Abraham angrily sheathed his sword after checking its sharpness. He was planning on using it on his brother after breakfast. His father did not need two sons to carry on his name and legacy. An evil smile crossed the warrior prince's lips as he turned and faced the object of his anger.

Ichabod had watched the entire scene and knew that his brother planned violence for him. He decided to talk with his brother again about why he interrupted his lovemaking with his bride."She is keeping secrets, and I am sure that Abigail is also."

Abraham's smile turned into a sneer. "I would have discovered all of her secrets if you would have stayed away."

"I found a letter from Caroline's parents, and it did not sound loving towards her."

"Well, they did send her away from them."

Ichabod frowned. "They knew nothing about her getting married. Neither her Aunt nor Uncle told them about the event."

Abraham pulled out his sword again to make sure the blade was still sharp. Ichabod sighed angrily. "Can you stop thinking about what will happen later and listen to me? They are coming here to see her, and she said that she does not know why. She has not talked to them in a long time."

Abraham sheathed his sword again and stared at his brother. Ichabod waited for him to say something. A minute went by, and still no sound from the frustrated Van Brunt. Ichabod balled up his hands into fists."They were angry that she had not done what they told her to do. we need to be wary of them."

Abraham's expression stayed the same as before. "Are you helping father win this bet that I would not bed her before reaching our home?"

Ichabod was incredulous. "Brother, I am hurt beyond words that you would say that to me. I would never do anything to sabotage you.

Some of Abraham's fury left his body as he looked into Ichabod's eyes and saw the sadness within them. Abraham sighed and lost the scowl on his brow. "What do they want her to do?"

"She said that she does not know because she has not spoken to them for a long time."

"I don't think Abigail would know. They are not that close that Caroline would confide in her."

"They will reach the castle a day after we arrive. We need to be on guard, brother. Our wives are not what they seem."

Caroline walked a few feet in front of the dueling brother so deep in thought that she did not see them. Her yellow dress billowed in the warm breeze as she tried to figure out what to do about her marriage and her parents. Caroline told Ichabod the truth. She did not know what they wanted and had stopped communicating with them after she spoke to Angela about them. The redhead told her Aunt everything, and Angela still hugged her, dried her tear-filled eyes, and told her to stay with them. Caroline never intended on going back to them, though she had to keep up her ruthlessness against Abigail incase her parents sent spies to check up on her; Caroline loved her new family. She loved who she had married and would let nothing tear him from her.

"Caroline,"

The redhead turned and saw Abigail walking towards her. The worried look on Caroline's face made Abigail pause in her anger. Something was wrong. She would typically greet Abigail with a sneer or an insult. This morning, Caroline was different, almost afraid. Anger welled in Abigail's body for a different reason. Who had the nerve to make her sister fear other than she?

Abraham watched his bride walk closer to her sister, wearing a dark blue dress that outlined her curves when the wind blew. His lower regions hardened, remembering the tightness of her body before his brother interrupted them. He remembered the taste of her lips and skin from the night before and wanted more. She was ready to give herself to him under the moonlight and stars. Abigail's long black hair scattered around her face and body as she stopped in front of Caroline and talked with her. The two were oblivious to the two men standing in the distance watching them. Caroline lowered her head and said something to Abigail that made her place her arms around her and hugged her; then, the two walked away.

Ichabod and Abraham watched their wives leave in silence. Ichabod faced his brother and saw him still watching his wife. "You doubt me now, brother?"

Abraham frowned and then turned his attention to Ichabod. "Maybe there is something wrong, but it is not with Abigail."

"How long before Abigail is involved in Caroline's problems? We have to unite against whatever her parents are trying to do."

Abraham frowned at his brother and began walking towards the horses. "You do what is right in your eyes, brother."

Ichabod snorted in anger and walked in the opposite direction.

Abigail cautiously walked around the camp, avoiding her husband. She saw him staring at her during breakfast, and that made it difficult for her to eat. She remembered how he made her body feel last night, and that was all he talked about after sending Ichabod away for interrupting them. He promised that once they made it to their home, he would complete their bond.

She made it to her mare Ember and smiled at the affectionate nudges that she received. "I love you too."

Ember whinnied. Abigail chuckled until a pair of arms stronger than steel wrapped around her body, holding her prisoner. Long blonde hair spilled over her left shoulder and mingled with her dark hair. Her body froze for only a second and then melted into his muscle.

"Are you avoiding me, Wife?" His deep voice filled her left ear.

Her lustful sigh made him tighten his grip around her body. "We will be at our home by nightfall, and I will be yours, and you will be all mine. My brother will not interrupt us there. We will have privacy until I allow you to leave the room."

He felt her weaken further and began kissing her neck. Abigail tried to grab his roaming hands as they moved up to cup the material under her breasts. She heard a soft moan escape her throat, and his moaning reply to her pleasure made her tremble.

She cursed her stupid body as she rode beside Caroline in the middle of her new family. What had happened to her? She let him touch her as if she were some harlot, and she loved it. She loved it when he turned her around and kissed her until she whimpered his name. Abigail cursed again, balling her hands into fists. She felt embarrassed that she could not climb on Ember's saddle and that he had to help her after the kiss. As if on cue, her lips tingled, and her body weakened when she looked up and saw Abraham watching her from a few feet away. Abigail exhaled and turned away from his dark stare. He told her what he was going to do to her, and Abigail was fearful and aroused at the same time.

Caroline kept her head down as she rode beside her sister. She knew Abigail was preoccupied with her husband. The redhead could tell that Abraham had done something to her trembling sister by the horses. She wondered if she would ever know the desire of a man's touch.

"They are going to do evil."

Abigail turned towards her sister. "Why would they do that?"

Caroline slightly turned her head towards Abigail. "They are bad. They want me to be as they are."

Abigail frowned. "I would say that you have."
Caroline turned away from her. "I know, but that was to keep them away from you and your family."

Abigail urged Ember closer to Mille, even though she protested and tried to bite the other mare. Abigail calmed her down. "What do you mean keeping them away from my family?"

Caroline looked up and saw Ichabod approaching and then lowered her head. Abigail saw the frown on his face as he galloped towards them. He wanted to speak with Caroline alone.

"Are you two alright?"

Abigail smiled at him. "We are fine."

Caroline silently prayed that Abigail would not leave her side. She did not want to talk to Ichabod right now. He would not listen to her. He believed that she was lying, and there was more to what she was saying. Caroline had no idea what her parents were planning, but she knew that it would be evil. They were not like her Aunt Angela and Uncle William; they loved chaos and greed.

Ichabod looked at his beautiful wife, trying to become small and unnoticeable. His body longed to comfort her, but she was hiding secrets from him. He wanted her to look at him so that he could see her beautiful blue eyes, but she kept her head down. Pain filled his body, seeing her unhappy.

"May I talk with my wife?"

Caroline closed her eyes and prayed harder. Abigail heard her mumbling. "Oh, we were having a sister's conversation, and I know that I will not get to see her for a while, so Abraham says."

Ichabod's surprise that she would mention something about Abraham shown on his face. He knew what his brother had planned for his bride bordered on criminal. "Oh, then I will let you continue your talk."

Ichabod nodded to her and galloped ahead of them.

Caroline slightly turned her head towards her sister with a smile on her face. "Abigail,"

"Well, what was I supposed to say?" Caroline chuckled.

"I guess it's true. Everyone can see the way that he is staring at you."

Abigail looked to her right and saw Abraham watching her. She turned away, trembling with fear and longing. "Thank you,"

Abigail smiled at her. "Eventually, you will have to talk to him."

Caroline shook her head. "He hates me. He does not believe me. You have to help me with them when they arrive."

Abigail frowned. "No,"

Caroline's shoulders slumped. "Abigail, you know that I can't do this alone. They will overpower me. They always have."

"They hate me, Caroline. They hate that I was adopted, and they hate that I can speak my mind."

Caroline turned away from her sister and looked down at her horse's mane as they slowly followed the others. Abigail watched Caroline wipe away a tear. She never cried in front of her. How evil were these people that she called her parents?

They stopped after two hours to rest before continuing to the castle. Abigail prepared to dismount Ember, but Abraham was immediately at her side and helped his trembling wife from the saddle. His arms wrapped around her body. Caroline tried to hide from Ichabod the moment that Abraham started walking towards his wife. She walked by newlyweds with Ichabod close behind her. Abigail must have made a sound of fear or something close to it because Abraham stopped his brother./

"Leave her,"

Ichabod stopped chasing her. "What is this?"

"Let her gather her thoughts."

Ichabod looked at his brother's concerned face and then relaxed his anger. "Alright,"

Abigail watched the older prince turn and walk towards the General. She returned her gaze to her husband, who still held her in his arms. "Why did you do that?"/

"Because you wanted me too, I live to make you happy and satisfied, Abigail."

"This is just a marriage in name only, so you have said." Her smile made him smile. Now she was baiting him as he had done with Barton.

Abraham tightened his grip and lowered his lips to hers. "You shall have my name and everything else that I am."

His kiss made her toes curl in her boots. The longing from last night returned with a savage need that she could not control. He pulled away from her lips and smiled.

"Yes, Father," Abraham released Abigail. His bride became embarrassed that her father in law probably heard what they had said. She smiled at Henry and then walked away to find Caroline.

Henry chuckled. "She is becoming accustomed to your constant attention."

Abraham smiled. "Aren't you trying to thwart my efforts?"

Henry smiled. "I am hurt that you would think so."

The king turned and walked away from his son, still smiling.

Caroline sat alone watching the river when Abigail found her. She held the letter from her parents in her hand, gave them to Abigail, and then returned her attention to the river. Abigail sat beside her. She knew her Aunt Lydia's handwriting, and this was it. No one could copy her angry penmanship. Abigail began reading the letter.

To my undeserving daughter,

You are an awful, awful child. To think that I birthed such a wretched thing is beyond reason. You disobey us and refuse to return home as we have asked. Your father and I are disappointed in you. All we asked for was obedience, and you ignored us and decided to disregard our teachings. You know that your Uncle William will leave everything to that adopted slut Abigail and you are doing nothing to halt this. If you want to stay in this family, she must go. She is a loose creature. Start spreading the lies that we discussed before you left. Our associates say that you are doing nothing to place doubt in William's head about his daughter. Perhaps, you think that you can stay there and not do what your father and I want and not pay for your disobedience. You are sadly mistaken, Caroline.

We know that you are married because we received a letter from your new father in law. You have done well to improve your standing, but we will make it even better. You are too stupid to know what to do with your new family, and we have decided to visit you and your new family. We will put things right because you are a wretched thing that belongs in hell. I curse the day you were born and will dance the day that you die

Mother

Abigail walked over to the river and drowned the letter in the water until it broke into pieces and floated away down the stream. She then turned towards Caroline. Her sister's face was red and puffy from crying. Abigail walked over to her and hugged her, and Caroline began sobbing again.

"I will help you."

Author's Notes

Thank you for reading and not giving up hope that I would return ~ Frostbytefire

~ I don't know what is wrong with the Doc manager, but I had to clear all the formatting MANUALLY. I hope this is a one time thing~