Total pages in book: 101
Estimated words: 92771 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 464(@200wpm)___ 371(@250wpm)___ 309(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92771 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 464(@200wpm)___ 371(@250wpm)___ 309(@300wpm)
Brother Peter screamed out in pain.
“That one is for Shade and what you made her suffer.” Quint sat on the ground. “We have a long night ahead of us and while I am looking forward to it, I doubt you are. And just to clarify, I did purposely let you hear my approach, so you would call out to me and draw me closer. It made it that much easier to hit my target. In a few hours, you will die a horribly painful death, and your body will be left for the forest animals to feast on and the rest of it to rot until there is nothing left but your bones, which no doubt some vulture will pick at. It is a fitting ending for such a vile man.”
“Amara screamed for you over and over,” Brother Peter said with a pained laugh.
Quint warned himself not to reply, but he couldn’t stop himself. “You were there?”
Brother Peter struggled to speak through the pain. “Of course, I was. I wanted to make sure Amara suffered for daring to leave me and not rid herself of the bairn. I instructed each man what to do to her and I got great pleasure from watching it. Of course, I threatened their lives if they told anyone I was present.”
Quint stepped away from him, if he didn’t he would drive his blade through him and end his life.
“Amara had courage. She told me how much she loved you and how you would avenge her. I laughed at her.”
Quint turned and drove a dagger into his other leg.
Brother Peter screamed in pain and when he calmed, he laughed. “You are no different than me, killing and making people suffer. Shade deserves someone far better than you since she truly is a decent person, an angel for sure. If she was here now, she would never see me suffer.”
“But she is not here. I am, the devil himself… no wait. You’re the devil.”
“What does that make you, Quint?”
“An avenging angel,” Quint said with a snarl. “And you’re right, Shade does deserve better. She deserves a husband who doesn’t waste any time on a loathsome man who none will miss or remember. And as for Amara, she is the one victorious here tonight because she finally has her revenge.” He pulled his dagger from the cleric’s stomach and with one swift slice, ended his life.
Quint looked up at the night sky, sparkling with endless stars. “Rest well, Amara, and know that I loved you.” He smiled when it appeared as though a bright star winked at him and he grabbed the reins of the cleric’s horse and walked away, eager to get home.
It was the second night Shade would sleep alone, and she did not like it. She had grown accustomed to Quint being there beside her and his arms wrapped around her. She didn’t know what she would do if he never came home to her. Of course, she would survive, just as her mum did when she lost her husband and countless other women, but would she ever truly live again?
She pushed the distressing thought from her mind. Quint gave her his word that he would return to her, but she was not foolish enough to believe that there was a chance he wouldn’t. She had to believe, have faith that he would return.
With sleep avoiding her, she paced in front of the hearth in their bedchamber, wishing for something to keep her mind busy so that she wouldn’t dwell on her fears that her husband might not return to her.
She got her wish.
A knock sounded at her door, and she opened it to see Ena standing there. “A bairn is demanding to be born. I thought you might like to help with the delivery.”
“Bless you, Ena, a joyous birth is just what I need.”
The birth went quick, though Shade fussed over mum and daughter a bit longer than usual, not wanting to return to a bedchamber where she would get no sleep.
Ena entered with a bucket of water.
Shade hurried to take it from her. “I would have gotten that.”
“Nonsense. You have done enough. Now go, a warrior waits to escort you to the keep.”
The new mum and da agreed and she was chased out of the cottage to see a warrior leaning against a tree, his hood pulled down nearly covering his face. No doubt he was tired and wished he was in bed.
“I need no escort. Go home and sleep,” Shade called out, tucking her cloak around her against the chilly night air.
“Aye, I’ll seek my bed, but it isn’t sleep I want.”
Quint didn’t have to put his hood back for Shade to see it was her husband. She recognized his voice immediately and ran to him. He hugged her with a crushing strength she welcomed and kissed her with a passion that she shared.