Pledged to a Highlander (Highland Promise Trilogy 1)

“I do recall him sending his regrets that he wouldn’t be able to attend,” Royden said.

“This had to have taken much planning and as I said, all the pieces moved into precise place, so that everything lined up perfectly,” Parlan said.

“And how could the pieces be moved if someone wasn’t inside helping maneuver them?” Royden asked.

The thought did not sit well with Oria that someone they all possibly trusted had joined forces with the enemy. “Who would be selfish enough to betray us all?”

Parlan raised his tankard. “A question when answered that could change the outcome of the game.”

Oria rolled from her back to her side and into her husband’s arms once he joined her in bed later that night. She rested her head on his shoulder and snuggled close to him.

“I didn’t think I would ever say this, but I’m too tired to make love tonight,” she said with a heavy sigh.

Her warm breath sent an enticing whisper along his neck, but he had known before he’d gotten into bed how tired she was. He had never seen her climb the stairs to their bedchamber as sluggishly as she had or seen her remove her garments with such painstaking slowness. She had worked hard finishing planting the seedlings for Wren, since she’d been called away to help several people. Tad had been singing her praises throughout the village, letting everyone know what a great healer Wren was. It had been enough for a few skeptics to let go of their doubt and seek her help.

After Oria had finished with that she had helped Wren clean the inside of the cottage. He’d been surprised to see her freshly washed when she sat for supper in the Great Hall and had learned she had helped the servants carry water to the tub she had them set up in Raven’s old room to bathe.

Halfway through supper her eyes were closing on her, so by the time supper was finished it was obvious she was far too exhausted to make love.

“We’re both tired,” he said, not wanting her to feel guilty. He felt her body rumble against him with laughter.

“You say one thing but your stirring shaft says another.”

“Ignore him,” Royden ordered.

She yawned, her eyes beginning to close. “I fear I have no choice but to do just that.”

Royden watched her slip into a peaceful slumber and feeling sleep creeping up on himself as well, fell asleep thinking how he’d stroke his wife gently and intimately awake in the morning.

Oria’s eyes sprang open, her naked body still snuggled tight against her husband’s. She didn’t know what woke her or how long she had been asleep. She peeked over his broad chest at the hearth and seeing that the fire burned boldly assumed it hadn’t been long. How was it then that she felt so awake?

She closed her eyes intending to return to sleep and after a while realized that sleep wasn’t forthcoming. With sleep eluding her, she laid there awake and her mind soon spun with endless thoughts and worries.

If Trevor served this man called the Beast, what did that portend? Did the Beast intend to make his home here in the Highlands as well? Could he be searching for Purity to wed her and take ownership of the Clan Macara?

Restless, Oria eased herself away from her husband and out of bed. A chill greeted her when she slipped out from under the blanket and she hurried her husband’s shirt over her head, it falling well past her knees. It warmed her and his scent, heavy upon it, made it feel like she was wrapped in his embrace. She went to the hearth and stood in front of it, so the heat would continue to keep her warm.

Her thoughts returned to what the future could hold for all of them if the Beast should make his way here and claim—what land? Would he search until he found Purity? Or was he the one who would lay claim to her deceased husband’s title and lands? But if he was a distant relative of Burnell’s, why would he have attacked this area? He would already have a title and land. And how would they protect themselves against him when they had failed to do so the last time?

Was this truly a game to play or a puzzle to solve? Perhaps a puzzle needed to be solved in order to play the game. She wished Raven was here. She was good at games and puzzles, always figuring things out before most others. But that was probably because she asked endless questions and didn’t stop until she had the answers.

Her head drooped, far too heavy with endless thoughts of things that would not be solved tonight or worries that would not help solve the problem. She should sleep. Her mind would be clearer in the morning and she could tackle her heavy thoughts then.