Page 72 of Leila’s Legacy

23

The sun painted the room to a cheery golden yellow the following morn. Leila curled deeper into the comfortable bed and the man snuggled up beside her. A contented smile touched her lips. She had slept through the night without waking once. For the first time in her entire life. Or at least as long as she could remember.

Her mind was clear with having been thoroughly rested. She stiffened with awareness. There had not been any visions. Again.

Niall immediately sat up in bed, his body tense as he braced himself in front of her. “Did ye hear something?”

Leila shook her head. “Nay.”

Niall did not relax but turned to regard her. “What is it?”

His reaction broke through the calm of her thoughts, a reminder they were still in danger until they reached Werrick Castle.

“The sun,” Leila replied. “And then the realization that I didn’t have a vision. Again.”

“Are ye all right, lass?” He asked.

Leila chewed her bottom lip, unsure how to answer. Unsure how she even felt.

“We should dress,” Leila replied.

Niall studied her for a moment, as if he planned to press the topic she’d purposefully navigated around. In the end, he rose from the bed, naked and beautiful in the light of day, and proceeded to wash up from water in the ewer.

They dressed not a moment too soon, for once they’d donned the last of their clothing, a knock came at the door. Niall slid his sword free and motioned for Leila to stay back.

Unarmed, she had no choice but to do as he asked, though she hated every moment of it. While she knew she could rely on her fists, she wanted her belt of daggers back.

He opened the door and his blade hissed back into its scabbard as he waved their visitors into the small, single room cottage.

Brodie strode in with Bonnie hugging his side. He blinked as he saw Leila and made the sign of the cross. “It worked.”

“Aye,” Niall said. “Lady Davina has saved us all.”

Leila peered behind them. “Is she with you?”

“After she’d saved us, she returned back to the castle,” Brodie replied.

“She dinna want her father to know what she’d done,” Niall said.

“Pray God he never finds out,” Leila added solemnly.

Niall pressed a kiss to her forehead. “I’ll saddle my steed, then we must make haste to depart.” He lifted his pack from the floor beside the table. “The sooner we are at Werrick Castle, the less we have to worry.”

He was inside almost as soon as he’d left. “Riders are approaching.”

Leila threw on the mantle that had been left for her and raced out of the cottage with Brodie and Bonnie beside her. A subtle rumble sounded in the distance, almost like the onset of thunder in an upcoming storm.

Niall cursed under his breath. “They’re approaching swiftly.”

Brodie grimaced. “They must have followed me.”

“It doesna matter now,” Niall said in authoritative tone. “Brodie, take my destrier. He can handle Leila and Bonnie along with ye.”

Leila did not move as Brodie and Bonnie swung up onto Niall’s horse.

“I can fight,” Leila protested. “I would rather die at your side than be separated from you again.”

“Nay.” Niall’s voice was commanding, as it was when he ordered his men. When he spoke again, his tone was softer, more sincere. “I canna lose ye again, mo chridhe.”