Read Online Highlander the Dark Dragon by Donna Fletcher - Free Book Online
Authors: Donna Fletcher
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face the night ahead.
Once alone, Heather found herself restless. Her thoughts continued to drift to what Nessa had told her about the Dragon keeping young women prisoners in a room on the upper floor. Somehow she did not think it was true, but it could be that she did not want it to be true. The only way to settle her worries was to see for herself.
Heather hurried out of the room, closing the door gently behind her, not wanting to alert anyone to her nightly excursion, especially to forbidden territory. But if caught, she could feign ignorance. After all, she had only arrived and knew little of the keep’s workings and rules.
She took the stairs quickly and once she stepped off the top step, she had second thoughts. The small area was dimly lit, one wall sconce holding a torch that barely flickered. There were three doors, one to the left and the other to the right and the third door sat between the other two.
Something told Heather that that was the room in question, but to be thorough or perhaps out of fear, she decided to explore that room last. With cautious steps, she proceeded to the room on the left and slowly opened the door. She had to open it all the way to allow light from the torch sconce to fill the room, if only partially.
It was not necessary to explore the whole room. One glance told Heather it was once the lady of the keep’s solar. Here was where the lady of the keep could spend time for herself with her embroidery or simply seeking some solace. A fine covering of dust alerted her to the fact that it had not been used in some time.
Heather closed the door behind her and went to the door on the right, opening that one slowly as well. It appeared a room where unwanted furniture was stored and as Heather went to close the door, her eyes caught on the cradle stuck beneath some chairs.
Dusty and forever childless the piece appeared forlorn, discarded along with other furniture that had been of no use. She closed the door, feeling sorry for the empty cradle and for the woman who had had such hope of filling it.
She went to close the door when a wind whipped it out of her hand, slamming it shut in her face. She jumped back startled, her heart pounding in her chest. The wind no doubt came from an open window in the room, but she decided against confirming her suspicion and hurried over to the other door. The shadows seemed darker in this space, almost as if they were embracing her or were they trying to imprison her?
Heather almost reconsidered exploring what lay beyond the door. She could always return another time, preferably during the day when the sun shined bright. A loud crack of thunder caused her to jump in fright and her heart to continue to pound.
Once she reached the door, she turned her head and placed her ear closer to it to see if she could hear any sounds coming from inside. She wondered then what she would do if she found women being kept as slaves in the room. An answer came easily. She would free them and send them home to her sisters.
She shook her head at the nonsensical thought. How could there be prisoners when there was no lock on the door. And why would Rhys keep women as slaves to satisfy his lust when he was bringing a wife home? Unless...could he be that insatiable when it came to coupling? Did he require more than one woman to satisfy him?
She would find out tonight or would she find out when she opened this door?
The torch in the sconce flickered, sending shadows dancing across the wood door as if they dared her to enter the den of iniquity. She raised her hand slowly, telling herself this was necessary, she had to do it. She had to discover what lay beyond the door.
Ever so slowly, she brought her hand down on the metal latch.
A large shadow suddenly loomed over her, spreading around her, consuming her, swallowing her whole while a strong hand fell across hers, gripping it tightly.
Chapter Seven
“Never, ever, enter this room.”
Heather’s gasp caught in her
Once alone, Heather found herself restless. Her thoughts continued to drift to what Nessa had told her about the Dragon keeping young women prisoners in a room on the upper floor. Somehow she did not think it was true, but it could be that she did not want it to be true. The only way to settle her worries was to see for herself.
Heather hurried out of the room, closing the door gently behind her, not wanting to alert anyone to her nightly excursion, especially to forbidden territory. But if caught, she could feign ignorance. After all, she had only arrived and knew little of the keep’s workings and rules.
She took the stairs quickly and once she stepped off the top step, she had second thoughts. The small area was dimly lit, one wall sconce holding a torch that barely flickered. There were three doors, one to the left and the other to the right and the third door sat between the other two.
Something told Heather that that was the room in question, but to be thorough or perhaps out of fear, she decided to explore that room last. With cautious steps, she proceeded to the room on the left and slowly opened the door. She had to open it all the way to allow light from the torch sconce to fill the room, if only partially.
It was not necessary to explore the whole room. One glance told Heather it was once the lady of the keep’s solar. Here was where the lady of the keep could spend time for herself with her embroidery or simply seeking some solace. A fine covering of dust alerted her to the fact that it had not been used in some time.
Heather closed the door behind her and went to the door on the right, opening that one slowly as well. It appeared a room where unwanted furniture was stored and as Heather went to close the door, her eyes caught on the cradle stuck beneath some chairs.
Dusty and forever childless the piece appeared forlorn, discarded along with other furniture that had been of no use. She closed the door, feeling sorry for the empty cradle and for the woman who had had such hope of filling it.
She went to close the door when a wind whipped it out of her hand, slamming it shut in her face. She jumped back startled, her heart pounding in her chest. The wind no doubt came from an open window in the room, but she decided against confirming her suspicion and hurried over to the other door. The shadows seemed darker in this space, almost as if they were embracing her or were they trying to imprison her?
Heather almost reconsidered exploring what lay beyond the door. She could always return another time, preferably during the day when the sun shined bright. A loud crack of thunder caused her to jump in fright and her heart to continue to pound.
Once she reached the door, she turned her head and placed her ear closer to it to see if she could hear any sounds coming from inside. She wondered then what she would do if she found women being kept as slaves in the room. An answer came easily. She would free them and send them home to her sisters.
She shook her head at the nonsensical thought. How could there be prisoners when there was no lock on the door. And why would Rhys keep women as slaves to satisfy his lust when he was bringing a wife home? Unless...could he be that insatiable when it came to coupling? Did he require more than one woman to satisfy him?
She would find out tonight or would she find out when she opened this door?
The torch in the sconce flickered, sending shadows dancing across the wood door as if they dared her to enter the den of iniquity. She raised her hand slowly, telling herself this was necessary, she had to do it. She had to discover what lay beyond the door.
Ever so slowly, she brought her hand down on the metal latch.
A large shadow suddenly loomed over her, spreading around her, consuming her, swallowing her whole while a strong hand fell across hers, gripping it tightly.
Chapter Seven
“Never, ever, enter this room.”
Heather’s gasp caught in her
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