Donald turned to Heather. “I have wanted your happiness above all else, and there is nothing I would not do to see that come true. But I also know there is nothing you would not do to see your sisters and your clan safe."
“Father, no!” Emma cried out and Rogan was quick to slip his arm around his wife.
Donald stepped closer to Heather and reached out to take firm hold of her hands.
Heather was grateful for his strong grip, for it meant he had healed well, and she was pleased to feel how warm they were when his illness had turned them so cold. But she was also reminded of how he had taken her hands in this familiar way on another day.
He had woken her and taken her to his solar. It was there he had taken her small hands in his just as he did now and had told her that her mum had died and that it was necessary, and her duty, to be brave and strong for her sisters and the clan. With just a few words she had gone from a carefree, young lass to a lass with responsibilities far beyond her barely eight years.
The weight of her father’s words had placed a heavy burden on her that day, and she feared thathis words this day would be more terrifying than burdensome.
“You are a most precious daughter to me, Heather, and know that I love you dearly and that I did what had to be done.” Donald took a strong breath, squeezed his daughter’s trembling hands and with tears threatening his aging eyes said, “I wed you to the Dark Dragon.”
CHAPTER 2
Shock froze Heather while chaos seemed to reign around her. Her sisters’ raised voices rang in her ears as they endlessly berated their father. He, however, ignored them. His eyes remained focused on Heather and his hands continued to hold hers firmly, as if he did not want to let her go.
It was funny that she just noticed how the few wrinkles around his eyes had multiplied, spread wider, and deepened. It had not only been age and illness that had taken a toll on him, but concern for his daughters and clan whose care and protection fell solely on him. And her heart felt heavy with his burdens.
“This cannot be allowed,” Patience screamed her fist pounding the table.
Donald released Heather’s hands after giving them a gentle squeeze and stepped to her side to face Patience, and in a commanding tone said, “It is done and cannot be undone.”
Patience opened her mouth to argue.
Her father raised his hand, silencing her before she could speak. “Do not bother to waste your breath, Patience. The deed is done and the Dark Dragon is here to collect his bride.”
Tears ran down Emma’s cheeks. “You cannot mean to sacrifice Heather to that monster.”
Rogan took his wife’s hand. “As dreadful as it sounds, I must agree with your father.”
Emma yanked her hand out of her husband’s and stepped away from him. “You cannot be serious.”
“I too agree with him,” Hunter said and looked to Patience. “And you, who hope one day to lead your clan, must see the necessity, yet the great difficulty of his decision.”
Patience shook her head and dropped down to sit on the edge of the bench behind her. “I could not do this.”
“Of course not,” Heather said, walking over to her. “And I would not make you. I would make the choice myself, for I could not live knowing that my selfishness would be the death of many, least of all my sisters.”
Emma joined them, her tears continuing to fall. “It is not fair.”
Heather heard her father’s words from all those years ago, reminding her and they slipped from her lips. “It is necessary and it is my duty.” She looked down at Patience. “Did you not tell me that you wed Hunter out of duty?”
Patience stood. “Aye, I did, but Hunter is a good man with a kind soul.” She shivered as she said, “The Dark Dragon has no soul, and we still do not know why he abducted you.”
“I refused most vehemently his first marriage proposal,” their father informed them all. “His second one warned me of the consequences if Idid not agree. My concerns grew when our allies began to warn me of whispers that the Dark Dragon planned to join forces with the Clan McLaud.”
“Is that why our neighbors the Clan MacTavish never sent help when I asked for a troop of their warriors to meet us at their border?” Patience asked, recalling their dangerous journey home from McLaud land.
Donald nodded. “They feared showing their allegiance to us with word spreading that Greer McLaud was about to sign a pact with?—”
“The devil,” Patience finished.
“So you signed with the devil instead,” Emma said, shaking her head.
“Did he at least give his word that he would treat her well?” Patience asked.
“What good is the word of such a vile man?” Emma said frustrated.
