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)
“It will be there if you need it,” Euniss said. “Now I will leave you two to have some time alone.”
“Euniss,” Slayer called out before the woman reached the door and turned. “Do not test me to see if I would side with my wife ever again.”
“I don’t know what you mean, my lord. I would never do that… though it is good to know you will defend her,” Euniss said with a grin.
“Always,” Slayer confirmed.
“I am sure Sky is pleased to hear that.” Euniss’s grin grew before she left the room.
“Bloody hell but that woman can be annoying,” he said.
“I think she is delightful.”
Slayer looked at his wife ready to reprimand her for not agreeing with him. But seeing her lovely smile and the joy in her eyes, he kissed her instead, lingering in it until he reluctantly ended it.
He took hold of her chin. “Listen well. I am the only one you need to seek permission from for anything. Do you understand?”
“Aye, I do. Now tell me what troubles you,” she said, taking his hand and tugging him to the chair to sit and once he did, she made herself comfortable in his lap.
He tucked his arm around her waist to keep her nestled there. “What makes you think I am troubled.”
She pressed her hand on his chest. “I can feel it in you.”
“You seldom cry. I do not like it when you cry,” he said, kissing her cheek lightly.
“I shed no more than a few tears, too few to matter.”
“Your tears will always matter to me, mo ghaol.”
Her heart felt like it stopped with him calling her, my love, and she wondered if he even realized he had done so. Not wanting to point it out or fuss over it, she smiled. “Do not think to distract me from finding out what disturbs you.”
He did not know where those words, my love, had come from, but he found that they fit her perfectly.
“Melvin, one of my men returned today with news from Clan Murdock,” he said.
She would have jumped off his lap if he hadn’t held her firmly. “Can I speak to him?”
“Nay, he needed to take his leave again, but he said Elsie asked about you and how you were doing, and I told him you were well and doing good and that she had nothing to worry about.”
“She is well then? And my da?”
“I forgot to ask about your da, but Elsie does well with her new husband. He is a good man and will treat her well and—” He paused.
“What do you hesitate to tell me?” she asked concerned.
“Something I should have told you earlier. My tracker, Noble, I sent to find Leora… he is her husband.
“Does Leora know that?”
“She will when Noble finds her. You are not surprised at this news?” he asked, expecting her to be shocked by it.
She shook her head. “If my da arranged marriages for Elsie and me, it is only reasonable to assume he would do the same for Leora. I assume you helped to arrange the marriage since Leora is wed to a Gallowglass warrior.”
“I did and your da was only too glad to agree to it since Noble is my fiercest warrior and will keep Leora safe.”
“Is he patient?” Sky asked.
He nodded. “Aye, he is since tracking requires much patience.”
“Your fierce tracker will need plenty of patience to deal with my all too-stubborn sister. And I warn you, Elsie might accept hearing that I am well, but Leora will not rest until she is able to see and speak to me herself.”
“In time, I will permit it,” he assured her.
She understood the reason for the delay. It could prove dangerous for the three of them. She only hoped it would not be too long before she was reunited with her sisters.
“Noble is a good man?” she asked.
“The finest and most honorable.”
She quieted and laid her head on his shoulder.
“Something troubles you now. Tell me,” he said and squeezed the curve of her waist gently.
“I wonder if my sisters question who they are like I do. I don’t know where I truly came from nor do I know anything about my true parents, or why my mother felt the need to give me away. Who truly am I?”
“You are my wife. You belong to me now and always, nothing else matters,” he said, but knew it did to her and one day, when all was settled, he would help her find the truth.
CHAPTER 17
Sky was worried. The hound who had refused the bone yesterday did so again today and though she tried to coax him to the fence so she could get a better look at him, he wouldn’t budge from where he rested. She had told him repeatedly that she would never harm him, only help him, but he continued to keep his distance.