Snow clung tightly to her sister’s hand, listening as her reputation was shredded with nothing more than a few words and with only parts of it being the truth. While she thought of speaking up, of defending herself, it wouldn’t matter. That Tarass had been in bed with her was wrong in itself. That he’d been naked only made it worse.

She jumped when she felt a hand grab her arm and powerful fingers close tightly around her soft flesh.

“You will be my wife?” Tarass asked.

Why… was on her lips, but never slipped past them.

“I will not be a witness to this travesty,” Lord Polwarth exclaimed and stormed out of the keep.

Snow stood beside Tarass, his grip firm on her arm as if he never intended to let go of her, and it wasn’t long before she heard the cleric begin the ceremony. She was surprised when Tarass spoke the vows without hesitation and even more surprised when she did the same.

When the cleric pronounced them husband and wife, Snow thought herself dreaming. She had woken today prepared to exchange vows with Lord Polwarth and here she was wife to Tarass, the Lord of Fire. She was still wondering how it had happened.

“We leave for home now,” Tarass announced.

Willow protested. “You cannot wed my sister and leave without any further words of explanation.”

“I can and I will, and I owe no explanation,” Tarass said. “This is done. Snow is mine now and she will obey me.”

Slatter laughed. “Good luck with that. There isn’t a Macardle sister that obeys her husband and I for one would have it no other way.”

Willow turned a smile on her husband.

“The marriage document must be changed, signed, and sealed,” the cleric reminded. “And I wouldn’t mind a drink while seeing it done.”

“Nettle, help my wife with whatever she needs and see that the men secure her belongings,” Tarass commanded.

“Aye, my lord,” Nettle said.

“Snow,” he said, his hand releasing the grip he had on her arm to drift down and take hold of her hand. “Take time with your sister. We leave after the documents are signed.”

“Why?” she asked softly.

“Because I am your husband and you now have no recourse but to obey me,” he said, authority ringing in his every word.

Snow shook her head. “No, that’s not what I ask. Why did you marry me?”

“There’ll be time for us to talk later,” he snapped. “Go with your sister.”

Snow felt his hand fall away from hers.

“There is only one reason he would come here, stop the wedding, and claim you as he did,” Willow said, stepping around her and hooking her arm around Snow’s to lead her to a table. “The Lord of Fire loves you.”

Chapter 15

Snow sat silently in her husband’s arms on his horse.

Her husband.