“And yewoundedthe Stormseeker?” Matthias pressed, eyes wide.
“Many men—maleshave underestimated me in the past.”
Issa began to chuckle, then outright laugh, holding her bulging belly. When Matthias saw my confusion, he hurried to explain.
“Lass, no’ many men can claim they can best our chief. Issa is thrilled that she’ll be able to tease her aulder brother.”
“Nay,” she gasped, “Issa is thrilled she has a new friend!”
I shook my head, still not understanding.
“I am his prisoner! I wounded him, but he won—he took me as sacrifice—atribute!”
Issa slapped the table and laughed harder. Her Mate shot her a disapproving look, then shook his head at me.
“Battleborn of Islay dinnae think like that, Rowena. ‘Tis why I chose to give them my alliance.”
His Mate immediately ceased her laughing and glared at him. “Yechosemy clan because ye choseme.”
“I only found ye because I chose to join yer clan,” he reminded her mildly, then smiled and reached across the table to take her hand.
“I could love ye because ye were honorable, and ye’re that way because yer clan—yer family—is that way.”
I opened my mouth to object—Vroguldidtake me as a prisoner—but then slowly closed it as I saw the pair of them share a sweet smile. Again, I wondered how they’d found each other.
Finally, Issa turned to me, still smiling gently.
“I dinnae ken why Vrogul took ye, Rowena. If I had to guess, I doubt evenheunderstands it. Ye gained his respect and the respect of his warriors by besting him. Mayhap that’s why he took ye?”
“Do ye have a Mate back home, lass?” Matthias asked gently, and before I could fully consider the ramifications, I shook my head. The man exhaled in what appeared to be relief. “A family?”
“I have spent the last two years living on the outskirts of a village full of people who wanted naught to do with me, and when I defended them with my life, they werepleased to offer me up as tribute to save their own skin.”
The healer nodded.
“Then mayhap ye might consider finding a new home here, as I have. As so many of us have.”
A new home?Here?
You cannot escape. You have another month afore you can return to your world, even if you could find your way off this island. And what is there to return to?
Naught.
I swallowed.
“I am a prisoner,” I whispered. “An enemy.”
Matthias opened his mouth, but his Mate squeezed his hand to interrupt whatever he’d been about to say. When Issa grinned like that, she looked a little wicked. Like Vrogul.
“Ye are no’myenemy, Rowena. I’ve always wanted a sister, and I’ve decided ye’re going to do well enough, as long as ye’re here in Battleborn Village. I’m hugely pregnant, ye ken. Ye have to keep me happy.”
The sheer audacity made me snort, but I found myself answering her grin.
“I think I understand what your Mate meant when he said the females run this place.”
“I usually get my way,” she said matter-of-factly as she pushed herself to her feet with a small grunt.
“Which is why ye’re going to go to the hot springs with me. We’re going to soak all this grime off, wash each other’s hair, and I’m going to find a gown that fits yer wee body better than aught I own.”
