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He joined his wife, soaring together in their passion, reaching the precipice together, and tumbling off it together in a shattering climax wrapped in love.

“I love you, Noble,” she whispered in his ear as he lay collapsed on top of her.

He raised his head. “You need not say it—”

She pressed her finger to his lips. “I say I love you because it is what I feel in my heart and in my soul. You have become an integral part of me, one I cannot, nor do I want to live without. I have a fierce burning love for you, husband, that will burn forever within me.”

He kissed her, then rolled off her taking her with him to rest against him, his arm strong around her. “We were meant for each other, wife. We are much alike, and fate found a way to bring us together.”

“And I am forever grateful that fate did.”

“As am I,” he agreed. “Now tell me what chaotic thoughts keep you from sleeping.”

She smiled as she cuddled against him. “They are all gone now.”

“I chased them, did I?”

“They fled in fear,” she said chuckling.

“Good, now you can sleep comfortably.”

“As long as I sleep beside you, I will sleep comfortably,” she said and kissed his chest.

“Good then, no more sneaking off to that other bedchamber. I will have the bed removed and you can make it your solar.”

“I think the bed should remain.”

Noble glared at her.

Leora smiled. “It is a good place for me to deliver our bairns—of which we will have many.”

“That I can guarantee you, wife.”

Noble remained awake until sleep claimed his wife, which did not take long, only then did he sleep, content she would stay put in his arms.

He did not know how long they had slept when his wife suddenly jolted up in bed and said, “I know how Adele’s attacker got here without being seen.”

CHAPTER19

Noble watched his wife walk through the village, not that she got much walking done, stopping to chat with almost everyone or someone stopping her to chat. It had been weeks since Adele had been attacked, and since his wife had jolted up in bed and told him she knew how the attacker had managed to enter the clan unseen. And damn if it hadn’t made the most sense. She told him someone had to have been in the woods and spotted the couple and started watching them and realized they knew how to avoid the sentinels.

He got annoyed he hadn’t thought of it right away. It was one of the reasons, when trouble was brewing, that a chieftain or lord forbade anyone to leave the clan without permission. Lance, after much tracking, had proved Leora’s theory to be true. He had found tracks that had taken him to a campsite where a small troop of warriors had camped. They were gone now, dispersed in three different directions. Noble had alerted Slayer, and more sentinels were stationed in the area.

The clan was relieved to know the attacker wasn’t among them, but they remained alert and ready, knowing it was not over yet. All were pleased that Adele was growing stronger every day, under the watchful and commanding eye of Novice Angelica. Mother Abbess had returned to her duties at the abbey, leaving the novice and another nun to care for Adele. Wendell spent much time with her, and many believed his strong love for her was what helped her to survive.

Adele settled the question as soon as she was able to as to what she was doing in the barn. It was a simple enough explanation. She had gone to fetch a larger basket she had seen there since she had squirreled away some food for her and Wendell to enjoy together. She never reached the basket, hearing a sound and turning to face a shadow and felt a stab to her stomach. The next thing she knew she was waking in her cottage in horrible pain, but she was relieved to see Wendell sitting beside the bed and Mother Abbess hovering over her.

Noble surmised the culprit believed he got his target and feared being caught upon hearing Chief’s barks, he hurried off when the chance permitted. Another reason why Lance came upon a cold camp. The mercenaries had left thinking their mission successful.

Noble smiled, seeing Chief tumble over his own feet as he chased the young bairns around, yapping at them. The pup had grown quite a bit, though he was still only a pup, and he forever followed Leora around. He was glad the pup did since he barked if someone got too close to her, though not when Noble did.

Life had become more pleasant with the passing days, the weather proving even more pleasant, the warmth of summer beginning to take hold. He favored being chieftain of a clan, and he was pleased the clan was flourishing under his leadership. Several cottages were close to being completely built with more continuing to be built, fields and gardens were flourishing, sheds were nearly filled to the brim with food, and people were hungry no more.

Noble was also glad his marriage was flourishing. He and Leora talked much, laughed often, and made love almost every night, which meant she would be with child soon, and that filled him with joy. He often thought of having a wife one day, but he had never thought of his wife as someone he would turn to when he needed counsel. He found himself doing that more and more. Surprisingly, even Finley sought her opinion at times. His wife had become an essential part of his leadership, and he often felt blessed that fate had brought them together.

His wife waved when she spotted him and ended her conversation with two women to hurry to him, Chief following at her heels, and she hooked her arm around his when she reached him.

Noble leaned down to steal a quick kiss. “I miss you when you are gone too long from my side.”