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where he was at that very minute.  I am not
ashamed of my relationship with your daughter, and
neither is she from what I can tell.
 But it will not continue here in this time, the
way it did in yours.
Todd wanted to argue, but thought twice before
he opened his mouth. Instead, he nodded his
understanding and let himself out.
Myra jumped to her feet when Todd walked into
the room.
 Tomorrow will be a busy day. Ian gave his
orders for them both to seek their beds without
using the words.
 I will show Todd to his chambers, Myra stated.
Ian paused and looked at the two of them,
pivoted and left the room.
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Silent Vows
Chapter Fifteen
Finally alone, Myra turned to Todd and offered
him a smile. She looked different. It wasn t just
because the dress she wore swept the floor when she
moved, or how her hair was piled up and folded
between materials. It reminded him of a style he d
seen in movies, ones he d reluctantly watched. No,
here she seemed older. No, not older more
confident.
She looked confident because she was on
familiar turf. He hadn t seen this part of her at his
home. There she was always uncertain and
apprehensive. This was her time, her place, and it
showed, from the way she addressed the servants, to
how she spoke to her family. This was where Myra
MacCoinnich belonged, not in some two bedroom
bungalow in Orange County, California, but here, in
a castle straight out of a fairytale.
In a castle befitting a Lady.
The tables had turned, and he now felt out of
place, unsure of how he should act. Lady Myra
MacCoinnich was way out of his league.
 How are you doing? Myra nodded to the stairs
her father had just used.  I pray he didn t threaten
you, did he?
 Your father is only watching out for you.
 And this? She touched the bruise on his face.
 Is this Fin s work?
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Catherine Bybee
 Big brothers have a right to defend their
sisters. It was in the Codebook of Guy.
 But still...
 It s fine. Doesn t hurt at all, he lied.
 I missed you.
He thought of the nights he didn t sleep after
she left.  I missed you, too.
She moved closer. He pulled away. The hurt
expression crossing over her face made him feel like
crap.  I think we should get some sleep. His eyes
traveled up the stairs then back to her. The last
thing he needed was to add homeless to his list of
problems.
A small noise from above reminded them they
were being watched. She frowned, looked behind
them, then walked him to his room.
****
Duncan and Fin began Todd s training between
trips out of the Keep to investigate Grainna s
whereabouts. Snow dusted the ground, making their
task harder. The tracks that once led into the forest
were indiscernible, now. Grainna and Steel were
nowhere to be seen.
 It s as if she s disappeared into thin air. Todd
scrubbed his hand over his face as he walked to the
bailey to train with the brothers.  Have all the
cottages surrounding the Keep been searched, now?
Although the brothers never treated him with
disrespect, Todd still felt the weight of their
disapproval. Forced into the situation as it was, they
had little choice but to accept him.
 Aye. We ve checked and rechecked over the past
week to make certain Grainna didn t occupy them.
 There s nothing to do. The villagers were told to
report any strangers, especially ones matching the
description we gave  em. Fin added.
Todd took a practice swing with the broadsword.
He d been relieved most of their training happened
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Silent Vows
in private, away from the other knights. At first, he
could hardly hold a sword in one hand, let alone use
the thing. Within the first week, he wielded it with
some skill, knowing he d be dead in ten minutes in a
true fight.
He grinned to himself as he swirled it over his
head, because despite only a little more than a
week s training, he managed to wield it nonetheless.
His introduction to the other knights had been
formal and vague. Apparently the MacCoinnich s
men were well versed in the art of looking past the
family s secrets.
Todd caught Myra s glance out of the corner of
his eye. Her cheeks flamed red and his leggings,
tight around his thighs, stretched further.
Myra brought her hand up to her neck and
fanned her fingers along the long column of her
throat. He could almost taste the salt tinged flesh as
if he were pressing his lips to her neck.
Duncan growled behind him, forcing Todd s
thoughts to the sword in his hand. He turned in time
to block Duncan s sword in mid-air. Todd ducked, [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]