Dani jumped and spun to face him, her eyes wide and startled.
"Pray pardon, lass, but you should nay have gotten so close to Wilona nor confronted her."
She frowned. "How do you know what I did? You weren't here, as usual. I assumed you were scouring the borders for invaders. If so, how did the witch get through."
"Our lands are vast. I cannot be in fifty places at once," Gavin said, willing her to never learn of his animal form. "Ewan told me what transpired in the great hall." Gavin had actually been outside in the courtyard, dodging the swinging blades of Wilona's guards. But he had heard every word shouted near the portal. "Anyway… stay far away from Wilona. If she returns, you are to bar yourself in this chamber."
Dani glared. "I'm not a coward. I'm not going to hide from her."
That made Gavin pause, and he found himself admiring her courage even more than usual. He had never known a woman willing to confront a witch. "Dani, you are a strong and brave lass but no match for Wilona."
"What about you, you big lug? I was worried Wilona's guards had killed you!"
He grinned, for she had in effect called him a big ear, one of her many strange sayings. "I thank you for worrying, but I'm well. I won't take on a whole army by myself." He glanced at the cross she held in her hand. "Where did you get that?"
"Ewan gave it to me. It's made of Rowen, and he says it will protect me from her."
Gavin nodded. "I hope it will, but there's nay guarantee. That hag has a spell or potion for everything."
Dani moved to sit by the fireplace, where she added a small peat briquette. He glanced around the candlelit room to find a pale blue gown spread upon the bed. He knew it came from his mother's trunk, for his father had told him the story of this gown. "'Tis the gown my mother wore the day she married my father."
Dani's shocked gaze flew to his. "Seriously?"
"I am most serious. 'Twas before my birth, of course, but my father told me."
She swallowed hard, and her eyes glittered before she glanced away.
He felt as if he'd been punched in the gut. "Are you crying?"
"No." She snorted. "That would be stupid." But she would not look him in the eye again.
He glanced at the dress, wondering why she had chosen that one and laid it out. Was she preparing for the ceremony? His heart lifted at the possibility.
Paying him no attention, she sat on the chair and stared into the fire. He approached and knelt beside her. Touching her cheek, he nudged her face toward him.
"You've had today to think about wedding me. Have you decided?" He searched her eyes.
She blinked rapidly against the glistening hint of tears. She then lifted a hand and slid it around his neck. The sweet kiss she pressed to his lips near melted his heart. She pulled back a breath. "Yes, I want to marry you," she whispered.
"Thank the saints," he hissed, then claimed her mouth. He couldn't keep the kiss innocent like the one she'd gifted him. She had unleashed his lusts, and he could scarce control himself. He wanted to lift her from the chair and carry her to the bed. She did not shy away from the rapacious kisses he gave her, and he craved her delectable mouth. But he must rein himself in until after the wedding ceremony.
"Will you marry me this night?" he asked in a heated whisper against her mouth.
Her eyes dark and passion-filled, she nodded. "Maybe I'm crazy, but yes."
"You'll nay regret it," he promised. Indeed, he wished to bring her pleasure such as she had never known. A fiery devotion ignited within his chest that could not be extinguished until his dying day.
Intensity pulsing in his heart, he tried to instill this affection into the next fervent kiss he let loose upon her.
His need for her near suffocated him. Pressing his forehead against hers, he broke the kiss and opened his eyes. Pulling back a few inches, he fully realized the strength of their soul connection.
"I'll go see if Father John is up to the task."
She nodded, her gaze lively with excitement. "I'll need help with lacing up the dress. Oh, and I'd love a bath first."
A lot of time and effort went into getting a bathtub full of hot water ready. "How about afterward?"
She scowled. "Get married and then have a bath? Seems backward."
