“Wait,” Rhys ordered.
Heather did not argue. She trusted her husband; he would not fail her sister.
“You did this yourself,” Hunter said and cast a quick glance at Rhys who gave a slight nod to him.
“I should have killed you before I killed our father,” Greer shouted. “You were always nothing but trouble to me.”
“Then here is your chance. Fight me like a true warrior.”
Greer looked from his brother to Rhys. “Once I kill you the Dragon will kill me.”
“I give you my word that if you kill me no one will stop you. You will go free,” Hunter said and gave a nod to the Dragon.
“I will see your word kept,” Rhys said.
Greer let go of Patience and stepped away as she dropped to the ground.
Rhys went over and lifted her into his arms and brought her to his anxious wife.
“Leave us,” Greer shouted.
Rhys turned after placing Patience on the ground, Heather already busy tending to her. “If I leave and you live there will be no one to guarantee your safety. Now fight and be done with it, you fool.”
“I will come back for you,” Greer sneered.
Rhys laughed. “Ghosts do not frighten me.”
Raging anger turned Greer’s face bright red and like the fool he was, he charged at his brother.
Rhys was aware of how skilled Hunter was with a sword, but it was his ability to focus and let nothing interfere when he wielded his sword that made Hunter an exceptional swordsman.
Greer thrashed about while Hunter delivered precise blows and Rhys could see that Hunter wasdelaying killing his brother, but then Greer deserved to suffer some before he died for having taken his own father’s life.
“Kill the fool and be done with it!” Heather shouted.
Rhys turned, shocked by her words.
Hunter smiled, though it vanished as with two quick strokes he ended it, Greer’s body dropping to the ground dead. Hunter hurried to his wife. When he saw her eyes closed and looking so lifeless, his eyes went anxiously to Heather.
“We need to get her inside and sear the wound before she loses more blood,” Heather said. “And you must know it was Patience who insisted I shout that out to you.”
“I knew the words were hers even if the voice was not,” Hunter said, easing his wife up into his arms.
“She wanted you beside her that was why she urged you to be done with it,” Heather said. “Whenever she got sick or frightened when she was young, she would not want me to leave her side. Now, as it should be, she wants you...her husband.”
“I will not be leaving her side until she is well,” Hunter said and carried her to the door.
“I never wager,” Rhys called out, “but I wager you will be eating those words soon enough.”
CHAPTER 33
One month later
The Macinnes sisterssat on a bench in the garden that had once been Heathers pride and joy, their hands clasped to one another.
“You will see that the garden is tended well,” Heather said tears clouding her eyes.
“I will make certain of it,” Patience said, sniffling back tears.
