She went to close the door when a wind whipped it out of her hand, slamming it shut in her face. She jumped back startled, her heart pounding in her chest. The wind no doubt came from an open window in the room, but she decided against confirming her suspicion and hurried over to the other door. The shadows seemed darker in this space, almost as if they were embracing her or were they trying to imprison her?
Heather almost reconsidered exploring what lay beyond the door. She could always return another time, preferably during the day when the sun shined bright. A loud crack of thunder causedher to jump in fright and her heart to continue to pound.
Once she reached the door, she turned her head and placed her ear closer to it to see if she could hear any sounds coming from inside. She wondered then what she would do if she found women being kept as slaves in the room. An answer came easily. She would free them and send them home to her sisters.
She shook her head at the nonsensical thought. How could there be prisoners when there was no lock on the door. And why would Rhys keep women as slaves to satisfy his lust when he was bringing a wife home? Unless...could he be that insatiable when it came to coupling? Did he require more than one woman to satisfy him?
She would find out tonight or would she find out when she opened this door?
The torch in the sconce flickered, sending shadows dancing across the wood door as if they dared her to enter the den of iniquity. She raised her hand slowly, telling herself this was necessary, she had to do it. She had to discover what lay beyond the door.
Ever so slowly, she brought her hand down on the metal latch.
A large shadow suddenly loomed over her, spreading around her, consuming her, swallowing her whole while a strong hand fell across hers, gripping it tightly.
CHAPTER 7
“Never, ever, enter this room.”
Heather’s gasp caught in her throat and her legs turned weak. She did not know whether to be relieved that her husband was behind her or frightened that it was him.
He took firm hold of her hand resting on the latch and spun her around to face him. Her body fell against his and he held her there against him. He wore no armor over his black shirt so her breasts were planted firmly against his hard chest and she felt every taut muscle.
“What are you doing up here?”
“Exploring,” she said, though it did not sound convincing to her own ears.
“In your nightdress on your wedding night?”
“I got restless.” This time the truth rang true in her voice. She was restless to know what was going on, not only in the forbidden room but about the surprise attack.
The torch sconce suddenly flickered low and then, as if a strong breath blew at it, it snuffed out completely, leaving her and Rhys engulfed in total darkness.
Heather reacted instinctively, her arms went around her husband and she held on tight.
The scent of lavender from her freshly washed hair drifted up and wrapped around him asstrongly as her arms wrapped around his waist. “There is nothing to fear when I am with you,” he said, feeling her body tremble against him.
His words soothed and so did the strength of him coiled protectively around her, but what of the darkness. Heather voiced her fear. “The darkness does not let us see.”
“Fear stops you from seeing, not the darkness.” He lifted her just enough so that her feet did not touch the floor and began walking.
Heather was amazed that he walked as if he could clearly see every step he took. She kept her arms firm around him, not that it was necessary she held on to him, the strength of his one arm alone was enough to hold her with ease.
She was relieved to see a flicker of light ahead as Rhys confidently proceeded down the stairs. And she did not mind that he did not place her on her feet until they were in their bedchamber.
Hundreds of questions wanted to spill from her lips, but she chose silence, waiting to see what he would say to her.
“Do not venture from this room.”
Heather stood staring at the door as it closed shut behind him. Why had he returned if only to leave again? The question got her thinking. How had he known she was on the upper floor or had he? Had he come to the upper floor to retrieve something or in search of her? And why was she never to enter that room?
With questions continuing to grow, Heather began to pace. He had left her just as he had in his solar, which could only mean that he had not returned for her. What had brought him back to the keep and what had brought him to the upper floor?
She raised her hand to cover a yawn and realized that the long, eventful day was fast taking its toll on her. Finding out she was wed to the Dark Dragon, being taken away from her home and family, getting attacked by warriors with similar skills to the ghost warriors, tending the fallen and injured warriors, learning that many of the McComb clan had disappeared without a trace, and then being ordered never to enter a particular room made her wonder if she could possibly be caught in a nightmare. Perhaps if she went to sleep, she would wake up at home with her loving family around her.
Though, what if it was not a dream? Her husband would certainly expect her to be waiting for him. Another yawn had her approaching the bed. She could rest, not sleep, though if sleep claimed her then perhaps she would wake and find herself home.
Home is wherever I am.
