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Slayer made quick work of the ropes that bound her, feeling the same. It may have been barely a sunrise since he had held her, but that was too long for him.

Sky collapsed in his arms, her limbs somewhat numb from being constrained and sighed softly when he lifted her into his arms. He walked over to a large oak and sat beneath it, keeping her snug against him as he settled her in his lap.

Fane did not waste any time parking himself next to them, his eyes on the wolves in the distance.

She kept her head rested on his chest, his steady heartbeat and the strength in which he held her reassuring, but it was the words of love he whispered near her ear that made her feel the safest she had ever felt.

She raised her head to rest her brow against his. “I am good now that I am in your arms, wrapped in your love.”

“And in my arms is where you will forever remain along with my love for you that is neverending.”

“It is exactly where I want to be,” Sky said, and went to kiss him when a sudden pain made her wince.

“You need to rest,” he ordered, annoyed that he had been so anxious to get her in his arms that he had not considered her injuries.

“Aye, I do, and after I rest, I need you.”

“After you have an extended rest and not before then,” Slayer said and kissed her in a way that laid claim to her so that anyone who looked upon them had no doubt that she belonged to him.

“I want to go home, husband,” she said, “and tell you what Halfdan told me.”

“I heard part of it as I got close.”

“Then you know Clyde is my da?” She got teary-eyed again thinking about it.

Slayer did not stop his surprise from showing. “That I did not hear, but I want to know all about it.”

“I am eager to share the news with you, but what did you hear?”

“I heard him admit he was responsible for my brother and father’s death, though I did not understand what he said about my mom.”

“Take me home, husband, and I will explain everything to you.”

“There is something you should know before we arrive home,” Slayer said, his brow narrowing.

Sky grew anxious. “What is wrong? Did the clan lose many in the attack?”

“None in the clan was lost. I suspected what Halfdan might have planned, and I had troops waiting. They never reached the clan. I had the attack horn sounded, knowing he would have men nearby and once they heard it, they would run and tell Halfdan.”

“Then what must you tell me?”

“Something much worse,” he said with a scowl. “Your sister Leora is at the keep.”

CHAPTER27

Slayer entered his bedchamber with Noble not far behind him. “You have had enough time together. I want time alone with my wife.”

“I have not seen her in?—”

Slayer did not let Leora finish. “I do not care. I allowed you?—”

“Allowed me?” Leora glared at him.

Fane sat up from where he was resting by the hearth, his lips going up ready to snarl. Angel joined, hissing from where she sat between his front legs. Both stopped and laid back down when Sky shook her head at him, Angel returning to snuggle against Fane.

“Aye. I allowed you to tend to your sister’s care when we arrived home to give you time to talk as I knew my wife would want to do. Now you will leave us be for the night.”

Leora went to argue.