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Sky nodded, eager to quench her thirst and even more eager to return home.

He took hold of her arm and lowered her gently to sit by the stream and he almost cringed along with her when he saw the pain it caused her.

“You will rest when we get home,” he ordered and could not stop himself from kissing her lips ever so gently after sitting beside her.

“I look forward to it and more of your kisses,” she said and cupped her hands to take a drink and gasped lightly at the chilly water stinging the scratch on her face.

Slayer took a gentle hold of her chin and turned her face toward him. “You landed on the pine tree, didn’t you?” He ran his hand gently over the minor scratch.

“Aye. It saved my life as did the wolves. I kept drifting in and out of consciousness. They poked me with their nose to wake me and warn me someone approached. Not knowing who it was, I tried to hide, so I could see if it was you, but the wolves kept urging me away, so I trusted them.”

“It was Lester and a few of his men.”

“Oh, he told me he meant me no harm. He would have helped me.”

“Nay. The wolves were right in urging you away. Lester and his men were attacked. He was the only one to survive, though not for long if my men do not reach him. The group who attacked him were searching for you to take to someone. Lester says you are a daughter of the Wolf clan and this person looking for you blames you for something and seeks revenge.”

Sky was stunned. “Lester knows who my parents are?”

“I imagine so since he is from the Wolf clan.”

She reached out to grab her husband’s arm. “I do hope he survives. There is so much he could tell us.”

“Hopefully, my men have reached him. I did what I could for him, but I could not stay with him. I needed to find you.”

Sky rested her brow to his. “And I could not have been happier to see you.”

She kissed him gently this time, lingering a bit until Slayer ended the kiss reluctantly.

“We need to go. Drink your fill for we will not be stopping again,” he said, annoyed that he had to rush her when she needed to rest.

Her brow narrowed in worry.

He knew what concerned her for it concerned him as well. “I will keep you safe.”

“Not at the cost of your life,” she cautioned.

“Drink. We must leave,” he ordered.

Sky did not argue with him. It was futile to do so. He would have his way, though not if she could help it.

They had barely left the stream when the large wolf appeared in front of them, blocking the way.

“He is warning us. We need to go back to the wolf’s den and hide.” Sky shook her head when her husband looked ready to argue. “We must go. Now.”

“The wolves may not let me enter,” Slayer said.

“He will. He senses the danger.”

Slayer went to argue when he heard the thundering roar of horses’ hooves. It was no small group headed their way. He scooped his wife up in his arms and ran.

The two wolves paced in front of the cave once Sky and Slayer entered, and Sky worried what might happen to them while trying to protect her.

“A large troop approaches,” Slayer warned, sitting cramped in the confined cave with his wife tucked tightly against him.

“Not yours?”

“Nay. Not mine,” he confirmed, and his mind ran wild with what he could do to keep his wife safe and grew furious when he was unable to find a solution.