The Healer's Gift Read Online Free PDF

not bothering to be neat about it, as he considered her statement. He didn’t think it was an accident, either, but why didn’t she? He buckled a belt in place. “Ye can turn around now, and tell me what ye think is so urgent that ye must enter my chamber without leave.”
    It amused him to see her peek over her shoulder. Did she think he would lie and remain unclothed? For what purpose? To embarrass her further? Not that she didn’t deserve it.
    “Well?”
    Slowly, she pivoted, pink still blossoming across her cheeks and nose. “I owe ye an apology. I shouldno’ ha’ surprised ye the way I did.”
    “True,” Logen agreed. “Ye couldha found yerself with a dirk to yer throat.” The thought made him queasy, especially after what he’d been picturing before she burst in. “Dinna do that again.”
    “I dinna plan to. But I had to see ye without the rest of the clan being aware of it.”
    “And why is that?”
    She paused, and the look she gave him left no doubt she thought him daft.
    “Few of them trust me. If something were to happen to ye, as has happened to the lairds before ye, I would be blamed.”
    Logen pursed his lips. She was right, painful as it was to admit. “That would be convenient, aye.”
    “I think someone made ye fall. From the boat. It wasna an accident.” Her words came out in a rush, as if she thought he’d be swayed by their velocity.
    Logen frowned. “Why do ye think that, lass?” Could she have learned something he’d been unable to uncover for weeks in the short time since she’d returned?
    Suddenly, she twisted and placed a hand on the door, cocking her head, then turned back to him. The rosy pink fled her face, leaving behind wide eyes and pale, translucent skin. “I canna tell ye.”
    “Ye dinna ken? Or ye willna tell me.” Surely, she could not be involved. Could she?
    Her nervous swallow was so obvious, Logen would have laughed except she had tensed like a bowstring drawn to its breaking point, her body rigid, her arms tucked close to her sides. His frown deepened. He stepped toward her, but for every step he took, she retreated until her back was to the door and she had nowhere left to go. What did she fear?
    “Coira, I willna hurt ye. It doesna matter what ye have to tell me.” His earlier lust evaporated into concern for the frightened lass before him. He was tempted to stroke her cheek, to bring some color back to her countenance, but he reached instead for the hands she clasped before her so tightly that her knuckles were white. Cold. Her hands were so cold. What was going through her mind to upset her so? He wrapped his fingers around hers to warm them and was rewarded by seeing the tense line of her shoulders drop, just a little.
    “Someone kens I’m here,” she whispered. “I felt the same cold hatred just now that I felt right before ye fell.”
    “Someone’s out there?”
    Her eyes widened. He moved her aside, more gently than his haste dictated, and yanked the door open, but the hallway outside was empty. No one lurked there. He waited a moment, listening, but all he heard was Coira’s rapid breathing. He shut the door, softly, and turned back to her.
    “Tell me.”
    He kept his tone low and light, but she shuddered and stepped away, shaking her head.
    “What did ye mean when ye said ye felt the same cold hatred ye felt before I fell?”
    She moved to the hearth and stared into the glowing embers. “I shouldno’ ha’ come here.”
    Logen went to stand behind her, trapping her between the heat of the fire and his body’s warmth. She shivered, but did not try to move away.
    He gave her a moment to collect herself, then gripped her shoulders and turned her to face him. Her tremors had subsided and a hint of color was returning to her skin as he studied her. “Do ye have the Sight?” It made sense, after what she’d said. “Did ye See who caused my accident?”
    He’d spent four years fostered with the MacKyrie clan, whose young Seer, Ellie, had