“If we’re attacked you could die,” she said, her voice quivering with fear. “I couldn’t bear that.”
“And I couldn’t bear death knowing I didn’t make you my wife,” he said. “You will stay here at the keep tonight and before noon tomorrow we will become husband and wife. And we’ll share that bed tomorrow night and for all the years to come.”
His loving words wrapped gently around her heart and she stepped close to lean against him, praying he was right, that they would share the years to come.
His arms drifted around her as they so often did and hugged her tight, and he gave no thought to what he did next. It was sheer instinct.
With strong arms holding her tight, he walked her to the bed and dropped down on it to lie side by side.
“This isn’t pro—”
Royden kissed her silent, her lips too tempting to ignore. His hand inched down slowly to her backside and he eased her against him, nestling his manhood firm between her legs.
It didn’t frighten Oria being here in his bedchamber with him. Royden would never force himself on her. He was an honorable man. However, she wasn’t sure about herself. Her need for him had been growing stronger by the day and lying here so intimately with him, feeling how he swelled hard against her, left her far too vulnerable to temptation.
One night. One night. That’s all that was left and they’d be wed.
“One night,” she said reluctantly, not only reminding herself, but him as well.
“I know, and after all this time one night seems like an eternity. But I wanted to bring you here for you to see our future together and that future starts tomorrow when we join as husband and wife.” He brushed his lips faintly over hers, as if not trusting himself to do more.
The delicate touch of his lips sent her flesh prickling. Good Lord, but she wanted to make love with this man so badly. This man she had loved since as long as she could remember.
“We will sneak away from the celebration early tomorrow,” he said, wondering how he had ever made it this far without coupling with Oria. But then it wasn’t a quick poke he was looking for, it was something far more meaningful.
Oria rested her hand to his cheek. “Please know that no matter what happens, I love you and only you forever. Nothing, absolutely nothing will ever change that.”
“Nothing will ever come between us, Oria. Our love would never allow it,” he said. “I love you more with every moment we spend together and that will never change. So tell me now that you will wed me tomorrow, for I will not have you wed me against your will. You come to me freely, of your own accord, your own choice, or not at all.”
His words melted her heart and nothing could stop her from saying, “I will proudly marry you tomorrow, Royden.”
“Good and no more sneaking around with my sister,” he said.
“Would you have told me what was discussed?”
“You need not worry about such things,” he assured her.
“I need to be as prepared as you to protect my home and those I love. Don’t treat me like a child as you do your sister. I am to be your wife and I want to share everything with you; the good, the bad, the worry, the joy. All of it.”
“It’s a brave woman I wed,” Royden said with pride.
“Then tell me. Is battle imminent?” she asked, fear roiling her stomach.
“It would appear that way. My da will send messages out to the clans to unite and prepare for attack. If we join forces, we should have no problem conquering them, since it appears that the troop consists of men who work for coin. They’re not a faithful lot. They will run if they see that the battle isn’t going their way.”
“When do you think they’ll attack?”
“That’s difficult to say. It’s also difficult to say which clan will be next, but if we’re prepared and have runners ready to alert the other clans when an attack occurs, then there is a very good chance of defeat. Once we capture some of the warriors we can find out who is behind this and stop him.” He kissed her cheek. “Worry not. It will be over before it starts.”
Oria was about to mention what Raven had said about the witch and ask him if he intended to tell her about it, but stopped. There had been enough worry for one day. There was time to discuss that with him after the wedding. And right now that was all she wanted to think about—she and Royden exchanging vows and becoming husband and wife.
Tomorrow would be their day. They would join as one and together they would face whatever fate sent their way.
Raven was left facing her da and Arran. She stood, her da not offering her a seat. He tapped the table with one finger as he stared at her, a sign of his frustration. Arran glared at her, something she was used to, though there was a smugness to it that irritated her. How he could be so loving and caring one time and such an arse the next, she couldn’t understand. However, that didn’t change the fact that she loved him.
Instead of waiting for her da to speak, she spoke up. “Do you intend to send me to the convent?”
Her da stopped tapping the table, but it was Arran who spoke.
“It would be the best thing for you.”
She shot him a quick scowl of her own. “It isn’t your choice.”
“No, but Arran does make a good point,” her da said.
“I won’t go and if you send me, I’ll escape and make my way back home,” she said defiantly.
Her da leaned his elbow on the table and rubbed his brow.
It took that picture of him to make her realize how much she had upset him and that bothered her. He was a good, fair, and loving da, and she didn’t want to cause him worry, especially now with battle looming so close.
“I’m sorry, Da, I truly am. I’m worried, more so since the witch spoke to me, and I needed to know what goes on. I need to know how to help.”
“You know what to do if we’re attacked. You remain in the keep with the women and children where you’ll be safe,” Arran said.
Raven didn’t want to hide away. She wanted to defend her clan, her family, her home. She wisely held her tongue, knowing her words, her plea would make no difference.
“It is important your brothers and I know you’re safe while we fight. These men we will fight are not men of honor. They don’t fight for a cause. They fight for coin and what they can get, what they’ve been promised. While the convent might be the best place for you right now, I feel you’d be safer here with us.” Her da turned his eyes on Arran. “Wouldn’t you agree?”
“As much as I think my sister would benefit from some time at the convent, I do agree. She’d be safer here.”
Raven silently blessed her brother.
“Arran will continue to train you in defending yourself, but when the time comes, I’ll have your word you will do as you’ve been told and seek the safety of the keep,” her da said with a stern glare.
Raven wasn’t happy about hiding out while her brothers and father fought, but she also wasn’t so foolish to think she had the skill to fight seasoned warriors. She only hoped that there would be enough time for her to learn more skills in case she would need them.
“I’ll do as you say, Da,” Raven said.
His stern glare remained when he said, “I’ll have your word, daughter.”