Page 46 of Highlander the Conqueror

Sky did as she asked, almost sighing with the pleasure of the still-heated water running over her head and shoulders.

“Will you be staying with us long?” Euniss asked.

“I am not sure,” she said, fearful of saying too much or saying something she shouldn’t.

“I should warn you.”

“Warn me?” Sky asked, concerned as the woman squeezed the water from her hair.

“Lord Slayer is a good man, not always kind, but a good man. The not always good part is thanks to his father who forced him to become the mighty warrior that he is today. Lord Bannaty wanted to assure that no one dared oppose Clan Ravinsher. It left little time for Lord Slayer to know anything other than the constant need to protect his brother and the future of the clan. Now he is the future of the clan and there is no one to protect him.”

Aye, there is… me.

A foolish thought since what could she do to protect Slayer?

Love him.

She did not know how that would help, but since her heart believed otherwise, she would trust it. She would protect him and shield him with her love.

* * *

Slayer was disappointedthat the captured men he spoke with had no new information to give them. It was the same news he had discovered himself. Mercenaries, whether small or large groups, were crawling the Highlands with hopes of being successful in killing the reddish blonde-haired Murdock sister and claiming the sizeable fortune offered to complete the mission. The only lead to who wanted them dead had something to do with the Lowlanders who had entered the Highlands.

He was glad for the late-night hour and the quiet of the village. He often walked through the village at night to check on his sentinels, keeping them alert since they never knew when he might show up. It also left him time alone. Undisturbed time, when he let his thoughts run wild before forcing them into order, into making sense and making decisions. Though some remained stubborn, refusing to comply, refusing to make sense, and that frustrated Slayer. But it always proved only a mere delay in the end since he refused to accept defeat. He was a Gallowglass warrior and the Gallowglass never surrendered.

Once in the keep, he made his way to his bedchamber and approached the bed quietly to see Sky sleeping peacefully. Strands of her reddish blonde hair, much like the colors of the flames that flickered in the fireplace, lay across her cheek, the ends curling slightly. He went to move it aside with his finger, but instead he caught it between two of his fingers. Soft and silky. He favored running his finger through her hair to hold her head still when he kissed her. And he could not get enough of her lovely face. It was flawless, not a blemish on it and pale in color, except for the two, faint pink stains on her cheeks which appeared often, another thing about her that he favored.

He let the soft strands fall from his fingers, hearing the door open slowly.

“A bath is prepared in your mum’s bedchamber. I prepared that chamber for Sky to sleep, but she must have assumed she was to use this bedchamber where she bathed and slipped into bed and fell asleep. I was sure you would not want me to disturb her. So, I had a bath prepared there for you.”

Slayer approached Euniss, standing just inside the room, and ordered, “Out.”

Without speaking a word to her, he walked to the bedchamber that had once belonged to his mother. He hurried out of his garments and into the tub, eager to get done and return to his wife and wrap himself around her in sleep.

He noticed that Euniss was alone with him, no other servants lingered about with more hot water or waiting for further instructions. She had done that on purpose. She had questions for him.

“You can go, Euniss,” he ordered.

“You are not going to get rid of me that fast,” she said and walked to the tub and took a stubborn stance there, folding her arms across her chest. “What is going on? You are far too familiar with her.”

“I do not see how that should concern you.”

“And I do not see how it does not concern you. Do you wish to ruin her reputation, or have you already?”

Leave it to Euniss to notice and be blunt about it. She knew him too well and that was something that might just solve his dilemma.

Slayer looked directly at her. “Sky is my wife.”

Euniss gasped and slapped her hand to her chest.

“My mum trusted you, therefore, I trust you. This is knowledge that cannot yet be made known. Ross knows and now you. No one, not even Sky’s sisters, knows of this. Until I can make certain that Sky will be safe being my wife, no one will know we are wed. But I will also not be kept from my wife’s bed. So, you will be the only one who tends to these upper chambers. Sky is a kind soul, Euniss, and I will not have her treated badly.”

“That might prove difficult, sir.”

“Then let your tongue spread the word that there will be severe consequences to anyone who treats her poorly,” Slayer said with a snarl of anger.

Euniss realized she had said enough. He would tolerate no more from her and with a quick, “Aye, sir,” she took her leave.

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