Page 23 of Cree & Dawn and the Wolf

“We agreed we wouldn’t separate, and you should know where the stable is located just in case?—”

She shook her head slowly but waved her hand vigorously in front of her face to remind him of what they discussed last night and that she would not leave without him.

He grabbed her hands to stop her from arguing with him. “I remember well what was said last night. It is my concern of leaving you alone that disturbs me.”

She slipped her hands out of his to gesture more calmly.

“I agree that you would probably be safe in the Great Hall with some servants about while I am gone. And we do not know enough about this place to know the danger we might face.”

She nodded.

“I admit your suggestion makes sense, but I don’t like leaving you alone and last night you made it clear you didn’t want to be left alone,” he said, realizing last night’s sleep had allowed her to regain a good part of her strength since she now appeared less reluctant to remain alone.

He saw a hint of fear but more determination in her eyes when she once again gestured.

He repeated her silent words. “You don’t want to remain captive of the fog, of this place, of what might await us here.”

She nodded and stepped closer to him, his arm instinctively reaching out to capture her around her waist and draw her against him.

He wasn’t planning on telling her about the animal outside their bedchamber door last night but thought better of it. If ananimal was able to enter the keep, then she had to be made aware of it.

“I need to tell you something,” he said, and he told her about the incident. Her eyes went wide, and her body pressed against him, seeking his strength, and knowing he would shield her from any danger. “You must promise me that you will not leave the Great Hall while I am gone, not even to return here to our room. And I forbid you to go exploring on your own.”

She nodded and rested her head on his shoulder, wishing they were home.

Cree didn’t wait longafter they had their meal to take his leave but not before reminding his wife to stay put. When she didn’t confirm with a quick nod, he eyed her suspiciously and reminded, “You made a promise.”

She shrugged and scrunched her brow.

“I know perfectly well what you’re thinking. What if an opportunity presents itself for you to discover something? That you even would give such a foolish notion a thought means you are willing to place yourself in harm’s way, which tells me you are feeling much better and could possibly get yourself into trouble.” He brought his face close to hers. “You will go nowhere. You will remain here, and do not disobey me on this.”

“Is there a problem, Lord Cree?”

Cree cast a scowl at his wife to remind her to obey his order before he turned to greet Lord Tiernan. “Not at all, but if there were, it would be between me and my wife.”

“Of course,” Lord Tiernan said with a nod. “It is just that people who are not used to such a lingering fog, curtailing tasksand activities, often find it difficult to adapt to the confinement it causes even for a short time.”

“Being wed to me, my wife has learned to adapt more easily than most people,” Cree said and sent his wife a glance.

Dawn’s smile bordered on laughter as she nodded in agreement.

He looked back at Lord Tiernan. “Besides, we never tire of seeing each other and we never lack for conversation.”

It always touched her heart when Cree spoke as if she had a voice that he could actually hear. He never thought of her as different and never let anyone else think that as well.

“Then you are a lucky man,” Lord Tiernan said and didn’t hide the envy in his eyes.

“You have not wed yet?” Cree asked.

“Not for lack of trying,” Lord Tiernan said with a chuckle. “But Clan MacMadadh is a small clan with little to offer a prospective wife. Besides, the area is far too remote for most young women. One day, perhaps, I will find a woman who wishes to share a life here with me.”

“She will need to be mindful of wolves,” Cree said.

“Aye, that she would, which means she would need to be an exceptional woman much like your wife,” Lord Tiernan said with a nod to Dawn.

Dawn smiled pleasantly at the compliment.

“Aye, my wife is exceptional, and she belongs to me,” Cree said, making it clear he would let no one take her from him.

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