Page 33 of Highlander of Steel
Worried that she was about to faint from the pressure in her skull, she quickly sank onto the floor before she could fall.
“Ailis?” Paisley’s concerned voice called out, muffled by the roaring in her ears.
There on the floor, cross-legged and hunched over, Ailis willed her breathing to slow, urged her heart to stop racing. Her hand flew to her chest, rubbing tight circles with the heel of her palm, while her entire body seemed to pulse with blood-chilling terror.
“What did ye do to me bride?” a familiar voice boomed, sending her heart racing all over again.
12
I’ve seen lads this way after a battle, but I’ve never seen a lass like this.
Killian was in front of her in an instant, frustration pulling his thoughts too tight. He didn’t know what to do to help her, and he couldn’t bear the feeling.
The moment he had met her, she had put an invisible shield in his hand and unconsciously tasked him with keeping her safe. But a shield was no good here. Neither was a sword. There was no tangible enemy for him to fight off, no visible threat to eliminate.
He crouched down to her eye level. “What is it?” he asked. “What’s wrong?”
With her head against the wall and her eyes squeezed shut, her hand rubbing frantic circles on her chest, she looked to be in immense pain.
Through gritted teeth, she managed to whisper, “The… sea.”
But we’re nae near the sea. I mean, it doesnae take long to get there, but ye cannae even see it from here.
Killian hadn’t forgotten her visceral reaction on the cliff path or while crossing the river or during luncheon. But how could the sea be troubling her in this gallery, with the windows so high up and thick stone to block out any sound of it?
He glanced up and understood. Partially understood, at least.
Even a painting can trigger such fear?
“Leave, Paisley,” he commanded.
The healer hesitated. “Shall I make somethin’, me Laird? A tea or a tonic?”
“It wouldnae hurt,” he replied.
It might not help either.
With a worried frown, Paisley hurried out of the gallery. The thud of the door closing made Ailis flinch, and Killian’s hand shot out instinctively to take hold of hers.
“Keep yer eyes closed and stand up,” he said, an idea coming to him.
A terrible one, perhaps, but he wasn’t going to allow himself to feel helpless. One bad idea was better than none, better than doing nothing and just crouching there while Ailis trembled and gasped like she couldn’t draw a full breath.
“What?” she rasped.
He repeated himself and began to stand, slowly pulling her up with him. She resisted at first, making herself a dead weight. It would have taken no effort whatsoever to just yank her to her feet, but he didn’t want to hurt her or alarm her more. For this first step, he just needed her to want to stand.
“Ye can punch a powerful laird in the back, but ye cannae get to yer feet?” he taunted.
A beautiful green eye cracked open. “I was defendin’ meself.”
“Aye, so defend yerself against that painting of the sea, and get to yer feet,” he said.
Her other eye opened, surprise softening the fear on her face. Some color bloomed across her cheeks, though he hadn’t meantto embarrass her. He meant what he had said; if she was going to overcome her fear of the sea, then she needed to fight it.
Muttering words he couldn’t quite hear and likely didn’t want to, Ailis used his hand to pull herself up. She kept her back to the painting of the sea, but her eyes were open and narrowed on him. A good sign.
Better to be annoyed with him than so terrified she couldn’t move, so overcome with fear that it mimicked pain.
