Highlander Oath of the Beast (Highland Promise Trilogy 3)

“How does Brother Noble do?” Clive asked, worry deepening the wrinkles at the corner of his eyes.

“His missions are at an end. He will return to the monastery very soon and live out his remaining days there.”

“It’s for the best,” Clive said with a nod. “He’s placed himself in danger more than need be.” He cleared his throat. “I thought you quite mad when you agreed to this union with the Beast, but it turned out to be the best thing for all of us.”

“I wonder if the one who is responsible for it was hoping it would be just that, best for all.”

“Have you any clue as to who it might be?” Clive asked.

“We know who it wasn’t,” Raven said. “Our king and Wolf’s king continue to squabble and have no time to care what happens between him and me.”

“But you were led to believe otherwise as was Wolf. Who would have the boldness to do such a thing?” Clive asked.

“I don’t know, but I plan to find out no matter how long it takes me.”

Raven stood just inside the door of the room where Oria had slept for the five years they’d all been separated. It was more a cell than a room. She didn’t know how Oria had managed, though she had told Raven there were many nights she had slept in the Great Hall by the hearth to keep warm.

After Arran and Wolf came to fetch Clive to go speak with Gorm and make them aware of what plans Wolf had made, she had made her way to the keep. Brod had accompanied her and she had left him in the Great Hall to talk with Ida.

Raven had recalled Oria telling her about the window in the room and how looking out it, you could see farther than from any other place in the keep. She had wanted to see for herself. Now that she was here, it troubled her to see that Oria had been confined to this small space each night. Raven had been used to the sky as her roof more often than not and would have gone mad in such a confined space.

“What are you doing here?”

Raven jumped and swerved around to face her husband. “You startled me.” Her brow having gone wide. “Did you follow me?”

“I did,” he admitted and stepped toward her.

She instinctively stepped back, the room so small, she didn’t think there would be enough space for them both. His overpowering presence took up far too much space. “You were to talk with Clive and Arran.”

“Gorm has that well in hand and you had me curious as to why you came here when it wouldn’t hurt you to rest some.”

“I’ve had more than enough rest and I recalled something Oria had told me about this room, which I wished to see for myself.” She went to the window, drawing back the tapestry, and realizing she would have to go up on her toes to see out, grabbed the lone chair and moved it under the window. Her husband’s hands were at her waist when she went to climb up on it and he swung her up to stand on it.

Wolf’s arm went around her waist to keep a good hold on her once she stood steady on the chair, then he moved to take a look out the window along with her. Though his wife was far from short, he possessed the extra height needed to see out the window without a problem, and he knew what she would see.

“Are they your men?” she asked, seeing the sizeable troop camped in the distance, the area open for all to see from this height, though not from below.

“They are,” he confirmed. “I brought a large contingent with me, though not all will remain. Some will return home.”

“They’ve built shelters. It looks like a small village.”

“Enough shelters for warmth, but permanent building will start in the spring. Crofts will be established as well as a small village.”

“They keep you informed as to who enters that area.”

“They do and their presence provides added protection for the clan,” he said. “There has been no sighting of any of Brynjar’s warriors in that area.”

“He must know you came with such a large troop of warriors,” Raven said, continuing to stare out the window.

“I would imagine he does.”

“Yet he comes here anyway,” Raven said, shaking her head, since it made no sense to her.

She looked down at her husband and was caught off guard by the intensity of his dark eyes. Passion flared in them but so did love so vibrant that it overwhelmed her.

With his hands snug at her waist, he swung her off the chair and laid her down on the narrow bed. He waited a brief moment, staring down at her, and she worried over his decision since obviously his desire warred with his concern for her wound.