“Do you know if my sister is happy living at Clan MacBridan?” she asked.
“I do not see why she wouldn’t be—” Rannick stopped abruptly, his scowl deepening. “Bloody hell, wife, you tricked me into letting you know where Elysia now resides.”
“I wanted to make sure that is where Lord Odran took her,” she said.
“So, you would know where to find her,” he accused. “And sneak off to her.”
“If I must,” she argued. “I have looked after my two sisters, taken care of them, provided for them. I will not abandon either of them in a time of need… not ever. Elysia will expect me to be there to deliver her bairn and I will be there, on that you can be sure.”
Bliss rushed past her husband before he could stop her and she struggled with the door, the cold wind fighting her as she tried to close it. An outside guard rushed to help her, and she hurried off, leaving the door for him to close.
Rannick cursed beneath his breath, feeling the rush of cold air and annoyed that his wife had failed to slip on her cloak, thanks to her anger at him. Her stubbornness fueled his anger as well at the thought that she would put her sister before her own safety and before any thought of him. He snatched up her cloak off the bench and took strong strides out of the keep.
Bliss brushed the tears off her cheeks and shivered after entering the dwelling that now served as her healing cottage. It brought her pleasure to be here and be able to work her skills, but not today. Today she was far too concerned about Elysia and Annis as well. She had wed Rannick to keep both her sisters safe and now Elysia, who she had believed safe, was wed to one of the cursed lords and she did not know anything about Annis’s whereabouts.
After always being there to help her two sisters, she now felt helpless not knowing how they were truly doing. She shivered at the thought or the chill in the cottage, she was not certain, but at least she could see to getting warm if nothing else.
She went to the hearth and was just bending down to add more logs to the fire when the door opened quickly and shut just as quickly. She did not have to see who it was; she knew her husband would follow her. She did not turn around. She continued to tend the fire.
“Do not go out on such a cold day without your cloak,” he ordered. “And do not defy me!”
Bliss got annoyed at the tears that trickled down her cheeks. She did not want her husband to see her crying. She was not one to give in to tears easily, the strength of not doing so born from making sure she remained strong for her sisters. She did not even know why she cried now when she was more angry than sad.
“Bliss!” he snapped, wanting her to turn around.
“Go away!” she snapped back.
That did it. He flung her cloak aside and went and grabbed her by the arm yanking her up.
Bliss gasped and turned startled, wet eyes on him.
Her tears weren’t the only thing that tore at his heart, it was the hurt he saw there that shattered his heart completely and he realized her gasp had been touched with pain. He had hurt her when he yanked her to her feet.
He released her and before she could flee, he snatched her up into his arms and walked to the bed tucked in the corner of the room and sat down, cradling her in his lap. He wiped at her wet cheeks with his thumb.
“I allowed my anger to rule. I did not mean to hurt you. I was jealous that you would go to your sister with no thought of me. I have had you to myself and I selfishly do not want to share you or your love with anyone.”
Laying a hand on his cheek, she said, “It is the love I have for my sisters, my family that allows me to love you so generously. I would do anything for those I love.”
“That is what frightens me. That you would take a chance with your life for your sisters, for me… puts a fear in me I have never known. I cannot lose you, Bliss. I will not. You must obey me on this. I will have it no other way.” He brushed his lips faintly over hers as if by not letting her speak she acquiesced.
But Bliss would not be silent. “I will have your word that you will take me to Elysia when her time comes, no matter what, and I will worry you no more.”
“I can only hope that by that time this madness is at an end, but if it is not, know your safety comes first to me as would Elysia’s safety be to Odran.” Once again, he refused to let her respond, kissing her as she opened her mouth to speak.