Total pages in book: 31
Estimated words: 30228 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 151(@200wpm)___ 121(@250wpm)___ 101(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 30228 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 151(@200wpm)___ 121(@250wpm)___ 101(@300wpm)
“So do you,” Raven challenged.
Oria shook her head. Royden all but had to drag Raven away. She had admired Raven her strength and courage to speak up, not caring what others thought. Though, Raven did have two older brothers and her da to protect her.
She heard Purity again.
“I love you and I’ll take care of you and keep you safe.”
Oria’s heart ached for the young woman. She was giving to animals what no one gave to her—love.
It took only a few steps for her to reach Purity, and the young woman jumped in fright, keeping the kitten snug in her arms, when she saw Oria.
“I didn’t mean to frighten you. I heard you and thought you’d like to share some honey bread with me.” Oria handed a slice of bread to Purity.
The kitten perked his head up and sniffed the air.
“Looks like the kitten wouldn’t mind some,” Oria said and sat, hoping Purity would join her.
Purity seemed skeptical, but when the kitten struggled to get out of her arms, she sat and accepted the slice of honey bread from Oria to share with the kitten.
“I’m sure Royden MacKinnon wouldn’t mind if you took the kitten home,” Oria said.
Purity shook her head and finished the piece of bread in her mouth before she spoke. “I’d rather come here and visit the kitten.”
“You’re welcome any time,” Oria said.
“If your brother lets you come here,” Raven said, appearing as if out of nowhere and plopping herself down to join them.
“Bayne doesn’t bother much with me,” Purity said.
Oria wondered if Raven heard the sadness in Purity’s voice.
“That’s not much of a loss and it proves my point that Bayne is an arsehole,” Raven quipped.
Purity pressed her hand to her chest. “I can’t believe you had the courage to speak to him like that.”
“Sometimes, Raven lacks manners,” Oria said, raising a brow at Raven for speaking improperly.
Raven laughed, her whole face beaming with it. “Royden told you to keep an eye on me and correct me when necessary, right?”
“He wants—”
“Me perfectly mannered so my da can arrange a good marriage for me.” Raven sighed dramatically. “I’m going to choose the man I want to wed and there’s nothing or no one that can stop me from doing that.” Raven shook her finger at Oria when she went to speak. “You’re one of the lucky ones. You have loved my brother as long as I can remember and you want to marry him. Purity and I aren’t so lucky. We get stuck with whoever our das choose for us.” Raven turned to Purity and continued shaking her finger at her. “Don’t let that happen, Purity. Choose the man you want to wed.”
“He doesn’t want me,” Purity said, blotches of red staining her cheeks and spreading over her pale face.
“Arran doesn’t want to wed anyone,” Raven said. “No one woman will ever satisfy him.”
“Raven!” Oria scolded again.
“I’m only repeating what I hear Royden and Da say about him, and Arran admits it himself,” Raven defended.
“It doesn’t matter to me. I’ve seen how nice Arran is to women. I’d be safe with him,” Purity said.
“It’s better you find someone who will love you, then to settle for the likes of my brother,” Raven said.
“No man will ever love me,” Purity said and tucked her deformed hand under her arm. “I’d rather someone who could keep me safe.”
“Maybe you should learn to keep yourself safe,” Raven said.
“Raven!” Oria scolded for the third time.
“You believe me wrong to think of learning to protect myself?” Raven argued. “What if there came a time you needed to protect yourself? What would you do? Cower and beg for mercy or defend yourself? I refuse to cower.”
“I wish I had your courage,” Purity said.
“You have courage. We all do. You just have to find yours,” Raven said.
“You spend too much time with your brothers,” Oria said, but couldn’t help but give thought to Raven’s words.
Raven laughed again. “And you don’t spend enough time thinking beyond Royden.” Her laughter faded and her tone turned serious. “There is one thing we have that can help us.”
“What?” Purity and Oria asked eagerly.
“We have one another. We have friendship.” Raven stretched out her hands to the two women.
Oria took Raven’s hand while Purity hesitated since it was her deformed hand that was closest to Raven.
Raven would have none of it. She grabbed Purity’s arm and yanked it out from under her other arm and took hold of her deformed hand.
Purity’s eyes lit wide and her mouth fell open to speak, but words weren’t easy to find. Finally, she said, “No one touches my hand. They call it a devil’s claw.”
“We all have a bit of the devil in us,” Raven said.
“Hush!” Oria warned. “Don’t let anyone hear you speak such blasphemy.”
“Think what you wish, Oria, but I heard my da claim it himself. He says the devil resides in all of us and only the honorable ones keep him at bay.” Raven squeezed their hands. “Friends?”