Page 36 of Taken by the Ruthless Highlander (Taken by Highland Devils #6)

36

“I s that right?” Morgana’s heart lurched.

How could three little words steal the very breath from her?

With her heart pounding relentlessly against her ribs, she tried not to let her nerves get the better of her.

“Aye, it is, and there’s nothin’ ye can do about it, except accepting it.”

Ryder’s words coaxed a smile from her.

“Well, if ye leave me nay other option.”

“That’s right, ye have nay say in the matter,” Ryder insisted, his playful tone making her heart swell further.

She was grateful to be sitting in the front, for he wouldn’t be able to see her smile.

“Then I guess there’s only one reasonable response,” she said, testing the words on the tip of her tongue.

She couldn’t believe how sweet those three words were. They were like honey dripping and oozing off her.

“About time ye be reasonable,” Ryder snorted. “But go on, I’m listenin’.”

“Oh, ye really want me to tell ye,” Morgana said when he nudged her.

If it weren’t for his legs cradling hers, she’d have toppled to the ground.

“I love ye. Is that what ye wanted to hear?” she asked.

“Aye, it is,” Ryder said.

Just then, the gray stone walls of the castle appeared on the horizon.

Morgana wasn’t ready to be back. Not yet. Not when she hadn’t thanked Ryder for everything he had done for her. The very thought of him tracking her down made her heart overflow with such gratitude that she felt like she would explode. The sight of the archway sent a shiver up her spine.

“Would ye look here,” Ryder murmured. “Is this nae the place I first laid eyes on ye?”

“Can ye demolish this archway?” Morgana blurted, glaring daggers at the stone.

Ryder let out a hearty chuckle, his chest vibrating against her back.

“I suppose.” He planted a kiss on her cheek. “We can tear down the whole place if ye like—start from scratch.”

Morgana shook her head as they crested the hill. No doubt everyone in the castle could see them now. And while she was thrilled to be back home, she ached to have Ryder all to herself just a bit longer, despite knowing her sister was there, waiting for her.

Her world had been upended far too fast, and she needed a moment to catch up.

“I dinnae think we need to go that far,” she said. “I happen to like the castle.”

“Is that right? Did I nae tell ye that the place would grow on ye?” Ryder murmured, pulling the horse to a stop in front of the gates.

“I suppose ye did. Maybe it has somethin’ to do with ye,” Morgana quipped as she slipped down from the saddle and landed firmly on the ground.

Ryder jumped down and landed right beside her. She stared into his eyes, seeing her future and her hope.

“Did ye bump yer head a bit too hard back there?” Ryder asked as he checked her head.

She giggled and threw her arms around him, wishing she could melt into him.

“I love ye,” she whispered into his chest.

Ryder hooked his hand under her chin and tilted her head up. Her heart skipped a beat as he studied her, as if he could read every word she would never utter.

“Never do that again,” he hissed, startling her. “If ye’re goin’ to say those words, ye say them to my face. Do ye understand? Nae my chest or my back. I want to see ye when ye tell me such things. Understand?”

Morgana rolled her shoulders back and nodded her head. She pulled in a deep breath and tightened her arms around his waist, a smile tugging at her lips.

With her eyes locked onto his, she said, “I love ye.”

His answer was swift and fierce. His hand curled around the back of her head and drew her lips to his.

His kiss was deep and overwhelmingly tender. It felt like an angel whispering against her lips. Heat rushed through her limbs as her grip tightened on him.

“Morgana?”

It was a voice she had been dying to hear, a voice that snapped her right back into reality.

Reluctantly pulling back, Morgana cleared her throat and craned her neck to spy around Ryder.

“Feya!” she gasped.

She froze in place, uncertain if she was ready to leave the safety of Ryder’s loving embrace for that of her sister’s arms.

“Go,” Ryder urged, releasing her. “Ye’ve been lookin’ for her. And here she is. Come to me later.”

Morgana’s heart fluttered as he pressed his lips to her forehead, before stepping back and walking away. She watched him climb up the steps and disappear into the hallowed halls of the castle.

With Ryder out of sight, it was like the world opened to her again.

She turned to face her sister. “Feya…”

How long had it been since she had last seen her?

She darted forward and threw her arms around her. “I’m so glad ye’re safe! I cannae believe this. Do the others ken? Poppy and Eloise?”

“Aye,” Feya answered, hugging her back for a long moment.

Eventually, she linked their arms and led her back to the castle.

“They all ken. It was ye we were concerned about. I’m so glad that nothin’ happened to ye. What happened to Cohen?”

“Orella,” Morgana answered. “She took Ryder’s dirk and stabbed him with it in the chest.”

“Well, she’s free from him now,” Feya said. “And good riddance. That man was vile and twisted.”

“Enough about me. What happened to ye?” Morgana asked as they stepped into the entrance hall.

She spotted Ryder rounding the corner. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Feya’s suspicious gaze on her before it flicked to Ryder.

“Laird McKenzie, huh? I never thought ye would marry a man like him,” Feya remarked.

There was a lightness to her tone that made Morgana wonder if her sister was trying to ease the tension.

“Ye can say that again, but ye ken what, I wouldnae have it any other way,” Morgana shot back, finally tearing her eyes away from her husband and giving her sister her full attention. “I dinnae think any of us expected life to turn out this way.”

“Well, I’m just glad that ye still have a head on those shoulders of yers. When I heard what the council was plannin’ to do to ye, I tried, Morgana. I tried to get here, I swear it.”

“Whoah, easy.” Morgana pulled her sister to a stop. “Take a deep breath. I dinnae blame ye for anythin’ that happened.”

“I ken ye dinnae,” Feya said. “But I saw Cohen murder the former Laird McKenzie.”

“What?” Morgana gasped, clapping a hand over her mouth.

“It’s why I couldnae get to ye,” Feya said.

Morgana suddenly felt the hairs on her arms stand up. She glanced over her shoulder.

“Och, dinnae mind him.”

“Is that… Laird Dougal?” Morgana asked, trying to keep her voice low. “What is he doin’ here?”

“He’s came here with me,” Feya confessed. “He’s been followin’ us for a bit. I think he likes to ken where I am.”

“That’s a bit intense, wouldnae ye say?” Morgana remarked, doing a double take.

“It can be, but ye ken most of it is rumors. We all thought Laird McKenzie would skin ye just as much as bed ye if he had the chance.”

Morgana blushed. She hadn’t thought of it before, but that would be a good way to describe Ryder.

“Aye, suppose ye’re right. I guess we shouldnae hastily judge others.”

“Morgana!” Poppy squealed as she darted out of the sitting room and raced down the hall. “Ye’re home. Feya’s home. It’s wonderful! Come look at what we did. Tormod and Ronnie set up the room for us. Now, we can all be together tonight.”

“Och, I dinnae think that’s goin’ to work, sweetie,” Morgana said, her heart yearning for more time with Ryder.

“Just look,” Poppy pressed, rather pleased with herself.

Morgana and Feya turned the corner. The sitting room, with its posh white couches and the small piano in the corner, had been transformed. There were pillows and blankets sprawled everywhere. It reminded Morgana of a book she had read— Arabian Nights .

“Woah, now that is a sittin’ room,” Feya said.

“Then come join us,” Poppy insisted as she took both her sisters by the hand and led them into the room.

Morgana caught Feya glancing over her shoulder at her mysterious shadow. Laird Dougal nodded and took a step back, before retreating down the hallway.

“Ye’ll have to tell me about that one of these days, Feya,” Morgana whispered. “And dinnae tell me it’s nothin’.”

“Aye,” Feya muttered. “One of these days, I will tell ye. But I think tonight is all about them.”

Morgana glanced at her siblings. Each smile beamed brighter than the sun. Her heart swelled with pride as it dawned on her that she had done exactly what she set out to do.

Her family was safe now. No one dared touch them under the protection of Laird McKenzie, and even more with Laird Dougal. For the first time, the future wasn’t so daunting.

“Nay, nae just them, but all of us. It should be about family.”