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)
“How is it I find you here alone when you should be celebrating your return home? That’s a foolish question since I know you seek the peacefulness of the woods when something troubles you.”
Wolf turned with a smile and clasped Trevor in a tight hug and with a solid slap to his back. “At least you have not gone soft wed to my sister.”
Trevor stood a bit shy of Wolf’s tall height, with a fit build, but then they had fought many a battle together and had spent endless hours at practice with their weapons. His good features had stolen many a woman’s heart but he had eyes for only one woman—Demelza, Wolf’s sister. Wolf had never let it be known, but he was envious of his close friend. Love of a good woman was something he feared he would never know and his recent arranged marriage had proven that true.
“Your sister sends her love,” Trevor said, after stepping away from Wolf.
“She is well and your son, Aric, he is well also?”
“They both do well and surprisingly life here is better than I thought it would be,” Trevor said. “While the locals are still skeptical, they don’t shun us, and Demelza could not be more pleased that she lives so close to her sister Oria. Demelza wanted to come see you when we received word you were home to stay, but your missive said I was to come alone, so I made an excuse. A poor one I’m afraid, since her eyes narrowed when I told her. So tell me what secret you harbor.”
Wolf was quick to be done with it. “I wed Raven.”
Shock kept Trevor silent for a moment, then it had him asking, “The lass you have searched for these last five years and sister to Royden and Arran?”
“That would be her,” Wolf confirmed.
Trevor shook his head. “Why didn’t I know this?”
If Wolf trusted anyone explicitly it was Trevor and he had disliked keeping the news from him. He offered the reason that hadn’t set well with him. “The agreement was not to be made known until it was done. Once it was, I wanted to be the one to tell you about it.”
“And explain why you did such a foolish thing? All was arranged for you to wed Eria,” Trevor argued.
“You know all too well that not capturing Raven changed much and kept me from claiming complete victory. I wanted an end to it. I laid claim to a good portion of land that rightfully belongs to my grandmother and should rightfully be mine,” Wolf said with a sense of pride.
“And with Oria wed to Royden, the Clan MacKinnon can be counted in that.”
“The MacKinnon may hate me, but they will not go against me, especially now with me wed to their sister.”
Trevor shook his head. “But at what price? You are stuck with the MacKinnon woman for life.”
“And a challenge she is,” Wolf admitted. “Though she is pleasing to look at.”
“She submits to you willingly?” Trevor asked.
Wolf rubbed at his close cropped beard. “We haven’t consummated the marriage yet. When I discovered that she lived and worked with a band of thieves, five men, these past five years—not a virtuous life—I decided I wouldn’t touch her until I can be sure she doesn’t carry another man’s child.”
“Does your grandmother know about this sacrifice of yours?”
“She does.”
“You saying no more tells me what she thinks,” Trevor said, shaking his head. “Your grandmother would choose you to know love rather than for you to be married to a woman who more than likely hates you.”
“Sacrifices are made all the time. Raven presented an offer that would put an end to what I started, her brothers’ freedom and a marriage to me so peace would prevail in this area. Though I know I have not seen my last battle, I could do with some peace for a while.”
“I agree with you on that. I enjoy my days with my wife and son and see the clan you awarded me grow in number and strength. I will always serve you well, Wolf.”
Wolf clasped him on the shoulder. “I have no doubt of that, Trevor. And I am glad you and my sister are happy. Now let us go drink to my marriage and pray my wife doesn’t kill me before the month is done.”
“What do you mean kill you?” Trevor asked anxiously as they walked toward the village.
“She pulled a knife on me twice and the first time I never saw it coming.”
Trevor shook his head. “Tell me about it.”
The two men continued to talk as they walked. Neither one of them spotted the wiry man who lurked in the words and hurried off not long after they left to tell Raven what he’d heard.
Raven watched her husband and the other man, who she knew to be a longtime friend of Wolf’s and husband to his sister Demelza, walk through the village. Many women let their glances linger on them, appreciating their fine features, but the two men were oblivious to them, too busy talking and occasionally laughing.