Total pages in book: 125
Estimated words: 114917 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 575(@200wpm)___ 460(@250wpm)___ 383(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 114917 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 575(@200wpm)___ 460(@250wpm)___ 383(@300wpm)
“Brogan does not know you’re here?” Rannick asked with a slight chuckle.
“By now he probably does,” Annis said. “I imagine he won’t be far behind.”
“I sent troops to collect the both of you,” Rannick said.
“We avoided them,” Annis said, pointing to the man who had kept her from going after Lady Faline.
Rannick took stock of the man. His gray hair, beard, and wrinkles noted his age, but his lean and fit body marked him as a seasoned warrior and one who had retained his strength since he had easily kept a struggling Annis at bay against Lady Faline. Seeing the group of men standing not far behind him and battle ready with their hands on the hilts of their swords and daggers, it was easy enough to surmise who they were.
“Mercenaries,” Rannick said.
“Troy and friends,” Annis corrected.
Annis had a far different nature from her sister Bliss and features as well. Annis’s beauty startled the eyes as did her long, flaming red hair that sprung in ringlets around her head and down over her shoulders. She had the boldest green eyes he had ever seen on a woman and a brash tongue to match.
“There is much for us to discuss, Bliss,” Annis said eager to speak with her sister.
Bliss could not agree more, but first… “Aye, like your marriage to Brogan.”
“There is that and lots more important stuff.”
“Bring your friends into the keep so they may have food and drink while we talk,” Bliss offered.
Annis gave a wave to Troy and his men to follow. “I’m starving. You didn’t cook the food by any chance did you?” she asked as they walked to the keep.
“I wish,” Rannick said, and Annis laughed.
Chatter filled the air of the Great Hall as cloaks were shed, drinks passed around to everyone and introductions were finally just about to be made when the door crashed open.
Brogan entered, his face a fiery mask of anger as his eyes scoured the room and when they landed on Annis, he headed straight for her as he called out, “You are going to pay for this one, wife!”
CHAPTER 27
Bliss moved protectively in front of Annis, fearful for her safety since she had seen Brogan lose his temper when at Clan Loudon.
Annis quickly stepped around her and ran toward Brogan, smiling.
Brogan halted his steps and braced himself to catch his wife in his arms.
Annis’s threw herself at her husband, her arms hooking his neck as she brought her legs up to catch at his hips, and his arm slipped under her backside to hold her steady.
“What kept you?” she asked. “I thought for sure you would catch up with me before I arrived here.”
“Maybe if you hadn’t set me to work on a useless chore, I would have realized it sooner,” he accused, his scowl having yet to fade.
“Then you would have stopped me from coming here and I told you this could wait no longer,” Annis said and gave him a quick kiss. “I missed you.”
Brogan shook his head. “Do you realize the danger you put yourself in?”
“I had Troy and his mercenaries with me,” Annis said as if it explained it well enough.
“That, wife, is no excuse,” Brogan warned.
Annis’s arms fell away from around her husband’s neck and her legs from around his waist to stand in front of him. “We can discuss this later. Right now, there are more important matters that need to be addressed.”
“We had agreed to wait,” Brogan whispered.
“No more,” she murmured and took his hand and tugged at him to follow.
Rannick grinned as he handed Brogan a tankard of ale and kept himself from laughing when his friend downed the whole thing, then held it out to be refilled.
Unable to keep a laugh from surfacing, Rannick said, “She’s a handful.”
Brogan laughed himself. “In so many ways.”
“And he isn’t?” Annis asked with a nod at her husband. “No matter what his mum claimed or thinks, or how rude she was, my husband loves me very much.” She fought the tears that threatened her and silently cursed that she was prone to tears far too often and for the most foolish things. “And while neither of us realized that our marriage came about by our own words, we are both happy that it did, and nothing or no one will change that.”
Brogan shook his head, his brow creasing. “When did you see my mum?”
“I am surprised you did not cross paths with her,” Rannick said. “She left not long before you arrived.”
“I came the back way through the woods,” Brogan said. “What was she doing here?”
One word was all Annis had to say. “Damia.”
Rannick quickly assured his friend. “Damia remains with us.”
Brogan smiled. “It is good to see you again, my friend, and to know I can still count on you.”
“Always,” Rannick said, and the two men hugged, slapping each other on the back. “It has been too long.”