Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 91416 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 457(@200wpm)___ 366(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91416 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 457(@200wpm)___ 366(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
“I should kill you here and now, but there have been enough lives lost today,” Knox said, having his fill of death and tossed him to land on top of the pile of dead warriors that would soon be burned. “Soon, though, soon I will see you dead.”
Knox turned and seeing his wife leaning against a tree, just beyond the edge of the clearing, looking exhausted, and Star grazing nearby, content despite the stench of death, he hurried to them both.
Knox reached out, brushing a streak of dried blood from Dru’s chin. “You took too much of a chance, wife.”
“Is that the thanks I get for saving your life? You’d be dead if I hadn’t,” she said, her voice trembled slightly. “I followed my heart. It led me to you.”
His hand lingered on her cheek. “I nearly didn’t leave you earlier. I thought if I kissed you, held you, I’d never let go.”
“You should have kissed me,” she admonished.
“Aye, I should have, but I still would have had to leave.”
“Aye, and I still would have followed, your trail clear and Star taking me the rest of the way.”
“Stubborn,” he whispered lowering his head slowly.
She tilted her head and corrected, “Stubbornly in love.”
He kissed her, slow and fierce, no longer holding back, no longer caring about anything but her. Her arms wrapped tight around him as if she feared he might vanish into the chilled air.
When they parted, she rested her brow to his. “You will never ride into danger without me again.”
“That’s not a promise I can make.”
“And I can never promise you that I won’t follow you into danger.” Her smile teased. “We’re doomed to always be together.”
“I wouldn’t want to be doomed with anyone else,” he said, his smile just as playful.
They stayed there a moment longer, hearts beating in rhythm, before Knox finally said, “Let’s finish here and find a place where we can be alone.”
Dru grinned. “That’s right. You have a duty you failed to see to.”
“I failed?” he asked with a poke to her side.
“Aye, you should have been quicker,” she admonished mischievously.
“You want me quicker?”
She didn’t need to think long about that one. “Not all the time.”
“DRU!”
Dru and Knox cringed, hearing Quim yell out for her.
“You need to come with us to the abbey.”
She didn’t want to ask why, worried it would leave her no choice, and she didn’t have to. Quim volunteered it.
CHAPTER 23
The silhouette of Tannahill Abbey crept into view under a bruised dusk sky, the half-finished stonework casting long shadows across the hill. Scaffolding clung to the rising walls, and rough shelters dotted the land around it like an afterthought.
Knox rode steady, Star picking her way down the slope with ease while Dru sat nestled comfortably in his arms. That she did, eased his concern for the moment. What awaited them was another matter.
She looked up at her husband, her voice barely more than a breath. “Another one who claims knowledge of Autumn. My mum feared one day I might be hunted. But I always assumed it would be by my father or brother, their intentions not in my best interest or safety, not someone I had no knowledge of existed. It makes me wonder what secret my mum kept from me.”
“You know nothing of her family, her past?”
“The only thing she ever told me was that she left a bad situation only to be caught in a worse situation when what she only ever truly wanted was to be loved.” Dru smiled softly. “She often told me that she found a stronger love when she had me.”
“Would she have confided in Mave?”
She thought for a moment, then shrugged. “I truly couldn’t say, though I think if Mave knew she would have told us to help us. Now looking back, I believe my mum may have kept things from me to protect me.”
“Secrets can do damage.”
“So can truths,” Dru said. “So, which do you choose when trying to protect someone?” She rested her head lightly to his shoulder. “Remind me again what Phelan said to you when he learned that a man at the abbey claims to know who Autumn is.”
“He was angry since his men are in no condition to ride and he’s not foolish enough to ride alone. He will need to let his warriors heal and that will take time.”
“And what did he intend to do with Reena, the woman he captured?”
“He was still debating that before the attack which meant he intended to give her to whoever gave him the most coins. He now realizes that the person who placed the bounty on Autumn’s head never intended to pay. He intended to see her dead. Phelan is now out for blood. He wants revenge.”
“When news travels about what happened to Phelan, do you think mercenaries will stop hunting Autumn?”