She watched him walk away, shirt in hand, the sweat on his back glistening in the sun, and admired his narrow waist and the confidence of his gait. Her fingers drifted to her pulsating lips and his kiss. It had left her—
“Damn,” she whispered. He had never answered her question.
Chapter 27
Aliss woke to the forlorn wailing of a horn. Shaking off sleep, she realized that the horn announced the arrival of a ship. She jumped out of bed and dressed quickly in a blue skirt and white blouse. She twisted her red hair into a knot and fastened it to the back of her head with two bone combs. Loose strands broke free at her neck as she rushed from the room, slipping on her sandals as she went.
Was it friend or foe arriving?
She had mentioned to Fiona that she preferred to have no visits from family for at least a couple of weeks. And since she had lost track of time, she imagined it had been that or possibly more since the Wolf clan had arrived on the Isle of Non.
Aliss looked around in search of her husband. Not finding him in the great hall, she hurried outside where several women were herding the children together.
“Are we in danger of attack?” she asked Tara, who balanced a smiling Daniel on her hip.
“No, we gather the children to see the arriving ship.”
“Who visits?” Aliss asked with relief.
“We think your family, since it is the ship that brought your sister to you.”
Aliss was not certain how she felt about her family’s arrival. She had wanted to handle this matter on her own. She had struck a bargain with Rogan, and it was between them. She needed no interference from anyone.
She marched through the woods, almost ready to tell whoever had arrived to turn around and go home. She exited the woods determined to do so, but then she saw her brother Raynor, so handsome, tall, and proud standing on the shore speaking with Rogan.
She recalled how serendipitous their first meeting had been. Then, she had not known he was her brother or that he searched for his twin sisters. She had healed him back to health after he had temporarily lost his sight during a battle with Tarr and his men.
Through his efforts everyone had been reunited and enemies had become friends. He was a good man and she had missed him.
Once past the rocky terrain, she ran full speed while yelling out his name.
He grinned wide and threw his arms out to welcome her.
He picked her up and swung her around before they hugged.
“I have missed you, Aliss,” Raynor said.
“And I you, brother.” She looked past his shoulder. “Who else has come with you?”
“No one.”
She wrinkled her brow. “Fiona? Mother?”
“They both would have joined me if—”
“Fiona is all right?”
“She is fine, just very large and very cranky. Mother is at her beck and call and refuses to leave her side, and—”
“You ran away,” Aliss said, laughing.
Raynor grabbed her hand. “I had to, please forgive me. Fiona told me you wanted no visits for a while but it has been so long, and I was so desperate. Don’t make me go back, I beg you.”
Aliss laughed at her brother’s pleading. “They do not know you came here?”
“Tarr and Father do and they wished, nay they prayed, I would take them with me.”
“Just wait until you return,” she said, her laughter bubbling over.
“I was hoping I could stay a while, quite a while, perhaps until Fiona delivers the baby?”
“I will be going to deliver her babe.”
Raynor nodded. “And if I return with you, she will ignore me—”
“And the fact that you ran away?”
“Exactly.”
“You are welcome to stay,” she said. She noticed that Raynor looked past her, glaring. She turned to see Rogan watching them from only a few feet away. He looked ever the wolf warrior, his own hair a mane of light and dark, his eyes blazing, his lips more of a snarl than a smile and his stance territorial.
She looked from one man to the other. “Is there a problem between the two of you?” Though a good four feet separated them, she moved to stand between them, prepared for a confrontation.
“Ask your brother,” Rogan nearly growled.
“I make no bones about my anger at you for abducting my sister and the consequences that followed. But like Tarr, I respect my sister’s decision regarding your bargain, and I will be respectful of her husband—since he will not be around long.”
“A matter that does not concern you,” Rogan informed him, stepping closer.
“If it concerns my sister it concerns me.” Raynor also advanced, his hands fisting at his sides.
Aliss stretched out her arms. “Enough.” She turned to Raynor. “This matter is between Rogan and me. I will tolerate no interference. Is that clear enough for you?”