“I can explain!” I shouted, lifting my hands.
“Ye Sassunnach bastard!” he roared, fist rising as he charged.
Wulfric surged against my chest. I widened my stance, bracing for impact.
No one would ever come between me and my mate.
Blood relative or not.
Chapter 26
Euphemia
I peered around Thaddeus and saw the rage etched deep into my uncle’s face. I’d never seen him like this before. He was only a few feet away when I jumped between them, flinging my arms out.
My uncle skidded in the snow and caught my wrists.
“Oot o’the way, lass. He’s dead,” he snarled, trying to swing around me.
Thaddeus’s hands closed around my waist as he tried to pull me aside.
“I can handle him,” he growled.
“But I like yer face the way it is,” I snapped, struggling against my uncle’s grip.“God, whit is Aunt Flora feedin’ye?”
Callum froze mid-punch, horror flickering across his face.
“Ye like his face?” he said incredulously.“His?” He shook his head hard.“I thought the worst when ye didnae return.”
Then he hauled me into a crushing embrace, lifting me clean off my feet and rocking me back and forth.
“Ye and Ranald are all ah’huv left o’my brother,” he said, his voice cracking.
Thaddeus’s hands fell away from my waist. I wrapped my arms around my uncle’s neck and hugged him back.
“We got snowed in and ah’fell ill,” I said softly.“Today’s the verra first day ah’felt better. I’m sorry fur worrying ye like this, Uncle Callum.”
He set me back on the road and held me at arm’s length, his eyes scanning me from head to toe.
“Ye dinnae look poorly,” he muttered darkly, glaring past me.“And I blamehim.”
He tried to step around me again.
“Uncle Callum, please dinnae harm him,” I cried, stepping fully into his path.
He scowled, his gaze flicking between us several times.
“Whit is goin’on here?” he demanded.“A few days ago ye wanted tae toss a bedpan at his heid.” His brow furrowed tightly.
“You did?” Thaddeus piped up behind me.
I ran a hand over my face.
“I want tae marry him,” I said, then muttered,“Dinnae ask me why.”
“Him?” my uncle exclaimed, throwing his hands in the air.
I nearly laughed when I felt Thaddeus’s sharp indignation ripple through the bond.
