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)
“STOP!” she yelled with fierce anger.
The lads laughed at her and gathered more stones to continue their assault.
“Don’t you dare throw any more stones at that kitten,” she warned and hurried toward the small ball of black fur.
The lads, busy collecting more stones, didn’t see her run to the kitten. Once they were done, they turned in unison laughing and launching the stones at the kitten. Instead, they hit Sky pelting her in the back as she scooped up the kitten to cradle protectively in her arms.
A larger rock caught her in the back of the head, and she cried out in pain.
“WHAT THE BLOODY HELL IS GOING ON HERE?”
Sky shivered at Slayer’s vicious roar of anger and turned to see the three lads frozen in place, their faces drained of all color, and fearful tears welling in their eyes.
People came running, one man grabbing one of the lads by the nape of his neck and demanding to know what he did. A woman hurried toward another of the lads poking him in the chest demanding answers, and an elderly woman approached the last lad shaking her head.
“The three of you stay where you are,” Slayer ordered, pointing at the lads before he went to Sky. He had to fight to keep his hands off her when all he wanted to do was to take her in his arms.
“Are you all right?” he asked, and he almost lost all willpower when he saw the hurt in her eyes and how she went to take a step toward him then stopped. Her first reaction was to seek his arms just as his was to reach out to her and it angered him even more that they couldn’t.
She raised her hand to rub at the back of her head and cringed when her hand connected with a painful lump.
Slayer did not hesitate. There was nothing improper about him seeing to any injury she may have sustained and at that point he did not care what anyone thought. He would see the injury for himself. He pushed her hand away and felt the area she had touched and let loose with, “Bloody hell.” He turned to the three lads. “Which one of you hit her?”
The man shoved his son forward. “Answer his lordship.”
Sky felt sorry for the lad. He looked terrified and he sent a quick glance to his mates for help, but they were just as terrified and as speechless as he was. She did not condone their actions toward the kitten but she worried what Slayer might do to them, so she spoke up.
“I doubt they know which one of them hit me since they were all throwing stones at the kitten,” she said, glancing down at the black ball of fur that cuddled tightly against her. “I got in the way. I do not think they meant to hit me.”
Slayer turned an angry glare on each lad. “Did she tell you to stop?”
The wide-eyed lads nodded in unison.
“How many times did she tell you to stop?” Slayer demanded.
The three lads looked at each other and one got the courage to say, “Twice.”
“One time too many,” Slayer said. “And tell me, do the three of you enjoy harming a helpless animal because I can show you how it feels when someone bigger and stronger than you decides to torment you?”
“Please, my lord, my grandson is just a foolish lad. He will not do it again,” the elderly woman begged.
“Aye, Ruth, you are right. Wade will not do it again once he tastes what it feels like,” Slayer said, and the woman shook her head and Wade looked about to cry. He turned to signal one of his warriors and saw that Sky was about to speak. “Not a word,” he ordered.
The warrior came forward and waited for Slayer to speak.
“Take the three lads and have them work with the Gallowglass warriors today and for the next five days, and they are not to go easy on them,” Slayer ordered.
“Aye, my lord,” the warrior said and turned to call out to the lads. “Over here, the three of you. NOW!”
The lads rushed to the warrior.
“Follow in a single line behind me,” the warrior ordered, and the lads hurried to obey, their heads hanging down and a tremble in their steps,
Slayer called out for all to hear, “Sky is under my protection, the clan’s protection. If she is harmed in any way there will be severe consequences to pay. Now go and attend to your chores.”
The people hurried off, not a whisper passing among them.
Slayer turned to Sky. “Leave the kitten and come with me.”
“Please do not ask that of me, Slayer,” she whispered softly. “The clan no doubt believes me evil and responsible for what the lads will suffer, due to their own foolishness. That will only make some intent on taking their anger out on the innocent kitten and make her suffer. I cannot allow that to happen. Please, let the kitten remain with me.”