Cree went to the door, his hand on the knob but he did not open it. He rested his brow to the back of the door and let out a breath he felt he had been holding far too long. The rage and fright he had felt upon seeing his wife struck as she shielded Fia’s body had had a fury rise up in him he had not felt since his days of charging into battle when nothing mattered but death and destruction. He had wanted to kill the man but his urge to see that his wife was safe had stopped him. He wished he had never brought Dawn here with him. He should have left her safe at home. He had convinced himself he had brought her along due to Old Mary’s prediction, but that was far from the truth. He’d been selfish. He had not wanted to be separated from her. Never ever did he want to be separated from her for any length of time. His heart simply could not take it.
He straightened up, drawing his shoulders back and with a fierce determination in his eyes to see this done so they could return home, he opened the door.
“My lord,” Dermid was quick to say but held his tongue when Cree raised his hand.
“I know my wife, Dermid. She set a trap for you, and I know how difficult it must have been to decide if you should rush for help or stay with her. The wiser choice would have been to yell down to Newlin for help cutting off her chance of sneaking down there.”
Dermid’s eyes widened, and he shook his head, not having even given that a thought.
“From this point on, you do not leave her side no matter what she does,” Cree ordered. “If she jumps down a hole, you follow her. Do I make myself clear?”
Dermid seemed hesitant to agree.
Cree was actually pleased with his reluctance. “I am glad you hesitate; you question how to get a message to me if something similar happened.”
“Aye, my lord,” Dermid said.
“Beast will remain with you and Dawn at all times. Tell the dog to go get me and he will see it done and bring me to the spot where he last saw you. Between the dog and Henry, we would have no difficulty finding you both. Also, two warriors trail you at a distance when outside, so they will see as well.”
“Aye, my lord. I will not leave my lady’s side for anything. I will send Beast to find you, and the two warriors as well,” Dermid said, repeating Lord Cree’s orders.
“Good. Lady Dawn sleeps but stay alert and let no one in to see her. I also gave Beast the same orders.” A solid thud was heard against the door and Cree smiled. “That’s Beast blocking the door.
“Aye, my lord, and I block this side,” Dermid said with a determined raise of his chin.
“Then Lady Dawn is well-protected,” Cree said and hurried down the stairs to speak with Newlin.
“Please forgive Byford, Lord Cree,” Newlin pleaded as soon as he entered the Great Hall. “He did not mean to strike Lady Dawn. She moved so quickly he had no chance to stop his swing.”
“You know better than to take me for a fool, Newlin,” Cree said, his voice filled with such powerful anger that the servants in the room scurried to the corners to hide.
Newlin backed away from Cree, his strong strides and his hands fisted at his sides appearing as if he was ready to strike.
Cree caught himself, stopping a safe distance from Newlin so that he could contain himself from pummeling the man. “You know full well that men who torture are picked for such a task because of their taste for inflicting pain on others. Tell me, does Byford inflict pain on others when his taste for such has gone unfed?”
“He is not like that,” Newlin said.
“Again, you think me a fool to believe that.” Cree’s fists tightened, turning his knuckles white since he was far too close to losing his patience. Something struck Cree then and he was annoyed he had not realized it sooner. “Auda was quick to see to Byford’s care. Who is he to her?”
Newlin sighed. “He is her brother. Please, my lord, please do not hurt him. I am truly sorry Lady Dawn got hurt, but I truly believe Byford did not strike her on purpose.”
“I will decide that when I speak with him,” Cree said.
Torin rushed into the room, interrupting their conversation. “Is it true? Does my future wife tend the demon?”
Newlin shook his head, fearing his troubles would never end.
“Aye, Cree said, when Newlin failed to speak. “Flora chose to tend the woman.”
Torin shook his head and was about to rush from the room when a man rushed in breathless.