Highlander Oath of the Beast (Highland Promise Trilogy 3)
Chapter 3
Raven sat in Royden’s solar, once her da’s domain, joining him, Arran, and their da at the round table that sat six. Her da had conducted meetings here where battles had been plotted, victories and defeats discussed, and problems solved as best they could be. She hadn’t been welcome here when young, of course, but age wouldn’t have mattered anyway since she was a female and not privy to such conversations. It made no difference to her since she’d sneak, hiding herself in the shadows outside the door, and listen to all the talk, learning about men and battle, and the lies often told. The ensuing years had taught her even more and made her realize there were few she could trust, her family and her crew being the exception.
“Have your say, for I will not linger long here,” she said once they were all seated. “I wish to have time with Oria and Purity before Wolf returns.”
Arran didn’t waste a minute. He rested his arms on the table and leaned in, glaring at her. “Whatever possessed you to agree to such a horrendous bargain?”
She mimicked him, placing her arms on the table and leaning toward him with a glare of her own. “You scold me for rescuing you?”
“You’ve grown even more strong-headed,” Arran accused.
“How do you think I survived?”
Parlan laid a gentle hand on his daughter’s arm. “And I’m grateful that you did, but I worry how you will survive a marriage where only hatred and no love exists.”
“Da is right, Raven. As grateful as I am, and I know Arran is as well, you freed us by imprisoning yourself. Unless—is there possibly an eventual way out of the marriage?” Royden asked with a shred of hope.
“Only through death,” she said.
Arran looked to Royden. “That could be arranged.”
“Wolf’s death would only bring retaliation and it would be a never-ending battle with both sides losing,” Raven warned. “This is done. I am his wife and he my husband, and I will make the most of my situation just as I learned to do five years ago.”
“How bad was it?” Arran asked, concern arching his brow.
“At first more frightening than anything, realizing that Da might die and Royden as well after seeing his hand severed. I wasn’t even sure if Oria would survive after seeing her attacked and her face slashed. And I worried if Purity would be strong enough to do what she needed to do. In the end, I feared there might be only you and me left, Arran.” She grinned wide. “And that really terrified me.”
Arran returned the grin, but said, “I would have never stopped searching for you. But you didn’t answer my question. How bad was it for you?”
Raven sat back in her chair, her glance appearing to drift off for a few moments. When her glance returned to Arran, she spoke without an ounce of emotion. “It was my worst nightmare come true and it took me time to wake from it and forge ahead.” When she saw Arran ready to ask her more, she stopped him. “Don’t ask me anymore, Arran. It’s in the past and that’s where I want it to stay. Now, if we’re done, I would like to speak with Da alone before I go talk with Oria and Purity.”
“We’re not done talking,” Arran said as he stood. “But it can wait for another time since we expect you to visit often and we will be visiting you frequently.”
Royden joined in, agreeing. “Arran’s right. We will see you often to make sure you stay well and that Wolf is treating you good. We will keep you safe this time, Raven.”
“I have no doubt you will,” Raven said, though she wouldn’t need them to do so. She had learned to keep herself safe.
Parlan took his daughter’s hand as the door closed behind his sons. “You would tell me if there was anything I needed to know?”
“There is far more to this agreement than anyone knows and it goes far beyond Wolf and me,” she said, hoping her da understood without her saying more.
“You are bound by silence,” he whispered.
Raven nodded and hoped again he would see the plea in her eyes.
“I will ask no more of you and keep my lips tight to others about this, Raven, but I know you. You grow even more relentless and tenacious when…” Her da searched for words and Raven provided them.
“Kept ignorant.”
“Some people prefer ignorance,” her da argued.
“Then they are fools and I am not a fool, Da.”
“No, you certainly aren’t, Raven. I admire and respect the strong, courageous woman you’ve become in spite of what you have had to endure.”
“It is what I endured that made me that woman, Da.”
“I only wish…” He shook his head, unable to finish, tears clouding his eyes.
No tears filled Raven’s eyes. She hadn’t allowed herself to cry in a long time. “I know, Da, I wished once too, until I realized if I wanted that wish to come true I needed to do something about it. That wish finally came true. I’m here now with you and my family.”