Chapter 17 #2
If her breathing was not so labored, she would tell him that he could do that and more to her as often as he liked.
Actually, she would not mind if they went to their bedchamber right now, for she had waited far too long to make love with the man she loved.
For now, she just let herself enjoy all the little sensations that continued to linger in her body.
Rhys loved feeling the last of her climax ripple through her and that she rested her head on his shoulder without thought as if it was most natural. He wanted her at ease with him, wanted her to enjoy his touch, to look forward to it.
He closed his eyes against the thought that he refused to admit and that constantly haunted him. He wanted her to love him. The problem was… could he give her the love she deserved?
Her stomach rumbled, interrupting both their thoughts.
“You are hungry,” Rhys said, easing her back in the chair.
Her stomach may have grumbled, but it was the hunger that had lain dormant for so long that needed feeding. And she was not quite sure how much it would take to satisfy it.
Rhys stood and held his hand out to her. “The kitchen should be stirring by now. I will have them prepare something for us.”
Heather was pleased that her husband would share the morning meal with her and took his hand to walk with him to the Great Hall.
She not only wanted to spend more time with him, she also was looking forward to the next time they would be intimate.
And if she could hasten that moment, she happily would.
Sunrise broke just a few moments after they were seated in the Great Hall and food soon found its way to their table.
They had just begun their meal when Pitt approached, a frown on his handsome face, though when his eye caught sight of Nessa he smiled at her.
Nessa turned away, ignoring him and Pitt’s frown returned.
“Sit, and eat,” Rhys ordered.
Pitt shook his head. “We found the guard. He took a knot to the back of his head and was trussed up tightly. He remembers nothing, though he has been questioned endlessly. There is another problem.”
“When is there ever not a problem?” Rhys said, sounding as if he had expected it.
“It seems the body that was to be disposed of is gone,” Pitt said.
Heather felt her stomach clench and she suddenly felt her appetite wane, though not her courage. She looked to her husband. “Tell me the body you speak of is not Aggie.”
“Though it does not concern you, wife, it is not Aggie we speak of.”
“Then who?” Heather asked.
“Again, it is not your concern.”
Heather thought to argue, but it would serve no purpose. Her husband would not tell her, but one way or another she would find out.
Fife hurried into the hall, his eyes darting to Nessa and wide smiles were exchanged between them before he solemnly faced the Dragon. The young warrior’s eyes went to Heather and back at the Dragon’s several times.
Rhys stood and walked around the dais and over to the large stone hearth, Pitt and Fife following. The three men talked in whispers.
When Rhys walked back to the dais, he said, “Remain in the keep while I see to this.” He turned and walked out of the room, expecting her to obey.
Fife followed, though slowed his steps as he neared Nessa. He took a moment to stop and speak with her before hurrying after the Dragon.
Nessa in turn hurried to Heather. “Fife says something has been found in the barn, but he claims it is too gruesome to tell me what it is. I wonder if the wolf has struck again.”
Knowing a wolf had not been responsible for the death of the two warriors got Heather wondering what had happened. “The wolf has not been caught yet?” she asked.
“There has been no word of his capture. If there was, my lady, there would be a celebration. And now with this,” —Nessa shook her head— “everyone will make sure their loved ones are accounted for while wondering what secret the barn holds this time.”
Nessa took off to attend to her duties and Heather sat alone at the dais with much on her mind.
She wished her sisters were here so she could talk with them.
She missed the many times they would sit and talk for hours.
They never lacked for conversation, for there was always something for them to share.
She would have liked to confide her suspicions about the Dragon to them.
They would keep her secret, even advise her on what to do.
They would not think her foolish or laugh at her; they would be happy for her.
Tears tickled at her eyes and she sniffled as she brushed them away with her hand. She would see her sisters soon. At least she hoped she would.
Two warriors entered the room, the taller warrior leading the red-haired warrior to the hearth to be seated.
The taller warrior gave the other warrior’s shoulder a squeeze as he gave a shout for a servant to bring food and drink.
He left once the food was brought and the warrior who remained ate sparingly, his hand going often to the back of his head.
Heather rose and walked over to him. “May I join you?”
He went to jump up and winced, his hand rushing to the back of his head.
“Please stay seated,” she said with a gentle smile and touched the back of her head in empathy. “I know how you are feeling, and sudden moves can be painful.” She sat, asking as she did, “What is your name.”
“Edward and I am so sorry, my lady.”
“Whatever for?”
“I failed to protect you,” he said as if it was the worst thing possible.
“It happens. You were caught unaware.”
“A ghost warrior is never caught unaware and if he is?” Edward shook his head slowly. “He has failed himself, his fellow warriors, and worst of all, the Dragon.”
“Perhaps the one who struck you was simply more skilled at not being heard or seen.”
“I have given that possibility thought, for I had remained alert the whole time I was outside your door, and I heard or saw nothing.”
“I heard something,” she said, and his eyes brightened. “It was a thud and now when I think on it, I believe what followed was you being dragged away.”
“I do not know where the culprit could have come from, though there are many shadows that haunt that area.” He rubbed the side of his head.
“I remember hearing a sound overhead and I looked up and listened. I could not tell where the sound came from, then it stopped, but I continued to listen and that was the last I remember.”
“You did well, Edward. You have nothing to be sorry for and I would have you guard me again without any concern.”
“Thank you, my lady, you are most kind.”
“Now you must eat, rest, and heal so you may resume your duties as my guard.”
“I would like that, but I do not think the Dragon will permit it.”
“We shall see, Edward,” she said with a smile and left him to his meal.
Heather did not listen for footfalls following her up the stairs, but she did watch to see if any shadows followed her.
She had learned a few of the ghost warriors’ skills after being abducted and held by them until her escape.
She had also learned to tread more lightly, having watched how the ghost warriors walked without making a sound.
Their steps were precise and light and barely left a footprint in their wake.
Her husband’s skills, though, far surpassed his warriors.
She never heard him approach and she never saw anyone who could blend with the darkness as if he was born to it like he could.
She wondered where he had learned such skills, but most of all she wondered why it had taken him so long to return to her.
She reached the upper floor without realizing it and that was one thing she needed to learn—not to let her mind wander, but to remain focused on her surroundings. Now that she was here, she might as well explore, but perhaps that had been her intentions all along.
With light steps, she approached the room that had been Mary’s solar, the door ajar.
She pushed at the door and it squeaked as it yawned open, appearing like a giant mouth ready to swallow her.
She intended to look for the secret passage here, though in all honesty it was her mum that brought her here.
After Seamus had told her that her mum had spent time here with Mary McComb, she wanted to come here and sit where her mum had once sat and see if the sound of her mum’s soft voice or her sweet scent would return to her.
Through the years the few memories she had of her mum had faded and it felt as if she had lost her all over again.
She wanted those memories back and she hoped to regain them in this room.
Heather stepped into the room and shadows seemed to reach out to her, beckoning her forward.
Darkness never appealed to her, though she was never afraid of it, but this room had been left to the darkness too long.
She skirted her way around the chairs, tables, and chests to reach the tapestry that hung on the wall and when she yanked it back, she smiled.
She grabbed the edge of the large tapestry and gave it several hard yanks until she jumped back as it fell to the floor revealing a window that flooded the room with light.
She turned with a flourish eager to inspect the room and stopped abruptly.
Her breath caught on a gasp that she forced silent when seeing a shadow slither past the open door.