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)
“Angus may do well with Dirk, he is just as stubborn as the hound,” Slayer suggested.
Sky jabbed his chest lightly. “You have given this thought as well.”
“You should know by now how much we think alike,” he said and playfully kissed the tip of her nose. “Besides, you have shown me with Fane how helpful the hounds can be while waiting for the next battle.”
“I am pleased that in time the hounds will no longer be confined to the pen,” she said, her thoughts drifting.
“Then why the worry lines?” Slayer asked, caressing the deep lines between her eyes.
She sighed softly. “I am eager for Ross’ return from Clan Skirling, Leora’s new home, and what reply she may have sent to my message that he took to her.”
“Do not worry he will deliver the message correctly. You had him repeat enough for him to remember it and he repeated it enough to me that I still recall it.” Slayer tempered his powerful voice to sound more like Ross as he repeated the message. “I am to tell her that you are doing well and are being well cared for, though you miss her and Elsie terribly. She is not to worry over you, though she knows you will ignore her words, but she is to trust that you are safe and well-protected, and that when it is safe, the three of you will reunite and have much to discuss and you look forward to that time And most importantly I am to tell her that you have found the love with the animals at Clan Ravinsher that Snowball had given you at home.”
“You sounded much like Ross. I only hope his memory is as good as yours.”
His voice turned powerful once again. “Ross has an excellent memory, so have no worries your message will reach your sister. I have been meaning to ask you, who is Snowball?”
Sky smiled softly. “A beautiful, precious, white cat I loved with all my heart, and I had since I was young.”
Slayer did not hide his surprise, understanding what that part of the message actually meant. “You are letting your sister know that you have found love here.”
“With the animals, as I said, though she might realize I mean more since Snowball meant so much to me.” Her smile faded. “Although, I do wonder if she would even give it thought since it was assumed I would never wed let alone fall in love because of my affliction. Elsie and Leora often told me that they would always look after me.”
“They no longer need to. You have me now,” Slayer reminded, “and you have yourself. You have grown in strength and courage since I first met you. You had no choice being wed to me, but you had a choice whether you would accept the marriage and find a way to make it work rather than do nothing more than tolerate it. I am proud to call you my wife.”
His words filled her heart with joy. Never had she expected to hear such meaningful words from a man, let alone a husband and she was quick to respond. “And I am proud and overjoyed that you are my husband and I love you with all my heart.”
Slayer went to speak and stopped. Instead, he kissed her, a gentle, lingering kiss, then he rested his brow to hers. “I feel for you, wife, like I have never felt for another. You have become a part of me I cannot live without, like a breath or a beat of my heart. I want to say I love you, but I don’t know or understand love, I don’t even know if those words would suffice for what I feel for you—”
Sky kissed him softly. “Your words say more than you know, and they fill me with even more joy.”
“Don’t you be growling at me, or you’ll never get another bone. That’s right, hang your head. I know you have been getting bones on the sly.”
Sky and Slayer turned their heads toward the door, hearing Euniss reprimand the hound, who stopped growling at the threat of receiving no more bones.
“That woman fears nothing,” Slayer said.
Sky smiled. “I think that is why I like her so much.”
“You are needed, Lord Slayer,” Euniss called out.
Sky slipped out of her husband’s arms reluctantly and he reluctantly let her go. “I will leave first. I am eager to work in my garden today and I am already eager to see you later.”
She blew him a kiss before she opened the door and he thought he felt it graze his cheek, though it could have been the light breeze that swept through the room. However, he allowed himself to believe it was her kiss and touched his cheek gently sealing it there.
“Come on, Fane,” he commanded. “We have a busy day ahead of us.”