He turned his face to kiss the palm of her hand. “Never fear me. I would never intentionally hurt you.”
Aliss smiled. “At least you admit you would not intentionally hurt me. Mother says that men swear they will not hurt the woman they love but that it is inevitable for they are men after all.”
“A wise woman, your mother, and remember her words, Aliss. If a day comes that you feel I have wronged you, remember that it was not intentional. I am just a man who knows no better.”
“You will not get away with such nonsense so easily,” she scolded lightly. “I have witnessed how wise a man you are so therefore you are unlike other men. I expect more from you and I know you would never do me wrong.”
“I am a man—”
“Like no other,” she finished. “I will hear no more. It is more likely that I in my selfish ways will hurt you and know now that I am sorry for my selfish ignorance.”
Rogan rolled over on his back to lie beside her. “You need never apologize to me.”
“I fear I may do it often and if I fail to, at least you have this apology to recount and use if necessary.”
“Then I claim the same,” he said. “I apologize for hurting you and ask your forgiveness. Please use this when necessary or—” He turned quickly, his body nudging her on to her back. “I will use it when necessary.”
She laughed. “I will honor it, though I doubt it will be necessary.”
“But honor it you will?” he asked, nibbling at her neck.
She giggled a confirming, “Yes.”
“Good, with that finally settled, dear wife—”
“Aliss! Aliss!”
Rogan moved off her, her hand having pushed at his chest at the sound of Anna frantically crying out her name.
“Back here,” Aliss shouted and ran to the door and almost collided with the young woman.
“Daniel has a fever.”
The words chilled her to the bone. “We must hurry,” she said and pushed at Anna to follow her out.
Chapter 18
Rogan could not sleep nor did he want to. He had been tired, his head nodding and his eyes drifting shut before a quick jerk of his head had him opening them again. It was when he started snoring lightly that Aliss had insisted, had actually ordered him home to bed.
What good would it do to have both of them exhausted, was her theory. She was right. There was no real reason that he should remain with her while she tended the feverish Daniel. He could contribute no knowledge, only support, by remaining by her side.
Now lying alone in his bed he wished he had not left her. This was their wedding night and they should be together, whether here in his bed or he beside her as she did her healing.
He pillowed his hands beneath his head and kicked the light blanket off his one leg all the while mumbling complaints until finally he spit out an oath.
He knew what really troubled him and didn’t want to admit it. Their vows needed to be sealed with haste if he didn’t want to risk losing her for good. Time was ticking by and soon there would not be a minute left.
What then?
He groaned and turned on his side, splaying his hand on the pillow where Aliss had rested her head. Many nights he had thought about Aliss lying there beside him, her naked body pressed against his, his arm draped over her and the two of them breathing as one.
He had yearned for that dream to become reality, and now just as it was about to happen, it was snatched away from him. Was Aliss his destiny?
The question had him springing out of bed and wrapping his plaid around him in haste. With sandals on, he slipped out into the night and disappeared into the dark woods.
He knew who could give him the answers he sought.
Giann.
She had accurately predicted many events for his clan, including Aliss curing his people. Now he wanted to know if Aliss would remain his wife and if they would live a happy and long life together.
He walked to the small clearing where he usually met with Giann, his familiarity with the area making it easy for him to travel in the dark. He stood there and softly called her name, giving no thought to the late hour. When he needed to speak with her or she with him, they always heard the other’s summons and answered.
“What is it you want from me, Rogan?”
He turned to the sound of her voice but caught only a shadow that hovered between the trees.
He was direct. “Is Aliss my destiny?”
“Her destiny was written before her birth.”
“Explain,” he said, concern gripping his heart.
“A prophecy foretold the twins’ future.”
“Which is?”
“On a full moon twin babes are born; with their birth sounds the horn; eyes of green, hair of red; destruction comes if without love they wed; for true love will bind their souls together and eternal love will be theirs forever.”