Pledged to a Highlander (Highland Promise Trilogy 1)

“Don’t ever speak so rudely to me again. Burnell was a good man.”

Royden grabbed her arm, near her shoulder, so tight, that she winced. “Raise your hand to me again and you’ll be sorry.”

Oria didn’t care that he looked ready to kill, she retaliated, “Speak to me the way you did again and you’ll be sorry.” She went to yank her arm away and couldn’t budge it.

“You see and feel my strength, woman. Do not anger me.” He shoved her away from him and ordered, “Get back to the keep now.”

Oria thought to defy him, her anger raging but she held her tongue and rushed past him, stopping and turning for a moment. “Burnell did something you didn’t do. He kept me safe.” She turned and ran, tears rushing to her eyes.

Royden felt her words like a punch to his gut that almost took him to the ground. She was right. He hadn’t kept her safe when he had promised her he would. He couldn’t blame her for feeling that way when he felt that way himself and had for the past five years. What he couldn’t understand was how Burnell, a seven ten and five years old man could keep her safe when he hadn’t been able to.

Chapter 6

“She’s barely eaten in three days and has barely spoken to anyone,” Bethany said, wringing her hands with worry.

Royden rubbed his chin, having grown concerned about his wife himself. He’d seen her only once in the last three days and she hadn’t even looked his way. Their last encounter had taken a toll on them both. He had berated himself endlessly for having said what he did to her. He’d been wrong, so wrong, especially at such a vulnerable moment. He felt like an arse, but the words were out and he couldn’t take them back.

It couldn’t go on like this. They were husband and wife and nothing was going to change that, and he didn’t want it to. They had to find a way to get along. But would the pain of the past allow them to do that?

“Where is she now?” Royden asked, rising out of the chair in his solar and going to stand by the hearth, a fire blazing in it to chase away the chill of the damp day.

“In her room, the heavy rain keeps everyone inside today,” Bethany said. “Her breakfast has gone untouched and she didn’t eat supper last night.”

“Send her to me,” Royden ordered and saw that Bethany hesitated.

“You object to my order?” he asked.

Bethany sighed. “I will do as you say, but first I have something to say.”

Royden nodded permission for her to continue.

“You have both been hurt, but have survived. Don’t let that hurt defeat you. Your love for each other is stronger than that.”

“Is it?” Royden asked as if he truly needed an answer.

“Maybe that’s something you both need to find out before you destroy a love that hasn’t been given a chance,” Bethany said and turned to leave.

“Bethany,” he said and she turned. “Tell my wife if she doesn’t come here to me in the solar, then I will come to her bedchamber.”

Bethany nodded and left the room with a slight shake of her head.

Oria might defy his summons, but threatening to come to her bedchamber—a place he doubted he was welcome—would have her thinking twice.

After several minutes passed, Royden thought she did intend to defy him, but then a soft rap sounded at the door.

“Enter, Oria,” he called out.

Oria entered, Bethany lingering in the background.

“Bethany, bring some food,” Royden ordered.

“Aye, sir,” Bethany said, a quick smile surfacing before she hurried off.

“Sit,” he said, pointing to a chair near the fire and waited until she sat before he took a seat in a chair not far from hers.

Two days of not seeing her and he was surprised by the shadows under her eyes. She looked as if she hadn’t slept or she hadn’t slept well. Her soft green eyes weren’t as vibrant as they usually were, but her soft blonde hair was beautiful the way it fell in waves over her shoulders and on her chest. He’d forgotten how much he loved when she let her hair fall free.

“I owe you an apology,” Oria said.

Royden hadn’t expected that from her and if anyone owed an apology, he did—for everything. She spoke before he could stop her.

“I let my anger get the better of me and said something that was purposely meant to hurt you but was not the truth. You kept me as safe as you could that day. You fought bravely protecting not only me but the whole clan. I was proud of you then and I still am. And I am proud to be your wife. I hope you can forgive me.”

He was stunned by her apology, though more stunned that she was proud of him and proud to be his wife. “It is me who owes you the apology. It is unforgiveable what I said to you. I can blame it on my own anger, but I’m not even sure from where that anger came.”