Patience squirmed out of her husband’s grip and poked Rhys again. “I thought you loved Heather.”
“He does!” Heather said in a stern voice as she climbed out of bed, tucking the red silk that cocooned her to hold at her chest. She grimaced as she walked toward Patience.
Rhys moved to help her, but she stopped him with a raised hand and a stern look. She stopped beside Patience and Hunter wisely stepped away. “I do not interfere with you and Hunter. She looked over at Emma. “Or you and Rogan. I ask the same of you when it comes to my husband and me.”
“I do not want to see you hurt,” Patience said.
“Neither does my husband,” Heather said.
Emma fought back tears. “We have always looked after each other.”
“And we always will,” Heather assured her. “But things have changed since we wed.” She turned to Patience. “You need to know that the Dark Dragon loves me, and I love him just as I know Hunter loves you and you love him.” She turned to Emma. “Rogan loves you and you love him. You see, we are not the only ones who love us anymore.”
“I do not want us to part,” Emma said, a tear running down her cheek as she walked over to her sisters.
“We will never part,” Heather said, holding her arm out to embrace Emma.
Patience slipped under Heather’s other arm.
Rhys nodded to Hunter and Rogan and the three men slipped quietly out of the room, leaving the sisters alone.
Heather kissed Emma’s brow. “I will be there to deliver my niece or nephew.” She turned to Patience and hugged her closely. “And you will come spend time with Rhys and me so you can learn the ways of the ghost warriors. We will never part. We will always be sisters and we will always love one another.”
The three hugged and tears were plentiful, but the Macinnes sisters knew without a doubt that love would always keep them together.
* **
Rhys foundhis wife on the upper floor directing Nessa in the packing of Mary McComb’s solar.
“You have not slept enough,” he scolded as he walked over to her and took her in his arms.
“I could not return to sleep after speaking with my sisters,” she said, resting her head to his welcoming chest. “And I want to make sure that everything I want goes with us since you have plans for us to leave tomorrow.”
Rhys shook his head. “I need not ask how you know. You have friends here who would tell you.”
“I do not see how we can be done by tomorrow,” Heather said, “though your warriors have worked hard in emptying the room of all your treasures and loading them on to the enclosed wagons.”
“Your sisters have been a great help, and my people were aware that this was not a permanent home. I think most look forward to leaving and finally going home.”
Heather kissed his cheek. “You will always be my home, Rhys.”
That she continued to acknowledge him as Rhys, pleased him. He was Quinn no more and had not been for some time, and he was relieved that she understood that.
“I love you, wife,” he said and hugged her closely.
She smiled. “I will never grow tired of hearing you tell me that.”
“And I will never grow tired of telling you,” he said. “Now how can I help?”
* * *
Heather yawnedand dropped down in the chair by the hearth. Tonight would be her last night here. It was the place where she had come to discover her love for the Dark Dragon and reclaim her love for Quinn. It would always hold a special spot in her heart.
Rhys came up behind her and rested a strong hand on her shoulder. “You need to sleep. It will not be an easy journey for you with those bruises that still pain you. I have a cart prepared for you to travel in.”
Heather laughed. “I will ride in no cart. I left Macinnes keep in your arms, and I will return there in your arms.”
“You are a stubborn woman.”
