Out the door, she fairly skipped, then bounced down the stairs. Such a heady mix of joy filled her, made her want to sing and shout, and to declare to all the world that the man she’d adored for so very long had now returned and finally claimed her. No more did he belong to another. He belonged to her, just as she’d always belonged to him.
Into the great hall with its massive wooden-beamed rafters rising to an imposing height overhead, she pranced. Sunshine streamed in through the tall windows and sprinkled golden and bright over the wooden floorboards. Across the far side of the hall, serving maids bustled about as they brought out jugs of warm cider, fresh bread and platters of boiled eggs and laid the food upon the tables. The hall remained fairly empty, but not for long. Soon it would be filled to the brim with warriors aplenty.
Next to the blazing fireplace, Beast and Buster sat with their tails slapping the hearth, eagerness sparkling in their eyes as they awaited her. Coll had taken them with him at her request before he’d left her that last day at his father’s keep. She’d never be permitted to take them to Rhue and they’d always been as much his dogs as they’d been hers. Now, she hurried across, hunkered down and wrapped her arms around their big heads and got a hearty lick on each cheek when she did. “Did you see your master has returned?”
Beast yapped and Buster thumped his white-tipped tail harder.
“I’m excited too.” She scratched under their chins and Beast rolled onto his back before raising his paws. Buster followed suit and with both bellies presented to her, she giggled and gave them both a hearty tummy rub.
“Fiona, there you are.” Beaming, Kyla whisked across, her forest-green gown swishing about her legs and the waist draping over the delicate roundness of her belly. “Coll rode in a few hours ago, has returned far earlier than we envisioned. I’d wished to plan a banquet in celebration of his return for this eve, but Coll intends on riding to Ardan to meet Ella first. We’ll have to delay the feast until tomorrow’s eve. Do you wish to aid me in the preparations?”
“Of course.” She’d love to, and Coll would most definitely wish to meet Ella, his new sister-by-marriage. The lass was a fae-blooded compeller with a hypnotically sweet voice that could see a man move to do her biding without him even being aware of it. A very sought after fae skill, and also a very rare one, although she always took great care when using it. “I’m aware Coll returned earlier than expected. I awoke when I heard him bathing in his chamber afore bed last eve.” She hugged Kyla, beyond excited to share her news. “I have something of great import I need to tell you, and afore this hall fills.”
“Then come. We’ll speak while we break our fast. My babe grows restless and kicks up a storm this morn. Hungry, I’m certain. I most definitely am.” Kyla grasped her hand and tugged her up onto the dais. Her friend waved out to one of the maids walking across with a tray of steaming oats and a platter of crusty bread and the maid set bowls for them both down at the high table, bread as well, then hustled over to finish setting out the other tables.
“Where’s Ronan?” She pulled out a seat for Kyla. “I wish only to tell you of my news for now.” Privacy was needed, particularly since she’d never whispered a word to Kyla of her feelings for Coll, not when doing so would have hurt her.
“Ronan has already eaten and ridden out to see to the security on our eastern border, so whatever you have to say can remain just between us.” Kyla eased into her seat, lifted the milk jug and added a splash of milk to both their bowls.
“Wonderful, because ’tis of a very sensitive nature.” She perched next to Kyla, dunked her spoon into her oats and ate a mouthful. Warmth raced to her empty belly and she grinned anew.
“Oooh, please hurry up and tell me your news of great import.” Kyla poked her in the arm. “You can barely sit still and you have such a glow to your cheeks.”
Jiggling even more and no longer able to hold back a moment longer, she whispered in a rush so no others could overhear. “I didnae just awaken at hearing Coll’s return, but also opened the connecting door between our rooms and, ah, spoke to him.”
“Well, dinnae stop there. You spoke of what?” She picked up a slice of crusty bread, dunked one end in the small bowl of honey and bit into it.
“Of his dreams.”
“And those would be?”
“Of touching me.”
“Pardon?” Kyla coughed and thumped her chest. “Did you just say Coll has dreamed of touching you? And exactly where did he wish to touch you?”
“Everywhere, and we did touch, everywhere.” She shoved a slice of bread into her own mouth, her cheeks so hot.
“You and Coll? Oh my.” Kyla nabbed her tankard of apple cider and slugged it back, her gaze darting from her to her drink and her again.
“I know this will come as a surprise, particularly when I’ve never told you of my feelings for him, but of course I couldnae afore this time. You two were as good as betrothed throughout most of your childhood.”
“I dinnae know what to say. I mean, you two have always been rather close, but never close in the way of, well, touching as you’ve said.”