Page 69 of Bound to a Warrior
He entered the room, his mother scurrying past him to turn down the bed. She moved out of his way and he gently laid Mercy down on the soft stuffed mattress. He then sat on the bed beside her, yanked off the blanket that had hid their chain and held up his hand.
“This is why, Mother.”
His mother gasped.
“What the hell?”
“You watch your mouth, Carmag,” his mother said, turning to scold her husband as he entered the room.
Carmag shook his head and handed his wife her healing basket. “Why are they chained together?”
“You heard your father. Answer him,” Duncan’s mother ordered and both parents glared at him.
“Can it wait until after you’ve seen to her wound?” Duncan asked.
His mother threw her hands up. “Whatever is the matter with me? Of course, this lovely young woman—” She turned wide eyes on her son waiting to be introduced.
“Mercy.”
“You can plead for mercy later,” his mother warned. “Right now I’d like you to introduce the lady to me.”
“Her name is Mercy,” Duncan said with a laugh.
His mother swatted his arm and then looked to Mercy. “I’m Mara and it is a pleasure to meet you, Mercy.”
“I’m so pleased to finally meet you,” Mercy said. “Duncan has spoken lovingly of his family.”
Mara chuckled. “I can’t imagine Duncan talkinglovinglyabout his brothers.”
“He did of his mother,” Mercy said.
Mara beamed, her plump cheeks stinging red. “He’s a good son.”
“Because of you,” Mercy said.
Mara looked to Duncan. “I like her. She’d make you a good wife.”
“See to her wound, Mother,” Duncan said with a grin and rattled the chains. “She’s not going anywhere.”
“Then perhaps the chain should remain,” Mara said with a teasing glint and placed her healing basket on the bed and got busy tending Mercy.
“Tell us about the chain,” his father said, moving to stand at the foot of the bed.
One glance and Mercy knew he was Trey’s father. He was as handsome as his son or rather his son was as handsome as him, only older, though age did not distract from his fine features. He stood a head over his wife and was built broad and solid. But the one thing that she noticed the most was the loving look in his eyes every time he glanced at his wife.
Duncan obliged his father, starting with when he and Mercy were first chained together, though omitting the intimate details.
Mara listened while she busily filled a bowl of water from the pitcher on a stand near the fireplace and rinsed a cloth to cleanse Mercy’s head wound.
“The king grows out of control,” Carmag said angrily. “Why ever would he commit a young innocent woman to death and then suddenly change his mind?”
Mercy tensed.
“I’m sorry, dear, did I hurt you?” Mara asked.
While she had felt no pain, her wound allowed her to conceal her reaction that the truth about her might be revealed. “Just a little.”
“You’re safe here,” Carmag said firmly.
