Page 18 of Highland Ruse

He wished he could return the lasses to the road and walk away as if no wrongdoing had ever occurred.

But he was not a man with the luxury of options.

• • •

Delilah’s inability to sleep was due more to the discomfort of her mind than that of the thin cushion upon which she tried to sleep.

She envied the men their freedom, under the stars with the cool earth beneath their backs. The walls of the cabin were becoming too familiar, too close, as if they were pressing against her and choking the air from her chest. At least she’d taken off the blasted corset.

The sound of Leasa’s even breathing came from the opposite bench. Delilah was glad the other woman slept after the taxing stress of what had transpired since their quiet ride through the forest that afternoon.

Had it truly been only one day when it felt another lifetime ago?

Delilah rolled onto her back to get more comfortable. The coach squeaked and rocked with the simple movement. She suppressed a sigh and tilted her head back on the cushion to stare out through the top of the narrow window where the sky was alight with countless stars.

London never had so many stars. The skies of Scotland seemed vaster and more open. She’d been in the country for almost four years and still loved the wildness of it all. For as much as she’d dreamt of London’s court as a girl, she truly did not miss it as a woman.

A low groan came from outside.

She froze and locked her breath in her chest, fearful the simple act might keep her from hearing something important.

The groan came again, louder this time, followed by the incoherent mumbling of a man’s deep voice.

Kaid?

The voice cried out.

Was someone hurt?

Delilah sat carefully upright to keep from making the coach move too much. The glow of the firelight momentarily blocked her vision before she made out the shadowed form of a man lying near it on the ground. His head thrashed from side to side and a low growling sound emerged from his throat.

Kaid.

Her heart went tight.

She got to her feet and exited the confining coach.

While she did not intend to demonstrate her skills, she would not allow herself to be surprised either. Nor would she allow any harm to come to Leasa, no matter what it took.

The sweet night air bathed her face, washing away the oppressive suffocation of the coach. She glanced around their camp and noted Donnan’s absence.

Kaid’s brow puckered and his head shook from side to side once more in a silent no.

Was he asleep?

She crept closer when a raw and anguished cry erupted from the back of his throat.

“Kaid,” she whispered.

His brow remained furrowed, his body tense in his slumber.

“Kaid.” She spoke louder this time and reached for his shoulder.

He lurched awake like a gunshot and thrust the blade of his dagger to her throat before she had time to register the threat.

Her heart slammed hard in her chest, but she did not back away.

“Kaid, you had a nightmare.” She put her hand on his and tried to push the dagger from her throat, but found his arm locked tight.