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Lord Delaney glared at him. Harry Delaney stepped forward and announced, “We’ve come to take Bria home.”

Chapter thirty-four

Afierce protectiveness flared inside Terran. “She is my wife, sir,” he replied stiffly.

“You tried to kill her!” Harry spat.

Terran’s jaw clenched. They thought he had poisoned Bria!

“Father,” Lord Delaney commanded in a stern voice, quieting the old man. He turned to Terran. “We see what a mistake this marriage has been. You don’t want her any more than I want her to be your wife.”

Terran fought back the urge to challenge Lord Delaney, to call him out for his slanderous words. “Regardless, the act is done,” Terran replied.

Lord Delaney straightened slightly. “Be reasonable, Knowles.”

“We will not tolerate your abuse of Bria,” Harry said. “She means more to us than that. You can keep the wretched dowry if it means that much to you, but let Bria go.”

Terran stared hard at Harry. He would never let Bria go! She was his wife, and she meant more to him than anything -- more than the infernal dowry that would save his castle and lands. Why, he’d give it all back to keep her, every damned bit of it. Angry at the thought the Delaneys put in his mind, he strode from the room, ignoring their calls.

“Do what you must,” Harry cried, “but she is returning with us.”

Terran tried to calm himself. They were just trying to protect her. But the very idea that he, her husband, her lord, would poison her was preposterous. He’d do everything in his power to keep her safe. To keep her from harm.

And how are you going to do that? an inner voice challenged. He’d have to watch her every moment of every day, watch what she ate, to whom she spoke, what she touched. Even then, he couldn’t guarantee her safety.

The thought that he couldn’t protect his own wife pierced his heart and his pride.

“M’lord!”

Terran turned at Kenric’s voice.

“Shall I escort the Delaneys from our lands?”

For a long moment, Terran studied Kenric’s face. His trusted cousin, the sheriff of his lands, and more importantly his friend. How could he be capable of harming Bria? Yet Bria insisted he’d poisoned her. He wasn’t sure. Damn it, he just wasn’t sure. Could he risk her life?

“No,” Terran replied. “Not just yet.”

Bria felt jubilant and more alive than she ever had. Terran had remained at her side for two entire days, only now allowing her to accompany him to the Great Hall to eat. His power and presence radiated over her like a shield, protecting her with its invisible force. She felt safe and happy. Terran was a good, decent man. He wasn’t her enemy. He never had been.

She held his arm, her hand resting on his forearm, proudly accompanying him through the hallways.

The Great Hall was empty of servants and peasants. How strange, she thought. She scanned the large room and saw all the tables and benches had been removed except for the head table. Near the head table stood a group of men, two of whom she recognized instantly. A huge grin lit her face.

Bria broke free of Terran’s arm and raced to embrace her father. Then she turned to hug her grandfather. She looked back at her husband. “Terran,” she began, but stopped when she saw his expression.

His face was a mask of stone. He moved to stand beside Kenric. Dread and confusion filled her. She was standing but a few feet from her would-be murderer. Why wasn’t Kenric locked up somewhere? Didn’t Terran realize what a madman he was?

Bria stepped forward. “Terran,” she whispered beseechingly, “what’s going on?”

On Kenric’s lips was a victorious smile.

Bria refused to acknowledge it, refused to let the shivers going up her spine alarm her. “Terran...”

“You may take her now,” Terran said impassively.

Her father put his hand on her arm. She lifted a baffled gaze to him, then broke away, stepping toward Terran. “I don’t understand,” she said.

“There’s nothing to understand,” he said. “I don’t want you any longer.”