Page 94 of Taken By the Ruthless Highlander

“Aye?” Felix towered over her as he opened the door. “Can I help ye?”

“Is Ryder in? I’d like to speak with him.” Morgana craned her neck to glance into the room.

Felix’s eyes softened. He dropped his shoulders and shook his head. “Sorry, the Laird is tied up at the moment.”

Just then, Morgana caught sight of Ryder sitting behind his desk, looking like the stern Laird he was.

“Is there a message ye want me to give him?”

She shook her head.

Her heart sank at the realization that Ryder wasn’t busy; he was just too busy forher. Rejection jabbed her in the heart as his icy glare fell on her.

She pulled in a sharp breath, shocked by the sudden distance between them. It was as if Ryder was on an island all by himself, with no way for her to reach him.

Uncertainty seeped into her like a dense fog covering the coastline.

“Have I done somethin’ to displease the Laird?” Morgana asked, trying to ignore the frigidness of his attitude.

She racked her brain, trying to figure out what she had done wrong to make him so upset. After all, they had just shared an amazing night. But the distance between them was unsettling.

“That’s nae for me to say,” Felix answered. “But I’m sure if ye give him some time, he’ll come around.”

Before Morgana could protest, he closed the door.

She stumbled back, the shock rattling her like an earthquake. Her heart ached with the sting of his rejection. Tears pooled in her eyes as she glanced around at the servants who had witnessed Ryder publicly dismiss her.

She swallowed hard, her mind a flurry of questions. For the life of her, she couldn’t figure out what it was she had done to displease him. Had she said something in her sleep that pushed him away?

Unable to wrap her head around the situation, a fire sparked within her. She was never one to just let things go. Ryder was being distant, and she needed to know why.

“If I may have a word, My Lady?” a voice suddenly asked.

Her hand froze above the doorknob. She glanced over her shoulder to find Cohen standing behind her. His smile looked strained and out of place.

“I’m sorry to bother ye, My Lady, but I have somethin’ very important to talk to ye about.”

“Cohen, I’m sorry, but can this wait?” Morgana asked as she turned back to the closed door.

It wasn’t Cohen’s attention she was seeking, but her husband’s.

“As it stands, nay, it cannae,” Cohen answered gravely. “For I have news of yer sister.”

Morgana’s heart leaped into her throat as she spun around, giving him her full attention. “I’m sorry, what?”

Cohen’s smile widened as he took her by the elbow and guided her away from the study. Morgana’s thoughts shifted instantly.

“I have news about yer sister, Feya,” he said as they turned the corner. “She’s been found.”

“That’s fantastic!” Morgana gushed. “Where is she?”

“Ye’ll have to come with me,” Cohen said.

Morgana paused and glanced down the hall. “Wait, shouldnae we inform Ryder and my braithers? Surely, they’ll want to see her too.”

Cohen shook his head as his grip on her elbow tightened. “I’ve already informed him,” he answered. “Ryder and Felix ken. Which is why they had me come to tell ye. After all, it was my men who found Feya—she is shaken by the ordeal, the poor thing. She asked to see ye first.”

Chewing on her lower lip, Morgana couldn’t ignore the nagging feeling in her stomach. She remembered Ryder’s icy glare as she stood at the door to his study and the way he looked at her. Was it him giving her this time? Or was it something else? And if they had known about Feya, why didn’t Felix say anything?