Total pages in book: 105
Estimated words: 97306 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 487(@200wpm)___ 389(@250wpm)___ 324(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 97306 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 487(@200wpm)___ 389(@250wpm)___ 324(@300wpm)
“I told you not to shorten your name, that someone would realize it,” Arawn admonished.
“It would have made no difference. Fia is wiser than most and Wilona warned you about that, but you did not believe her,” Dysa said. “I suppose now you do, my love, and I believe you have no choice but to let Fia have this win.”
“For you, I will let her have this one,” Arawn said, walking over to his wife to slip his arm around her.
Dysa laughed. “She won of her own accord, and Wilona will have the joy of telling you that she told you so.”
Arawn grumbled. “This is not our last battle, Fia.”
“I know and, like my grandmother, I will win and lose some, but I will always fight with all my strength to win,” Fia said, placing Argus’s hand on his chest as he slept comfortably.
Arawn smiled. “A worthy opponent that I look forward to besting.”
Dysa chuckled. “Be careful, she may best you more often than not.” She turned her smile on Fia. “It was a pleasure meeting you, Fia, and I will tell your grandmother how well you are doing and that she made a wise choice in the husband she chose for you.”
“My grandmother sent Varrick to me?” Fia asked, perplexed and yet joyful that her grandmother continued to look over her.
“Aye, she knew that you both needed each other and that he would always keep you safe,” Dysa said.
“Please express my gratitude to my wife’s grandmother for sending such a precious gift to me and assure her that she is right… I will always keep Fia safe,” Varrick said.
“We must take our leave, I am done here,” Arawn said. “Your forest will flourish once I am gone. I needed a place for my hell hounds to reside while here and the animals and birds obliged me and left, and the trees went into a deeper sleep. Explain our absence as you wish. And be watchful of the son that is born to you when the leaves fall. He will surpass you as a warrior and take risks he shouldn’t.”
“Put those horns back in your head, Arawn. You will not shapeshift in front them,” Dysa scolded her husband as she went to open the door.
“What are you opening the door for? We don’t need to open the door to leave,” Arawn said, shaking his head at his wife.
“As rude as it is for you to shapeshift in front of them, it is just as rude to disappear in front of them. Besides, I want to say goodbye to Cara. She is such a lovely and kind young woman.”
“We have no time for that,” Arawn argued as he followed his wife out the door.
“We will make time,” Dysa said, hooking her arm with her husband’s and disappearing into the night as the door closed on its own softly behind them.
Varrick and Fia turned to each other.
“I do not think we should tell anyone about this. We will be thought mad,” Varrick said.
Fia nodded. “I agree.”
Varrick took his wife in his arms, something he had been aching to do but there had been no time. Argus’s well-being had come first, but now…
He ran his finger gently over the bruise on her cheek. “I have not had a chance to tell you how proud I am of having such a brave and wise wife who I love with every ounce of my being.” He brought his lips down on hers in a gentle kiss, lingering in it, feeling their love rise and wrap around them. He pressed his brow to hers after reluctantly ending the kiss. “I have never known such fear when I could not find you and it grew worse learning Lord David had you. Never again, wife, never again will I let that happen to you.”
“There will always be those who choose to believe me a witch,” she said, knowing that was something that would always haunt them.
He raised his head and smiled. “Then it is a good thing the legendary Highlander is your husband.”
She smiled softly. “We will have a good life together, Varrick, the strength of our never-ending love will make sure of it.”
They kissed again, briefly.
“You know I keep wondering why Lord David was so foolish to come after me in the first place.”
“I believe I can explain that, but first tell me… do you have a dark mark on the inner part of your big right toe?”
Varrick looked at her perplexed and shook his head. “Nay, but Argus does.”
Fia smiled. “I have a story to tell you, husband, and a surprise for Argus.”
CHAPTER 31
Seven years later.
“Rhodes is but seven years and swings a sword with remarkable skill,” Argus said, watching the lad, the image of his father, practice with the warriors.
“Aye, my son will best me one day,” Varrick said with pride.