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)
The shock of his lips on hers had her gasping and her breath released, though they were short rapid breaths, but at least now she was able to breathe.
“Easy, slow,” Quint advised and gently lifted her into his arms and went and sat on the bed, placing her on his lap.
His accusation had stolen her breath, but his strength and genuine worry were helping to restore it. She wanted to rest her head on his shoulder and let her eyes drift closed, feeling the familiar comfort of his arms. But his accusation had to be faced and addressed.
“I don’t understand,” she said, her breathing still labored.
“Do not speak until you have regained your full breath,” he ordered, sounding far too annoyed, though it wasn’t directed at this wife. He was annoyed with himself for causing this ordeal and frightening the hell out of himself.
“Tell me,” she urged.
“Only if you promise not to say a word as I do, so your breathing can ease.”
Shade nodded.
He took his time explaining so his wife would have time to regain her breath. He started from the time he arrived in the woods to see the MacLeish warriors ready to fight, explaining they would have lost, up until he was left alone with the large man who appeared to lead the small number of warriors.
“The big fellow confirmed that Asher does search for me. Not a word!” he warned when she looked about to speak. “I know you would ask what I did. What does he want with me?”
Shade nodded, anxious to hear all of it and make sense of the unsensible accusation.
“Asher wants to see the mission finished.” Quint watched his wife’s brow pucker and knew her thoughts since his had been the same. “I asked what mission.”
Shade nodded again, though worried when anger flared in his eyes.
“He told me that Asher ordered the men to kill Amara. She was meant to die. She was the target from the start, not me?”
Shade’s mouth dropped open in shock and her eyes filled with sorrow for him. She wanted to tell him how sorry she was for him, for Amara, but he hurried to continue talking, and she worried that he didn’t want to hear her sympathetic words.
“The mission changed sometime after that. Asher now hunts me though the fellow didn’t know why, nor does he know who ordered the mission. I knew by questioning him that he had to be one of the men who took part in Amara’s killing. He was the last man I searched for out of the group of men that were there that day.”
He turned quiet for a moment and Shade saw that he struggled to continue as if he wasn’t sure to reveal more to her.
“Tell me all,” she encouraged, resting her hand against his chest and seeing his heart suddenly pumping faster.
“The fellow told me what she said to them. She told them that they would be sorry and that I loved her as much as she loved me and that I would hunt every one of them down and make them all suffer before I ended their worthless lives.”
Shade could not stop the tears from gathering in her eyes. “Facing death, she made sure you would hear of her love for you and that she knew how much you loved her. She was a courageous woman.”
Quint nodded, trying to clear his mind of what Amara must have gone through. “Bargaining for his life, the fellow offered me information that he was not supposed to hear. He told me who was responsible for Amara’s death. I heard him clearly… the healer, Shade.” He moved her off his lap, stood, and walked away from her.
He didn’t go far but Shade felt like a chasm separated them.
“I don’t understand, Quint. I fight to heal people, prevent their deaths.” She shook her head. “How could I be responsible when I never met Amara? I never tended to anyone named Amara. I don’t know how I could be at fault.”
“The fellow was sure of it.”
“And are you?” Shade stood and put more distance between them, turning around when she reached the door. “I understand the pain this must have cost you, and my heart aches for you. But I would have thought that you would recall the shock and pain it cost me to learn on my wedding day that I had wed the infamous Monk, and my response to that startling news. I stood by you, accepted you because I had gotten to know you, trusted you, believed in the man I had fallen in love with, and no one could tell me any differently. I thought you knew me that well. I guess I was wrong.” She opened the door to leave, and it was slammed shut before it barely moved.