Page 64 of Forbidden Desire

“Your husband?” she balked. “No, he isn’t! Whatever whacky ritual they carry out here, it isn’t legally binding. You just need to get away from him... from here.” She rose from the bed. “Come on, we can still go. I bet they haven’t destroyed the boat. It’s too useful to them. It’s probably hidden, and I’ll find it.”

“You will, will you?”

My heart stooped as Rasmie’s voice thundered from behind the furs, his enormous frame stepping into view as I trembled on the bed. Oh God, we were in trouble now. His hard expression promised me as much.

“Rasmie.” Elodie’s nostrils flared as she took in the sight of him, and I had to hand it to her. If there was a flicker of fear, it wasn’t obvious.

“Nighean bheag?” He turned to me, his tone expectant. “Care to tell me what is happening?”

Anxiety knotted in my tummy—the place our baby was growing at this very moment. If I lied to him, he would make sure an awful fate awaited me, but telling the truth would almost certainly send my sister to the same fate.

“I came to see my sister.” El’s tone was defiant, but petulance wouldn’t help her with Rasmie.

“H-How long have you been listening, Maighstir?” Had he heard our news for himself? A sense of disappointment washed over me. I had wanted to share it with him privately.

“Long enough, and you have not answered my question, nighean bheag. What have you been doing in my absence?”

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Jeemie

AS SOON AS I WOKE AND found her gone, my anxiety soared. I knew she had fled and would rather take her chances with the elements than be mine. The idea was pulverizing, threatening to immobilize me until my ego overrode its logic. I might not be the leader of the clan, but I was Rasmie’s brother and deserved respect. I had treated Elodie well and thought we had reached an understanding. I refused to be downtrodden by one woman and her iron resolve.

Dressing quickly, I raced from my house, heading to Rasmie’s. If there was anywhere she might have gone, it would be to her sister, and if anyone would help me mount an attempt of salvaging her, it was my brother. I passed Drewie as I entered the dwelling, acknowledging it was his turn to guard Rasmie’s premises. Heading inside, my feet paused at what I heard.

“I did not ask for your opinion, Elodie.” Rasmie’s voice rang out from his bedchamber. “It is still a wonder to me how you got past my guard to join my wife, but we shall deal with that matter. It seems my brother needs to keep you on a leash.”

My breath caught at the enticing analogy, my feet already headed toward his thundering tone.

“I don’t belong to any of you.” Elodie’s screeched wail resonated past the fur. “How dare you—”

“Excuse my interruption.” I pulled back the fur to find her red-faced, one finger jabbing at Rasmie. My brother turned, eyeing me briefly as I stepped into the room while Desiree huddled in their bed covers. “I believe you have something of mine?”

“Aye.” Rasmie’s tone was unimpressed. “You need to take better care of your things, Jeemie.”

“Apologies, Maighstir. Yes, I do.”

“I’m not going back with you.” Elodie spun to me. “So, don’t even think about it.”

“What happened?”

I folded my arms over my chest, my gaze sliding from one woman to the other. Elodie was dressed in her awful clothing again, and the small pack she had brought from the boat was once again strapped to her back. All the signs indicated she was about to flee but had stopped to see Desiree first, no doubt in a foolish attempt to cajole her into the escape.

“I already told him I just came to see Desiree.” Elodie’s eyes flared with emotion.

“You’re lying.” Rasmie’s stare settled on her. “I can smell a woman’s untruth a mile away.”

“Desiree?” In the end, I looked to our mathair for mediation. “What is your view?”

“Please.” Her voice was choked with emotion. “I can’t be expected to choose between my sister and my husband.”

Rasmie’s lips curled into a smile. “I expect you to choose the truth, nighean bheag.”

“Oh God.” Her hands rose to her face.

“Oh, for pity’s sake.” Elodie flung her arms in the air. “What has happened to you, Des?”

Lowering her hands, Desiree met her sister’s eyes. “You know.” Her gaze implied a deeper meaning. “You know why.”