“You are a wise man.”
“A cautious and untrusting man,” Warrick corrected. “You killed Ronald when he met with Wynn.”
“I did. He threatened my daughter’s safety, her life, and Wynn was only too glad to help me protect Adara as she has done all this time, never revealing Adara’s or my true identity. Listening and learning if anyone made mention of a true heir to the Scottish throne. She was delighted when Adara arrived here. She could watch over her and keep her safe… until you arrived and then she began to worry. Now you know all of it and it remains to be seen what you will do with it.”
“You know damn well I will not have it known that Adara is your daughter and put her life at risk. You are far from blind. You know I love your daughter and would do anything to keep her safe. It is why you remained here when I arrived with her as my wife. You waited to see how I would treat her.”
“Aye, I did, and at first I doubted you were good enough for her, but in time I saw in her eyes what I had seen in her mum’s eyes… a love so strong it could not be denied. I saw the same in you and knew my daughter had found a good man despite your infamous reputation.”
“We will handle this,” Warrick said, “but you know you have no choice. You have to leave.”
“I know, but not until after I know if my daughter survives this birth.”
Warrick scowled. “She will survive.”
“Even the Demon Lord cannot command it so. She is in God’s hands.”
“I hear no screams, nothing but silence,” Warrick said unable to contain his fear.
“Her mum barely made a sound. She delivered Adara with ease, perhaps Adara does the same.”
Warrick wanted to believe him, but all he could think was that he was going to lose his wife and if he did life would not be worth living.
Adara’s pain came quick and fast and Espy’s words encouraged her.
“You do good. The bleeding is but a trickle,” Espy said, rubbing her lower back that ached relentlessly while worried that at any moment Adara’s bleeding could worsen. “We need to get this bairn born.”
Another pain hit Adara and Espy was quick to position herself between Adara’s legs. “Do not grow alarmed when you feel my touch, Adara.” Espy looked to her grandmother and the woman stood close by ready to help. With gentle fingers, she felt the afterbirth that blocked the bairn from slipping out. It was thin and the bairn eager to be born, a good sign.
Espy encouraged Adara and in a matter of only a few minutes, the bairn slipped out as if in a rush, bloody and screaming at the top of his lungs. “A son,” Espy called out and the room burst with joy. A rush of blood followed the bairn once he was fully out and fear gripped Espy, but it was a quick spurt, nothing more and Espy sighed with relief, though she took no chances. After giving the bairn to Cyra, she got to work making sure all of the afterbirth was cleaned away, then she packed Adara with moldy bread.
“Wise decision, granddaughter,” Cyra said after she severed the cord and wiped the bairn clean some before handing the lad to his mum.
Tears filled Adara’s eyes as she took her crying son in her arms and placed his red cheek next to hers. “I will love you always, son.” The bairn stopped crying as if he recognized her voice and he settled against her.
“Let us get you and the bairn cleaned up, then we will fetch your husband,” Cyra said.
The women worked together but when they were near done, Callie ran toward the door. “I cannot wait any longer. My brother needs to know all is well.” She hurried down the stairs, rushing into the Great Hall.
Warrick jumped up off the bench at the sight of his sister rushing into the room, and though tears streamed down her cheeks, she wore the widest smile he had ever seen and it vanquished his fear.
“You have a son, Warrick, and Adara is fine,” she cried out as she continued to cry with joy.
Warrick rushed up the stairs, leaving Roark to hug his wife. Craven, Innis, and Langdon followed Warrick.
As soon as he entered the room, he went straight to his wife, laying prone on the bed, a bundle tucked in the crook of her arm. His wife was as pale as snow and her eyes heavy with exhaustion. He gave Espy a quick glance.
Espy did not hesitate to reassure him. “She needs bed rest and to eat hardy the next few days so she can grow strong again.”
Warrick nodded, intending to see Adara did just that. He leaned over his wife and kissed her brow. “You are a courageous woman, wife.”
Adara smiled and said proudly, “Meet your son. He is the image of you.”
Warrick sat on the edge of the bed and stared at the tiny bundle. His wife was right. There was no denying the bairn was his, but then he never doubted he was and now no one else would either.
“He is a handsome one,” Warrick boasted.
Adara’s smile grew. “Like his father.”
“Time to leave the new parents to themselves,” Espy announced and let out a groan as she doubled over, grabbing her stomach.
Craven had his arm around his wife in an instant and demanded anxiously, “What is wrong?”
Espy straightened up with another groan. “The bairn can wait no longer.”
“Have you been in labor all this time?” Cyra asked, worry in her aging eyes.
Craven glared at her. “Have you?”
“Most of the time,” Espy confessed, “though that does not help me now. Now I need a bed so my grandmother can deliver her great-grandchild.”
Craven scooped his wife up in his arms and rushed from the room, all following but Langdon.
He stepped over to Warrick and Adara and glanced down at his grandson. “He is a fine lad and your mum would be proud of you.”
“You are not leaving, are you?” Adara asked anxiously.
“I am not going anywhere, daughter.”
Warrick remained silent, both men knowing he failed to add just yet. Adara did not need to know that now.
Adara turned pleading eyes on her husband. “All is well between you and my da?”
“There is nothing for you to worry about. All is well.”
“I will visit with you tomorrow, daughter,” Langdon said and with a nod to Warrick left the room, closing the door behind him.
“Tell me you will not take my da from me,” she demanded, her smile having faded.
“You have my word, I will not take your da from you,” he said, not wanting to think of the day she would have to say good-bye to him.
“What of your mission?”
He did not like that worry filled her eyes on such a happy occasion, but he knew if he did not soothe her concern now it would linger and steal her happiness. “I will let the King know that the man he seeks is dead.”
“What if he wants proof?” Adara questioned.
“I will provide him with a body.” Warrick ran a gentle finger along her pale cheek. “King James will be satisfied when I get done with everything. This is no talk to have on the day our son is born.” He touched his son’s cheek and the tiny lad appeared to smile.
Warrick and Adara smiled along with their son.
“We are family and always will be,” Warrick said. “Never would I have imagined that the day I chose a disheveled servant lass as my wife that she would change my life forever… in the best way possible.”
“And never did I imagine that I could come to love the Demon Lord, but it was so easy, for he is such a good man.”
“How many times must I remind you I am not a good man?” he said with a playful scowl.
“It would take forever,” she said on a soft whisper.
Warrick brushed his lips over hers. “Then forever it is, wife.”
Chapter 33
Three months later
“Lord Warrick wishes to see you in his solar,” Wynn said, after entering Adara’s stitching room.
“I will take my nephew,” Callie offered, holding eager hands out to Adara. “May I take him to see Roark? He does not get enough time with him.”
Adara han
ded her son over to Callie, the woman taking the sleeping bairn into her arms and cuddling him close. “You and Roark are going to spoil him. Take him, I am sure he will be pleased to see his uncle and he has just been fed so he has no need of me for a while.”
Callie smiled and hurried to bundle the lad against the cold. “Go and take as long as you would like. Roark and I will look after him.”
Adara left with Wynn and just before they reached the solar she stopped and with a gentle hand to the woman’s arm asked, “Are you not feeling well, Wynn? You do not wear your usual smile.”
“Tired, that is all, my lady,” Wynn said and hurried off.
Adara wondered if she needed to lighten Wynn’s duties again as she opened the door to the solar and when she saw her da standing there she knew what bothered Wynn.
Her da was leaving.
Adara remained at the open door unable to take another step. The last three months had been wonderful, the best in her entire life. Callie would deliver a bairn this summer and Espy had delivered a beautiful daughter, Astie, named after Cyra’s mum, and Craven already had a small wooden sword made, ready to teach her how to use it. She had gotten to know her da, had learned more about her mum and his friend Gregory who had given so much to help her parents. She had loved spending time with her da and her heart had filled with joy every time he told her how much he loved her. He felt the same about his grandson, since he could not hold him enough, though now she knew why.
He had known he would not stay here and she had known it herself, though had not wanted to admit it. He would leave to make sure she remained safe.
Warrick walked over to her, his heart breaking for his wife. He rested his hand on her curved hip. Some of the changes their son had made to her body had remained, leaving her body even more alluring and inviting than before. She had healed well over the last few months and they had made love well and often. She had smiled more than he had ever seen her smile, spending time with her da and their son. He hated to see her smile disappear and her heart about to be shattered.
“I will wait outside the door,” he said, wanting to give her time alone with her da, but wanting to be near if she should need him.
Adara shook her head. “No, do not leave me.”
He leaned down to kiss her brow. “I will be right here for you.”
Adara nodded and with limbs she feared would not support her, she walked over to her da. “You are leaving?” The words brought on tears that pooled in her eyes.
“Aye, I am. I have to,” her da said, tears threatening his eyes as well.
“But Warrick took care of everything. The King searches for you no more.”
“I must be sure. There is one who knows of me, a friend, and though there is talk he has died, I must make certain he told no one, for the safety of you and my grandson who carries my name—Langdon—a new name that takes me into my new life.”
Adara threw her arms around her da, her tears falling freely unable to hold them back any longer.
Her da held her tight, his own tears falling. When she looked up at him, he was brought back those many years ago when he had said good-bye to Adara’s mum, and his heart broke all over again.
“You will come back. Please, Da, come back to me,” she begged.
“I made a promise to your mum that we would be together again and I failed to keep it. I make this promise now and I will not fail to keep it. I will return to you, daughter, and watch my grandson grow and all his brothers and sisters as well.”
Adara hugged him tight again. “I love you, Da.”
“And I love you, Adara, with all my heart.” Her da eased her away from him, kissed her brow, and hurried to the door. As he passed Warrick, he said, choking back his tears, “Take care of her.”
“Always,” Warrick said.
Adara turned, tears streaming down her cheeks, and Warrick went to her and wrapped her in his strong arms, keeping her close, wishing in some way he could take her pain so she would suffer no more.
She hugged her husband tight, holding on to him, never wanting to let him go, fearful that somehow she would lose him too.
“I am not going anywhere, wife. I have told you time and again and will continue to tell you. You are stuck with me.”
Adara turned a sad smile on him as she sniffled back her tears. “I am glad I am stuck with you.”
“Do not worry over him. He will be fine and return when he is sure it is safe.”
“So he promises, but I fear he will not keep his promise, though not through any fault of his own.”
“That will not happen, wife.”
He spoke with confidence she did not feel. “You cannot be sure of that.”
“Aye, I can. I sent men to follow him. They will keep him safe for you and his grandson.”
Adara’s face broke into a wide grin. “Oh, Warrick, you could not have given me a better gift, and I will never be able to thank you enough.”
“You need not thank me, wife. I love when you smile and I will do whatever it takes to keep that smile on your beautiful face.”
Adara let her smile fade.
“My loving words chase your smile?” Warrick asked puzzled.
She tapped his chest, then ran her finger down to just below his waist. “I know what could put a smile back on my face.”
Warrick brought his lips near hers. “As I said, wife, I will do whatever it takes to keep that smile on your face.”
Adara brushed her lips over his. “You are going to be a busy husband.”
“I am up to the task.”
Her hand drifted further down, and her smile returned. “You definitely are.”
Warrick scooped her up in his arms. “Where is our son, wife?”
“With Callie and Roark.”
“Good, since his mum is going to be busy smiling for the next couple of hours.”
THE END
About the Author
It was her love of reading and daydreaming that started USA Today bestselling author Donna Fletcher’s writing career. Besides gobbling up books, her mom generously bought for her, she spent a good portion of her time lost in daydreams that took her on grand adventures. She met heroes, villains, and heroines that, while usually in danger, always found the strength and courage to prevail. She traveled the world and through time in her dreams. Some places and times fascinated her more than others and she would rush to the library (no Internet at that time) and read all she could about that particular period and place. After a while, she simply could not ignore all the adventures swirling around in her head. She had no choice but to bring them more vividly to life, and so she started writing.
Donna enjoys living on the beautiful Jersey Shore surrounded by family and friends and a cat who thinks she’s a princess, but what cat doesn’t, and a dog who bows to the princess’s demands.
For More Information:
www.donnafletcher.com
Also by Donna Fletcher
The Pict King Series
The King’s Executioner
The King’s Warrior
The King and His Queen
Machines Sisters Trilogy
Highlander’s Stolen Heart
Highlander’s Rebellious Love
Highlander: The Dark Dragon
Cree & Dawn Series
Highlander Unchained/Forbidden Highlander
Highlander’s Captive
Cree & Dawn Short Stories
Highlander’s True Love
Highlander’s Promise
Highlander’s Winter Tale/Highlander’s Rescue
For a complete list of Donna’s titles, visit her website.
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Highlander The Demon Lord (Highland Warriors Trilogy Book 3) Page 30
