Bride of Ice
Page 35
“But Archie…”
She shook her head. “Was never capable.”
It took an instant for him to understand and digest this news. When he finally accepted it, he nodded in wonder.
“The babe is ours,” she assured him.
Awestruck, he gazed at her rounded abdomen. “Ours,” he echoed.
She lifted her face, and he rewarded her with kisses. Grateful kisses that began innocently enough, but became more and more fervent and passion-filled. Desire rose in her again, demanding satisfaction.
Once more, they journeyed skyward, sailing above the clouds to steal a glimpse of Valhalla, and then returned to earth, careful to dodge the lethal edge of the claymore sharing the bed with them.
The candles burned low as Colban’s breathing slowed and grew deeper. Hallie, lulled by the sound, closed her eyes and snuggled into the crook of his arm.
“So much has happened in the last year,” she marveled.
“Mm,” he agreed. “Scotland has crowned a new king.”
“My cousin has wed a Highland laird and has a castle of her own.”
“Morgan’s gained a dotin’ mother for his son.”
“You’ve become a master of the longsword,” she said, “and Grand Champion of the first Creagor tournament.”
She could see her praise pleased him. But he replied, “And what about ye? Ye’ve been wed and widowed and wed again.”
“Ours was a beautiful wedding,” she mused.
“Especially the butterflies.”
Naturally that would be what Colban liked most. Unbeknownst to their parents, Ian had rolled his model trebuchet atop the wall walk and loaded it with pieces of colorful parchment. After they’d recited their vows on the steps of the chapel, he’d fired it over the crowd, where it released dozens of parchment butterflies that twirled and fluttered down above their heads.
Hallie sighed. “I wish Feiyan could have been there.”
“Where do ye suppose she’s gone?”
Hallie shook her head. “No one’s seen her since the tournament, since she slipped away after that warrior.”
“I can’t believe she went off alone.”
“No one could have followed her. She has a habit of…vanishing.”
“I hope she’s all right. That savage wasn’t right in the head.”
“She’ll be fine,” Hallie assured him, though she couldn’t be certain about that. Feiyan was clever, sly, and elusive. But she was on her own, facing a foe twice her size and as full of murderous rage as a bull.
“Well,” Colban said, “I suppose she is a warrior daughter of Rivenloch.”
At that moment, the babe inside her kicked, and Hallie gasped. She seized Colban’s hand and placed it over her belly.
Colban grinned. “It seems we may have our own warrior daughter.”
Hallie smiled back. She wouldn’t know for several weeks whether the babe was a lad or a lass. But one thing she knew for certain. As she gazed at the man who had once been her Highland hostage, the man who was now her beloved husband, watching his soft brown eyes twinkle with fatherly pride, the Rivenloch rallying cry had never seemed so true or so fitting.
Amor vincit omnia.
Love conquers all.
Coming soon...
BRIDE OF MIST
The Warrior Daughters of Rivenloch
Book 3
Thank You for Reading My Book!
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More Books by Glynnis Campbell
The Warrior Maids of Rivenloch
The Shipwreck (novella)
A Yuletide Kiss (short story)
Lady Danger
Captive Heart
Knight’s Prize
The Warrior Daughters of Rivenloch
The Storming (novella)
A Rivenloch Christmas (short story)
Bride of Fire
Bride of Ice
Bride of Mist
The Knights of de Ware
The Handfasting (novella)
My Champion
My Warrior
My Hero
Medieval Outlaws
The Reiver (novella)
Danger’s Kiss
Passion’s Exile
Desire’s Ransom
The Scottish Lasses
The Outcast (novella)
MacFarland’s Lass
MacAdam’s Lass
MacKenzie’s Lass
The California Legends
The Stowaway (novella)
Native Gold
Native Wolf
Native Hawk
Dedication
For my dear readers,
who have been so patient
while we’ve all endured
the hardships and heartbreak
of this pandemic.
May this book take you on an adventure
long ago and far away!
Acknowledgments
A heartfelt shout-out to my team…
Amy, Kirby, and Abby
who take the ball and run with it
Jill
who adds enthusiasm to every task
Mel, David, Nicholas, Alessandra, Erica, and Skye
for their marketing brilliance
The Jewels of Historical Romance
who are always full of advice and support
My family
who respects my writing time, even in lockdown
Jeri Ryan and Justin Hartley
for their inspiration
About Glynnis Campbell
I’m a USA Today bestselling author of swashbuckling action-adventure historical romances, mostly set in Scotland, with more than 20 award-winning books published in six languages.
But before my role as a medieval matchmaker, I sang in The Pinups, an all-girl band on CBS Records, and provided voices for the MTV animated series The Maxx, Blizzard’s Diablo and Starcraft video games, and Star Wars audiobooks.
I’m the wife of a rock star (if you want to know which one, contact me) and the mother of two young adults. I do my best writing on cruise ships, in Scottish castles, on my husband’s tour bus, and at home in my sunny southern California garden.
I love transporting readers to a place where the bold heroes have endearing flaws, the women are stronger than they look, the land is lush and untamed, and chivalry is alive and well!
I’m always delighted to hear from my readers, so please feel free to email me at glynnis@glynnis.net. And if you’re a super-fan who would like to join my inner circle, sign up to be part of Glynnis Campbell’s Readers Clan on Facebook, where you’ll get glimpses behind the scenes, sneak peeks of works-in-progress, and extra special surprises!
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