She plotted her responses as she paced in front of the roaring fire and when the door creaked open and she saw him standing there, she knew one thing.

He was not her husband.

Slatter raced through the woods, weaving and ducking to avoid the tree branches that whipped at him as Devin followed behind him. It didn’t matter to him if anyone found out about his absence or that he’d been meeting with Devin and Walcott secretly, both men having searched for him when he hadn’t returned when expected and finding him here.

His need for revenge grew as he sped through the woods. Slatter was responsible for what happened to Walcott and because of it he might die, and for what? Watching out to make sure no one would discover Devin and Slatter were meeting? Walcott had suffered protecting them and his grandmother had suffered protecting him. His fury grew. And now his wife was in danger? Fear tore at him and fired his anger. It was time he put an end to this now that he knew who was responsible… Sterling.

He had to get to his wife. Had to reach her before Sterling did. Why hadn’t he even considered that it might be a trap? How had he allowed himself to fall for Sterling’s trick? He was more intelligent than that, always considering all angles before rushing into anything.

Willow.

She had overpowered his thoughts and all sound reason. He’d been enjoying a life with her that he had only dreamed of and in the process he had let down his guard.

Never again.

His worry was that Sterling would reach the keep before he did and pretend to be him. Would Willow fall for his lies? Would she know the difference? Or would the man crawl into bed with his wife and… he shook his head and picked up his pace.

Sterling flung his arms out. “No hug for your husband?”

She couldn’t let him know that she knew he wasn’t her husband. She raised her chin. “You lied to me.”

“I thought it best not to tell you of my plans,” he said.

That confirmed what she already knew. He wasn’t Slatter, since her husband had admitted he had had no plans, but she truly didn’t need a confirmation. She could tell from the sinister look in his dark eyes, his smile that was far from truthful or pleasant, and the arrogant way he held himself, that he thought he could do no wrong.

“You told me you wouldn’t keep the truth from me.”

“A wife doesn’t need to know all.” He stretched his hand out to her. “I thought we’d take a morning walk before everyone stirred to life for the day.”

“I’m angry with you,” she said in a way of an excuse, hoping Slatter would return at any moment.

He snapped his hand as if ordering her to his side. “We’ll talk.”