Adara feared she had lost her husband after entering the woods, seeing no sign of him. Then she heard voices. She thought better than to get too close since she was all too aware of her husband’s uncanny ability to sense when someone approached.

She remained where she was able to hear snippets of the conversation.

“Tell me,” she heard her husband demand impatiently.

“Found—” she strained to hear more, the voice low. “Not sure—”

“They kept hidden,” she managed to hear her husband say though missed what followed then heard the last of it. “Secret.”

“Difficult—” Once again she could not hear the man and turned her head to try and hear more. “Lead prom—” She barely caught the last of it, thinking she heard him say, promising.

She thought she heard the jingle of a purse heavy with coin and she recalled the night she had seen Warrick from the keep window handing something to a short man. Could this be the same man? Was he searching for something for Warrick?

Adara remained still, not wanting to make a sound and be discovered and she was glad she did since the man did not pass by far from her. He was short and covered in a dark cloak, and he snuck off deeper into the woods, his steps light and quick.

Only then did she give thought to Warrick finding her and she made a hasty decision. She sat on a fallen tree trunk and waited for her husband.

Warrick stopped abruptly when he saw her sitting there. How had he not heard her and what was she doing there? Concern battled with his annoyance and not trusting himself to speak since his tongue would lash out at her, he crossed his arms over his chest and, instead, glared at her. She spoke up quickly.

“I followed you when I saw you enter the woods.”

He continued to glare at her.

“It was probably not wise of me to do, but I feared something might happen to you” she confessed. “But I did not disobey you.”

His scowl deepened.

“You did not order me to stay in the keep.” She tried a smile on him but it did not appease his scowl. She went to speak again and he raised his hand.

“No more. The only thing that saves you this time is that you speak the truth to me.” He walked over to her. “What did you hear?”

“Little.”

He tilted his head slightly and narrowed his brow, letting her know her response was questionable.

“Bits and pieces were all I could hear,” she said.

“What did you surmise from those bits and pieces?” he asked, knowing she had enough wit about her to reach some type of conclusion.

“That the man searches for something for you. Something to do with a secret.”

Warrick cursed beneath his breath, reached out and took hold of her hand, and pulled her to her feet. “You are to forget what you heard here today. You will never mention it again. You will not think on it. You will never question me about it. Do you understand, wife?”

She nodded, wondering if what she had come upon was more serious and perhaps more dangerous than she ever imagined possible.

“I mean it, Adara. I will have your word on it.”

His commanding tone and the intense concern in his dark eyes had fear rising up to churn her stomach. What had she stumbled upon that was not for her to know? And how dangerous was this for her husband? Without hesitation, she said, “You have my word.”

The village bell tolled, echoing into the woods and announcing that a troop approached the village.

Nothing more was said as they walked back to the village. It was as if she had seen nothing, heard nothing. That it had never happened. But it had and Adara wondered how she would ever completely forget it.

Adara walked close to her husband as they entered the village, his tall, powerful body a shield that protected her. The clans people did not seem bothered by the new arrivals and Adara saw why when she and Warrick reached the front of the village.

More of Warrick’s warriors had arrived along with carts that Adara assumed were supplies. She smiled when she saw that, for why would Warrick send for more supplies if he did not intend to stay the winter here?

“Warrick!”

Adara turned at the sound of her husband’s name being cried out and was shocked to see a woman a head taller than herself, pleasantly plump, with an abundance of red curly hair that fell down her back and over her shoulders, and a pretty face consumed by a large smile, run toward him.

Warrick muttered something and released his wife’s hand just in time. The woman launched herself at him and he caught her up against him as she hugged him tight.

“I have told you time and again not to greet me like that, Callie,” Warrick reprimanded.

“Have I ever obeyed you, Warrick?” Callie said with a laugh.

“She obeys no one,” Roark said, approaching them.

He didn’t get far. Callie let out a screech and ran into her husband’s arms to hug and kiss him repeatedly.

“I have missed you so much. When word came that a troop of men were to return to MacVarish keep, I planned to hide in one of the carts. I was so relieved when I was told I was to accompany them.”

Warrick shook his head. “I would have sent you back.”

Callie’s whole face lit in laughter. “No you would not have done that, especially since I have news from home you would want to hear.”

“It would be easy to gather it from you and send you on your way,” Warrick warned.

“Not if I deliver it sparingly,” Callie teased.

“Roark,” Warrick bellowed.

Roark kept his arm around his wife. “Go easy on him, my love. He is wed now and only beginning to know how to handle a wife.”

Callie threw herself at Warrick again and he had no choice but to catch her. “So I heard. Heaven be praised! My prayers have been answered.”

Adara stared in complete bewilderment. Never had she seen anyone treat Warrick as Callie did and that he did not threaten her with harm astounded her, and that she did not seem the least bit frightened of him shocked her even more.

Callie released Warrick and stepped around him to look at Adara. “You are a wee bit of a thing and beautiful.” She gasped. “You are with child.”

Adara was surprised to see tears fill her eyes and she noticed that Roark frowned.

“How wonderful,” she said, reaching out and hugging Adara. “I am so happy for you and Warrick.”

Yet Adara saw sadness in her eyes.

“Adara. My wife’s name is Adara,” Warrick said.

“We will be the best of friends, Adara,” Callie said, taking Adara’s hand and squeezing it. “You will tell me all about how you and Warrick came to wed.” She stepped back. “But first I must have time with my husband. We have been separated far too long.” She hurried over to Roark and slipped into his arms and turned a smile on Warrick.

“Go, we will speak tonight at supper,” Warrick ordered.

Roark nodded his appreciation and Callie turned another huge smile on him, then they hurried off.

Adara stared at her husband when he turned to take her hand. He said nothing while they walked and he wore not a smile or scowl on his face. She finally had to ask, “How is it that she is so familiar with you?”

“I have known her since she was young and I tried to warn Roark not to wed her, but the fool had insisted he had lost his heart to her and life would be worthless without her.”

Adara smiled. “How wonderful to have such a deep abiding love for each other, since it is obvious Callie feels the same.”

“Aye, that she does,” Warrick said with a touch of annoyance.

“It annoys you that she loves Roark? Had you once had feelings for her?”

“Good God no,” Warrick snapped. “If she were my wife, I would have killed her by now.”

Adara felt her whole body tense at his remark. Would he truly have done that? Had he done that? Had his wife irritated him so badly that he killed her?

“She has tried my patience since she has been young.”

“How do you know her?”

Warrick walked Adara over to a large tree, the fallen leaves surrounding it crunching beneath their boots before they came to a stop beneath the bare branches. “Callie is my sister.”

Adara’s mouth dropped opened. She recalled Espy’s words when she had asked if Warrick had siblings. No one has claimed kinship to him. Callie certainly showed her love for her brother, so why not claim him as such?

“No one but Roark knows that and now you. I feared she would be in harm’s way if it was known that she is my sister.”

“I will tell no one,” she assured him, pleased he trusted her with this secret and for a second time that day gave her word. “You have my word on it.”

“She does not help the matter with the way she throws herself at me, though I have repeatedly warned her not to. Not once has she ever listened to me. I have had to save her from nearly drowning several times before she learned how to swim. I have pulled endless splinters from her hands and feet and seen to endless other wounds she got while in the woods with me after I had ordered her repeatedly to go home and leave me alone.”

Adara caught the way a light seemed to spark in his dark eyes and annoying memories did not spark such a light.

“But she never left you alone?”

“I believe it is why I demand obedience from everyone since she showed me none,” Warrick said and the light in his eyes grew brighter.

“It must have been grand to have such a loving sister,” Adara said.

“She was a pest.” The light dimmed in his eyes. “It was good my parents sent her away to be properly trained. She did not want to go. She cried endlessly, begged me to help her. I did help her by handing her over to the nuns at the convent I delivered her to.”

His voice held no warmth, no caring, yet somehow Adara felt the pain he kept buried.

“Callie remained there until I had her brought to my keep several years later. Where Roark foolishly fell in love with her and I learned that her time at the convent had taught her not an ounce of obedience. I gladly handed her over to Roark in marriage. She is his problem now.”

Adara did not believe that at all. Warrick had handed his sister over to Roark because he knew he would protect her with his life. He cared more for his sister than he would admit and she was looking forward to talking with her and learning more about Warrick.

“I have some matters to see to, I will leave you in the keep to rest,” Warrick said as they continued walking.

“I would prefer you left me with Burchard. I wanted to speak to him about the kitchen garden.” That was not a lie she told her husband. She did intend to discuss the garden with him but she also wanted to see what he might know of her mum. A question slipped out that she had been meaning to ask him. “Why did your warriors show such interest in Burchard that day in the kitchen garden?”

“They not only watched him, they watched everyone. It was their duty to watch and report back to me anything they thought strange or could present a problem.”

“Burchard presents no problem and he worries you will deprive him of his chore, thus his only family, those in the keep. He cannot lose them,” Adara said in defense of the man.

“I have no intention of doing so and besides, the keep is your domain and since you have seen to your duties well, it is up to you what to do with Burchard.”

“He remains where he is,” Adara said with the same forceful command that her husband often used.

“Then Burchard has no worries. What will you do once you are finished talking with Burchard?”

“I plan on speaking with Emona the cook.”

“Then I will leave you to see to your duties while I see to mine,” he said, though found he did not like the thought of leaving her. He enjoyed her company. Whether they talked or silence fell between them, there was a comfort with her that he had not known before.

“I will miss you,” Adara said and raised herself on her toes to kiss him.

His arm went around her and he lifted her so that her feet no longer touched the ground, but her lips could touch his. The delicate brush of her lips across his was not enough for him. He took charge and kissed her with an intensity that let her know he did not want to let her go. That he too would miss her.

When he lowered her to her feet, she leaned against him, weak from his kiss and not surprised by the arousal that tingled her senses.

“Rest when you are done with your chores,” Warrick ordered, silently cursing himself for kissing her as he had, since it had his manhood aching and on the verge of swelling.

“You should rest with me,” she hurried to say and her cheeks flushed red when she realized what she so audaciously implied. But it was worth it when she saw the small, wicked smile that lit his lips.

“You will get no rest if I join you. Now go see to your duties.” He kissed her quick and whispered, “And I will see to satisfying your need tonight.”

He turned and walked off and for some strange reason, there at that moment, watching his long strides, the way he stood so erect, his shoulders broad, his head high, Adara realized that she loved her husband. She did not know why she felt it so strongly at that moment, she only knew that she did. It was as if her heart and mind came together to let her know that this was love she felt for this man and she should accept it no matter how strange it seemed. And it did seem strange to love the Demon Lord, but then her life had changed completely that night he had taken her as his wife.

She wrapped her newfound love around her like a comforting shawl and smiled as she walked to the kitchen garden.

“You have done well, Burchard, the soil is ready to rest,” Adara said approaching the old man. It had taken Warrick’s arrival to stir things up and make her realize that her solitary existence had done her little good. She also realized the importance of all her uncle Owen had tried to teach her about the clan and the keep. How he had not grown frustrated with her for being such a poor pupil, she did not know. But then he had said time and again, “When you finally heal, you will have all this knowledge to help you.”

He had been right. She had needed to heal, her heart and deep into her soul, but Warrick, surprisingly, was helping her with that, and she was grateful for his never-ending patience with her, and it pleased her that she finally was putting to use all her uncle had taught her.

“I hope it pleases Lord Warrick,” Burchard said, brushing dirt from his aged hands.

“Do not worry, Burchard, your position in the keep is secure. Lord Warrick confirmed it,” she said, knowing the man needed to know it came from Warrick himself.

Wrinkles deepened across his face as he smiled wide. “I am most pleased and relieved to hear that, my lady.”

“I would be most pleased if you would take a few moments and talk with me.”

“Of course, my lady. How may I help you?”

“This does not concern your chore here. It is about my parents. I was wondering what you knew of them.”

“Your parents, my lady?” he asked as if not understanding.

“I know only what my uncle Owen told me about them and he mostly spoke of my mum, but I know little of my da. I was wondering if perhaps my da may have spoken to you. He was a crofter, a man of the land, so I thought he might have spent time talking with you.”

“Odd that you should ask, my lady. Your da did speak with me.” He shook his head. “Why a crofter would go so far north in the Highlands puzzled me. Your da knew the soil there could prove difficult to cultivate and some areas were too barren to even attempt to grow a crop.” He scratched his head. “I do recall something your da said that seemed odd. He told me that the far north Highlands had a way of swallowing men up until they were never seen again. I asked him if you would be safe there. He told me you would be safer there than here.” He scratched his head again. “It made no sense to me. You were a wee bit of a thing and safe here with your uncle. Why take you to a harsh untamed land where few went?”

That was a question Adara pondered while she asked, “I know nothing of my da’s family. Did he ever speak of them to you?”

“I know nothing of his family, though I do recall your uncle’s displeasure when your mum arrived here with a crofter for a husband. He had sent her to live with a titled family, having promised their dying mum he would see his sister taken care of, so that she could secure a good marriage that would provide well for her. He was disappointed when she returned home wed to a simple farmer. But Wynn would know much more about your mum and da than I would.”

“How so?” Adara asked.

“She was the one who had looked after your mum since she was young and went with her when she went to live with the titled family. She also attended your birth. It devastated her when your mum refused to let her go to the Highlands with her. She claimed it was a too harsh of a place for an aging woman.”

“I am grateful, Burchard,” Adara said. “Every little bit I learn about my parents helps me to know them better.”

“They loved you they did,” Burchard said. “Always keeping you close, never out of their sight. They kept you safe they did.”

Adara praised the old man once again for a job well done with the soil and for taking the time to speak with her before she took her leave. As she walked toward the kitchen, she wondered over what the old man had told her. Why had Wynn not told her she was present at her birth? Or how well she had known her mum? Though, the most disturbing question was why would her da say that the north Highlands had a way of swallowing men up until they were never seen again? Had he intentionally taken her and her mum to the Highlands to hide? And if he had, what had he been hiding from?