The Scot's Quest - Keira Montclair Page 0,30

of the furs and rested her head on it. She was asleep within minutes. Derric took the other fur and covered her up.

He fell asleep not long after.

A crack of thunder, so close the ground shook, awakened him in the night. He glanced over at Dyna and could see her trembling even in the dark. Soft moans came from her lips.

Moving over to her side, he felt her skin, the fever raging through her. “I’m so cold,” she mumbled in her sleep.

Derric couldn’t stand to watch her suffer. He’d removed his tunic and set it to dry by the fire, but he had his extra dry plaid as a blanket. Hoping he wouldn’t awaken her, he settled himself behind her and tucked her backside up against him, giving her his heat, and wrapped his arms around her. He didn’t know what else to do to help her, but at least he could try to keep her warm. The body was strange in the way it could shiver from cold even as it felt hot to the touch. He would do what he could to help her.

Losing her was not an option.

Chapter Ten

When Dyna awakened, she was in a soft bed, far away from the dark cave she’d fallen asleep in. She forced herself to a sitting position and moaned, holding her head in an attempt to soothe the powerful ache. It felt like one of the fae was beating inside her head with a tiny mallet.

Her sister, Claray, sat across from her. “Dyna? You are hale?” Her voice was both intent and worried, the pitch higher than usual.

“Claray? Where am I? What’s wrong?”

“You were sick. I was afraid you were dying. Please promise me you’ll never die. I cannot lose you.” She could see the tears welling up in her sister’s eyes.

“I’m on Grant land? How did I get here?”

Her sister moved to sit on the bed, reaching for her hand. The expression on her face told Dyna exactly how sick she must have been. She’d not seen that shade of fear on Claray’s face during the day, only at night, after she’d awoken from one of her nightmares. “You’re in your chamber. Derric brought you here last eve with a raging fever. Aunt Gracie and Mama bathed you and gave you a potion. How do you feel?”

“Awful.” She reached up to massage her pounding temple. “There was an awful storm, but we made it through the ravine and into the cave before…” Memories began to return to her—memories of him. She recalled Derric helping her to undress, giving her the furs, supporting her.

She had an odd sense of sleeping next to his heat, his arms tightly wrapped around her. Was her mind playing tricks on her? “Derric? Is he still here?”

“Aye, he said he would stay two eves before he left. He wanted to make sure you were hale. Is he something to you, Dyna?” Claray looked down at her hands, worrying them. “Are you leaving me? You always said you’d never marry, but he seems…”

A knock interrupted her, saving Dyna from having to answer the question. “Enter.”

Her mother came in and sat down on the opposite side of the bed. How do you feel?” Sela Grant was still a statuesque beauty.

“Terrible. I guess I had the fever. I remember shivering, but I don’t remember how I got from the cave to here.”

Her mother patted her arm. “Derric protected you and carried you inside. You rode in front of him. He said you slept the entire way, shivering on and off.”

“I’ll have to thank him,” she mumbled before she dropped back onto the bed. “My head is killing me.” She rolled onto her side and closed her eyes.

“Your father and I thanked him profusely. We could tell he’d taken good care of you. Had you been alone, you would have fallen off your horse and never been found. Remember this when you think on running off on your own again.” Her mother got up and covered her. “I’ll get something for your head from Aunt Gracie. She said Aunt Jennie sent some new potions and poultices. Your father wishes to speak with you, so he’ll bring it up. Rest your eyes until then. I’ll send a warm bowl of porridge for you, too.” Then she stopped for a moment. “You can thank Derric yourself. You should thank him when you’re feeling hale. He’s a fine young man.”

Dyna nodded and closed her eyes, falling into oblivion again.

The next time she