Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 95196 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 476(@200wpm)___ 381(@250wpm)___ 317(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 95196 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 476(@200wpm)___ 381(@250wpm)___ 317(@300wpm)
Before someone had a change of heart, I rushed the little girl through the opening. We entered an astonishingly wide hallway dimly lit by hanging LEDs. Unfortunately, Buzz and Ponytail stuck with us.
Mirren and I scaled a staircase, remaining hand in hand. Oh wow. There were multiple floors inside the wall. One contained barracks, another housed a training facility, and the third offered a common area where bare-chested men practiced their fighting stances.
When we reached the top, bright sunlight and a stronger breeze greeted us, whipping our hair about. Mirren released me to run ahead. Clutching her doll, she attempted to climb the railing. I gave chase, then lifted the girl and anchored her against my hip. She accepted my handling without protest, extending her toy in the air.
“Do you think the treatment is working?” she asked.
“Definitely.” I used my most serious tone. “Skye is breathing much better now. Look at the color in her cheeks.”
“Oh, yes, much better,” Mirren echoed, just as serious, and I almost laughed.
Soldiers bowed their heads in deference as they marched past us. A stark contrast to the treatment I was accustomed to receiving.
I scanned the land below, my mind whirling. How to get from here to there without being spotted? The guards had a perfect view of absolutely everything. Each opening and window, and the entire courtyard. There was no path to evade their notice.
Okay. So. This wasn’t what I’d hoped to find, but it was good to know. Unless a series of catacombs led underneath the wall, I’d have to leave the property with Callen’s knowledge, minus his presence. Or hidden in the back of a vehicle.
The underground channel had the highest likelihood of success. From my memory of history class, most castles possessed escape routes. Secret passages. Tonight I would slip my security detail and launch a search to see what I could find.
“My da is doin’ an excellent job of protectin’ us,” Mirren informed me.
“He is indeed,” I said, and carried her to the other side of the wall. A hilly forest and pasture stretched for miles. No buildings in sight. Hmm. Once I got past the barrier, I’d have a long trek to civilization. I would need provision.
Warm prickles danced over my nerve endings, and I frowned. Trouble itself seemed to waft through the air.
“All right,” I said, a tremor in my words. “Let’s head back.”
“Why?” a male voice asked behind me. “Are you afraid of being found out by your husband?”
I stiffened, my heart trading places with my stomach. No, no, no. I did not just hear Callen. Nope. He wasn’t here, witnessing my supposed crime.
Mirren gasped and squirmed to her feet. “Da! You’re alive, and so is Skye! I saved her!”
As she rushed off, I slowly pivoted. Yep. I’d heard him. He caught the little girl in his arms and lifted her to his chest.
“I’m so glad,” he said, kissing her temple while staring at me. Heat invaded every inch of me.
“You saved her?” I said to Mirren, needing a moment to center before I focused on our intruder.
“I hired you to doctor her.” The child shrugged, unconcerned, a mini-Callen in the making. “My decision, my victory.”
“Well, I can’t fault your logic.” My attention finally slid to the king. A conflicting rush of emotions hit me. Relief. He lived! Happiness! He was home! Frustration. There went my plans to look for secret passages and grill Mackenzie, Ponytail and Buzz for answers. Comfort. Only two days ago, this powerful man had kept me safe while a battle raged around us. Attraction. Hello, gorgeous.
Sunlight bathed him, highlighting dirt-streaked bronzed skin and wind-whipped hair. He wore a tank and gray sweatpants with narrow cuffs that stopped above his ankles. Practically male lingerie. Something August had refused to wear.
My heart thudded. How did Callen grime-up so good?
He continued to study me. “Hello, wife,” he said, his tone gruff.
“Hello.” I did my best to mask a cringe over my breathlessness. “You’re home early.”
“Aye.” His blank expression gave nothing away. No messing with his ring. Although, I sensed no annoyance or irritation. No anger, either. And he had called me “wife.” Something he’d only done during rare moments of camaraderie. Maybe he wasn’t upset about my visit to the wall?
“Things went well?” I wrung my fingers together.
“Yes,” he repeated, “things went well.” He gave Mirren’s temple another kiss, set her down, and let her walk Skye across the rail.
“What happened with Tavish?” Was he dead or not?
“I made my point.” Relish bubbled in a tone tinged with madness.
I gulped. “Did he survive your point?” If Tavish had died, so had my best opportunity to be myself again.
Aggression pulsed from Callen. “I’ll learn the answer to that as soon as my men finish going through the mountain rubble.”
Mountain rubble? Wait. Was he the one who’d caused the collapse Mackenzie and the other housekeepers discussed? My eyes rounded. The power such a feat required…