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)
“That is not your choice. It is mine,” she snapped.
“Nay, wife, it is mine!” He grabbed the door latch.
“I never thought you a coward.” That got her husband doing exactly what she wanted him to do, turn and see her standing there naked.
Varrick shook his head. “Bloody hell, wife!”
Fia flung herself at him, leaving him no recourse but to take her in his arms, and she urged, “Hurry, I cannot wait.”
“Neither can I,” he said and hoisted her up to brace against the door while she rushed to shove his garments out of the way.
He entered her with a swift thrust that had her crying out with pleasure. She kept her legs locked tight around him and her hands gripped tight on his shoulders as he pounded into her.
There were no gentle kisses, no words of love spoken, and yet she could feel his love with every thrust of his shaft. She knew—felt—they would fall over the edge of pleasure, always together.
They toppled off into pleasure, then soared high, and shattered together as one. Fia dropped her head to his chest to muffle her cries of immense satisfaction, fearing they would echo through the keep, and he buried his in the crook of her neck.
When sanity finally returned, Varrick whispered, “I will always love you, Fia.”
“As I will always love you, Varrick,” she whispered in return. She did not want to say what she said next, but it was better she said it than he did. “You must go now.”
Varrick hated to leave her and if he did not hurry away from her, he feared he would linger, and she had been brave enough to say what they both knew. He had to be brave enough to do as she said.
He eased out of her and gently lowered her to her feet.
Fia hurried and stepped aside so he could leave, though she wanted to grab him and force him to stay with her.
Varrick grabbed the latch.
“I lied when I called you a coward. You are brave beyond belief, husband, and will lead the clan to victory.”
He yanked the door open and hurried out, shutting it quickly behind him and stood there a moment having heard his wife fight back tears and knowing she now shed them. His heart begged him to return to her and hold her, but he would linger and there was no time if he was to do as she said… lead the clan to victory.
He had taken only a few steps when he heard the voice.
They attack soon.
The door flew open, Fia stood in her shift. “You heard?”
“Aye, get dressed and come with me.” He wanted to yank her into his arms and comfort her, seeing her cheeks wet with tears that tore at his heart, but there was no time. With an attack imminent, he had to act quickly.
Fia hurried to dress and dry away her tears, then she rushed with him to the Great Hall.
Argus and Corwin sat at a table talking and they both hurried off the bench when Varrick swept into the room.
“The attack comes sooner than we think,” Varrick said.
“How do you know this?” Argus asked, then cast a suspicious glance at Fia.
“All that matters is that we will not be caught unaware,” Corwin said. “I will alert the gatehouse and rouse the men who catch what sleep they can and wake the village as well.”
Corwin ran off.
“Where is Worth?” Varrick asked.
“Last time I saw him, he was here in the Great Hall,” Argus said, perplexed. “I suppose he went to the warriors’ quarters to sleep. Why do you ask?”
“How is it that a troop of warriors can near the castle with us not knowing it until it is too late?” Varrick asked.
“Damn,” Argus muttered. “Worth betrayed us and told them where all the sentinels were posted. That means we already lost men. Worth is going to suffer for this.”
“We need to find him before he can leave us more vulnerable,” Varrick said. “Get Marsh to help you and don’t let anyone else know. If news spreads and he hears it, he won’t show himself, and get the women and children into the keep.”
Merry rushed in, her hands busy braiding her hair. “The news spreads, my lord, I will prepare the Great Hall to receive the women and children.”
He nodded at Merry and turned to his wife. “You are not to go anyplace. You are to remain here.”
“The wounded will need me,” Fia said.
His arms went around her to hug her tight and whisper, “I need you.”
“As I do you, but you fight, and I heal and there is no changing that. Besides, you will not let them breach the castle walls and they will learn soon enough that they cannot defeat the legendary Highlander.”
The hell hounds’ howls sounded so close it was as if they had breached the castle walls.