Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 91416 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 457(@200wpm)___ 366(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91416 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 457(@200wpm)___ 366(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
“He’s the worst,” Knox said and stood, looking down at Dru. “Give him what you wish of the food. We need to be on our way and so does he. The sooner he gets to Clan MacLeish the better.”
“He knows of what he speaks,” Dru said, staring at her husband as he walked to his mare. “He was sold to Phelan when he was only eight years and was with him until he got free.”
“How did he get free?” Busby asked.
Dru turned to Busby. “I don’t know.”
“He must have done something powerful to have gotten free of such a vicious, controlling man.”
Dru nodded, agreeing and recalling how Phelan didn’t pursue Knox’s offer to fight him at the abbey saying he had better things to do. He feared Knox, and Dru wondered why.
CHAPTER 14
By the time they made camp that night, Dru was frustrated. Beyond frustrated. She was weary from the day’s travel, her body aching from riding too long, and her patience had worn thin. But what irritated her most was Knox.
He had barely spoken a word to her all day. When she’d attempted conversation earlier, he’d silenced her with a curt, “Be quiet, I’m thinking.” And when she had tried again, he had responded with nothing more than an indifferent grunt.
That had been the final straw.
“Do you ever intend to talk to me again?” Dru demanded, her arms crossed firmly over her chest as she stood near the fire, glaring at him.
“When necessary,” he said, his tone as indifferent as the look in his eyes. He unfurled his blanket on the opposite side of the fire, clearly intent on putting distance between them.
She narrowed her eyes. “Oh, so now I don’t even get the privilege of sharing your warmth?”
He ignored her jab. “Make your own bed. We sleep separate from now on.”
She huffed. “But it’s cold, and—”
“Good night,” he said sharply, cutting her off as he dropped down onto his blanket, his back to her.
Dru clenched her jaw. “Fine. I don’t need you,” she muttered, though the words rang hollow in her ears.
She didn’t like how easily he could cast her aside, didn’t like how it made her feel—alone. So, what if she was on her own again? It was her way of life—alone—and would always be. She was a fool to think it could be any different. A fool to think someone would care for her, someone would love her.
She forced her chin up, refusing to let the sting of rejection settle too deep. Gathering her own blanket, she spread it on the ground, grumbling under her breath as she settled in. She pulled her wool cloak tightly around her, grateful for the warmth, yet it did little to block the chill seeping up from the cold, unforgiving ground.
Sleep came in fits and starts, the cold keeping her restless. She curled in on herself, shifting repeatedly, trying in vain to find a position that offered even a sliver of comfort.
“Bloody hell, what’s wrong with you?”
Knox’s deep, exasperated voice cut through the night, yanking her from the light doze she’d managed.
Dru had had enough. “The cold eats away at me, I can’t sleep, and you are bloody heartless!”
“Aye, I am,” he agreed without hesitation, his voice firm, almost warning. “And that would be a good thing for you to remember.”
She barely had time to process his words before he stood abruptly, snatching his blanket off the ground. He crossed the fire in two strides, his imposing form casting long shadows in the flickering glow.
Before she could protest, he threw the blanket over her and then—just as swiftly—dropped down beside her, sliding under it as if he belonged there.
Dru barely had time to react before his strong arm wrapped around her waist, pulling her flush against his solid, heated body.
“Now go to sleep,” he ordered gruffly.
She sucked in a breath, startled, but the warmth was immediate, deliciously soothing. His body heat seeped into hers, melting away the lingering chill. She shifted slightly, adjusting, nestling into him as if by instinct.
“Lie still,” he snapped.
The harshness of his voice and the tension in his body warned her not to push him further. She went still, though a small, satisfied smile tugged at her lips as warmth—his warmth—wrapped around her completely. Sleep claimed her quickly.
Not so Knox.
For him, the night would be long.
As much as he didn’t want to admit it, something was changing between them. He didn’t understand why he cared for her. Maybe even loved her, if that was what he was feeling.
And despite Dru’s repeated insistence that she wanted no husband, that she didn’t want him… it was becoming harder to ignore that whatever had taken root between them, they were both fighting it.
And losing.
“I’m not feeling well, Knox,” Dru said.
He figured she was up to something but when he glanced down at her, she looked pale.