Margaret blushed prettily while Lydia rolled her eyes. “My youngest brother is a decent enough sort. The rest of them can be quite tiresome.”
“Ah, but you’re their sister, Lydia. They might behave differently around Margaret. You must both promise to write me long letters about what happens.”
“We will.”
After a quick exchange of hugs, she sent them back inside. “I’ll be just a minute. Lydia, if you’d like to play chess, set up the board.”
When she was once again alone, she checked one more time for any sign of Kane. She was about to give up when a familiar figure rode into sight on the back of a huge stallion. Kane dismounted and proceeded to walk his horse in circles, probably to cool the enormous beast before returning him to the stable.
From what she could see, the two were well matched. The horse was heavily muscled but yet moved with the kind of grace that spoke of speed. In short, he was the perfect horse for a warrior.
It wouldn’t do to get caught staring at Kane with such interest, so she headed back inside. As she did, she wondered once again why Sergeant Markus had sought her out to comment on Kane’s apparent absence. What was he thinking?
Regardless of the risks, nothing would keep her from visiting the gardens again tonight. She had but a few more opportunities to be with Kane, and she wouldn’t miss a single one if she could help it. And if they found a way to do more than simply stroll, so much the better.
* * *
Walking circles with his horse outside of the stable had done little to calm Kane’s fury. After leaving Averel’s company on the way back to the city, he’d taken the long way around, aiming for the gate normally taken by the caravans coming in from the east. Kane had been riding along lost in thought when Rogue stumbled over a sudden dip in the ground.
Startled by the sudden movement, Kane had sat up taller in the saddle and looked around. What was this place? He’d dismounted to study the unusual tracks on the dusty ground. A double set of grooves had been worn several inches deep in the dirt, too close together for a wagon to have made them. Most likely someone had been wheeling a handcart through the area on a regular basis. The tracks had led back toward the city of Agathia, but also stretched out in the opposite direction.
Considering how desolate the area was, the obvious question was why. First he’d followed the tracks back toward Agathia. They stopped just short of the city wall, where they circled around to the far side of a small hillock. The ruts stopped right at a small door set back into the side of the hill. From its proximity to Agathia, it had to be a secret way out of the city. The door was locked. No surprise there.
Having learned all he could from tracing the path to its source, he’d mounted Rogue and followed the trail back in the direction he’d come. A half mile farther on, it came to an abrupt end at the edge of a cliff. The flock of carrion birds soaring overhead warned of the horror he’d see when he dismounted again to look down into the canyon below.
Bodies. Lots of them in various stages of decay, all tossed away as if they were nothing more than trash. The stench had left him gagging. He’d found the first hard evidence of Keirthan’s violence against his own people. It was also clear he’d had help, because the man wasn’t the kind to clean up his own messes.
Kane bowed his head and offered up a prayer for the dead along with a vow to avenge their pain and suffering. He hated to walk away, leaving them to the scavengers, but there was nothing else he could do. If Keirthan’s accomplice returned to find the bodies disturbed, he would sound the alarm. There was no telling what Keirthan would do if he panicked.
For now all Kane could do was tie his rope to a large piece of dry brush to drag behind Rogue, hoping to wipe out any sign of their tracks. The hour was growing late, but he took the time to also destroy any sign of his passing near the ruts left by the cart.
When he’d finished, he’d ridden hard back toward the city, entering from a gate some distance from the one he’d originally planned to use. If anyone had been watching for him, at least they’d have no reason to suspect where he’d been.
After walking Rogue, Kane turned the horse loose in his stall and headed for his own quarters. He had just enough time to change into a clean uniform before his late-evening rounds. As he stepped back outside, his eyes automatically went right to the balcony outside of Theda’s solar.
It was empty now, but he’d been all too aware of her watching him as he’d cooled Rogue down after their hard ride. She should know better than to watch him where anyone could see her. He’d have to remind her of the danger—that is, if she joined him in the garden later for their nightly walk.
If he were a wiser man, he would end their trysts, not to mention any chance of sharing Theda’s bed again. But he knew himself better than that. If there was a way for him to spend more time in her company without bringing disaster down upon both their heads, he would. There was so little time left for the two of them; he wouldn’t waste even a single morsel.
Back in his room, he washed up and changed. Before leaving, he spoke to Hob even though the gargoyle was currently resting in Kane’s shield.
“If I can, I will bring Theda here tonight. I plan to teach her how to call you herself.” He rubbed his chest as he spoke. “I don’t know why, but I sense that it’s important. I fear for her safety, and she might need to call upon you for protection.”
He could feel Hob’s sleepy agreement in the back of his mind; he would come if the pretty lady called. Good. Hob’s reaction to anything new was always unpredictable, and Kane felt better knowing his companion would look after his lady.
Of course, that would last only as long as Kane and Averel remained in the city. Once they left to rejoin the other Damned, there would be no one she could turn to, no one who would stand between her and the duke. The thought of riding out and leaving Theda to her fate made him furious.
If only he could convince her to go with him. But asking her to abandon those she cared about would be like her asking Kane to break his oath to the goddess and his friends.
Outside, he nodded at the first guard he passed by but didn’t stop to talk. When he reached the front entrance of Keirthan’s keep, he found both guards sitting on a nearby bench. The men were too busy talking to notice Kane’s approach.
“Gentlemen, care to tell me who is guarding the door?”
His deep voice rang out, drawing the attention of several other people in the area. Normally Kane preferred to handle any problems with those under his command quietly, if possible. Right now he had no patience for such niceties.
“Get back to where you belong. And since you have obviously forgotten what is expected of one of the duke’s personal guard, you will remain on duty through the next shift. If I catch you slacking off again, you will receive ten lashes each.”
One hustled back to resume his proper position by the door, but his partner protested. “But Sergeant Markus said we could accompany him into town tonight!”
Kane smiled and stepped closer, stopping right before the man’s face. “Well, that’s different.”
The man started to nod, happy that he’d made his point. Then he froze, finally realizing that he’d just made a major mistake. Too late.
“I can see why you’d prefer to spend the night carousing with your friends instead of pulling a second shift of duty.”
Kane paused to reach out and flick a piece of imaginary dust off the man’s shoulder. “I just hope you remember all the fun you had tomorrow when I tie you to the post out in the bailey and order your good friend Sergeant Markus to give you fifteen lashes on your bare back.”
Kane smiled one last time. “It’s up to you how you choose to spend your night, of course, but I’ll be waiting anxiously to learn of your decision.”
When Kane walked away, his mood was vastly improved.
Chapter 16
Theda slipped out of bed and quietly got dressed. She put on a simple gown designed so she could fasten its laces without help, ad
ding only her slippers and her darkest cloak. She felt a bit wicked about leaving her undergarments in a pile on the floor, but then she did have seduction on her mind. Somehow she thought Kane would be appreciative rather than scandalized.
All was quiet in the hallway, and Theda arrived at where Tom guarded the door without encountering another soul. He frowned at her, clearly not happy about her frequent nighttime excursions, but he opened the door without comment.
Out in the garden, the air tasted fresh and clean. She drew a deep breath, enjoying the scent of the roses and lavender. Finding the bench empty was a disappointment. Surely Kane would come to her. Too restless to sit and wait, she kept moving, strolling through the garden and watching the shadows for her lover. When he hadn’t appeared by her third pass through the gardens, she swallowed her disappointment and made her way back toward the door.
She was about to knock to signal Tom she was back when a man’s hand clamped down on her mouth and his other arm encircled her waist. Her first instinct was to fight, but then Kane whispered near her ear, “I’m sorry I kept you waiting.”
As soon as she relaxed against him, he released his hold on her. She spun to face him, relieved and delighted that he’d come.
“I know it can’t always be easy for you to take time from your duties.”
He leaned down to kiss her. “My duties to the duke be damned.”
Perhaps, but his other duties would soon take him from her. Shoving that unhappy thought to the back of her mind, she placed her hands on his chest, kneading his muscles like a contented cat.
“Can we find someplace more private?”
Her words sounded husky even to her own ears. Kane’s eyes flared wide, clearly understanding what she was really asking.
He nodded. “It’s risky, but I was hoping you would accompany me to my quarters.”
“Gladly.”
He’d mentioned before that his rooms were not all that private, but then taking him through the keep to her quarters offered its own risks.
“We shouldn’t tarry in my room for long, my lady, but I have something we need to do that can only be done there.”
He was already leading her in the direction of the barracks. She’d do whatever he wanted, but she decided to tease him a bit. “Are you sure you can think of only one thing we can do together in your room? I was hoping for so much more.”
Kane usually moved with such predatory grace, but her question caused him to stumble. He caught himself and then turned those pale eyes in her direction. It was difficult to judge his reaction, but then he smiled at her.
“I will endeavor to ensure you suffer no disappointments, but we must be cautious no matter what activities we pursue.”
They’d reached the entrance to the building. “Wait here while I make sure it’s safe.”
He was gone but a few seconds. Inside the building, it was completely dark except for the faintest hint of moonlight from a window farther down the hallway. Kane tugged her along, holding her hand in his as he led her through a small office and into his private quarters. The room contained only a small table, a chest for clothing, and a narrow bed. His shield sat propped in the corner.
He had left a single candle burning. Its small flame provided just enough light to cast Kane’s face in harsh relief. Her heart sang to see the same needs reflected in his eyes that coursed through her veins. He might have other plans for them, but she couldn’t think beyond the driving compulsion to take pleasure in each other’s arms.
She let her cloak drop to the ground. Next, she kicked off her slippers, leaving her bare feet peeking out from under the hem of her gown. Before she could reach for the lacings on her dress, Kane stepped forward to wrap her in the iron-hard strength of his arms.
His kiss tasted of the night, cool and shadowy and mysterious. His tongue thrust against hers, teasing her with the promise of what was to come.
As his hands wandered across her back and down to her bottom, he froze. “Theda, what are you wearing beneath this gown?”
“Nothing at all,” she answered, letting the heat licking at her skin show in her smile. “It seemed foolish to put on all those layers only to have to take them right back off again.” She pulled her laces loose, letting the dress slip down off her shoulders to settle along the top curve of her breasts.
Kane groaned, his eyes following the slow descent of the soft fabric as she tugged it down even farther, leaving her bare to the waist. He immediately took control, sending her dress tumbling down around her ankles. Then he lifted her high enough to suckle her breast and leave her gasping for breath.
She threaded her fingers into his hair, pressing him closer, asking for so much more. When he raked the tips of his canine teeth across the sensitive skin, she shivered with delight and cried out.
He froze, his pale eyes flashing red in the dim light. “We must be quieter, Theda. Voices carry in the night.”
Her breath caught in her throat as she whispered, “Your eyes, Kane. They’re . . . they’re red.”
He immediately shut them and set her down at arm’s length from him. When he started to back away even farther, she followed right after him.
Taking his hand in hers, she tried to cross the divide that had opened between them. “Kane, just explain. Don’t shut me out.”
He still refused to look at her, but at least he stopped his retreat. After tugging his hand free from hers, he brushed his fingertips across the mark on his face.
“It is a sign of the magic that I was born with. I forswore the curse of my grandfather’s bloodline when I was but a youth. That doesn’t mean I could wash my blood free of its taint. Even though I don’t practice dark magic, it has still marked me in several ways.”
He finally opened his eyes again, and they were back to their usual color. “In times of high emotion or danger, a little of the magic breaks free of its fetters.”
As he spoke, he bent down to retrieve her dress and held it out, still being careful not to touch her. “Perhaps it would be better if we focused on my original purpose in bringing you here.”
He’d carefully banked the fire that had burned so brightly between them only minutes before. She missed that connection, missed its heat and the promise of where it could take them both. Kane obviously expected her to reject him, and clearly that had been his experience in the past.
Theda hated that others had been careless with his heart. She knew right down to her bones that the cool reserve Kane showed to the world was how he protected his heart just as he carried a shield in battle to protect his body.
“Kane, there will be time enough to show me what you brought me to see.” As she spoke, she took her gown from him and carefully folded it before setting it down on the table. She tried to act as if it were perfectly normal to be walking around nude in a man’s room. She might have lost courage if she hadn’t felt the hungry weight of Kane’s gaze following her every move.
She half expected him to hold out her cloak next, but he didn’t. That gave her hope that the wound she’d unintentionally inflicted wouldn’t prove fatal to their original plans.
“I apologize for my thoughtless outburst, Kane. I truly meant no insult. I was just surprised.”
As she spoke, she moved back toward him, allowing him to look his fill and reveling in being able to rekindle the desire in this man.
He shifted restlessly, clearly having an increasingly difficult time holding on to his hard-fought control. “It was no insult, Theda, but an unpleasant truth. There is no denying I carry the taint of dark magic. You are right to be repelled by it.”
“You have it wrong, Kane.” She shook her head. “I am neither repelled nor attracted by the magic. There is no denying it is a part of you, but it’s not what defines you. What I value is your honor, your courage, and your gentleness.”
He actually snorted in derision at that last comment. “Don’t make me out to be something I’m not, Theda.”
“I won’t if you won’t. You would never r
aise your hand to a child or a woman. You have spent centuries serving at the side of your friends as a warrior who fights for the gods. How does that make you a bad man?” She smiled at him again. “The right answer to that question is that it doesn’t.”
By moving slowly and steadily, she finally stood close enough to him that only a breath of air separated them now. He stood rock-still as she wrapped her arms around his waist and leaned in to his strength.
“Please don’t let my outburst ruin tonight for us.”
She drew a deep breath, savoring the sharp, clean smell that was all male. Her patience was finally rewarded when Kane’s arms encircled her, holding her close as if she were something precious.
When he pressed a soft kiss to her temple, she raised her face to his, asking without words for more. He granted her wish, brushing his lips across hers, softly at first, but then gradually giving in to his hunger for her.
Oh, yes, this is what she needed. The tension that had been thrumming through Kane took on a new feel, a new purpose.
“Do you still want this?” he murmured.
She answered the question he was really asking with brutal honesty. “I still want you, just as you are. I don’t care what color your eyes are or what that mark on your cheek means. You are not your grandfather.”
“He would have hated the man I’ve become.”
She started untying the laces on Kane’s tunic. “Then he was a fool. Now, make love to me, Kane. I’ve waited long enough.”
* * *
Kane stared down at the woman—no, the miracle—in his arms. He had done his best to explain what he was, but she’d have none of it. In the past, he’d known women who wanted him to bed them because they liked the taste of danger. He’d learned early on to avoid such females because he hadn’t liked the way he’d felt after coupling with them.
But Theda wasn’t like them. When she looked up at him, those dark eyes were filled with an honesty that was just as seductive as her beauty. He let her continue stripping away his clothing just as her words stripped away the layers of protection he’d built up over the centuries.
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