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Shocked, Fia said, “You cannot mean to consummate our marriage?”
Her question was so unexpected that it silenced him for a moment, giving Fia enough time to continue talking, her own question causing her concern.
“I did not think that was part of your plan since it is much easier for a husband to rid himself of a wife if he has never left his seed in her.”
“You speak far too familiar with me, wife,” he scolded.
“You must forgive me, my lord, since I am unfamiliar with what talk is proper between a husband and wife. I was raised to question. It is how I gain knowledge. I am accustomed to talking freely with family, my mum and grandmother, my da having passed before I could have any memory of him, and so I assumed it was the same between husband and wife.” She shook her head gently. “But then you did not wed me to truly be your wife, did you?”
The sadness that surfaced in her dark eyes disturbed Varrick and that annoyed him and turned his tongue sharp. “You expect me to believe you have never seduced a man to your bed?”
“You fear I will seduce you?” she asked.
“I fear nothing, least of all your attempt to seduce me. I will not bed a witch,” Varrick said with a scowl of defiance.
Fia sighed with relief. “Thank you, my lord, for freeing me of that duty. I prefer to give my maidenhead to a man who has the courage to love me.”
Varrick’s bold blue eyes turned stormy. “You think I believe your lie that you have never laid with a man?”
“It matters not to me if you do or don’t. What matters is that you do not take from me what I will willingly give the man I love and who loves me.”
“And does such a man exist?” he asked and got annoyed that he did. What should it matter to him?
“If you ask if a man waits for me, I would like to think that such a man does, though we have yet to meet. My mum sensed when the man she would love was nearby. I hope I do the same one day.”
“So, you have yet to meet this man, if he exists at all?” Varrick asked.
“Aye, but I can hope, though he would have to be a man of great courage to love a woman that so many believe is a witch.”
“If you think this mysterious man will suddenly appear and rescue you from me, then it is a fool’s thought, for you are my wife and I will let no one take what is mine.”
She feared that was how he might feel, and it made her fear even more what her fate would be with him.
She could not help but speak her worry. “The warning could very well be right that you are my fate.”
Varrick did not hide his surprise. “How am I your fate and who warned you?”
She silently admonished herself for not minding her tongue. Her knowing was not something she shared easily. So, how then did she explain it to him?
“I do not know how you are my fate or even if it has yet to be decided.”
When she failed to answer the other part of his question, he asked, “And who warned you?”
She was not sure if she should tell him, but did she have a choice?
“You will tell me, wife,” he demanded, seeing her reluctance to respond.
It appeared she had no choice, and she would not lie to him, for eventually he would come to discover it. “A knowing that comes with the skill of some healers.”
His brow narrowed as he thought over her remark, familiar with such a skill, having witnessed it. “So, you do possess a dark power.”
“Knowing is not the work of dark power.”
He thought otherwise. “It is deemed the work of evil.”
“You are an exceptional warrior, skilled in battle. You plan your battles, when possible, but other times it is instinct that you rely on and no doubt you listen to it.”
“Of course, instinct has saved many a warrior,” he agreed.
