Total pages in book: 112
Estimated words: 101336 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 507(@200wpm)___ 405(@250wpm)___ 338(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 101336 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 507(@200wpm)___ 405(@250wpm)___ 338(@300wpm)
“Or he lies to you as he did to me. But I will catch him, and he will have no choice but to confess everything to me.”
“His last words sent a chill through me. Who will come for me? Why will he come for me? And why do I need saving from this man?”
“You could be the one the Lowlander family searches for and with there being no love lost between Lowlanders and Highlanders, it could be why he warns you against trusting anyone. I would linger and discuss this with you and try to make sense of it, but I cannot wait to hunt him. His tracks will be fresh and when I catch him, I will get the truth from him.”
“What if others wait for him and you ride into a trap?”
“That will not happen. The trackers and riders have already been dispersed and will send word to me, so I know what I face. It is Lester, if that is his name, who needs to worry and fear what awaits him.” He stood. “You will rest and heal your ankle while I am gone, and you will not go beyond the gate.” He leaned down and kissed her firmly, then pressed his cheek next to hers to whisper, “I will miss you, wife.”
Sky was off the chair when she heard the door close and thought about running after him and reminding him how much she loved him and that he was to stay safe and return home to her. She almost reached the door ready to do just that when it swung open. She did not wait. She threw her arms around him.
“I love you with all my heart. You will stay safe and come home to me. I will have your word on it,” she insisted, even though she knew fate would have the final word.
“Your ankle healed quite fast,” Slayer said with a slight smile.
Sky’s cheeks turned a warm pink. “It was the only way I could get you alone.”
“Yet when you had me alone you still allowed me to believe you were injured.”
“I gave it thought, but then your hand felt so good on my ankle, I found myself remaining silent.”
He kissed her gently. “I am glad you did since I very much enjoyed caressing your ankle.”
“We think alike, husband,” Sky said. “Now please give me your word that you will return to me.”
“Nothing will ever stop me from returning to you. Even a wound will not stop me. I will make my way home to you, for if I am meant to die it will be in your arms.”
“Nay! Do not say that. You will not die. We have a whole life to live together,” she insisted, keeping the tears that sprang to her eyes at simply the thought of losing him from falling. “Why did you return? Did you forget to tell me something?”
“Aye, I forgot to tell you that you, mo ghaol, belong to me and only me and I will let no one ever take you away from me. You are mine and always will be.”
His hand cupped the back of her head as his lips came down firmly on hers in a kiss that left no doubt that he meant what he said in the only way he knew how… that he loved her.
Sky kept herself hidden as best she could while watching her husband in the practice circle. She had noticed how empty the village seemed today and had asked Euniss if something was going on beyond the stone walls. She told her that Slayer was challenging his warriors today. He did so every now and then, though mostly when his anger lingered. It was a way for him to rid himself of it. Unfortunately, most of his warriors did not want to challenge him when his anger simmered, though the clansmen enjoyed watching their leader go undefeated.
Sky was aware that her husband’s temper had lingered and been simmering for the last couple of weeks. It was because Lester had not been found, not even a single sign of him had been spotted. Slayer had been withdrawn, spending more time in his solar, not talking with her as much as he usually did. And it had been several days since they had coupled, or he had shown her much affection and she missed the closeness they shared. He purposely avoided her, even in their bedchamber. The last few nights he had joined her in bed after she had fallen asleep, and he was gone before she woke in the morning. She was not sure what to do about it, although she knew it could not go on like this much longer.
He struck quite a figure in the circle, no warrior coming near to his size nor to his skill. He stood shirtless, a sheen of sweat covering his broad chest and muscled arms and suffering no breathlessness. Not so for the six warriors he had engaged separately in a sword fight. They all sat beyond the circle breathless and dripping sweat, except for one. He suddenly dropped back on the ground, his body prone, as if he had no strength left to hold himself up.