Total pages in book: 112
Estimated words: 101336 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 507(@200wpm)___ 405(@250wpm)___ 338(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 101336 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 507(@200wpm)___ 405(@250wpm)___ 338(@300wpm)
Slayer avoided the dagger just in time and managed to slice Halfdan’s arm with his own dagger.
It took only a few minutes of watching her husband to realize he toyed with Halfdan like prey did with its catch before killing it. Blood began to stain various areas of Halfdan’s shirt, sleeves, chest, and back. His cheek was also bleeding, not that Sky saw the slash, it had been delivered so fast.
“You honestly believe I am going to let you die fast when you had my brother and father killed, and my good friend brutally attacked then made him suffer even more when you twisted your dagger into him? Even worse you were about to torture and kill my wife and the bairn she carries?”
Halfdan roared with anger, spittle flying from his mouth, the news enraging him even more.
“You are going to die slowly and then I’m going to deliver the same finishing blow to you that you did to Clyde,” Slayer said.
Sky saw no glee or pleasure on her husband’s face. He appeared more resolved that it was his duty, and he would not flinch from it. And he did not. She turned her head unable to watch as Slayer sliced and jabbed Halfdan with his daggers repeatedly until the man collapsed to his knees, his daggers falling from his hands.
Slayer grabbed a clump of his hair to tilt his head back and to keep him from falling over. “You can thank my wife for your suffering going faster than I would have preferred since I want to get her home so she may rest and recover. And where we will await the birth of our first of many bairns. You should also know before I gut you and slice your throat as you did to Clyde that since Clan Scyling is without a leader, I intend to claim it for my own. Clan Scyling will be no more.”
Halfdan struggled to speak. “My clan will never accept you.”
“Your clan will have no choice.” He shoved Halfdan to the ground and placed his booted foot to his throat. “You die along with your clan’s name today never to be remembered and knowing that the blood of your enemy will now rule over your land.”
Halfdan’s screams brought tears to Sky’s eyes. They were shed for Clyde, her da, realizing what he had suffered in his final moments. She closed her eyes in silent prayer for her da.
“What is wrong? Are you in pain? Did he harm you?” Slayer asked, his hand capturing her chin with a light squeeze.
She tried to smile but her heart was too heavy.
Slayer grew alarmed seeing her struggle to smile. Even at the worst moments she had managed a tender smile. “What is it? Tell me.”
With all there was to say to him at this moment, she found herself saying, “I miss your arms around me.”
Slayer made quick work of the ropes that bound her, feeling the same. It may have been barely a sunrise since he had held her, but that was too long for him.
Sky collapsed in his arms, her limbs somewhat numb from being constrained and sighed softly when he lifted her into his arms. He walked over to a large oak and sat beneath it, keeping her snug against him as he settled her in his lap.
Fane did not waste any time parking himself next to them, his eyes on the wolves in the distance.
She kept her head rested on his chest, his steady heartbeat and the strength in which he held her reassuring, but it was the words of love he whispered near her ear that made her feel the safest she had ever felt.
She raised her head to rest her brow against his. “I am good now that I am in your arms, wrapped in your love.”
“And in my arms is where you will forever remain along with my love for you that is neverending.”
“It is exactly where I want to be,” Sky said, and went to kiss him when a sudden pain made her wince.
“You need to rest,” he ordered, annoyed that he had been so anxious to get her in his arms that he had not considered her injuries.
“Aye, I do, and after I rest, I need you.”
“After you have an extended rest and not before then,” Slayer said and kissed her in a way that laid claim to her so that anyone who looked upon them had no doubt that she belonged to him.
“I want to go home, husband,” she said, “and tell you what Halfdan told me.”
“I heard part of it as I got close.”
“Then you know Clyde is my da?” She got teary-eyed again thinking about it.
Slayer did not stop his surprise from showing. “That I did not hear, but I want to know all about it.”
“I am eager to share the news with you, but what did you hear?”