CHAPTER forty-three: Gloom

　　“Help me!” She screamed as her fingers dug into the fur coverlet draped over her, eyes shut tightly in despair.

　　“Wake up! Amelia! Wake up! Tis is nothing but a dream you are having!”

　　Conroy’s stern voice, his persistent shaking, finally brought her from having knowledge of her lost memory to waking into reality.

　　“You must protect me, Lucas! I almost saw them! They killed my family…my clan!” she babbled on, trembling so violently her teeth clattered. “I have no family---no sanctuary! Nobody…it hurts; oh they are going to kill me too if they know I am alive! They said, “Nobody must live to tell the tale! Hide me from them.”

　　“Hush, now, Hush! There is nobody here but you and me, my little wildcat, “Come on darling, open your eyes and see for yourself! You are safe with me in Valeria, in my castle, in my chamber.” He smiled ruefully as he placed a hand over her belly, “And if that is not enough, you have my heir in your belly to protect you too.”