Page 85 of Taken By the Ruthless Highlander

“Aye, Sister, nay one is goin’ to ruin yer party,” Tormod assured her, then nudged Ronnie with his elbow. “There’s Felix. Maybe he might ken when we plan to leave.”

“Ye ken, sometimes I really wish Morgana wasnae the lady of the clan. At least then I’d be able to come with ye two,” Morgana heard Ronnie mutter as he walked away.

His words niggled at her. Maybe he was old enough for an adventure of his own. And it wasn’t like he was going to be going alone. Tormod and Felix would be right there with him.

As much as it broke her heart to let him go, she knew if she kept him locked up any longer, he’d eventually turn. He had too much of a free spirit to stay in one place for too long.

“Ronnie,” Morgana called.

Ronnie stopped and glanced over his shoulder at her. He was fighting the urge to roll his eyes as she beckoned him over.

“What now?” he grumbled.

“Find out what time Felix wants to leave, then bid the girls farewell before ye take off with Tormod. Ye understand?” Morgana let out a heavy sigh.

Letting her brother charge off into unknown dangers was one of the hardest things she had ever done.

“Are ye sure?” Ronnie asked, unable to hide the excitement in his voice or the joy in his eyes.

“Aye.” Morgana nodded. “Just be careful and come back. Feya is already missin’—I dinnae want my braithers endin’ up in a shallow grave.”

“We’ll be careful,” Tormod promised, before he and Ronnie took off.

Morgana watched as her brothers walked away with determined strides. It was clear that giving Ronnie a purpose was the best thing for him, but all she could do now was pray for their safety.

“Ye look like ye could use this.”

She looked to the side to find Orella offering her a dram and a friendly smile.

If there was one person in the castle who understood her, it was Orella. Despite everything, it was always Orella who had shown her the most kindness.

“Whiskey?” Morgana asked as she lifted the glass to her lips and took a sip. The contents were sweeter than she had expected. She glanced into the cup as she swallowed hard. “Juice. Ye brought me juice?”

“Aye,” Orella said with a sheepish grin. She leaned closer as she looped her arm through Morgana’s. “I heard the good news.”

Morgana furrowed her brow in confusion… until she noticed Orella glancing down at her belly. Her cheeks flushed in embarrassment. Who was spreading the rumors now?

“Ye think I’m with child?” she asked.

The joy and excitement on Orella’s face vanished. “Are ye nae? Och, I ken I should have asked first. I should have kenned better than to believe the rumors.”

Morgana’s chest tightened as something within her clicked. The thought of Ryder being the one to spread such a rumor flashed through her mind.

“I just dinnae want anyone to ken yet,” she said in a hushed tone. “What if somethin’ happens and we lose the bairn? I dinnae think I could handle such a thing.”

Orella’s eyes widened as she clapped a hand over her mouth and nodded her head. “I should have thought of that. That makes sense. There’s just nay certainty in this world, and I’m sorry I said anything. When ye’re ready to make the announcement, I’ll celebrate with ye. Until then, I swear I’ll nae listen to another bit of gossip as long as I live.”

“Are ye sure ye could do that?” Morgana teased, rubbing her belly.

Orella looked as if her entire world was about to implode before Morgana made her false confession.

“Nay, probably nae,” she mumbled with a sheepish smile.

“Where’s Cohen? I was hopin’ he’d make an appearance, but I’m glad to see ye here,” Morgana said.

“He’s around,” Orella answered in a low voice.

Something about her felt off—a distance between them that Morgana didn’t understand. She racked her brain, searching for anything she might have done to offend Orella over the last few days, but nothing came to mind. The only thing she had done was fall head over heels for Ryder.