When he didn’t she relaxed enough to finally drift off to sleep, though not before a single tear slipped down from the corner of her eye.
Chapter 26
“Aliss!” “You sound anxious, Anna, is something wrong?” Aliss asked, stepping out of her cottage.
“You are needed on the shore.”
“Let me get my basket.”
“No, you must hurry,” Anna said, shoving her away from the cottage door. “I will bring your basket to you.”
Aliss turned and wound her way through the woods, her pace swift. A scenario of possible accidents played in her mind while doubts nudged their way in. The more thought she gave to it, the more she felt she had been duped.
Anna normally would have followed her, healing basket in hand. But she had all but chased her away from the cottage.
Curiosity kept her going, and once out of the woods and onto the shore she stopped short.
Rogan paced beside a blanket spread out a few feet from the water’s edge. A basket overflowed with bread and cheese, goblets and a small cask of wine, and colorful wildflowers minus their roots lay mingled among them.
He stopped once he caught sight of her and waved her to him with a smile.
A tickle of delight stirred her heart. He had prepared a secret rendezvous for them and she eagerly joined him.
He held his hand out to her and helped her to sit.
“The last few days have been busy for us both and I haven’t gotten to spend time with you. I thought I should remedy that.”
That he made the time for her, even though there was so much to be done, pleased her. Of course, there was that little voice, possibly Fiona’s, reminding her that his actions were all a ruse to make her believe he loved her.
But a bargain was a bargain. He had six months to prove his love, and at this rate, there might be a good chance he would be victorious.
Again, she heard her sister’s warning ring clear in her head. Ultimately, however, the choice remained hers.
He poured them wine and she stretched her legs out in front of her and drank not only the wine but the beauty of the sea rolling lazily onto shore. The sky could not have been any brighter, the water any bluer, the sun any brighter, and the feeling of peace any more profound in her heart. This was a perfect day, a perfect setting, and she intended to enjoy it.
“I am glad you whisked me away,” she said.
“We both needed it. I miss being with you and you alone.”
“You attempt to woo me?”
“Is it working?”
She laughed. “A wolf that woos.”
“I can howl.” He grinned and she blushed.
They feasted on bread, cheese, wine, and conversation.
He impressed her with his attentiveness and his leisurely nature. He was not in a hurry to end their interlude. On the contrary, he seemed to want the afternoon to lazily roll by.
She saw no reason to object. It gave her the opportunity to discover if her husband’s motive was sincere—to prove his love for her.
“I should alert you that Giann is in the area,” he said.
“Is she? Why?”
“She feels safe with the clan and goes where we go. She has helped us several times. She actually was the one who advised me that you would heal my people.”
Her mouth fell open. “You never told me that.”
Rogan placed his goblet aside and reached for her hand.
She snatched it away.
“I want to be honest with you—”
“That would be a change. You told me you had heard of my skills as a healer.”
“From Giann.”
Her eyes suddenly rounded. “Did you also know of the prophecy?”
“I learned of it only recently.”
“How recently?”
“After we wed,” he said adamantly.
“You spoke with Giann after we wed? Why?”
“Is that a cloud in the distance?” he asked, shading his eyes from the blazing sun.
“There is not a cloud in the sky and even if a thunderstorm burst overhead we would remain here until you answered me.”
He reluctantly obliged her. “I wanted to know if you were my destiny.”
“Her answer?”
“She told me that your destiny was written before your birth.”
“I want to speak with her.”
“You already have,” he said.
Her brow knitted. “I have never spoken with her.”
“The day we found you in the forest. Giann had summoned you.”
Aliss jumped to her feet. “I have had enough of this woman’s interference in my life. Her prediction has caused my sister and me nothing but grief since we were born.”
“What happened at your birth?”
“Giann arranged for our abduction.”
“She must have had a good reason,” he said.
“You defend her?”