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She claimed the mighty Gallowglass warrior with that kiss, and they burst together in a mind-shattering climax that chased his anger away, leaving him satiated but more so, loved unconditionally.

CHAPTER22

“To my solar now,” Slayer ordered.

Sky followed behind him as did Fane and Angel.

As soon as he shut the door, he pulled his wife into his arms. “Are you sure you are all right?”

“You continue to ask me that even though it has been a week since you ravished me,” she said with a slight chuckle. “And have done so twice since then.”

“It is all your fault,” he said with a feigned scowl. “I cannot resist you.”

“Nor I you,” she said and kissed him gently and tapped his chest afterward. “There is something I have been meaning to discuss with you.”

“Is there a problem?”

“Nay. All is well. I keep busy in my garden?—”

“And with my hounds,” he said, raising his brow. “I have not stopped you from visiting them since I know they, as well as you, enjoy the visits.”

“I truly appreciate that, and the hounds are what I wanted to discuss with you. Fane trained well. He stays by your side and keeps a close watch on everything and everyone in the village. You waste the other three hounds’ abilities by keeping them secluded in the pen until needed. If you assigned a warrior to each hound and have them train the hound to obey, then they can patrol or take watch with them. Hounds are so much more intelligent than people know. The hounds will get to know the scent of those in the village and will alert when an unfamiliar scent is found.”

“You just want to free them from the pen,” Slayer accused.

“They have become my friends and I hate seeing them confined when they have so much to offer you.”

He gave her waist a light squeeze. “I suppose you also have warriors in mind who might work well with the hounds.”

“I do, and Reed is one of them,” she said excitedly. “Haven’t you noticed how well he does with Fane, not fearful of him? I believe he would do just as well with one of the other hounds. Boden would be a good fit for him. I can tell he is eager to leave the pen like Fane.”

“And the other two hounds, Dirk and Quinn?”

That he did not quickly dismiss her suggestion gave her hope. “Glen will do well with Quinn. He is the most easily compliant of the four. Dirk has a mind of his own and can be stubborn and will need a firmer hand.”

“Angus may do well with Dirk, he is just as stubborn as the hound,” Slayer suggested.

Sky jabbed his chest lightly. “You have given this thought as well.”

“You should know by now how much we think alike,” he said and playfully kissed the tip of her nose. “Besides, you have shown me with Fane how helpful the hounds can be while waiting for the next battle.”

“I am pleased that in time the hounds will no longer be confined to the pen,” she said, her thoughts drifting.

“Then why the worry lines?” Slayer asked, caressing the deep lines between her eyes.

She sighed softly. “I am eager for Ross’ return from Clan Skirling, Leora’s new home, and what reply she may have sent to my message that he took to her.”

“Do not worry he will deliver the message correctly. You had him repeat enough for him to remember it and he repeated it enough to me that I still recall it.” Slayer tempered his powerful voice to sound more like Ross as he repeated the message. “I am to tell her that you are doing well and are being well cared for, though you miss her and Elsie terribly. She is not to worry over you, though she knows you will ignore her words, but she is to trust that you are safe and well-protected, and that when it is safe, the three of you will reunite and have much to discuss and you look forward to that time And most importantly I am to tell her that you have found the love with the animals at Clan Ravinsher that Snowball had given you at home.”

“You sounded much like Ross. I only hope his memory is as good as yours.”

His voice turned powerful once again. “Ross has an excellent memory, so have no worries your message will reach your sister. I have been meaning to ask you, who is Snowball?”

Sky smiled softly. “A beautiful, precious, white cat I loved with all my heart, and I had since I was young.”

Slayer did not hide his surprise, understanding what that part of the message actually meant. “You are letting your sister know that you have found love here.”

“With the animals, as I said, though she might realize I mean more since Snowball meant so much to me.” Her smile faded. “Although, I do wonder if she would even give it thought since it was assumed I would never wed let alone fall in love because of my affliction. Elsie and Leora often told me that they would always look after me.”