Total pages in book: 110
Estimated words: 103370 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 517(@200wpm)___ 413(@250wpm)___ 345(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 103370 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 517(@200wpm)___ 413(@250wpm)___ 345(@300wpm)
Parlan hugged her and she held tight to him, happy to know this was the first of many hugs to come.
“What say we meet early tomorrow and share some time together before you must take your leave?” he asked, wiping away his tears.
“I’d love that, Da,” Raven said, wishing she had far more time with her da before she had to leave.
“Good, I will wait for you in the Great Hall and perhaps we’ll be able to catch the dawn of a new day together, a new start.”
“Aye, Da, a new start for us all.”
Raven sat wrapped in a blanket, her knees drawn up to her chin, in front of the hearth.
“Let me have another chair brought for you,” Oria said, leaning forward in her chair, ready to stand.
Raven shook her head. “No. I am good where I am, warm and content, and with friends I have sorely missed.”
Purity smiled, hugging the wool shawl draped over her shoulders tighter around her. “I am so thrilled that you have returned home.” Her smile withered. “Though I am disheartened at your plight, yet ever so grateful for what you’ve done for your brothers.”
“I feel as Purity does, forever grateful, yet upset with your situation,” Oria said.
“See the joy in it, for I do. I will be close, a short ride from both of you,” Raven said, trying to reassure them and possibly herself.
Purity’s smile grew again. “We’ll raise our bairns together.” She cringed, her smile quickly dying. “That was foolish of me. I didn’t think.”
Oria reached out and patted Purity’s arm. “You are not foolish and we will raise our bairns together.” She turned a gentle smile on Raven. “And we will be here for Raven if she has any questions or concerns about intimacy with her husband.”
“Forgive me, I can’t help but ask for I am concerned for you,” Purity said. “Do you fear coupling with the Beast?”
Raven chuckled. “It is he who should fear coupling with me. I’ll do my duty and get with child and then we are done. He can have whatever woman he wants to please his beastly ways.”
“It is such a shame that you will never know the joy of coupling with a man you love,” Purity said. “I yearn being with Arran, holding his hand, having his arms wrap around me, his every kiss tingles me senseless, and the pure joy of coupling with him leaves me breathless.”
“You really do love my brother,” Raven said, happy for Purity and Arran and a tad envious, never realizing how powerful love could be between a husband and wife.
“I feel the same,” Oria admitted. “Your brother was a changed man when he returned home, but what hadn’t changed and never will was his love for me and my love for him. Not a day goes by that I’m not grateful he’s home and we are wed. And like Purity, I yearn for the touch of his hand, his arm snug around me, his lips on mine, and the way we sleep wrapped around each other.”
Raven felt a catch in her chest. So that was love, a craving and a fulfilling of simple things, the touch of a hand, a comforting arm, the need of a kiss, and the desire to share intimacy. She had never known that and now never would and surprisingly, it saddened her.
“Perhaps Wolf will be a good husband and you will grow to at least like him,” Purity said, offering some encouragement.
Raven nodded toward Oria. “Have you grown to like your brother?”
“You knew that Wolf is my brother?” Oria asked.
“I learned all I could about him long before the proposition presented itself. But news that he was your brother came later and I wondered and worried how you would take the news and how my brother would feel about it.”
“It was a shock to learn that I was born a Northwoman and taken from my family. And even more of a shock to learn the man responsible for taking Royden from me and the one who brought such misery and heartache to this area was my brother. I don’t know what I feel for him. I haven’t spent much time with him, though I can say I do favor my sister, Demelza.”
“Her husband Trevor was Wolf’s right-hand man before Wolf laid claim to, what was once your clan, the Clan MacGlennen and made him chieftain. They were also best friends, growing into mighty warriors together,” Raven added.
“You do know a lot about him,” Oria said, impressed.
More than anyone knew, but Raven didn’t let Oria know that. “I learned what I could. I also learned what great and trustworthy friends I have in both of you. You kept secrets for me even from your husbands and that I truly appreciate.”
“The secrets were necessary to protect you,” Purity said with a nod at Raven. “And I understand now it also protected your brothers from finding out what you were up to.”