Total pages in book: 55
Estimated words: 50898 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 254(@200wpm)___ 204(@250wpm)___ 170(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 50898 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 254(@200wpm)___ 204(@250wpm)___ 170(@300wpm)
She stepped inside and aside to allow the men entrance as her eyes swept the chamber. The space was larger than she had expected—airy and self-contained, with tall windows now shuttered against the fading light and cold night. A fire blazed in the wide, stone hearth, throwing a steady warmth. Two chairs were drawn close to the fire, and she imagined her and Rhodes sitting there talking while the cold whipped at the shutters. Tables of varying sizes filled the room, sturdy and waiting to be put to use. Neatly stacked baskets, crocks, cloths, and blankets sat atop them, ready for whatever she might need.
With a tilt of her head, she saw exactly where Sage would perch on the rafters and where Bramble and Willow would flutter along a beam. And there was a perfect spot for Ash near the hearth and a chest that would make a perfect nest for Rook.
She felt Sprig stir in the pouch, and she ran her hand gently over his head. “We are at our new home, Sprig.”
He peeked out, peered around, then jumped out of the pouch and made his way to a basket near the hearth, a soft blanket bundled in it, and claimed it as his own.
Fawn smiled, knowing Rhodes had had a hand in that. Actually, in all of it. She had thought he had forgotten about his promise to her, and yet he had created a home for her friends.
Her mum had been wrong. She had wed a good-hearted man whom she could love, if she didn’t already. A thought that brought her joy.
Behind her, Rhodes set down the raven’s basket with deliberate care, his presence filling the space as surely as the firelight.
She leaned back against him and his arm slipped around her waist, drawing her closer as his men delivered the last of her belongings.
“This was kind of you, Rhodes. I am grateful,” she said softly.
“See it as you will,” he said after the last of his men left, shutting the door behind him. “To me, it was a way of making sure my wife stayed where she belonged.”
Fawn turned then, her eyes meeting his, her voice remaining soft. “And where do I belong, Rhodes?”
“With me. Always with me.” He leaned down and claimed her lips in a powerful kiss.
CHAPTER 18
His kiss ended slowly, reluctantly, as though even Rhodes himself was unwilling to break from her. When he finally lifted his head, his dark eyes lingered on hers, heavy with something he had yet to understand.
Fawn’s heart thudded hard against her ribs. Her lips tingled, her breath uneven, and she wondered if she would ever stop being startled by the power of his touch and how much she welcomed it.
Rhodes drew back a step, his arm falling from her waist, though the warmth of it lingered. He cleared his throat, as if reminding himself of his purpose. “Settle in and tend to your animals. I’ll come for you when it’s time for supper.”
She gave a small nod, unable to speak without betraying more than she intended.
When the door shut behind him, the chamber felt larger, quieter, yet not empty, for his presence clung to the air like smoke from the hearth. She pressed a hand to her lips for a moment, then shook herself, turning to the baskets waiting to be opened.
Sprig stirred in his new nest by the fire, blinking drowsily at her as she set about her work. She moved carefully, lifting the lids, speaking softly to each creature as she welcomed them to their new home.
She glanced at the shuttered windows. “Sage, Bramble and Willow, these windows will serve you all well. High enough for flight, so you may come and go as you please.” She tilted her head back and pointed to the rafters. “And there is room aplenty for the three of you to have sufficient space to perch.”
Sage hooted and the doves cooed softly, as if in reply.
Her gaze shifted to the raven’s basket. Rook blinked at her with keen black eyes, feathers rustling faintly.
“You’ll fly again too, my friend,” she whispered, crouching low beside him. “When your wing mends, you’ll take to the sky. And when you do, you’ll know you are free.”
Her words faltered as her gaze swept to Ash, the fox curled comfortably in a large basket lined with a blanket where she had placed him. His limp was permanent, and her heart ached at the thought of releasing him into a world that would show him no mercy.
“You,” she murmured gently, brushing her hand along his side, “are stuck with me, but we will make the most of it.”
She straightened slowly, the fire’s glow catching in her hair and setting it ablaze with color. For a moment, she let herself go still, her eyes drifting toward the closed door, as though she could see through stone to where Rhodes might be.