All through the night, women took turns sitting by her side. Anna threw up once more, but there was no blood -- a good sign she had no internal injuries. Her mouth began to bleed again, but not badly and it soon stopped. She woke every time she tried to move and remembered to thank the women for helping her. Finally, she decided the pain was not so severe when she turned on her right side. After that, she slept a full five hours.
When she awoke, she couldn't figure out where she was. A man, no a god, sat in the chair beside her and she had trouble focusing on his face. The sun shone through the window behind him. His hair was golden and he was far too big to be a mortal man.
"Did I die?" she whispered.
Kevin smiled. "Nay."
"Who are you?"
"I am your husband, do you not remember?"
"Oh." It seemed easier and a lot less painful to speak than it had the day before, and he spoke English as well as his sister.
Anna slowly moved her legs over the side of the bed and started to sit up before she realized she had nothing on. She quickly covered herself, but not before he noticed the dark bruise on the side of her left knee, lighter ones on her legs and a large bruise on her shoulder. "Perhaps you should stay in bed."
"No, I need to walk the stiffness out." She bowed her head then, and closed her eyes. "I am ashamed of my appearance and I would not blame you for refusing me." She hoped he would.
He changed the subject. "Who is Rachel?"
Her head shot up. "How do you know…?"
"You talked in your sleep."
"What else did I say?"
"Answer my question first."
She hesitated but saw no harm in telling him. "Rachel is my little sister."
"I see. To answer your question, nay, you said nothing else." He lied. In fact, he thought he knew a great deal. Some of her muttering was impossible to understand, but Rachel was in danger and Anna had to help her. Danger from whom, he did not know, nor was he certain what Anna could do about it. He was sure of one thing; he doubted Anna would tell him who hurt her until Rachel was safe. Did one of the clans have her? The thought made his rage begin to build again. "Is Rachel in danger?"
She didn't answer.
"Should I notify your father?"
Anna shook her head.
Her father must be dead, he thought. Her attackers killed her father and her guard, then beat her and took her little sister, threatening to kill Rachel if Anna told. Was that what happened? His mind was racing. If that was it, his wife was suffering a lot more than he knew. He decided to ask her another question. "Do you think Rachel is in the Highlands somewhere?"