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)
Sky realized then that love could be as powerful as it could be destructive.
Halfdan snarled with pleasure as he continued. “It took years, but I found out who your father was. I learned he was there when your mother gave birth, and he held her until she took her last breath. He made sure you were sent to a family who would keep you safe and would keep your affliction as quiet as possible. He left and returned when he believed it was safe enough to do so. He joined the Gallowglass so that he could protect you if necessary. I finally found out who he was, and I finally had my revenge. He was a good friend of Slayer’s… Clyde.”
Sky fought not to shed a tear but one escaped as she recalled the one and only time she had spoken to Clyde, never knowing he was her father. Her heart shattered for her parents and all they had lost.
“I rejoiced the day word reached me of Warrand’s impending marriage to a woman with two different colored eyes. I sent someone who knew your mother to see if you resembled her. There is no mistake that you inherited her beauty. I bargained with Bannaty for you, but he had no interest. He insisted the deed was done and that you were perfect for his son that you would not get in his way.”
“Why kill Warrand and Lord Bannaty? Why not just abduct me?” Sky asked.
“Revenge. Not only did Bannaty’s wife lie to me but Bannaty himself dismissed my offer with a laugh. I had plans of abducting you after that but before I could reach you, your father had sent you away and I did not know where. Then there were the mercenaries who descended on the area to earn the enormous fee a foolish Lowlander was offering for the Murdock sisters. I had to make sure none of them got to you before I did. Olin was well worth the coin I gave him until he took too long to deliver you. Then the Wolf clan interfered, planning to see you kept from harm. I did not want to make myself known since I knew nothing would stop Slayer from coming after me if he ever discovered I was responsible for his brother and father’s deaths. And it would not only be him who hunted me. It would be the Gallowglass.”
“But he will come after you now for abducting me,” Sky said.
Halfdan laughed. “Slayer is a warrior before all else. He fights to defend his clan at this moment with no thought of you. And I was wise enough to hire mercenaries to attack. He will never know it was me.”
“He will find out,” Sky said, sure her husband had heard the men talking as they rode away from the wolf’s den.
“No one can track it back to me. I made sure of that,” Halfdan boasted. “You are all that is left for me to revenge my son’s death. And I am going to take immense pleasure in making you suffer.”
Sky wanted to shut her eyes against what was to come, but hearing how her grandmother had been so brave, she raised her chin and stared directly at Halfdan as he approached her, tightening his fist with each step he took.
A savage roar echoed through the woods. Birds took flight and animals hid as Slayer emerged from the woods in a fierce run, his face twisted with such fury that he appeared like a demon rising from the depths of hell.
More roars filled the air as a bevy of Gallowglass warriors burst out of the woods, completely surrounding Halfdan and his men.
Halfdan ran toward Sky as swords began to clash. She knew what he intended. He might not be able to make her suffer but he could see her dead. Her fear was confirmed when he pulled his dagger from his sheath.
She spotted Fane on the run toward her, heard the wolves growling as they approached from behind her, but she feared none of them would reach her in time. She almost closed her eyes but thoughts of her mother, father, and grandmother’s courage kept them open. She was glad she did, or she would have missed seeing her husband sail through the air as he launched himself at Halfdan with such force that he sent them both tumbling to the ground.
Fane rushed to stand in front of Sky, snarling and snapping, ready to tear anyone apart who dared approach her. The wolves protected her from behind, their snarls as vicious as Fane’s.
Sky could not take her eyes off her husband, watching as both men scrambled to their feet while the Gallowglass warriors quickly overtook Halfdan’s men.
Fury raged on Halfdan’s face when he finally stood and saw that defeat was imminent. He hurried to grab the dagger that had been knocked from his hand, then pulled another dagger from its sheath and lunged at Slayer.