The Winds of the Heavens (Sons of Rhodri Medieval Romance Series) by Anna Markland Read Free Book Online Page B

heart that she would be devastated. But she was a woman of spirit who would overcome her grief. He relished a future of serving her, meeting her needs. He would never fail her. Her blindness would help him become the man he was intended to be.
    Isolda had returned from the dead. They would never be parted again.
    ***
    Rhun carried his trembling betrothed back to her own chamber and helped her to bed. “I’ll stay, but don’t worry. I only want to bring comfort.”
    Glain couldn’t speak. A cruel fate had befallen her sister. Hope had blossomed in her heart at the sound of Isolda’s voice. She had trusted all would be well for the four of them. Her sister had reawakened, but was blind. No matter the cost, she swore to stand at her sister’s side to help her with this burden. She fell asleep in Rhun’s arms, sobbing.
    ***
    As Rhun stroked Glain’s hair, the sobs racking her body twisted a knife in his heart. If the same affliction befell his twin brother, no doubt he would move heaven and earth to help him. Glain would do no less for her sister. He grieved for Isolda, sightless in a world dangerous enough for the sighted. He grieved for his brother whose life had suddenly become very difficult. They had shared everything, but Rhydderch would have to shoulder most of this burden alone. He grieved for Glain because he loved her. And he grieved for himself, terrified he might lose his beloved to Isolda’s blindness.

CHAPTER EIGHT
     
    Isolda pouted as she struggled to free her hand from her betrothed’s grasp. “Forgive me, Rhydderch, but can you not see I am blind?”
    He took a deep breath. “I know that’s true now, Isolda, just as I know three days ago you were in a deep sleep no one believed you would awaken from, yet here you are, saucy as ever.”
    She blushed and thrust back her head. “Blind women don’t make good wives. I can’t marry you. Things are different.”
    He placed her hand on his erection. “Nothing about my passion for you has changed, as you can tell. I want you to be my wife, and I’ll keep asking until you agree. I would, of course, prefer you to see my obvious interest in you, but—” He bent to kiss her lips softly, “—I can describe it to you!”
    A warm ache snaked its way into her belly and her breasts tightened. She should remove her hand from his disturbing hardness. “No, Rhydderch. It would be selfish to agree. You’re an important man, with many responsibilities. You need a wife who can stand by your side, a wife with her sight.”
    He laced his fingers in her hair and pressed his arousal more insistently against her hand. “What I need, what I hunger for, is you.”
    She wanted to believe him, to give herself over to him, but fear held her fast, fear of her blindness, of the future. “No. I can’t be your wife. You’ll find another, one who is whole. I must learn to live in a new world.”
    He raised his voice slightly. “Yet you won’t let me help you with your challenges. You won’t share your new world with me, the man who obviously loves you?”
    He thrust his hips provocatively. She wrenched her hand away. “It’s mine to face alone.”
    His anger filled her senses. “But you know Glain won’t let you face it alone. She’ll be there to help you on every step of the journey. You won’t refuse her help.”
    “No,” Isolda admitted. “She’s my twin.”
    “You’ll deny your sister her life with Rhun?”
    She gritted her teeth. “I deny Glain nothing.”
    His angry voice echoed off the walls of the small chamber. “Isolda, your self pity will destroy your sister and my brother. They love each other desperately, but Glain won’t marry him if she believes you need her. I can fulfill those needs, but you refuse me. You want to keep her for yourself.”
    He slammed the heavy door as he left. She sobbed into the bolster, lost in private grief, wanting him with a desperate ache, but not knowing how to cope with being adrift in a sightless