Edith kissed him back with the same fierce relief, her uninjured hand curling into his tunic, holding him close despite the chaos still surrounding them.
When they finally broke apart, he rested his forehead against hers once more, neither of them saying a word.
Aaron’s gaze dropped to her wounded arm, his joy giving way to concern as he noticed fresh blood soaking through her sleeve.
“We must see to yer wound,” he said, his tone steadying back into something more practical, though his hands remained gentle as he examined her. “Martin will need to tend to it properly.”
Edith shook her head. “’Tis nae a deep cut. I can manage.”
Aaron ignored her. He scooped her up into his arms despite her weak protests and turned toward the door.
“I can walk, ye ken,” she said, though she made no effort to wriggle out of his hold.
“Aye,” Aaron said. “But ye willnae, nae while I have breath in me body.”
She did not argue further, her head settling against his shoulder as he carried her out of the study, stepping carefully over MacFaris’s body without a single backward glance.
The corridor outside was still empty, save for a few trusted guards who had come to clean up the mess.
Aaron’s entire focus remained on the woman in his arms as he headed to the healer’s chamber.
Martin’s expression shifted the moment he registered the blood on Edith’s sleeve.
“Put her here,” he instructed.
Aaron laid her down carefully, his hand lingering on her cheek for a moment before he stepped back, giving the healer room to work.
“How bad?”
“A clean cut,” Martin replied, already reaching for his supplies. “’Tis shallow. I’ll wrap it to keep it from opening again, but she is lucky.”
Relief washed over Aaron so visibly that Edith laughed softly.
“I told ye,” she said.
“Aye. Me very own healer.”
Martin gave them both an amused smile before he began to clean the wound.
“Aaron,” Edith said, her voice softer now. “Ye must go.”
His brows furrowed. “Nay.”
“Ye must,” she said, more firmly. “Scarlett. Caelan. Yer people need ye.” Her uninjured hand found his. “I am here. Martin will care for me.”
Aaron’s jaw tightened, every instinct rebelling against the idea of leaving her side even for a moment.
But she was right. He was the Laird, after all. There were still threats to contain. And he needed to see to the safety of the people outside.
“I will return,” he promised, pressing his forehead briefly against hers. “The moment everything is secure, I will return to ye. I swear it.”
Edith smiled softly.
“I ken,” she said. “Now go. Yer people need ye.”
CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR
Dawn fell slowly upon Hallow.
