiling as if her body had not just shattered mere minutes ago. As if she didn’t almost see stars from just his touch.
“Are ye certain ye dinnae want me to do the same to ye?” she asked, her eyes still fixed on the ceiling, expecting an answer.
None came.
“Evander,” she prompted.
Still no response.
She turned to him, her brow furrowed in confusion. And her breath caught in her throat.
He was shaking violently and clawing at his throat, his body writhing on the mattress.
Her eyes widened with fear. “Evander,” she called, shaking him gently.
His eyes were bloodshot red, and his muscles flexed as he continued to claw at his throat, clearly unable to breathe.
“Evander!” she screamed this time, full-blown panic ripping through her.
31
Lesley grabbed a willow bark from the cupboard and placed it gently into the cup of hot water, watching the steam rise and fill the apothecary. A smile spread across her face, and she reached into the cupboard again, looking for other roots she could add.
Suddenly, the door flew open and crashed against the wall, causing her to jump on the spot. She jerked her head out of the cupboard, ready to mouth off to whoever had just barged in on her like that.
She found Keira standing in the doorway, a flimsy shift hanging over her frame.
She swallowed and moved closer. “Keira,” she said, her voice soft. “Keira, what is it?”
Keira remained standing in the doorway, her eyes wide, her face pale with utter shock.
Lesley narrowed her eyes and reached for her friend’s arm. “Keira.”
Something about the way she called her name triggered something inside her, and Keira couldn’t hold back the tears anymore. Her eyes filled up, and she started to cry.
Distressed by the choked sob that escaped her friend, Lesley dragged her into the apothecary.
“It’s Evander,” Keira sobbed, before Lesley could close the door. “I dinnae ken what happened to him, but he’s struggling to breathe. Come, please.”
Lesley sprang into action immediately. She stuffed some roots and flowers in a bag she snatched from the cupboard and asked her friend to lead the way.
The cold night air slithered across their skin as they hurried up the stairs to the Laird’s quarters.
“What happened?” Lesley asked, as they quickened their steps.
“I dinnae ken. He just started to claw at his throat and couldn’t breathe. This cannae happen, Lesley. Nae again.”
Lesley swallowed as they got closer to the door. Keira pushed it open, and they walked in. Evander still lay on the bed, trying his best to breathe. He writhed violently above the mattress, his hands still clawing at his throat.
Lesley heaved a long sigh and moved forward. She walked to his side of the bed and sank to the floor. As she pulled out some roots from her bag, she turned to Keira. “Lock the door.”
“What?”
“We cannae let anyone walk in and find him like this. Has anyone seen this yet?”
Keira shook her head slowly.
