It would not be a chore to bed her—when necessary. But first there were things he needed to know.
Wolf reached for his tankard and swallowed the entire contents, easing the thirst that had plagued him. It was quickly refilled and he drank half the contents this time. He ate from the food offered, the flavor far better than he expected.
He caught his sister, Oria’s eye. She was a beauty, though opposite in coloring to Raven, her hair a honey blonde, her features soft, and she was shorter in height. It pained him to think of all the years they’d missed together, she having been abducted from their home when a mere baby and taken to Scotland and sold to William and Clare of the Clan MacGlennen. The couple hadn’t known she belonged to the Northmen and it had been a shock to him when he had discovered her here. Even though he had helped Royden save her life when she’d been taken captive by a man once loyal to him, she still didn’t seem to trust him or show any signs of truly accepting him as her brother.
“You feel well, Oria?” he asked, though she looked well enough.
“I do,” she said with a soft smile. “I am well and I am happy.” She turned a broader smile on Royden. “That is all due to the love I have for my wonderful husband.” She turned back to her brother, her smile fading. “That would not be so if he was to be taken from me.”
“Royden isn’t going anywhere,” Raven assured her and turned to face Wolf. “Your brother gave his word to honor the agreement. And I was told he is a man of his word.”
Wolf brought his face close to hers. “Unfortunately, your word couldn’t be proven as honorable, since you and your crew are nothing more than a band of thieves.”
Raven’s men shot to their feet before Royden and Arran could, and Wolf’s men did the same.
“Disparage her again and she’ll gladly make herself a widow, while we see to your men,” Clive warned and grinned at Wolf’s men, a little more than an arm’s length from their leader. “You’d never reach him in time. The knife she holds to his side will see to that.”
Wolf looked down, shocked to see the point of the blade nearly pressed to his side. He hadn’t even seen her move. “You better know how to use that, wife.”
“Trust me, I do,” she warned.
That her hand was steady and her startling blue eyes showed not an ounce of fear, told Wolf she’d use the weapon without pause. It annoyed him that he’d been caught off guard, and by his wife, and that she was skillful enough to see it done. He’d have to keep that in mind.
She raised her hand, signaling her men without taking her eyes off Wolf, and they sat. “I gave my word and I will honor it. Now you have proof of my word, since I could have easily killed you and between my men and my brothers your men wouldn’t have stood a chance.”
“My warriors are far more skilled then your men,” Wolf said.
“Then how is it that one of my men holds a knife to one of your warriors?” Raven asked with a smug grin.
All eyes turned to see Wolf’s warriors glancing around, except one. He stood stock still, anger flaming in his eyes.
“He’s under the table, holding a knife between my legs,” the warrior said.
Arran laughed, though it did nothing to ease the tension. “I think your warriors have met their match.”
“Brod,” Raven called out and by the time she turned her head, Brod was back at the table, slugging down a tankard of ale.
Her men laughed and sat, refilling Brod’s tankard when he was done and returning to enjoy their food.
With grime faces, Wolf’s men sat and quickly reached for their tankards.
“It is good your men show me their skills,” Wolf said, his words measured so as not to show his anger. “They will make me fine warriors.”
That got Raven’s men’s attention, though they held their tongues.
“My men will be no warriors of yours,” Raven warned. “My men stay my men. Or did you forget?”
“Forget?” Wolf’s brow scrunched, then went wide.
“He remembers,” she said with glee that sounded far too victorious.
Wolf nodded. “You had protection for them put into the agreement with the proposal you offered. They remain free of my dictate and free to stay with you.”
“That’s right,” Raven grinned and reminded. “And you are a man of your word, so you say.”
Wolf stood and his men stood with him.
“Taking your leave so soon?” Raven asked, her smile remaining victorious.
“I’ll return,” Wolf said and stepped around the table and grabbed his cloak.
“See you tomorrow,” Raven called out.
Wolf stopped and turned to glare at her. “You’ll see me tonight. I’m your husband and it’s your duty to share my bed—and that starts tonight. And since you are a woman of your word, I expect you will honor it.”
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 t
ime 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.”
Parlan hugged her and she held tight to him, happy to know this was the first of many hugs to come.
“What say we meet early tomorrow and share some time together before you must take your leave?” he asked, wiping away his tears.
“I’d love that, Da,” Raven said, wishing she had far more time with her da before she had to leave.
“Good, I will wait for you in the Great Hall and perhaps we’ll be able to catch the dawn of a new day together, a new start.”
“Aye, Da, a new start for us all.”
Raven sat wrapped in a blanket, her knees drawn up to her chin, in front of the hearth.
“Let me have another chair brought for you,” Oria said, leaning forward in her chair, ready to stand.
Raven shook her head. “No. I am good where I am, warm and content, and with friends I have sorely missed.”
Purity smiled, hugging the wool shawl draped over her shoulders tighter around her. “I am so thrilled that you have returned home.” Her smile withered. “Though I am disheartened at your plight, yet ever so grateful for what you’ve done for your brothers.”
“I feel as Purity does, forever grateful, yet upset with your situation,” Oria said.
“See the joy in it, for I do. I will be close, a short ride from both of you,” Raven said, trying to reassure them and possibly herself.
Purity’s smile grew again. “We’ll raise our bairns together.” She cringed, her smile quickly dying. “That was foolish of me. I didn’t think.”
Oria reached out and patted Purity’s arm. “You are not foolish and we will raise our bairns together.” She turned a gentle smile on Raven. “And we will be here for Raven if she has any questions or concerns about intimacy with her husband.”
“Forgive me, I can’t help but ask for I am concerned for you,” Purity said. “Do you fear coupling with the Beast?”
Raven chuckled. “It is he who should fear coupling with me. I’ll do my duty and get with child and then we are done. He can have whatever woman he wants to please his beastly ways.”
“It is such a shame that you will never know the joy of coupling with a man you love,” Purity said. “I yearn being with Arran, holding his hand, having his arms wrap around me, his every kiss tingles me senseless, and the pure joy of coupling with him leaves me breathless.”
“You really do love my brother,” Raven said, happy for Purity and Arran and a tad envious, never realizing how powerful love could be between a husband and wife.
“I feel the same,” Oria admitted. “Your brother was a changed man when he returned home, but what hadn’t changed and never will was his love for me and my love for him. Not a day goes by that I’m not grateful he’s home and we are wed. And like Purity, I yearn for the touch of his hand, his arm snug around me, his lips on mine, and the way we sleep wrapped around each other.”
Raven felt a catch in her chest. So that was love, a craving and a fulfilling of simple things, the touch of a hand, a comforting arm, the need of a kiss, and the desire to share intimacy. She had never known that and now never would and surprisingly, it saddened her.
“Perhaps Wolf will be a good husband and you will grow to at least like him,” Purity said, offering some encouragement.
Raven nodded toward Oria. “Have you grown to like your brother?”
“You knew that Wolf is my brother?” Oria asked.
“I learned all I could about him long before the proposition presented itself. But news that he was your brother came later and I wondered and worried how you would take the news and how my brother would feel about it.”
“It was a shock to learn that I was born a Northwoman and taken from my family. And even more of a shock to learn the man responsible for taking Royden from me and the one who brought such misery and heartache to this area was my brother. I don’t know what I feel for him. I haven’t spent much time with him, though I can say I do favor my sister, Demelza.”
“Her husband Trevor was Wolf’s right-hand man before Wolf laid claim to, what was once your clan, the Clan MacGlennen and made him chieftain. They were also best friends, growing into mighty warriors together,” Raven added.
“You do know a lot about him,” Oria said, impressed.
More than anyone knew, but Raven didn’t let Oria know that. “I learned what I could. I also learned what great and trustworthy friends I have in both of you. You kept secrets for me even from your husbands and that I truly appreciate.”
“The secrets were necessary to protect you,” Purity said with a nod at Raven. “And I understand now it also protected your brothers from finding out what you were up to.”
“They could have ruined your plans and our husbands would have been lost to us,” Oria said with a shiver.
“But thankfully all went well with both your help and we are all reunited again,” Raven said, the joy of being home and talking with her friends filled her with warmth and, if only for a short while, contentment. “With Learmonth about to become my new home and with you knowing it well from being wed to the old lord for a short time, I thought you could tell me about the place. By the way, your da was wise in seeing you wed to Lord Burnell right after the attack to keep you safe until Royden returned.”
A tear slipped from the corner of Oria’s eye. “I didn’t realize that at first, but I did after a while. He knew Lord Learmonth didn’t have much time to live and being wed to him kept me safe. When he died I worried, but Royden came home not long after and though we had a bit of a rough start, our love managed to save us.” She wiped away another tear. “You wanted to know about Learmonth. It’s not a big keep. The rooms are small and drafty, the hearths always lit or you will shiver down to the bone. Detta is an old woman who oversees the keep. She probably can tell you more about the keep than I can. She is a quiet woman and keeps much to herself, but she is pleasant and was kind to me. They lacked a healer when I last was there, the old one that had served them well having died. There was also much building going on when I last saw the place, though what it was about I couldn’t say.”
“That helps much,” Raven said, though she already knew most of what Oria told her. She was hoping that Oria could provide something about Learmonth she didn’t know.
“You should also be aware that the walk,
though it feels more like a climb the path is so steep, to the keep can be taxing,” Oria said, memories bringing a smile to her face. “At first, I dreaded leaving the keep, knowing the return home would exhaust me, but I proudly conquered that climb.”
Raven had no worry of the climb. She was more than fit and knew it wouldn’t rob her breath.
“You should also know that Wolf has settled many of his warriors there,” Purity said. “Your brothers had worried he planned another attack. But that was soon dismissed when it was learned the land now belonged to him as did the title, and he would soon make it his home. Though they didn’t know it would be with his wife—their sister.”
Raven learned a few missing pieces from her friends, but nothing that would change any of what she thought. She continued to talk with them, cherishing the moments of laughter they shared, recalling the past and even thinking that perhaps the future wouldn’t be as dismal as she had believed. She was among family now and that surely would help with the ordeal of being the wife of Wolf the Mighty Beast.
Supper filled her heart with joy. It was as if the troubling years had melted away, forgotten, and time hadn’t separated them. They were family once again, teasing, laughing, sharing happy stories of the past and promises of a bright future. Arran and Purity had remained, even though the snow had continued to fall lightly. They wanted to share in the reunion and so they sent word home to let their clan know they would return on the morrow.
Wolf arrived in the middle of supper along with his warriors. He took a seat next to Raven at the table by the hearth as he had done earlier. She once again had avoided the dais, preferring the warmth of the fire on her back. She’d been too cold far too many days and nights and she feared she’d never get warm again, so she kept close to a hearth when possible. She had confided that to her da when she had entered the Great Hall to find only him there at the dais. He had quickly moved to the table closest to the hearth and made it clear to all that was where they would have their meal.
Highlander Oath Of The Beast Page 3