Prologue
It is said that when lowly Baron Sinclair saved the powerful Duke of Raven from certain death in 1335 by single-handedly killing the three men who attacked his carriage, King Edward III was grateful. Raven was a wise and sage counsel he had no wish to lose, therefore, he rewarded Sinclair with the land that sat at the base of Raven Mountain. Having shown himself capable of the duty, Baron Sinclair was now, in the eye of the King, to be the official protector of the Ravens.
Over the years the tale has changed and grown as many do. There were rumors of strange occurrences when a Sinclair saved a Raven in the years that followed. Unexplained occurrences that caused many to wonder what it was that the Sinclairs were hiding, but one thing that never changed was their unwavering duty in the task King Edward III had bestowed upon them.
To honor and protect the Raven familywas the Sinclair family creed.
Chapter One
Kate Sinclair burrowed deeper into her thick scarf as she took the track down the cliff to the beach below. It was steep and winding, but she’d walked it before with her cousins. Wind howled, and sea spray dabbled her face the lower she got. Gulls cried, the sound catching on the wind as they swooped and dived for food. It was close to dawn, and she’d been unable to sleep. Had felt a desperate need to walk, but not only that, she must walk on the beach below the cliffs.
Kate hadn’t fought that need, simply left the house silently so as not to wake her family and headed here.
Crunston Cliff lay behind her, as did Oak’s Knoll, her cousins’ home. Reaching the bottom, she jumped the last few feet and settled on the hard-packed sand. The tide was rising, so her walk would be brief.
“Come on, Myrtle, let’s go!”
Picking up her skirts, she sped along the beach with the shaggy hound bounding at her side. Her cousin’s dog had greeted her with a sleepy wag. Clearly, she too was restless.
Slowing when her breaths became rasps, Kate turned to look at the castle on the hill.
Raven Castle. Her cousin Eden Sinclair had married the current duke, James, and they were up there, likely still sleeping, with some of the other members of Kate’s family. Her mother for one, and her elder sister, Alice, and the man she was to marry on Christmas Day, Nicholas, Lord Braithwaite.
It wasn’t to be a grand event, neither of them had wanted that, but it would be lovely, and Kate was excited for her sister… not exactly true, as the small mean part of her didn’t want to be left alone with only her mother for company.
It was extremely vexing to Kate that a woman who had held her family together for many years after her husband’s death now moaned at any given moment. On the carriage trip, which had taken four extremely long and taxing days, her mother had moaned extensively over everything.
“My feet will never thaw out, Kate. I am hungry. It’s cold. I can’t sleep.” The list had gone on and on, and it had given her a small window into what her life was going to be like going forward. No more Alice to share the burden, and definitely no Wolf. Their brother was also married, and likely still sleeping in the castle with his wife, Rose. They were expecting their first child soon.
Harriet Sinclair was not a small woman. Short, yes, but ample of girth, so travelling was not comfortable for her, Kate acknowledged that, but still, the moaning had been constant.
Picking up a stick, she threw it for Myrtle. Then watched as she flew across the sand to retrieve it. An approaching wave crept toward her, forcing Kate to retreat to the cliff face. Making her way along the edge, she headed for the path up. The water had risen faster than she’d realized.
“Myrtle, come here!”
A muffled sound came from the jut of rocks behind her. Stopping, Kate listened and heard it again. A moan, or was it a growl? Was an animal hurt or trapped? Looking at the water, she wondered if she dared take the time to investigate, and yet how could she not?
Kate was a healer now; her cousin had taught her, and because of what she and her family shared it was her destiny. She could not turn her back on anyone or anything that was wounded.
“Myrtle.” She slapped her side for the dog to come, then gripped her collar. If it was a wounded animal, she didn’t want her to harm it further.
Tension gripped Kate suddenly. It made her stomach clench and the hand on Myrtle’s collar tighten. The desperation she’d felt earlier rose inside her again. Desperation that had her hurrying now. Almost at a run, she rounded the rocks and saw… nothing. Moving deeper into the crevice, she searched, and it was there she found him.
Feet and hands bound, he was gagged and lay on his side facing her. Running forward, she stopped as the large, shaggy gray dog at his side rose. Prowling toward her, he growled, baring his teeth.
“It’s all right now.” Gripping Myrtle’s collar as she growled back, she held out a hand. “I want to help him.”
The man made a muffled sound as the dog moved slowly forward to sniff her fingers. It then backed away to take its place beside the man and allowed Kate to drop down beside him. With trembling hands, she untied the gag.
“Th-thank you.” He was shivering so hard, his teeth were banging together. How long had he been out here in the cold?
He wore a black wool coat, trousers, and boots. He was big, with huge hands and feet; his shoulders were broad and chest wide. He had a mass of golden-brown hair that was dusted with sand.
“The tide is rising; we must get you out of here.”
“Kn-knife,” he gritted out. “Left boot.”
Kate didn’t allow herself time to think, just slipped her hand inside the boot and gripped the cold handle of the weapon.
