Page 24 of Midnight Shadow

Terran stared at her, intrigued. She was either too trusting or a sly vixen. He would decide which.

He held out his arm to her, and she hooked her hand through it. Her touch sent tremors racing through his body. God’s blood! If a mere touch of her fingers gives me this much pleasure, I’ll be in heaven tasting her lips.

As they walked, he glanced at her out of the corner of his eye. Why was he so attracted to this woman? He was in mourning for Odella, and yet he felt as though... as though she was nothing compared to the vibrancy and life he felt from the woman beside him. He wanted nothing more than to kiss her and touch her. Maybe she could cure him of this horrible ache in his chest, this emptiness, at least for a few hours.

“You must have ridden a long way,” she said.

The little vixen. She was trying to get information from him. “Long enough to need a hot bath,” he admitted.

“I’m sure the servants saw to that last night,” she said. “What would you like to see first?”

“Nothing,” a voice from behind them called. “If he wants to see the castle, he can find someone else to show him.”

An old man stood just behind them in the hallway, and Terran’s smile died as he saw the fury in the man’s eyes. It was quite obvious the old man knew who he was and quite apparent he didn’t like him. This was the reaction Terran had prepared himself for. He sighed and calmly removed lady’s hand from his arm. “I’m afraid our excursion is over,” he said regretfully.

“Grandfather!” she objected. “I’m more than capable of taking him –”

“Do as I say, girl,” he commanded. “Come away from him.”

Terran’s jaw tightened at the way the old man spoke. There was no reason to be harsh with her. It wasn’t her fault.

The woman stood her ground for a long moment, her chin raised slightly, her eyes flashing like lightning. Then she stalked away from Terran and joined the old man.

Terran bowed slightly to the old man before moving away from them.

“Grandfather! That was rude.”

“He is not welcome here,” her grandfather snarled, “and you will stay away from him.”

“Who is he?” Bria asked, taken aback by his vehemence.

“It’s best your father tell you.” Harry took her hand and led her in the opposite direction of the man.

Bria walked beside her grandfather, her curiosity more than piqued. Who was the man? Where had he come from? And why did her grandfather hate him so?

“We should start our practices again,” Harry said. “Meet me tonight.”

Lord Delaney and the suitors returned from the hunt that afternoon. Terran watched them dismount from a balcony in the keep. He’d been denied a room at the castle, further evidence Lord Delaney wanted nothing to do with him. But that didn’t dissuade Terran. He set up camp on the meadows just outside the castle.

Falconers rushed up to the men, removing the falcons from the hunters’ wrists to bring the birds to the mews for a rest.

Lord Delaney was at the front of the group. The others followed him like lap dogs, vying for attention. Terran shook his head slightly. He looked closer at one of the suitors. Even from this distance, the blond hair and handsome face were unmistakable.

Garret Dysen. The man Odella called for as death claimed her. Terran’s jaw clenched; his shoulders became rigid. He had the sudden desire to run the man through.

Suddenly, a woman ran out to the group. She threw her arms around Lord Delaney’s neck and spoke briefly with him. Terran recognized her instantly. It was lady from the hallway. As he watched the vibrant little nymph, she exchanged words with all the men and then grabbed Garret’s hand, pulling him through the inner ward toward the outer gatehouse.

A fierce rage seized Terran. What was this? he wondered, scowling fiercely. Where was she going with him? But then he knew instinctively: she was going for a tryst with her lover.

So, he thought, this Garret whom Odella had loved so much was a faithless dog. And his little vixen was just that, a temptress for all men to beware. Including him.

Chapter ten

“Show me!” Bria whispered.

“All right,” Garret exclaimed, “all right!” He laughed. “You certainly can be insistent.”

She crossed her arms. “You haven’t seen the half of it.”