Pledged to a Highlander (Highland Promise Trilogy 1)

Her head lolled to the side and her body felt as if it drained of life. Fear slammed into him. “You’re going to be all right. You must be all right. I can’t lose you, Oria. I won’t lose you.”

He turned the horse around as a horrific scream pierced the air.

Firth was kneeling on the ground, staring at his arm that had been severed from the elbow down, the Beast standing over him the blade of his sword stained with blood.

Firth pleaded desperately with the Beast. “Please. Please. I’m sorry. Mercy! Please have mercy on me, I beg you.”

Royden gave the Beast a nod as he rode past him. He was indebted to the man. Without his help, he feared Oria might have been lost to him. Realizing that, he knew he’d have no choice… he’d have to make peace with the Beast.

Another horrific scream filled the air and Royden thought how right Trevor had been. Firth would suffer far worse at the hands of the Beast than he would have with him, and he was glad for it.

Royden yelled for help as soon as he entered the Clan MacGlennen village. People came running when they caught a glimpse of Oria lifeless in his arms. They helped him get her off the horse and he held his wife snug against him as he took the keep stairs two at a time, someone holding the door open for him so he could rush inside.

“Wren!” he shouted, his voice echoing off the stone walls.

He hurried up the stairs, recalling that Demelza had gone into labor. Oria needed Wren, Demelza would have to wait. Not knowing where exactly Wren would be, he shouted out her name as he climbed the stairs.

“Wren! Wren!”

Parlan’s worried face greeted him on the second floor and his eyes shot wide seeing his son clutching Oria. “Good, Lord, what happened?”

“Wren, Oria needs Wren,” Royden said and she suddenly appeared. “You have to help her, Wren.” He heard the plea in his words and he would continue to plea. He would do anything to save his wife.

A gasp came from the open doorway and Demelza hurried over to Royden, her hand on her rounded stomach. Her pleas were even stronger. “Help her, Wren, please help her. Don’t let my sister die.”

Wren remained calm in the chaos that ensued. She had Royden follow her to a bedchamber and ordered Demelza back to her room. The woman refused, following them.

Royden didn’t want to let go of his wife. He feared if he did, he might never get to hold her again, but he did as Wren ordered him to do and placed her on the bed. His da’s firm hand on his shoulder eased him away, leaving Wren to tend his wife.

“You need to return to your room,” Wren said to Demelza.

“No. You said I had time yet. I will stay and help you with my sister while I can.”

Wren turned to Royden.

“I won’t leave her,” he said, knowing Wren would tell him to leave.

Wren didn’t argue. She went to work on Oria while keeping an eye on Demelza.

“Royden.”

It was a soft plea, but Royden heard it and hurried to his wife. When he saw how bad the wound was to her arm his gut wrenched. He took her hand, Wren giving him room to get close.

“I’m here, Oria,” he said, squeezing her hand.

“Don’t leave me,” she pleaded. “I want your face to be the last one I look upon before I die.”

“You’re not going to die,” Royden ordered as if he commanded it so.

“Your husband is right,” Demelza said. “You won’t die. We won’t let you.”

Oria wanted to believe that, but she had known the risk she took with leaving a trail of her blood for her husband to follow. And feeling as she did, as if life was slipping away from her, she found it difficult to believe death wasn’t hovering nearby.

Royden’s eyes went wide, a sudden thought striking him. “You’re not going to die. Wren saw us having many bairns. You are going to live and we’re going to have lots of bairns. Right, Wren?” He turned pleading eyes on the woman.

Wren ran a tender hand over Oria’s brow as she spoke to her. “I think that’s already started.”

Royden was stunned and Oria smiled weakly.

“I wasn’t quite sure, so I didn’t want to say anything yet,” Oria said and looked to her husband. “I wanted to be sure when I told you that I carry your bairn.”

He pressed his brow to hers. “The first of many precious bairns to come.” He looked to Wren for her to confirm it.

“Your healing will take time and it won’t be easy, but you have a loving husband who will do anything to help you and that makes all the difference,” Wren said.

“Anything. I’ll do anything,” Royden hurried to say. “Just tell me what I need to do.”