Page 76 of Highlander the Conqueror

“They no longer need to. You have me now,” Slayer reminded, “and you have yourself. You have grown in strength and courage since I first met you. You had no choice being wed to me, but you had a choice whether you would accept the marriage and find a way to make it work rather than do nothing more than tolerate it. I am proud to call you my wife.”

His words filled her heart with joy. Never had she expected to hear such meaningful words from a man, let alone a husband and she was quick to respond. “And I am proud and overjoyed that you are my husband and I love you with all my heart.”

Slayer went to speak and stopped. Instead, he kissed her, a gentle, lingering kiss, then he rested his brow to hers. “I feel for you, wife, like I have never felt for another. You have become a part of me I cannot live without, like a breath or a beat of my heart. I want to say I love you, but I don’t know or understand love, I don’t even know if those words would suffice for what I feel for you?—”

Sky kissed him softly. “Your words say more than you know, and they fill me with even more joy.”

“Don’t you be growling at me, or you’ll never get another bone. That’s right, hang your head. I know you have been getting bones on the sly.”

Sky and Slayer turned their heads toward the door, hearing Euniss reprimand the hound, who stopped growling at the threat of receiving no more bones.

“That woman fears nothing,” Slayer said.

Sky smiled. “I think that is why I like her so much.”

“You are needed, Lord Slayer,” Euniss called out.

Sky slipped out of her husband’s arms reluctantly and he reluctantly let her go. “I will leave first. I am eager to work in my garden today and I am already eager to see you later.”

She blew him a kiss before she opened the door and he thought he felt it graze his cheek, though it could have been the light breeze that swept through the room. However, he allowed himself to believe it was her kiss and touched his cheek gently sealing it there.

“Come on, Fane,” he commanded. “We have a busy day ahead of us.”

* * *

Sky wassurprised when she reached her garden to see the young lass, Oona waiting there for her.

“For you,” she said and brought her hand from behind her back to offer Sky a small, yellow wildflower. “You helped me.”

“It is beautiful. Thank you,” Sky said. “I shall wear it in my hair.” She tucked it in the braid that lay over her shoulder and on her chest.

“Pretty,” Oona said with a smile and tilted her head, staring at Sky. “Why do your eyes look like that?”

Sky smiled and shrugged. “I don’t know. I was just born this way.”

“Oh,” Oona said. “Can I play with Angel?”

“I believe she would like that,” Sky said, the kitten rubbing herself against the little lass’ legs. “But you must stay here to play with her.”

“Aye,” Oona said without a second thought and plopped down on the ground and giggled when Angel began to crawl all over her.

“To be young and pure of heart again, before life tarnishes the mind and soul.”

Sky turned to see Ruth, Wade’s grandmother, walking toward her.

“Oona had the courage to do what I should have done weeks ago, offer my thanks for your help. You did not speak against my grandson, and I am grateful for that. I am also grateful for Lord Slayer’s punishment. After Wade spent time with the Gallowglass warriors he changed. He now joins the other lads in sword practice daily after his chores are done. He wants to be a warrior so he can protect me and the clan.” Her eyes grew shiny with tears. “He makes me proud, and I know his parents would have been just as proud. He lost both within a short time of each other.”

“I am sorry to hear that, though I am glad to hear that he is doing so well,” Sky said.

“Could we sit and talk for a bit?” Ruth offered.

“I would love to,” Sky said and walked with Ruth to the bench that appeared near her garden one day. She knew it was her husband’s doing, although he never mentioned it to her.

“I hope you do not mind me saying, but your eyes are beautiful, strange yet beautiful.”

Sky could not hide her shock. She almost told the woman that Slayer was the only one who had ever told her that, but she caught herself. “Your words surprise me since I have never had anyone tell me that.”

“More fools they, but then I have seen such strange eye color like yours before.”

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