Honor's Price

by Alexis Morgan

  She brushed her fingertips along his cheek. “Never mind, Kane. Forget I asked. It matters not.”

  He stared up at the ceiling and answered anyway. “I was born with it. My grandfather was a dark mage, one who wasn’t above using his daughter in his rituals. He found that her blood was twice as potent when she was pregnant with me.”

  The note of pain in his words warned her the rest of his story would not be a happy one. How many people had shunned Kane because he bore the mark of a dark mage even though it was not one of his own choosing?

  Rather than press him for details, she would see what she could do to distract him from the dark turn his thoughts had taken. She eased up over his chest, tucked her head under his chin, and stretched out along the length of his body. His arms immediately wrapped around her, cradling her against him.

  As comforting as it was to be held in Kane’s arms, she needed far more than the press of her body against his. She pushed herself upright, straddling his hips with her hands splayed over the powerful contours of his chest. She smiled down at her lover, rocking gently against the increasing evidence that his thoughts were traveling the same path as hers.

  His big hands cupped her breasts, kneading them gently at first, and then just hard enough to ease the aching emptiness that was slowly building within her. She dropped down to kiss Kane, teasing him with quick forays of her tongue and then nibbling his lower lip.

  For a while, he let her take the lead, encouraging her to have her way with his warrior’s body. The sense of power that freedom gave her was intoxicating, but she knew the instant she shattered his control again.

  And for a long, lovely time, nothing existed beyond the reach of each other’s arms.

  * * *

  After the energetic night he’d spent, Kane had figured he’d want to cut weapons practice short. Instead, he managed to keep up his usual pace, working with one man after another. He concentrated his teaching efforts on those members of the guard he had judged to be good men, ones who served the realm out of a sense of duty and honor.

  When it came to the others like Gart, Kane worked them to near exhaustion but did little to improve their skills. If they were going to shirk their duties, the least he could do was make sure they hurt too much to enjoy their free time.

  The one real puzzle was Sergeant Markus. He treated Kane with the respect due his rank and followed orders without question. It was the man’s habit of turning up in odd places and at odd times that was worrisome. While he couldn’t exactly accuse Markus of spying, all too often Kane would feel the weight of his gaze during the day.

  His real worry was if the man was also paying too much attention to Kane’s activities during the night. He’d know if Markus were lurking in the garden when Kane and Theda were there. Certainly, Hob would sound the alarm if anyone got too close to them.

  What did the man plan to do with any information he was gathering on Kane’s movements? In a few more days, it would no longer matter. Averel had heard from Gideon again, and he wanted the two of them to rejoin him and the other Damned by the end of the next week. Kane had planned to leave sooner, but that was before last night.

  In truth, he wanted to remain in the city as long as he possibly could. To leave Theda one minute before he had to was unthinkable. The idea made his chest ache with a pain that could not be assuaged.

  “Captain, tell me I’m not the one who has put that look on your face, especially because I was hoping you’d have time to practice with me.”

  Kane blinked and looked around. All of the other men were still going through their drills, but Markus stood facing Kane just out of arm’s reach. His stance was relaxed, the tip of his sword resting on the ground with his hands crossed on top of the pommel. If he’d wanted to kill Kane, he could have done so without Kane even having time to draw his weapon.

  Rather than offer an explanation of where his mind had been, Kane nodded as he pulled his sword and picked up his shield. Of all the men, Markus was the closest to Kane’s skill with a sword. Sparring with him took all of his concentration to make sure neither of them got hurt. Soon they were both grinning, each determined to find a weakness they could exploit in the other’s defenses.

  When Kane finally called a halt, they were both drenched in sweat and breathing hard. He sheathed his sword and offered his hand to the sergeant just as someone behind them applauded. The smile on Markus’s face abruptly faded as all of the men snapped to attention, the only warning Kane had about who was standing behind him.

  He turned and bowed just enough to acknowledge the duke’s presence. “Duke Keirthan.”

  “That was quite a demonstration, Captain. Sergeant.”

  “You honor us.” Kane handed his shield to one of the guards. “Did you have need of me?”

  “Yes, I do.” Then he sniffed in disapproval as he studied Kane’s attire. “Clean up before you report to my office. I prefer my captain wear the uniform of his office, not the leathers of a common mercenary.”

  Keirthan walked away without another word, leaving the guardsmen staring after him in silence. Kane shifted his attention back to them, giving them all a long look before nodding in approval.

  “That’s enough practice for today. I posted the new duty roster. Check it for your assignments before you make plans for the rest of the day. Dismissed.”

  He picked up his shield and headed for his quarters. Markus walked along beside him in silence. From the way he was frowning, he clearly had something on his mind.

  “Spit it out, Sergeant, before you choke on it.”

  Markus huffed in a rough laugh. “I just wanted to say I enjoy facing off against you. I’d hate to do it for real.”

  Then he walked away without a backward glance.

  * * *

  Ifre figured it would be at least half an hour before Kane reported to him. In truth, he didn’t care about the guard uniform, but the arrogant bastard had better be wearing his captain’s sigil this time. The connection between them was only slightly stronger now than it had been when he’d first promoted Kane to captain. Watching the man’s uncanny speed and ability in combat made it all the more imperative that Ifre weaken the man’s resistance as soon as possible.

  Right now, trying to access Kane’s latent powers would be too risky. If the link didn’t enable him to break through the man’s shields soon, he’d have to resort to more direct means. Considering not a single man in Ifre’s employ could best Kane with weapons, trapping the man and dragging him down below would carry severe risks.

  If he had unlimited time, Ifre wouldn’t worry about it. Eventually the sigil would work. But lately he’d been aware of the hours passing, as if he were up against a deadline that was not of his own making. Danger lurked outside the walls of the city, and it was aimed directly at him.

  Maybe it was the darkness pushing him along, demanding more and more blood, more magic for it to consume, but he didn’t think so. He’d fed the beast well enough to make it sleepy. In the rare silence within his own mind, Ifre felt the press of those who would stand against him.

  He considered sending more troops out into the countryside to find his enemies, to learn their weaknesses and their strengths. So far his efforts in that direction had failed. He also couldn’t waste the energy it would take to bind the troops to him as fully as he had when he’d sent Captain Terrick out to recapture Lady Merewen’s keep.

  That ill-planned attack still rankled. Not only had he lost all the men he’d sent, but it had cost him Terrick. He missed his former captain, who’d supplied him with a constant supply of magic he could draw off of at will.

  But also, if the news of Terrick’s death ever became common knowledge, it would cause him problems with Lady Theda. Yes, she tolerated his shabby treatment out of her misguided desire to protect her two young friends. However, it was his overt threats to Terrick that kept her from finding some way to kill Ifre herself. He’d hinted that he had made arrangements that would ensure that if something happened to
him, Terrick would die as well.

  A knock at the door brought him back to the moment. “Come in.”

  Kane stepped through the door, wearing his uniform as ordered, his dark hair still damp from a quick bath. He crossed to stand in front of Ifre’s desk.

  “You wanted to speak to me about something, Sire?”

  How best to play this? If he offered Kane a chair, he might relax his guard enough to let Ifre slip inside his thoughts, even if only briefly. On the other hand, forcing the man to stand at attention might keep him off center enough to accomplish the same goal. Decisions, decisions.

  Before he could choose, his office door slammed open again. Stefan, his secretary backed in, obviously fighting a losing battle to keep Lady Theda from forcing her way inside. “The duke did not send for you, Lady Theda. He is with someone.”

  Stefan tried to angle his body to prevent her from getting past him. Theda got right in his face, “And we wouldn’t be having this discussion if you had delivered my request for an audience with my brother-in-law when I asked you to.”

  This was most entertaining. His secretary drew himself up to his inconsequential height and glared right back at the woman. “I have better things, far more important things to do than deliver messages for you. I work for the duke, not the likes of you.”

  Before Theda could say another word, Kane took matters in his own hands. He picked Ifre’s secretary up by the scruff of his neck and held him dangling in the air. Stefan’s face flushed red as he struggled to breathe, his feet kicking in the air as he tried to break free of Kane’s grasp.

  Ifre looked on in delight, finding the interchange fascinating.

  Kane slowly lowered Stefan back to the ground without releasing his hold on him. “If you don’t have better manners than that, I will be only too glad to teach you some myself.”

  When Stefan tried to turn his head in Ifre’s direction, no doubt hoping to be rescued, Kane shook him like a dog would a rat. “Don’t look at him, fool. I’m the one talking to you. In the future, you will not treat any woman with anything less than respect. Do I make myself clear?”

  He gave Stefan a soft shove, setting him free to catch his breath. Finally, the secretary choked out, “She has no right to tell me what to do, and barging in here uninvited is not acceptable.”

  Kane took a step forward. “Did you deliver her request for an audience with the duke?”

  Stefan turned pale, no doubt correctly guessing his answer wouldn’t please his inquisitor. “Not yet.”

  “And when did she present her request?” Kane’s question was said softly, sounding far more lethal because of it.

  The secretary swallowed hard. “Two days ago.”

  Kane stepped closer again, looming over the smaller man. “And is part of your job deciding which messages will be important to the duke and which should be ignored? From my understanding, Lady Theda overseas the duke’s household. I can imagine any number of issues she might need to bring to his attention.”

  It was time to intercede. Ifre stood up and walked around the desk. “That’s enough, Kane. You’ve made your point. Stefan, return to your duties. In the future, please see that Lady Theda’s messages get all the attention they deserve.”

  The woman in question finally spoke up. She shot Stefan a quelling look on his way past her, but gave Kane a wide berth as she planted herself in front of Ifre’s desk. “I need to speak to you in private.”

  “Very well, Theda, but keep it brief.” He jerked his head in the direction of the door. “Kane, we’ll talk later.”

  Just before he left the room, Theda spared him a brief glance. “Thank you for your courtesy, Captain. It’s a rarity around here.”

  Kane merely nodded and left. Ifre would listen to what his sister-in-law had to complain about this time. After she was gone, though, he would think hard about what had just happened. Kane’s furious reaction to seeing a woman treated with disrespect was the first crack Ifre had been able to detect in the man’s stern demeanor.

  It might just be the opening Ifre needed.

  * * *

  Theda paced the garden, walking in circles but unable to outdistance her thoughts. What had Kane been thinking to attack Ifre’s puppet like that? Even now, hours later, the memory kept her thoughts spinning like a child’s top. Would he have reacted in the same way had another woman been seeking an audience with Ifre? Perhaps, but nothing would change that she’d been the one he’d defended.

  She hoped that Ifre’s thoughts on the matter hadn’t run along the same path as hers. The last thing she needed was another life that he could hold over her head. The burden of her ladies-in-waiting and Terrick were already enough to weigh her down.

  Kane wouldn’t see himself as someone who needed protecting, but no one could stand alone, especially in the face of Ifre’s evil. Over the past week, two more servants had gone missing. When she’d confronted Ifre, he’d brushed aside the problem with a wave of his hand. It was hardly his fault that farmers’ daughters and sons found out that living in the city wasn’t to their liking and skulked off in the night to go back home.

  She didn’t believe him for a minute. Even if she could prove he was killing them, who would she report him to? Kane might listen, but he was one man against all of the others.

  Not to mention the man was late. If he didn’t appear soon, she would have to return to the keep alone. Perhaps it would be better if she did. Margaret and Lydia were starting to wonder why she hadn’t been seeking out their company at night.

  She could plead a headache only so often before they’d insist on her seeking out medical care. It would hurt their feelings if she admitted that sometimes she preferred to be alone without the constant pressure of having to watch over her friends.

  They certainly would never understand her involvement with the captain of the guard. They were still young and naïve enough to think that they would win the heart of some handsome, kind knight who would take care of them forever.

  She’d been that foolish herself once. Yes, Armel had been handsome, and he’d been good to her. But his death had left her abandoned and at the mercy of a monster. In many ways, Kane was Armel’s opposite, but at least he’d made her no promises he couldn’t keep.

  How soon would he ride away? She could barely stand the thought. What if he didn’t have other commitments that required his presence elsewhere? Would he soon grow tired of her company? Or would he leave the minute Ifre decided which of his friends would be burdened with an unwilling wife?

  For a moment, she allowed herself the small dream of what it would be like to belong to a man like Kane, one who would fight to keep her safe. But his strong sword arm wasn’t the only thing about him that had her thinking along those lines. It was the way he treated her, both in bed and out of it, that had her sighing and wishing they could . . .

  But then, why not? If Kane were to marry her, even if he had to leave, his name might offer her the protection she needed. He would also gain control of her fortune, which might aid him in his quest beyond the walls of Agathia.

  “I wasn’t sure you would still be waiting.”

  Kane appeared suddenly, solidifying out of the shadows. Hob waddled forward to stand at his side. She was grateful for the darkness, as it hid the blush that stained her cheeks. Her mind had been running wild, filling her heart with fey thoughts, dreams that were nothing more than wisps of smoke and dreams.

  “I was about to go in, but I hoped that you would come.” She stooped to pet Hob, not quite ready to face his owner. “I see you’re wearing your captain’s uniform.Am I keeping you from something?”

  “I waited until it was safe to bring out Hob. He needs the exercise.”

  And perhaps Kane wanted his pet with them as chaperone. With Hob running loose, there was no chance Kane could risk following her back to her room.

  The slight coolness in her words matched the chill of the night air. “Shall we walk, then?”

  But rather than offer her his arm,
Kane gently lifted her chin, forcing her to meet his gaze. Even in the darkness of a cloudy night, he seemed to see far too much.

  “Have I done something to offend you?”

  “Not at all. I suppose I am in an odd mood.” Honesty had her adding, “And I will admit to being disappointed that we won’t be returning to my quarters tonight.”

  Kane brushed a soft kiss across her lips. “Don’t think it’s because I don’t want to, but I thought it wise not to take such risks two nights in a row.”

  “That’s probably true, if disappointing.” Which reminded her. “About what happened in Ifre’s office. I know you’re not going to like me saying this, but you shouldn’t have interfered.”

  Kane’s expression turned stony. “I would have done the same for any woman. That little worm had no right to treat you that way. I wanted to gut your brother-in-law for allowing such behavior.”

  She wrapped her arms around Kane’s waist and laid her head against his chest. “And I am grateful. It has been a long time since anyone has been willing to defend me. I just worry that Ifre will see your willingness to put yourself between bullies and their intended victims as a weakness. Please be careful around him.”

  Kane rested his head beside hers. “I won’t make promises I can’t keep. My honor demands that I defend those who deserve it. If I could find a way to keep you safe from him permanently, I would do so.”

  Once again his words warmed her through, weakening her defenses. “Shortly before you arrived, it occurred to me that there might be one thing you could do. That is, if you are willing.”

  Kane stiffened, his hold on her still gentle. “What do you have in mind?”

  She braced herself, hoping he wouldn’t think she’d taken leave of her senses. It was tempting to hide her face against his chest, but that would be cowardly. Taking a steadying breath, she stepped back so that she could look into Kane’s eyes, hoping he’d read the truth behind what she was about to say.

  “You could marry me.”

  Chapter 13