Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 90574 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 453(@200wpm)___ 362(@250wpm)___ 302(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 90574 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 453(@200wpm)___ 362(@250wpm)___ 302(@300wpm)
Fiona reached into the pouch at her waist and took out a folded paper. She handed it to her sister.
Aliss almost didn’t reach out for it and then slowly she stepped forward, away from Rogan, and stretched out a trembling hand to grasp hold, open and read it.
She read it once then twice and then three times. Each time the words stabbed more painfully at her heart. She fought her tears bravely but they gathered in force, threatening to burst forth in an uncontrollable torrent.
She swallowed several times, fighting with every bit of strength she had not to break down and sob. “You used me,” she said, raising her trembling hand and crushing the offending message.
“No—”
“You deny this?” Aliss asked with a harsh laugh.
“I sent the message, but I never—”
“Expected it to be so easy to play me for a fool?”
Rogan stepped forward.
Aliss jumped back. “Do not dare come near me.”
“I want to explain.”
She shook the crumpled letter in his face. “This explains it all.”
“It is different now.”
Aliss laughed in his face. “Oh, I forgot, now you love me and that makes all the difference.”
“It does.”
“Do not think I will continue to play the fool,” she shouted at him, and turned to Fiona. “I want to go home.”
Chapter 20
Fiona wrapped her arms around her sister and directed her toward the ship.
“No!”
Rogan’s shout stopped the two women and caused Tarr to move swiftly to their side.
“I am her husband now. Aliss goes nowhere without my permission,” Rogan commanded.
“Like hell she does,” Fiona challenged. “You have hurt her enough. The Isle of Non is yours. You will surrender my sister as we agreed.”
“I will not.”
Fiona lunged for Rogan. Tarr stopped her with a powerful grip to her arm.
Rogan glared at Aliss. “We are wed and the union is of Aliss’s choice. We remain husband and wife and there is nothing anyone can do about it.”
Fiona snarled at Rogan. “If you think I will let my sister remain with—”
“The choice is not yours,” Rogan reminded her with a firm calmness. “Aliss is my wife and will obey my command.”
“If you think you will get the Isle of Non now—”
Tarr yanked Fiona gently to his side and spoke directly to Rogan. “The Isle of Non is yours and I hope you take up residence there with your wife and clan as soon as possible.”
“We will see,” Rogan said. “You are welcome to visit for a few days. My men will show you the way to the village. Right now I wish to speak with my wife alone.” He held his hand out to Aliss.
She stared at him, shook her head, and sprinted past him toward the village.
He turned and followed.
“Why did—”
“Hush,” Tarr said and forced Fiona to walk with him, putting distance between them and the Wolf clan. “We need time to consider this matter. Obviously they are wed as claimed or Aliss would have spoken up, which means Rogan is right—Aliss belongs to him. Until this can be resolved I would prefer Aliss close by.”
Fiona’s eyes sprang wide. “In my rage, I did not think. The Isle of Non is not far from us.”
“And I am sure Aliss will want you close by.”
“She will need me,” Fiona said with a firm nod. “She thinks herself in love with the Wolf.”
“I doubt she feels that way anymore,” Tarr said. “Now come and let us be civil with our new family so that we may help Aliss.”
Rogan found Aliss sitting at the table in the cottage, her head bent and her hands clasped. He had wondered how to approach her on his walk back to the village. How could he make her understand that he laid claim to what was rightfully his? And that he had never imagined falling in love with her. She had been a means to an end. Now she was the woman he loved and wished to spend the rest of his life with, though she would never believe him.
He slid along the bench opposite her at the table, hesitated to reach out to her then finally he laid his hand over hers.
She pulled away as if his touch scorched her skin.
“Will you hear me out?” he asked, praying she would give him a chance to explain, although even then he was not sure she would understand and forgive him.
She did not raise her head. “You lied to me. All this time you lied to me.”
“No, I did not.”
Her head shot up and her blazing green eyes disagreed.
“My people were ill and I needed a healer.”
“That was not the case at first, was it?” she asked but answered for him. “The two times you attacked the Hellewyk village you were looking for me to abduct and ransom. When your people grew ill my abduction served a twofold purpose.” She shook her head. “I am such a fool for trusting you. I played right into your trap.”