Before Heather could inquire about Glynnis, Seamus’s daughter called out for him.
“My Alaina keeps an eye on me. She will not admit it, but she fears me being carted off one night, never to see me again. I am old and nearly crippled and of no use to the Dragon. You be careful, my lady, do not become useless to the Dragon or you too will disappear.”
She watched him shuffle off, leaning heavily on his walking stick. She did not believe her husband evil, though her sensible side warned that two days’ time was not enough to truly know someone. Why then did she feel so strongly that evil did not reside in her husband? Her husband did, however, seem to be a man shrouded in mysteries and she was curious to solve them for her own peace of mind.
Roy returned and she left him to finish his chore.
Heather headed to the keep with the thought of asking Nessa if she knew about Glynnis and what had happened to her. Her husband was bidding his uncle good-bye as she approached, and she gave Ewan a wave as he rode by her.
Her husband walked down the steps to meet her and stretched out his hand. “Time for us to talk.” One look at her soft pink lips and his thoughts were not on talking.
Eager to speak with him, Heather hurried to take his hand, though once he took hold of it, a gentle tingle rippled through her. And for an instant something warned her to never let go.
Rhys settled Heather in a chair in his solar and before he could say a word Heather spoke.
“I am curious about something,” she said.
“Only one thing?” he asked.
Was that a slight smile she saw? Her own smile brightened at the thought that there was hope in getting the Dragon to smile. “One thing for now.”
“Have your say, for there is much I have to say to you.”
Heather did not let his chastising tone bother her. She continued, though her heart thumped a bit harder as she asked, “Where have all the McCombs gone? I recognize so few faces.”
“Who has been whispering in your ear?”
His curt response sent her heart thumping even harder. “What do you mean?”
He took a step closer to her. “Did you not say you wished for us to always be truthful with each other?”
She nodded.
“Then say what you will and be done with it.”
He sounded as if it was an order, so this time she decided to obey him. “Why are the older McComb people disappearing?”
He took another step closer and leaned over her, planting his hands on the arms of her chair. “That is not your concern.”
Was it her curiosity or foolishness that had her pursuing it? “It is everyone’s concern when clan members vanish without explanation.”
“How many times must I tell you that I rule here? My word is law. I need not explain myself to anyone. Your duty as my wife is to obey, without question. And that is what I expect you to do.”
She inched forward in her seat, her heart racing wildly now as she brought her face closer to his. She could not pull her gaze from his dark eyes, for they seemed to invite her in. But the question was—what would she find there? And once there would she be lost forever?
She spoke softly in almost a whisper as she said, “Is that what you truly want, a meek wife who never questions. A wife with no thoughts of her own?”
Her breath was soft and sweet as it drifted across his lips like a faint kiss and the thought came fast and furious.Kiss her. Difficult as it was, he ignored the urge. “I want an obedient wife who will not anger me at every turn.”
It struck her then like a great weight that surely had to be weighing him down, and she rested her hand to his cheek as she said, “What is it you fear?”
He stepped back quickly as if he had been struck. “I fear nothing.”
She stood. “I do not believe you. You reminded me about speaking the truth, now I ask the same of you.”
Rhys reached out, grabbing her by the shoulders. “Fear was beaten out of me a long timeago as was faith. Power is what matters. It controls. It rules. It is obeyed.”
“Love matters more,” Heather said and was shocked to hear him laugh, though it was no humorous laugh.
