Semua Bab Satisfying Her Darkest Fantasies: Bab 701 - Bab 710

Edward shook his head. “I won’t leave her.”He ran a finger through her limp hair and touched her cheek, alarmed by how cool her skin felt to his touch. Her breathing was shallow, so light that many times he’d leaned his head down, afraid that no air escaped her nose any longer.She’d slipped into unconsciousness. She hadn’t moved, hadn’t stirred or cried out from the vicious pain assaulting her. He didn’t know what was worse. Hearing her helpless cries or seeing her as still as death.They both frightened the hell out of him.Maddie stood by the bed for a long moment, and then with a sigh, she turned and left the chamber.Before Edward could recline on the bed beside Mary, his brothers burst into the chamber.“How is she?” Alan demanded.Caleb didn’t speak, but the storm was there in his eyes as he stared down at Mary.Edward touched Mary’s cheek again and ran his fingers underneath her nose until he felt the light exchange of air on his skin. There was so much turmoil churning in hi

Only Edward, his brothers, and Gannon, Cormac, and Diormid knew the truth. That Mary hadn’t been the intended victim. There were many reasons for Edward to keep the information to himself.One, his clan had become fiercely protective of Mary since the incident. They all looked after her with a keen eye, and she was never alone. That suited Edward’s purposes perfectly, because whether someone was trying to kill Mary or not, she still faced the threat that was Duncan Cameron.Two, he had no desire for her to worry, and if she found out that Edward was the intended victim, not once but twice, there was no telling what the lass might do. Edward had discovered in a short time that she was fierce in her protection of those she considered hers.And the lass did consider him hers, much to his smug satisfaction. She may not have given him the words he wanted to hear, but there was no denying her possessiveness when it came to him. He remembered well the look she’d given him when Rachael McDona

After washing out her mouth and getting dressed, Mary headed below stairs where she was met by Gannon. She raised her eyebrows in surprise when she saw him because since her poisoning, Edward had made it a point to have either himself or one of his brothers guarding her every moment of every day. It was a fact she was resigned to and had accepted with good grace.“Good morning, my lady,” Gannon said cheerfully.“Good morning, Gannon. Tell me, what have you done to anger your laird?”Gannon blinked and eyed her with confusion. Then he laughed as he realized she was jesting with him over his duty.“Nothing, my lady, ’tis the truth I volunteered for the chore of looking after you today. The laird and his brothers have gone out to greet the McDonalds.”Her eyebrows rose again. Any talk of the McDonalds had been dispensed with after her poisoning. Why, she’d even forgotten the matter of an alliance herself. The McDonalds’ departure was not on pleasant terms, so the idea that they had retur

“I have bad news, Laird,” Gannon said in a grim voice.Not liking his commander’s tone, Edward looked up with a frown as Gannon strode toward him, still dusty from his travel.“Did you bring Father McElroy?” Edward demanded. Time was of the essence. Edward had sent Gannon to fetch the priest so that he could bear witness to the wedding ceremony performed for him and Mary. They only awaited the priest’s arrival before they departed for court.“He’s dead,” Gannon bit out.“Dead?”“Murdered.”Blasphemies spewed from Edward’s lips. “When?”“Two days past. He was traveling between McLauren land and McGregor land to the south when he was set upon by thieves. They left him to rot and he was discovered by McGregor soldiers the next day.”Edward closed his eyes. Thieves? Not likely. Priests had nothing to steal. A thief wouldn’t have bothered. It was more likely that Cameron had arranged for the priest’s murder to prevent his testimony before the king.The one card that Edward held was the fac

Alarm beat in Mary’s chest as she settled more comfortably in the chair. Her hands shook and she hid them in the folds of her skirts so as not to betray her unease.“I do hope His Majesty’s ailment is not serious,” she said politely. “I had looked forward to making the acquaintance of my only blood relative.”“That’s not entirely accurate,” Archibald said. “I am the king’s cousin, so that makes us related by blood.”“Aye, of course,” she murmured.“I would ask that you wait here, cousin, until you are summoned to the great hall. I will, of course, provide refreshment. You’ll want for nothing during your confinement.”Cousin, and then his casual reference to confinement, made the hairs on Mary’s nape prickle. Still, he viewed her kindly and seemed genuinely concerned over her well-being, so she smiled and offered her thanks.“I would speak to you, if permissible, about the matter before you, my lord.”He patted her arm. “ ’Tis not necessary, dear lady. I am sure the experience has been