Wildly Romantic: A Multi-Genre Collection
Page 121
Behind him, the inky water lapped over Torr’s body. It sank slowly out of sight, as though pulled down by invisible hands. Still poised to attack, his sword was the last to disappear. The polished steel glinted, cold and gray, before it vanished.
Faye hugged Angeline tight. “’Tis over, my lamb.” Relief, mingled with sadness, shivered through her.
Head down, his breathing ragged, Brant strode away from the water. His sword dropped to the ground with a shrill clang. Cradling his wounded arm, he fell to his knees before the ruined journal. A sound like a sob broke from him.
Tears blurred Faye’s vision. A torrent of emotions welled inside her as she crossed to him. She gently set Angeline down on the ground and knelt beside him.
His dark, unruly hair shielded his face from her. “Brant,” she whispered. “Are you badly wounded?”
His body trembled as he sucked in a breath. “My wounds are not mortal.” Slowly, as though it cost him monumental effort, he looked up at her. His eyes glistened. “Faye.”
Her heart wept at the agony in his gaze. Catching his hand, she linked her fingers through his. “You saved my life, as well as Angeline’s.”
The faintest smile touched his lips.
Never would she forget the wondrous play of his mouth over hers. The magical bliss of his kiss. “Thank you.”
He nodded. Remorse clouded his features. “Murder, it seems, is what I do best.”
Anguish burst inside her, robbing her of breath. “Brant—”
“There is so much I must say to you, Faye. For all I have forced you to endure, I am sorry. Believe me, all I wanted was to protect you—”
“Brant.”
“To keep you safe from Torr’s madness—”
“Brant! Will you cease talking and listen to me? Or”—she forced wry challenge into her voice—“must I count to three?”
Surprise registered in his eyes. The barest grin softened his features. “Very well. I am listening.”
Squeezing his hand, she said, “You are the bravest, most honorable man I have ever known.”
He shook his head.
“Torr is to blame for Royce’s death, not you. He arranged the whole confrontation, intending for you to kill your brother.”
“My God, Faye . . .”
Brant was drawing away from her emotionally. She would not lose him now.
Reaching out, she cupped his sweat-streaked face in her hands. How she relished the roughness of his stubbled jaw, the warmth of his skin, and the puckered ridge of his scar against her palm.
He was alive.
Hers.
“Brant,” she whispered, “I love you.”
His eyes widened. His lips parted, and he looked about to speak.
Pressing forward, she kissed him.
A low, helpless groan rumbled in his throat. For the space of one heartbeat, he remained immobile. And then, as though her kiss shattered a paralyzing spell, his mouth opened beneath hers. His tongue slid between her teeth, seeking, hungry, as his good arm slid around her to yank her close.
Feverishly, he kissed her. He held her as if he dared not let her go. As though he meant to lay claim to her very soul, not just for now, but forever.
At last, the kiss gentled to the sweetest brush of lips. With a sigh, Brant drew back. He nuzzled her cheek. “Faye,” he murmured, “how I love you.”
Faye stared into his eyes, her heart swelling with joy . . . until a tiny cough reminded her they were not alone. She glanced over at Angeline, staring at them with big, curious eyes. Val sat beside her, his tail wagging.
Smiling, Faye drew the little girl into the crook of her arm and kissed her cheek.
“Hello, Angeline,” Brant said.
She gave him a shy smile before hiding her face against Faye’s shoulder.
Brant’s arm slid away from Faye. He rose. “Come.” He winced as he shifted his wounded arm. “I will be glad to leave this cavern.”
When she stood, Faye became aware of movement near the entrance. Torr’s men crowded into the cave. Two of the sentries, their expressions grave, crouched beside the guard’s headless body.
A sickening lump clogged Faye’s throat. Torr’s men might hold her and Brant responsible for their comrade’s death. They could well condemn Brant not only for Royce’s murder, but that of the guard and Torr.
Before she could speak, the sentry she’d seen earlier strode forward. “Lady Rivellaux.”
“A-aye?” she said warily.
“As you know, we did not obey Lord Lorvais’s orders to leave. With the storm raging outside, we chose to wait in the passage.” His gaze slid to Brant. “We heard all. We decided not to intervene, in case we curtailed Torr’s confessions.”
“Earlier, you tried to stop me.”
“Nay, milady. I tried to ask you not to reveal us to Lord Lorvais.” His mouth formed a grim smile. “None of us wanted to be murdered for disobeying him.”
“I see.” She held the man’s gaze. “Then, if you heard all, you know Brant saved my life as well as Angeline’s. He is not to blame for his brother’s death or any other killing.”
Admiration lit the man’s gaze. Turning to the guards by the entrance, he said, “The lady speaks true. Let them pass. You”—he pointed to another man-at-arms—“help move our friend’s body outside.”
After the men lifted and carried the dead guard out of the cave, Faye reached down to take Angeline’s hand. Her small fingers were closed. She carried a rock, no doubt.
“Angeline, leave the rock here in the cavern, where it belongs.”
A puzzled frown darkened the little girl’s brow. “Not rock. Goad.”
“Show me!”
The little girl opened her fingers. A rough-edged gold coin, featuring the image of a running horse, lay in her palm.
“Brant,” Faye whispered. “Look.”
He leaned closer, his shoulder brushing hers. He inhaled a harsh breath. “I saw a drawing of such a coin in Royce’s journal.”
Faye took the Celtic coin from Angeline’s hand and handed it to Brant. Wonder shone in his eyes as he looked at it, then at her.
His mouth flattened. He turned and tossed the coin into the pool. It winked once as it drifted out of sight.
Faye gasped. “Why—?”
Brant pressed a slow, tender kiss to her lips. “I do not want the rest of the gold, Faye. ’Tis safest if it remains hidden here. I am already richer than any legendary king, for I have Angeline”—he kissed her again—“and I have you, Faye. My lady love. My treasure.”
About the Author
Bestselling, award-winning novelist Catherine Kean is a Kindle Unlimited All-Star author of medieval romances. Her love of history began with visits to England during summer vacations, when her British father took her to crumbling medieval castles, dusty museums filled with fascinating artifacts, and historic churches. Her love of the awe-inspiring past stuck with her as she completed a B.A. (Double Major, First Class) in English and History. She completed a year-long Post Graduate course with Sotheby’s auctioneers in London, England, and worked for several years in Canada as an antiques and fine art appraiser.
After she married a tall, handsome, and charming Brit and moved to Florida, she started writing novels, her lifelong dream. She wrote her first medieval romance, A Knight’s Vengeance, while her baby daughter was napping. Catherine’s books were originally published in paperback and several were released in Czech, German, and Thai foreign editions. She has won numerous awards for her stories, including the Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence. Her novels also finaled in the Next Generation Indie Book Awards and the National Readers’ Choice Awards.
When not working on her next book, Catherine enjoys cooking, baking, browsing antique shops, shopping with her daughter, and gardening. She lives in Florida with her husband, daughter, and two spoiled rescue cats.
Website: http://www.catherinekean.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/catherine.keanauthor
Goodread
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Also by Catherine Kean
A Knight to Remember (Novella)
A Knight’s Desire (A Kindle World of de Wolfe Pack Novel)
A Legendary Love (Novella in the Hearts Aflame Anthology)
Bound by His Kiss (Novella)
Dance of Desire
One Knight in the Forest (Novella in the Charmed by a Ruby anthology)
One Knight Under the Mistletoe (Novella)
Knight’s Series Novels
A Knight’s Vengeance (Knight’s Series Book 1)
A Knight’s Reward (Knight’s Series Book 2)
A Knight’s Temptation (Knight’s Series Book 3)
A Knight’s Persuasion (Knight’s Series Book 4)
A Knight’s Seduction (Knight’s Series Book 5)
Boxed Sets
Charmed by a Ruby (includes novella One Knight in the Forest)
Charmed by an Emerald (includes novella A Knight to Remember)
Hearts Aflame (includes novella A Legendary Love)
Knights of Passion (includes A Knight’s Persuasion)
Knights to Remember (includes A Knight’s Seduction)
Medieval Knights and Damsels (includes A Knight’s Temptation)
Medieval Rogues (includes A Knight’s Vengeance, My Lady’s Treasure, and Bound by His Kiss)
Romantic Favorites (includes A Knight’s Reward)
The Knight’s Series: Books 1-4
Table of Contents
A Knight’s Quest
A Breach of Promise
Onyx – MadMan MacKeefe
Highlander’s Captive
Wild Viking Princess
Enchanted by the Earl
My Lady’s Treasure
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN
CHAPTER EIGHT
CHAPTER NINE
CHAPTER TEN
CHAPTER ELEVEN
CHAPTER TWELVE
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
CHAPTER NINETEEN
CHAPTER TWENTY
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
Other Books by LANA WILLIAMS
AUTHOR’S NOTE
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17