“It is not their choice; it is mine,” Rhys said. “And I do what must be done for their well-being.”
“My brother Greer cares for no one’s well-being. He wants war with the Clan Macinnes. He has wanted war with them for some time. He has planned for war and has gathered allies that fear him too much to deny him,” Hunter said.
Rhys shook his head. “Then his allies must be made to fear someone more than him. And I am sure you have something to say about that, Patience, so do join us.”
“Damn, you heard me,” Patience said, stepping out of the shadows and approaching the table. “I thought I might have gotten the hang of walking silently.”
Hunter held his hand out to her. “I did not hear you.”
“Neither did I,” Rogan said.
Patience took her husband’s hand and slipped her legs over the bench to sit beside him. “You two do not count.” She looked at Rhys. “And the only person Greer’s allies would fear more than him would be you. But it takes time for word to reach them that the Dark Dragon has wed a Macinnes and is now allied with the clan. And then there is your foe. Surely, he would ally with Greer if it would benefit him.”
“Haidar does not ally with anyone. He uses them until they are of no more use to him.”
“I am curious,” Patience said.
“A trait you share with your sister,” Rhys said.
“I share many good traits with her and Emma,” Patience said with a smile. “Why leave here when sizeable troops have arrived to protect you?”
“They are not here to protect me. They are here to prevent war.”
Nessa rushed into the room. “Lady Patience, your sister Emma asks that you hurry to Lady Heather’s room.”
Patience sprang up off the bench, though not as quickly as Rhys.
“What is wrong?” Rhys demanded, walking toward Nessa with Patience hurrying alongside him.
Nessa bit at her lips and tears stung at her eyes. “I do not know.”
Rhys hurried up the stairs, Patience trying unsuccessfully to get passed him. He threw open the door and Patience ducked under his arm and rushed in before him.
“What is wrong?” Patience asked anxiously.
“Nothing,” Heather assured her sister with a yawn.
Rogan and Hunter entered the room and stood to the side.
Rhys looked at his wife and silently cursed himself. She looked exhausted, her face pale and her eyes drooping, as if they wished to close, and her shoulders slumped.
“I could not wake her,” Emma said worry still clear in her voice. “And I found her wrapped in this red silk...” She did not finish the obvious. Heather was naked beneath the red silk.
“I woke in the middle of the night and could not sleep. I only fell asleep a short while ago,” Heather explained her face flushing pink.
“You are feverish again and how do you explain what you are wrapped in?” Emma asked, her hand going to Heather’s brow.
Heather shoved her sister’s hand away. “I have no fever. I am tired that is all.”
Patience turned and marched over to Rhys and poked him in the chest. “You did this. You could not keep your hands off her.”
Emma gasped. “Did you? I warned you against it.”
Hunter and Rogan went to their wives.
Rogan slipped his arm around Emma. “This is best left for Rhys and Heather.”
Hunter took hold of Patience. “Rogan is right.”
