Ella bent down to check the similar but deeper cut along Jamie’s throat, but it had not reopened after Joshua had held a rag to it as he carried her brother before him on the ride back to Girnigoe. She raised her hand to run her fingers through Jamie’s shaggy hair, but stopped, not wanting to wake him. Boo stood, stretching in an arch as her paws flexed, extending her tiny claws to dig, one at a time, into the pillow.

Ella glanced at the windows with the curtains parted enough for her to see it was just past dawn. The remnants of supper sat on the tray near the hearth where she had left it last evening after she had tucked Jamie into bed and taken her own bath to rid herself of the feel of Iain’s hands and Randolph’s dark promises.

Where was Cain? She perched on the edge of the bed. They had not spoken as he held her against him, riding them home, but his warmth had enveloped her. As he lowered her in the bailey, he had met her gaze, repeating his earlier words. We will talk.

She had time only to nod before Merida and Hannah whisked her and Jamie away, leaving Cain issuing orders in his military voice on how to fully conquer the Mackay clan. Was he laying siege to Varrich this morning? The thought of him riding through the night to fight knotted her stomach. She wished to be with him, guarding his back.

Perhaps Kenneth rode with him. She hadn’t seen him at all after fleeing the wedding.

Pastor John had explained to her in breathless excitement, as they waited for Cain to retrieve Seraph, that two Sinclair warriors had snuck into Varrich Castle with Cain and Joshua. They had forced Viola to say she must see her brother. When they had brought Viola into the keep, the pastor had to tie down and gag her in the great hall while Cain and his brother dispatched the remaining guards. The clergyman had deep scratches under his robes from the she-demon and had hidden Ella’s dagger there before climbing up the tower stairs to the wall walk. He’d passed it to her with his contrived kiss of Christ.

Rap. Rap. Rap.

The light tapping on the door brought Ella out of the bed to pad across the floor. She cracked it to see Hannah’s broad smile, Merida behind her.

“Does she look well?” Merida asked, standing high on the balls of her feet and bobbing her head around Hannah to see. “Are ye well, lass?”

Ella held a finger to her lips but nodded. “Yes. Jamie is still asleep.” She opened the door wide for the two ladies, and Boo ran out past them, likely headed outside to start her day. Had they heard about the poison? It was no longer anywhere in the room.