Chapter 14 #2
Rhys turned to Pitt as they stopped not far from her. “Bring me those two fools who were supposed to be sure she remained in her room.”
Pitt nodded and went to do as Rhys bid.
“It was not their fault,” Heather said as she approached her husband.”
“You escaped them. They should have stopped you and that means they did not do as ordered,” Rhys said. His brow arched as his eyes went to her feet. “You are barefoot.”
“You took my boots and shoes.”
“And I see it was for naught.”
Heather stopped in front of him, holding out her wrists. “I would rather be shackled to you than confined to our bedchamber all day.”
He pushed her wrists down and brought his face close to hers. “And I would rather be confined to our bedchamber all day with you shackled to me.” He paused before saying, “You took a sharp blow to your head last night. You need time to heal.”
She heard the sincerity in his strong voice and saw the concern in his dark eyes and her heart swelled with joy once again.
This was Quinn. Her Quinn. She was certain of it, though she would give no clue that she knew.
“I am attending to my healing the best way I know how. The sun and its warmth would do far more to heal me than the confines of our bedchamber.”
“You disobey me again, wife?” he whispered close to her lips.
Heather brought her lips to where they were almost touching his. “I missed you.”
Her soft, sincere words punched at his heart and damn if he did not want to reach out and slam her against him while he devoured her lips in a kiss.
She aroused him much too easily and with her still needing to heal, he took no chances.
..he stepped away from her. “You will remain by my side without question.” He realized then what he had done.
He had committed himself to a day of torture.
She felt his absence as soon as he stepped away from her, though he was not that far a distance from her, and she said quickly. “I will.”
Rhys turned, seeing Pitt approach with the two warriors in tow. He cast a quick look to his wife. “Wait here.” He walked to meet Pitt.
“It would seem your wife had some help,” Pitt said as the two warriors stood off to the side until summoned.
“Nessa,” Rhys said. “Have you befriended her yet?”
“She pays me no heed and keeps her distance as if I was diseased.”
A smile played at Rhys’ lips. “A woman who does not fancy you...that is unusual.”
“And something I intend to rectify. I will have her talking with me soon enough.”
“See that you do. We need to find who among us does not belong.” He gave a nod to the two warriors, and they stepped forward, neither offering a word.
He had chosen the two because they had been with him since almost the beginning, and he knew their history. They were good, worthy men and he could see that they were upset over their failure to see successfully to their task.
“You both will be assigned a month’s extra perimeter duty.”
Both men appeared surprised by the light punishment.
“It would seem my wife has learned some of the ghost warriors’ skills.”
“Lady Heather is light and fast on her feet like us,” the tall, slim one said with admiration.
“See that this does not happen again,” Rhys said in a tone that had both men bowing their heads.
He dismissed them and saw that Pitt was staring at his wife who had gone to sit on a stump near the edge of the woods and appeared to be talking to a squirrel a short distance from her.
“She has much courage,” Pitt said.
“She will need it for what she will face being my wife.”
“I believe Lady Heather is up to the task,” Pitt said, “And I should be up to mine. I go to speak with Nessa.”
“Have her bring Heather her boots. You know where I had them put.”
“I do, but I see that did not stop her.” Pitt chuckled again and was gone before Rhys could admonish him for it.
Rhys stood watching his wife. The squirrel inched ever closer to the green leaf Heather held in her hand, though he wondered if it was her soft voice urging him to take the food that the animal found more appealing.
A few more steps and the squirrel snatched it from her hand, though he did not run off with it.
He sat beside her and munched on the leaf while Heather continued to talk to him.
Rhys shook his head as he approached and the squirrel hurried off as he drew near, running up a tree with his leaf.
Heather went to stand but Rhys said, “Stay as you are.” He hunched down in front of her. “Tell me you feel well enough to be about.”
She smiled, glancing over his face and seeing why she had not recognized him when she had first laid eyes on him.
The faint lines around his eyes, the slight scrunch of his brow from frowning so often, the lack of a smile and the fullness of his face from the passing years, concealed the man she knew and loved.
But he was there, she knew he was there and somehow, someway she would get him to reveal himself.
“I feel good. I have a bit of pain now and then, and I will acknowledge if I do too much and if I am in need of rest.”
“And you give me your word on this?”
“I do,” she said and reached out to rest her hand on his arm, remembering the many times she had done just that while they walked, talked, and laughed. “Besides, I will be with you. What could happen?”
Rhys did not want to think about that, since the prospects would be far too terrifying. And the thought that he would fail to protect her was even more terrifying. Never, ever, would he let that happen. As he stood, he took her hand and she stood along with him.
Once on her feet, she slipped her arm around his and held tight. She intended to make sure she kept him close. “I want to thank you for being so tolerant of me last night. I felt safe with you close.”
“I will not deny you when you need me. I will always be there for you.”
Heather felt her stomach clench. Quinn had said those words to her before he knew he would be leaving. He had never intended to leave her, but things do not always go as wished.
They walked along slowly. “Tell me where you heard of the secret passage.”
She did not want to implicate Nessa and have her subjected to endless questions, but she also wanted to be honest with her husband, so she said, “I believe it was a servant who made mention of hearing of it. Do you think that is how the intruder got into our bedchamber last night?”
“No, I heard the door open.”
“That is why you shoved me aside?”
“It was his light footfalls that let me know he did not want to be detected.”
“How could he have gotten into the keep with so many of your men keeping watch?” she asked. “And why do these men who smear their faces with grime chase after you?”
“I would tell you it is nothing you need to concern yourself with, but I know that would mean little to someone as inquisitive as you.”
She laughed softly. “See you known me well already.” Her laughter faded along with her smile. “Who are these men who want to harm you?”
“Old enemies and as you saw for yourself very dangerous ones. So it would be very wise of you to finally obey me. Is that all you know of the secret passage?”
Heather hesitated, knowing that Seamus would not be forthcoming to the Dragon and not knowing what the Dragon would do if the old man was not.
“What causes you to pause?”
What caused her to pause? While he was the Dark Dragon, he was also Quinn and Quinn would never harm an old man. But he was a changed man, could she be so sure? In her heart, she felt she could. “I know of an old man who may know something, but he does not trust the Dragon or his men.”
Rhys did not bother to ask her how she knew all this, he already knew. She had a kind soul. People saw it in her caring ways and her generous smile. They trusted her, were drawn to her, felt comfortable around her, and so they spoke openly with her.
“He would trust you,” Rhys said.
“I believe he would.”
“Do you feel well enough to speak with him now?”
“I do, and I am eager to speak with him and see what he knows, for I do not want another intruder interrupting us in our bedchamber.”
“That I agree with,” Rhys said, “Shall we go find him?”
“I would like that.”
And he liked that they would be spending the day together. He could make certain she stayed safe that way and besides he wanted her no other place than by his side.