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 do love you, husband,” she said touched by his loving words.
“Enough not to do anything foolish?” he asked in a tone that was more than serious.
She smiled softly. “Worry not. I will do nothing foolish, unless…”
“Unless?” he asked concerned.
Her smile grew. “Unless I have no choice but to save you.”
He laughed. “You can be humorous, wife.” His laughter and smile vanished suddenly. “I forbid you to place yourself in jeopardy to save me.”
“Yet you would—”
“It matters not what I would do. You will save yourself is necessary, save our child who may be growing inside you.”
His reminder of the possibility had her thinking twice.
They lay in silence wrapped in each other’s arms, holding tight, not knowing what tomorrow would bring, but ready to fight for their love.
CHAPTER 29
The morning mist hung thick and low over Clan MacFadin, the scent of ash still lingering from the previous night’s fires. Knox stood at the keep’s door, his gaze sweeping the village. Tension lay coiled in his every movement.
He turned to Dru, his expression grim. “We need to find Brack and see if Callan’s men show any signs of stirring trouble.”
Dru nodded, taking hold of her husband’s outstretched hand.
“Stay close,” he ordered, not taking a chance of letting her out of his sight.
Dru stepped closer to him, so he would know she intended to do just that.
The heavy mist began to dissipate as they wound their way through the village Knox veering toward a path that led to the entrance.
Dru caught sight of Mara shooing Penn back inside their cottage, her hands trembling slightly.
Dru tugged at her husband’s arm. “I need to speak with Mara. She looks frightened.”
Knox looked toward the woman, then a short distance away to see Brack talking with two warriors. He nodded toward him. “Brack is right there. Join me when you are done and don’t take long.”
“I won’t,” she said and hurried to Mara.
Knox kept his eyes on her the whole time and took a stance by Brack where he could continue to keep his eyes on her.
“Mara?” Dru asked gently when she reached the woman. “Is something wrong?”
She forced a smile, but it wavered. “We all fear a battle. Talk is that the leader of the north clans will not let this go. And all know that there will be severe retribution to the entire village if Brack dared to surrender you to Callan. Death stalks us either way.”
Dru’s heart sank. “I am so sorry. This is all my fault.”
“Nay,” Mara said, shaking her head. “You are as innocent as all of us. You did nothing to inherit such vengeance. I never thought I would pray for Lord Torrance’s return, but now I do. He puts the fear of the Lord in the bravest of men, and the warriors who travel with him are a fierce lot. He would protect us.”
Dru reached out to give the woman’s hand a comforting squeeze just as a horn’s blare pierced the quiet. They both turned and saw it.
Smoke curled and rose from beyond the eastern ridge. It seemed no more than a distant fire as all eyes focused on it.
Then came the sound, a low, echoing crack of something unnatural followed by a beat of ominous silence.
Then an explosion.
It shattered the air, a deafening thunder that rolled down the hills and slammed into the village like a beast unleashed. Fire burst from the storage shed near the livestock pens, a roaring column of smoke and flame.
Screams followed. Warriors shouted. Livestock scattered. Complete chaos reigned.
Knox was already running toward Dru.
“Stay in your cottage,” Dru warned Mara and took off running toward Knox.
He’d barely taken a few steps when warriors poured out of the woods, overtaking the village in mere moments.
Knox’s blood ran cold. He had to get to Dru.
He drew his sword as warriors descended on him and he fought like a wild man slashing one after the other as he battled his way to Dru.
A group of riders suddenly charged from the opposite flank—silent, swift, and precise. MacFadin defenders scrambled, caught between the burning chaos and the sudden breach.
Knox battled harder, seeing his wife, ducking and slipping past warriors who grabbed for as she ran toward him.
A blow to his side knocked the breath from his lungs. Another came from behind. He swung wildly, cutting down one attacker, but more pressed in. He glimpsed Dru—fighting wildly to reach him.
“DRU!” he roared.
Two warriors slammed into her, driving her to her knees.
She screamed, not in fear but in fury for him, “KNOX!”
A warrior struck her temple with the hilt of his sword and his name died on her lips as she dropped to the ground.
Knox surged forward, blood in his mouth, rage in his heart. He didn’t feel the strikes that landed. He only saw his wife lying helpless on the ground as darkness claimed him.