Total pages in book: 98
Estimated words: 90737 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 454(@200wpm)___ 363(@250wpm)___ 302(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 90737 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 454(@200wpm)___ 363(@250wpm)___ 302(@300wpm)
Dawn had no intentions of slipping into her nightdress. She missed sleeping naked with him and intended to do so tonight. It would not take long before her husband fell asleep or for that matter her as well.
Beast would alert them to anyone who was near, and she looked to the hearth to see the big dog lying there curled in a ball sound asleep. All was safe. All was good, at least for tonight.
Cree woke to Beast’s growling and saw him standing protectively in front of the door. He looked to the hearth and saw the fire had almost gone out which meant it was close to morning. He heard the footfalls then rushing up the stairs and jumped out of bed and grabbed his sword. Beast kept at Cree’s side, snarling and baring his teeth ready to attack as he yanked open the door.
The servant standing there paled as white as freshly fallen snow, his eyes ready to pop out of his head. His knees gave way and he dropped down on them in front of Cree, keeping his head bent and his eyes focused on the floor. “Forgive me, my lord, please forgive me, I but have an urgent message from Chieftain Newlin.”
“Tell me!” Cree snapped.
The servant rushed to say, “Another person has gone missing, snatched right out of the kitchen.”
CHAPTER 9
Cree issued orders to Dawn as he hurried to dress. “You will get dressed and wait here while I see to this.” His arm shot out pointing to her before she could protest. “Do not bother to waste your breath. You will do as I say. Beast will remain with you and two guards will be at the door.”
Dawn was out of bed, reaching for her garments.
“This is why you will sleep in your nightdress while here.” He pointed at her again though he did not shake his finger. “Another thing you will obey me on.” He reprimanded himself when he saw her shiver and went to the hearth to toss several logs on the dwindling fire. The hot embers reached greedily for the dry wood and the logs began bursting into flames.
Dawn hurried to the hearth, relishing the warmth that drifted out to embrace her. She rushed a quick kiss to her husband’s cheek before slipping on her wool shift. She dressed with speed, intending to go with her husband.
“You are staying here,” Cree said as if he heard her.
She went to him and patted his chest as she mouthed, safe.
Cree patted her chest. “Curious.”
Dawn’s chest rose and fell as she chuckled and confessed with a nod that he was right. She wanted to go with him because she was curious.
“Culprits could lurk about waiting to snatch more men and women. I will not have you be one of them.” Fury rose up in him at the thought. “After I see that it is safe, you can join me.”
Dawn took hold of his hand and locked her fingers with his, then held up her other hand to entwine two of her fingers.
“You want us to stay together,” he said.
Dawn nodded. She did not have the patience to wait for her husband to return and tell her all that had happened. She wanted to hear it for herself and see things as well and hopefully make sense of what was going on.
She pressed herself tight against his side and drew a cross on her chest.
Her gesture was clear to Cree. “You promise you will stay close to me.”
She nodded again.
“I worry incessantly about losing you ever since you were taken from me and I thought you were dead,” he said, his arm going around her to draw her into a hug. “I don’t ever want to feel that agonizing pain again.”
Dawn was well aware of how her abduction had affected him. Sometimes when she woke during the night, she would find him awake staring at her as if to make sure she was actually there. Other times he held her locked tight as if he were fearful of letting her go, that if he did, she might not return to him. She understood since she felt the same herself. She often found herself anxious after not seeing him for an hour or so and went in search of him, needing a simple touch of his hand to reassure her. Time would help heal, she supposed, though she truly wondered if either of them would ever forget.
She kissed his lips lightly and held up two entwined fingers again and mouthed, always.
“You are right wife… always together and I am glad you reminded me of that.”
Cree, Dawn, and Beast entered the Great Hall to much excitement. Warriors roamed about and servants placed food and drink on tables.
“You ordered a search of the keep?” Cree asked when he reached Newlin.