neared the entrance to Northe Castle.
“Trouble is brewing. Of that, there is no doubt.”
“Aye. But what is it they want? And who are they?”
“Patience and persistence will no doubt bring you those answers as they have in the past. Those two qualities have become your strengths.”
Royce could only hope they’d hold him in good stead not only with this challenge but with his next, the most important one he’d ever face–vengeance at last.
But this puzzle had to be solved first. He owed that much and more to Lord Blackwell.
He’d feared he was being led away from Alyna soon after they’d left her. It would ease his mind to see her for himself. He was concerned for her safety. That was all.
And that was surely the reason she’d been on his mind so much since he’d left her in Sir Edward’s care. He’d chosen Sir Edward deliberately, knowing the knight would do his best to convince Lady Alyna of Royce’s unworthiness. Royce well knew Edward considered himself superior.
Once he’d confirmed Alyna’s safety, Royce planned on staying as far away from her as possible. Then the inappropriate desire he had for her would end. It had to. He did not need the distraction and complication an attraction for Lord Blackwell’s granddaughter could cause.
Royce led his men through the portcullis then reined his horse to the side while they passed into the outer bailey. He removed his helm and tossed it to his squire, who waited nearby.
As soon as the men were inside the curtain wall, he’d head for the stables. He wanted to see his tired destrier groomed and fed before seeking his own food and rest.
His thoughts elsewhere, Royce directed his horse toward the stables behind the others. The small child was underfoot before Royce saw him. His heart in his throat, Royce jerked the reins back, using his knees to urge his horse away from the boy. He feared for one brief moment that the tired horse would not respond.
Nicholas stopped, unafraid. His blue eyes looked up with absolute trust at Royce. The horse reared as Alyna snatched the boy into her arms and backed away. Royce had the large animal back under control within moments, but not so his temper.
He dismounted and stalked around the front of the horse to confront the woman who haunted his thoughts, day and night. “What do you think you’re doing? I nearly trampled him!”
Alyna stiffened and clutched the boy tighter. “And you, sir, should be better able to control that great beast of yours.” Her amber eyes flashed, making it clear she did not appreciate his reprimand.
Royce moved closer, intent on flaying her further when the little boy held out his hand. Taken aback, Royce stared at the small hand for a moment before grasping it in his own rough and callused one.
Nicholas smiled up at him, his bright blue eyes compelling Royce to hold his gaze. The boy placed his other hand on Royce’s cheek before looking at Alyna. “He’s good, Mama.”
Royce looked at Alyna, puzzled by the comment, still holding his warm little hand. “What does he mean?”
Alyna’s face flushed. “I have no idea.”
But Royce was certain she knew more than she admitted.
Before he could question her, Nicholas patted his cheek, drawing his attention again. The boy’s dark hair resembled Alyna’s, but that was where their similarities ended. Royce would’ve sworn an old soul resided within him. The boy seemed to examine something deep inside Royce and find it pleasing. Royce couldn’t help but smile. “Nicholas, you gave me a scare.”
He grinned, and his eyes looked again like those of a little boy. “I wanted to see you.”
Royce squeezed the boy’s hand, and a warm sensation swelled within him. It erased a good deal of the fear and anger the near disaster had caused. Alyna’s pale face reminded him of the danger the boy had been in. “You must be more careful around my horse, Nicholas. One stomp of his hoof would break you in half.”
“Nay,” the boy
“Trouble is brewing. Of that, there is no doubt.”
“Aye. But what is it they want? And who are they?”
“Patience and persistence will no doubt bring you those answers as they have in the past. Those two qualities have become your strengths.”
Royce could only hope they’d hold him in good stead not only with this challenge but with his next, the most important one he’d ever face–vengeance at last.
But this puzzle had to be solved first. He owed that much and more to Lord Blackwell.
He’d feared he was being led away from Alyna soon after they’d left her. It would ease his mind to see her for himself. He was concerned for her safety. That was all.
And that was surely the reason she’d been on his mind so much since he’d left her in Sir Edward’s care. He’d chosen Sir Edward deliberately, knowing the knight would do his best to convince Lady Alyna of Royce’s unworthiness. Royce well knew Edward considered himself superior.
Once he’d confirmed Alyna’s safety, Royce planned on staying as far away from her as possible. Then the inappropriate desire he had for her would end. It had to. He did not need the distraction and complication an attraction for Lord Blackwell’s granddaughter could cause.
Royce led his men through the portcullis then reined his horse to the side while they passed into the outer bailey. He removed his helm and tossed it to his squire, who waited nearby.
As soon as the men were inside the curtain wall, he’d head for the stables. He wanted to see his tired destrier groomed and fed before seeking his own food and rest.
His thoughts elsewhere, Royce directed his horse toward the stables behind the others. The small child was underfoot before Royce saw him. His heart in his throat, Royce jerked the reins back, using his knees to urge his horse away from the boy. He feared for one brief moment that the tired horse would not respond.
Nicholas stopped, unafraid. His blue eyes looked up with absolute trust at Royce. The horse reared as Alyna snatched the boy into her arms and backed away. Royce had the large animal back under control within moments, but not so his temper.
He dismounted and stalked around the front of the horse to confront the woman who haunted his thoughts, day and night. “What do you think you’re doing? I nearly trampled him!”
Alyna stiffened and clutched the boy tighter. “And you, sir, should be better able to control that great beast of yours.” Her amber eyes flashed, making it clear she did not appreciate his reprimand.
Royce moved closer, intent on flaying her further when the little boy held out his hand. Taken aback, Royce stared at the small hand for a moment before grasping it in his own rough and callused one.
Nicholas smiled up at him, his bright blue eyes compelling Royce to hold his gaze. The boy placed his other hand on Royce’s cheek before looking at Alyna. “He’s good, Mama.”
Royce looked at Alyna, puzzled by the comment, still holding his warm little hand. “What does he mean?”
Alyna’s face flushed. “I have no idea.”
But Royce was certain she knew more than she admitted.
Before he could question her, Nicholas patted his cheek, drawing his attention again. The boy’s dark hair resembled Alyna’s, but that was where their similarities ended. Royce would’ve sworn an old soul resided within him. The boy seemed to examine something deep inside Royce and find it pleasing. Royce couldn’t help but smile. “Nicholas, you gave me a scare.”
He grinned, and his eyes looked again like those of a little boy. “I wanted to see you.”
Royce squeezed the boy’s hand, and a warm sensation swelled within him. It erased a good deal of the fear and anger the near disaster had caused. Alyna’s pale face reminded him of the danger the boy had been in. “You must be more careful around my horse, Nicholas. One stomp of his hoof would break you in half.”
“Nay,” the boy
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