Page 52 of A Healer for the Wicked Highlander

His lips twitched—almost a smile, but not quite. “Aye, so I’ve been told.”

Freya sighed, glancing at her sisters, who were watching the exchange with thinly veiled curiosity. She turned back to Michael. “Very well. I’ll hear ye out, me laird. But afterwards, I will decide if ye truly need me to stay, or if me services will be more necessary elsewhere.”

To be quite honest, she couldn’t imagine a place where she wished to be other than right here. But with everything that had already happened, was it a good idea? Everything inside of her screamed no. And yet, she knew that she would grasp at any straws to remain there, for as long as she could.

“Tomorrow, after breakfast,” he said.

There was something in his tone, something quiet and unreadable, that made her nod. “Aye, alright.”

But before they could take a single step, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed through the corridors of Michael’s castle.

“Me laird!” It was Brodie’s urgent voice that came through the cracks in the wooden door.

“Aye?” Michael went ahead and opened it. “What is it?”

Brodie was breathless. He had evidently been running all the way there. “It’s Leighton… he’s… gone.”

Freya’s breath caught, although supposed that she could not grasp the gravity of the situation just yet. She turned to Michael, whose expression did not change, but she saw the tension coil through his body, the flicker of something dark in his gaze.

“Escaped?” he said, his voice cold and measured.

Brodie nodded. “Aye. We found his cell empty nae moments ago.”

Michael exhaled slowly, as if reigning himself in. Then he turned to Freya.

“This,” he said, his voice quieter but no less firm, “is why ye cannae leave.”

Freya swallowed, a chill running through her. She barely had time to process Brodie’s words, before Michael turned to her.

“Ye and yer sisters will stay in yer chamber,” he ordered. “Daenae leave until I say otherwise.”

Freya stiffened. “Me laird, I?—”

“Nay.” His eyes burned into hers. There was no allowing backtalk. “This is nae up for debate, Freya.”

The authority in his voice sent a shiver through her. This was not the guarded, measured man she had come to know. This wasa laird in his element, a man whose very presence commanded obedience.

He turned sharply to Brodie. “Send men to find Cody. I want him in me sight,now. Nay one comes near him unless I say so.”

Brodie nodded, barking orders to the men as he turned to leave.

Michael’s jaw clenched, and his fists curled at his sides. “How in the hell did this happen?”

“I daenae ken yet, me laird,” Brodie called over his shoulder, “but I’ll find out.”

Freya felt her sisters move closer to her, their unease mirroring her own. Abigail’s hand brushed hers, but neither of them spoke.

Michael exhaled sharply, his gaze snapping back to Freya. “Yewillstay in yer chamber. I’ll post guards outside the door.”

Freya lifted her chin. “We can defend ourselves, ye ken.”

His eyes darkened. “We daenae ken who it is we are up against, Freya. And an unknown enemy is the worst kind.” He stepped closer, his voice lowering. “I will nae risk ye. Any of ye.”

Something flickered in his expression, something fierce and possessive. But before she could place it, he had already turned away.

“Go,” he commanded. “Now.”

Freya hesitated, wanting to argue, but the look in his eyes told her it would be useless. This was not a moment for defiance.