Highlander Oath of the Beast (Highland Promise Trilogy 3)

Her mouth fell open as he walked away. He couldn’t mean that. He couldn’t ever love her. Or did she fear she’d be foolish enough to fall in love with him?

“I’m going to beat him senseless,” Arran said, seeing his sister’s bruised face.

“Wolf didn’t beat me, Arran,” Raven said, sitting in the Great Hall with Purity and hugging a tankard of hot cider in her cold hands. She was grateful that Princess, Purity’s large dog, had decided to lean her big warm body against her leg. The ride here had chilled her to the bone.

“Then how did you get those bruises?” Arran demanded.

“You need to know those responsible were sent by Brynjar,” she said and reluctantly told him the rest.

Arran clenched his hands. “I’m going to put an end to that evil man and I’m still going to beat Wolf for failing to keep you safe. And I don’t care if your men came with you. He shouldn’t have let you come here with the amount of snow that covers the land.”

“I didn’t let her. She snuck away.”

Raven turned along with her brother, Purity, and her men, who sat warming themselves at another table near the hearth, to see her husband standing in the entrance that led from the kitchen into the Great Hall. He was swathed in furs and leather with a battle axe at his side and a scowl on his face that made him appear a mighty Northman ready to plunder and conquer.

“She also didn’t obey me when I went to trap four of Brynjar’s men yesterday. She and her men beat me to it.”

“You didn’t!” Arran said, turning a furious glare on his sister. “Whatever is the matter with you?”

Purity was about to defend her friend when she saw Raven’s men cringing and shaking their heads. She held her tongue and was glad she did.

Raven jumped to her feet. “ENOUGH! I am a grown woman, not a child to be scolded.”

Arran bolted to his feet and yelled, “THEN ACT LIKE ONE.”

Wolf was at her side in an instant, his voice a loud command. “DON’T EVER RAISE YOUR VOICE TO MY WIFE.” He turned a sharp glare on Raven when he saw her ready to speak. “And don’t tell me you can defend yourself. I am well aware that you can, but that doesn’t mean I will leave you to do it alone.”

Purity stood. “Raven and I should have some time alone. You two enjoy some food and drink.” She hurried around the table to Raven and with an arm around her urged her out of the room and up the stairs to her small solar, relieved neither men stopped them.

King, Purity’s cat, followed them and parked himself in her lap once she sat. “Do you want to tell me what truly troubles you?”

Raven stared at the flames in the hearth. “I don’t know how to be a wife.”

“Your sister is maddening. She never obeys me and does as she will,” Wolf complained before downing a good portion of ale.

“Raven has always done what she pleased, I warned my father time and again to curtail her foolish behavior.” Arran shook his head. “He spoiled her. Let her do whatever she wanted and now she’s grown into—”

“A woman brave and selfless enough to set you free,” Clive said, sending both men an evil look. “A woman who leads us with skill and courage. A woman who has survived death twice and saved all our arses more than once. A woman who went hungry more times than she should have and had to survive the cold too often. A woman who lives honorably and loves fiercely. And you,” —Clive gave a hasty nod to Arran— “don’t deserve to have her as a sister.” He turned another evil glare on Wolf. “And you certainly don’t deserve to have her as your wife.”

“What do you mean she almost died twice?” Arran asked, worry creasing his brow.

“She wouldn’t want me saying anything. “You want to know, then ask her yourself,” Clive said and took a swig of ale.

Fyn offered a clue with his remark. “Raven fiercely protects those she cares for.”

It was obvious to Wolf and he could see from the way Arran’s brow went up that he understood as well. Raven had suffered near fatal wounds protecting her men and somewhere the scars he had yet to see on her body would tell the tale.

George added his own words as well. “Raven has been free for the last five years. What do you expect her to do when you want to replace that freedom with a cage?”

“I don’t know how to be a wife either,” Purity said with a laugh.

“You certainly make it appear as you do.”

“It helps that Arran and I love each other. I used to dread the prospect of my father arranging a marriage for me. All I could think about was what would I do if I didn’t like the man. It was a thought I was told never to question. I was to accept whatever man my father chose, even if he was the cruelest man in the world. It was why all those years ago I begged your brother to wed me. I knew Arran would not treat me cruelly, as many did because of my deformed hand. But I know now that a marriage is much better when a husband and wife have a mutual love and respect for each other.”