Willow caught the way her husband’s muscles tightened in his face. His anger was near to exploding.

“But first I have a tale to tell you,” Sterling said, joyous with his impending victory.

“Don’t bother, it’s obvious,” Slatter said. “You’re my half-brother.”

“Your mother was my father’s whore,” Sterling spat annoyed he had spoiled it for him.

“And your father didn’t like that I was born the better looking one,” Slatter said with a laugh.

“He wanted you dead,” Sterling said, spittle flying out of his mouth with each word.

“Of course he did. How would it look if there was a man who resembled his heir walking around? What would people say? And would this man try to claim his title and lands that rightfully belonged to his true son? But my mum understood that the man she thought she loved was an evil man and meant her and her son harm, so she did what any loving mum would do… she ran.”

“When did you realize all this?” Sterling asked.

“It became obvious after a while. What other explanation could there be? What I am curious about though is why impersonate me? Why not kill me and be done with it? It must have been your father’s edict that once you found me I was to die.”

“That was his order, but killing you right away would have been no fun, especially when I could do things in your name that was never permitted me as heir to my father’s title. I so enjoyed creating havoc in your name, watching people destroyed by what I did and not suffering a bit of blame or repercussion for it. But, alas, my father grows weary of me not finding you and seeing the matter settled. He threatens to send others after you and I can’t have him finding out what I did. So, unfortunately, my fun has come to an end and it’s also time for you to come to an end.” He shook his head. “I had hoped to trick your wife into bed, but she knows her husband far too well. So, I will give her a quick poke while you lay dying and before I kill her.”

“At least let me hold my wife one last time,” Slatter said.

Sterling laughed, shaking his head. “I know how sneaky you can be and what a liar you are. Actually, we’re not that much different. We think more of ourselves than others.”

“You obviously don’t know my husband,” Willow said.

Sterling laughed again. “I know enough to impersonate him.”

Slatter’s brow narrowed. “You don’t know everything about me.”

“Tell me something I don’t know,” Sterling challenged.

“I’m going to make sure that you know you’re dying and there won’t be anything you can do about it,” Slatter said with such conviction that the two men flanking him took several steps away from him.

“That will have to wait. The shout echoed around them.

Everyone turned shocked eyes on Tarass and his warriors as they poured out of the surrounding woods. All except her husband, he moved with speed and seeing the fear in his eyes as he rushed at her, Willow turned and threw her arm up as Sterling went to stab her in the chest. The blade caught her forearm, slicing it.