He wrapped her in his arms a short time later, after their breathing had calmed, their hearts had stopped racing, their bodies had cooled, and he had covered them with the soft wool blankets.
They snuggled together more content than ever.
“You feel well?”
She tapped his arm once.
He kissed her temple again. “I am glad for I have missed you greatly.”
Her heart fluttered at his admission, though a soft voice warned, be careful he can give you no more. But another voice countered with, let his heart speak for itself.
He snuggled himself more firmly around her, keeping her tight against him and they both drifted off into a contented slumber.
~~~
Cree woke Dawn the next morning with soft kisses and gentle lovemaking and afterwards he reluctantly left her to sleep and returned to the keep.
Lucerne was seated at the dais with Sloan when he entered the Great Hall.
“Good morning, my lord,” she said with a bow of her head. “I hope you slept well.”
“Exceptionally so,” he said joining her at the long table, though normally Sloan and he took their meals at a table close to the large hearth. The dais always seemed too removed to Cree.
“Does the snow still fall,” she asked.
“Yes, though lightly.” He sat beside her famished and eager to enjoy the morning meal.
A large warrior tramped into the Great Hall snow falling from his cloak and boots. He stopped before the dais with a bow. “Sorry to disturb you, my lord, but tracks have been spotted in the woods.”
“Alert the guard at her house and take more men and see what you can find,” Cree ordered. The man bowed his head and took his leave.
“Someone is in danger and needs guarding?’ Lucerne asked.
“It is nothing that concerns you,” Cree said.
“Everything that concerns you concerns me. I am to be your wife and I will stand by your side and defend you no matter the circumstances.”
“I would expect no less from you; it is your duty.” If she had hoped to impress him with that declaration she had failed. As his wife that was her duty plain and simple and he didn’t want to have to remind her of it.
Dawn wasn’t his wife but she had suffered a beating because of him and had still retained her courage and also her foolishness. He looked to Sloan. “The window has been boarded?”
“It is most secured,” Sloan said with a nod.
“Perhaps I should leave you two alone to discuss matters,” Lucerne said with a bite of sarcasm.
“A wise choice,” Cree said.
Lucerne stood with a scowl that would rival Cree’s and left the Great Hall.
Sloan turned to Cree. “She is a formidable woman.”
“Who will learn her place,” Cree said as if decreeing it. “As soon as I’m done fortifying myself for the morn we’ll go see what the trackers have learned. I don’t care for the fact that someone has been spotted. Who would dare travel in this weather?”
“Those who are up to no good,” Sloan answered.
“Rem’s warning troubles me,” Cree said. “To think that men will keep coming after Dawn until one of them succeeds in taking her life makes no sense. The only way to stop them is to discover who hired them.”
“Not an easy task”
“But not impossible,” Cree said. “Also, it’s time to bring my sister home. As soon as the snow stops, send a troop of men for her.”
“Having two women to deal with aren’t enough for you; you’re going to add your sister to the lot?” Sloan chuckled.
“We had once been close,”—Cree’s brow knitted as if recalling troubled memories— “circumstances forced us apart and it’s time for us to be a family again. It’s time she had a home. Send a sizeable troop to the Abbey to bring her here.”
“I will—”
A piercing scream had both men jumping out of their seats as Lucerne rushed into the Great Hall. Her face was flushed, her cheeks cherry red, and her chest heaved as she stopped in front of the dais.
“The insolent man insulted me. Punish him, he deserves a whipping,” she all but screamed at Cree.
Sloan turned and sent Cree a pleading look. They both knew what this was about and Sloan, as usual, worried about losing Turbett.
Cree leaned over the table slapping his hands down on it. “You come screaming in here like a harpy, demand that I heed your command and you are yet my wife. Is this rude manner of yours what I am to expect from you when we wed?”
“I may not be your wife yet, but I see no reason why I should be abused by that insufferable man when all I’m trying to do is learn the workings of your keep so that when we do wed I have my duties firm in hand.”
“Did I not tell you that Flanna would deal with Turbett?”
“See,” Lucerne said with a shake of her finger. “You know who I speak of without me having mentioned his name. Therefore he must be a difficult servant to deal with. I know well how to handle an insubordinate servant. I will have him obeying me in no time and besides it’s my duty.”