Branded by a Warrior Read Online Free PDF

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    “Jes u, do ye think she’ll make et Brother?” Kend rix questioned as he watched Broderick stop in front of his own room.
    “ I will not let her die. Now, open my door Brother , ” nodding to his door.
    “Ye room Broderick? You never let any woman in ye room, you know what that’ll imply?” Kendrix questioned carefully as he opene d the thick wooden door to the L aird ’ s quarters and eyed Broderick.
    “Aye, she’s under my protection from this day forth. I refuse to let her die, now please, help me or get yo ur bloody arse out of my way!” H e bar ked as he stepped into his room. W alking directly over to the warm fire, Kendrix following behind him quietly.
    Laying the young lass down softly on the floor before the fire, he covered her tightly with a fresh plaid that was on his chair and turned to stoke the fire. Beside him he felt his wolfhounds walk in and circle Elisabeth before nestling up beside her.
    The brothers watched the notorious loyal dogs huddle against the frozen lass without being ordered.
    The wolfhounds were one of Broderick’s most valuable weapons, loyal and expertly trained; they could rip a man’s throat out or give a ride to a wee bairn if ordered by their master. Usually always at his side waiting for his next order, he had never seen them choose another human over him. It was as if they were protecting her too. It appeared they had chosen the injured woman to protect, whether he told them to or not.
    Broderick looked up to see his younger brother staring at the wolfhounds and Elisabeth’s pale face.
    “Curious,” Kendrix whispered in the darkened room.
    “Aye”
    Kendrix’s looked up from Elisabeth, “I’ll go find Old Rh ona and that crazy healer woman. I’ll send fresh supplies with them as well. Keep me updated if you need anything else, I’ll check back in the morning . ”
    “Thank you Kendrix,” nodding he watched him walk out of the room . Broderick swung his gaze back to the pale Warrior Queen.
    Since he’d found her, she never lifted an eyelid, or made a sound. She was breathing but yet, dead to the world around her. He knew her wound was the direct cause, it was a horrid slash that started high on her left shoulder, where it ended he had yet to find out. It was a miracle she lived this long.
    Looking down at his feet, he saw his fierce wolfhounds surround her with their protection as she lay before his fireplace. Their shaggy coats nestled in on each side of her, wrapped in his tartan plaid; he looked at her angelic face. Standing above her h e couldn’t tell if she was breathing or not, panicking , he knelt down and quickly picked up her right hand and removed his glove off her small hand , feeling for a pulse . Her hand was still ice cold, but he could feel her faint pulse.
    Sighing with relief he felt his male dog nudge his leg, he looked over at his faithful companion, “I won’t hurt her Conn, rest easy old boy,” running his s trong hand over the dog’s head, chuckling at his do g protectiveness.
    Holding her small cold hand, he felt her palm was calloused, much like his . A knowing sign of a swordsman , turning her hand over he ran his thumb across the calluses on her right hand . He had never met a lady who had the hands of a worker; Elisabeth’s hands had beautiful ivory skin on top and the hands of a laborer on bottom. Looking at her face he saw h er lips were still ti nted blue and she was shivering. H is hounds were snuggled tight to her side as the fire began to roar beside them. The fire helped illuminate the room, and her striking face. Reaching over, he moved a stray curl out of her face as he watched her breathe.
    Kneeling next to her , he willed her to live, holding her cold hand he renewed his vow to Duncan once again . Something inside him felt connected with her, he couldn’t explain it but he could feel it. It was unlike anything he had ever experienced before. Since the moment he held her against his chest it was as if they were