Draco A Medieval Scottish Roma - Jayne Castel Page 0,89
jewel among women.”
Draco raised his eyebrows. It was rare to hear Wallace use such language.
Seeing his incredulous look, the Wallace snorted. “It’s true.”
Draco smiled. “It is. I don’t know what I did to deserve Gavina … but now she’s mine, I’m not leaving her side.”
Wallace grinned. “Good lad.”
Gavina gently opened the door to the bed-chamber, peeking inside. Draco was propped up, his hands wrapped around a cup. He wasn’t looking her way; instead, his gaze was trained out of the window.
He wore a gentle expression—one she’d rarely seen upon his face before the curse was broken.
Her breathing hitched. He still looked drawn from his brush with death, yet her husband was a sight to behold all the same: his face all lean planes, his bearing lordly. She would never tire of looking upon him.
“Are ye taking more visitors?” she asked softly, cutting into his reverie. “I know folk have been tramping through here since dawn like it’s harvest market.”
He glanced her way, a slow smile creeping across his face. “You aren’t a visitor, Gavina. You’re my wife.” He patted the bed next to him. “Come here, love.”
Love.
She never tired of hearing him say that. Even a week after they’d professed their feelings for each other, she still reeled from the fact that things had worked out.
She was no longer laird of Dunnottar, but frankly that was a relief. Instead, she was wed to a man she loved, and they were about to embark upon a wonderful new life together.
Crossing to the bed, she lay down upon the blankets and snuggled up to him, placing her cheek upon his shoulder.
“Did you find the wise woman well?” Draco asked after a moment. “I hope she appreciated your gifts.”
“She wasn’t there,” Gavina replied, disappointment creeping into her voice as she recalled the deserted hovel and the fowl—freed from their coops—scratching in the overgrown garden. “She’s gone, Draco. I asked around in Stonehaven … but no one knows where she went.”
His body stiffened against hers.
Propping herself up, Gavina angled up her chin to meet his gaze. He’d said little of what had passed between him and Nessa. The wise woman had tended to him, and after she left, Draco had fallen into a deep slumber. When he’d awoken the following morning, clearly on the mend, Gavina had been too relieved to question him about what the healer had actually done to him.
“There’s something ye aren’t saying,” she murmured. “Will ye share it with me?”
He grinned. “I was wondering when you’d bring this up.”
Gavina arched an eyebrow. “Keep yer secrets then,” she huffed.
Draco’s grin faded, his gaze growing soft as he lifted a hand and stroked her cheek. “Not anymore … and never with you.” He paused then. “You realize that Nessa is much more than she appears, don’t you?”
Gavina inclined her head. “Ye mean, she’s a witch?”
He nodded. “That’s why she has disappeared. Folk tolerate having a local wise woman living amongst them … someone to lance their boils and bless the harvest … but if they learned who she really was, they’d turn against her.”
Gavina sucked in a breath. “She healed ye with magic then?”
“That and some healing herbs that nearly dissolved my flesh.” Draco cringed at the memory, and Gavina found a smile curving her lips. She’d known he was feeling better when he started to complain about the pain.
When he’d been on death’s door, he’d barely uttered a word.
“We owe Nessa yer life,” she said after a pause. “I wish I could have thanked her properly.”
Draco smiled, his thumb tracing Gavina’s lower lip. As always, his touch sent shivers of need through her. They hadn’t lain together since his recovery, but she could tell from the glint in her husband’s eyes that tonight they’d rectify matters. “As do I … when she helped me, I was distracted.” His mouth twisted. “I was also reeling from her admission that she’s part of a coven that dates back to ancient times.” His gaze held Gavina’s. “The witch who founded the coven … was the one who cursed me, Max, and Cass.”
Gavina drew back. “Really?”
Draco gave a rueful laugh. “You can imagine my surprise.”
“Do Maximus and Cassian know?”
“Yes, I told them yesterday.” He paused then, his expression turning wistful. “It’s like everything has gone full-circle. The riddle has been solved … and ironically, the bandruì who cursed us also had a hand in freeing us.”
“The Broom-star has gone from the night sky,” Gavina confirmed. “So ye figured everything out just in time.”