jaw, but it never connected. Gahan lifted his foot and planted it in the center of Bari’s chest and sent him flying through the doorway. Gahan’s men surged after him as Moira twisted free and followed.
Bari was facedown in the dirt. He bellowed with outrage as he scrambled to his feet. But Achaius shouted over his sputtering.
“How dare ye attack me overlord’s son in me castle!”
Matheson retainers rushed Bari and had him restrained before the Frasers realized their intent. There were more Matheson retainers than Fraser, and they pushed Bari’s men back.
“He gave me sister poison!”
“I tossed it onto the bunk next to her. Which is less than she deserved for coating me father’s goblet with it. Hanging was too simple for her crime.”
“Ye had no right to deny her soul salvation!”
Achaius smacked Bari across the mouth. There was more strength in the old man than it appeared, because Bari went stumbling. Matheson retainers hauled him up from the ground and held him for their laird.
“He had every right,” Achaius declared. “I would have broken every one of her fingers and left her alive for a month before I hanged her. Ye’ll ride north with us and make yer peace with the earl, or I will send this sister back to ye.”
“Ye cannae undo what has been done,” Bari argued. He shook off the men holding him, but they only eased off, remaining a half pace behind him as a warning. Her brother pointed at the sheet. “Ye are wed.”
“I am laird here. I can do as I will. Nae many men would fault me for turning out the kin of a poisoner. If ye do nae make yer peace with the earl, I say ye knew of yer sister’s treachery. I’ll keep no kin of yers as wife.”
She should have been horrified. But she found herself hoping Bari would refuse to bend. It was more than a hope; part of her was desperate to escape. What had seemed impossible was suddenly a flicker of possibility.
Bari glared at Gahan. “I did nae know what she was about.”
“Good,” Achaius said. “I would have been sad to let yer sister go. She’s a juicy treat.”
Achaius turned to face Gahan and licked his lips. Disappointment raked its claws across her gut, it was so intense. She thought she saw Gahan stiffen in anger, but she realized she was seeing only what she wanted to.
“Come, mistress.” Fann was tugging her up the stairs once more. Achaius was smirking at Gahan. The suggestive nature of his expression turned her stomach, so she relented and let Fann lead her away.
But she wrung her skirt all the way up the stairs.
Was Achaius so feeble-minded he didn’t realize he hadn’t consummated their union? Or was he playing a game with her brother?
Both options promised her grief. Bari would not have her back if Achaius turned her out, while Gahan’s offer had been an empty one. She needed to forget about him. No good could come of giving in to her desire for the man. Except that taking a lover would solve the problem of her still being a maiden. Achaius would have no trouble turning her out if a midwife testified she was still a virgin. She’d be accused of soiling the sheet too.
Gahan would make a fine lover…
The idea was intoxicating. It was balm for the fear burning through her. He’d hardly admit to their liaison.
She stiffened. Her thoughts disgraced her. Gahan had honor, and she was thinking of ways to tarnish that noble trait. Bari might have dictated the circumstances of her life, but he did not control her morality. No matter what happened, she’d face it.
Even if the idea of having a reason to let Gahan kiss her again was nearly impossible to resist.
***
“Mistress?”
Gahan’s captain stepped up beside her mare once she was mounted. He offered her something, and when she took it, she realized it was a leather gauntlet. Athena was perched on his forearm. Her hand shook as she pushed it into the thick leather glove.
Cam offered her the hawk, and she cooed softly to her. Athena fluttered her wings
Bari was facedown in the dirt. He bellowed with outrage as he scrambled to his feet. But Achaius shouted over his sputtering.
“How dare ye attack me overlord’s son in me castle!”
Matheson retainers rushed Bari and had him restrained before the Frasers realized their intent. There were more Matheson retainers than Fraser, and they pushed Bari’s men back.
“He gave me sister poison!”
“I tossed it onto the bunk next to her. Which is less than she deserved for coating me father’s goblet with it. Hanging was too simple for her crime.”
“Ye had no right to deny her soul salvation!”
Achaius smacked Bari across the mouth. There was more strength in the old man than it appeared, because Bari went stumbling. Matheson retainers hauled him up from the ground and held him for their laird.
“He had every right,” Achaius declared. “I would have broken every one of her fingers and left her alive for a month before I hanged her. Ye’ll ride north with us and make yer peace with the earl, or I will send this sister back to ye.”
“Ye cannae undo what has been done,” Bari argued. He shook off the men holding him, but they only eased off, remaining a half pace behind him as a warning. Her brother pointed at the sheet. “Ye are wed.”
“I am laird here. I can do as I will. Nae many men would fault me for turning out the kin of a poisoner. If ye do nae make yer peace with the earl, I say ye knew of yer sister’s treachery. I’ll keep no kin of yers as wife.”
She should have been horrified. But she found herself hoping Bari would refuse to bend. It was more than a hope; part of her was desperate to escape. What had seemed impossible was suddenly a flicker of possibility.
Bari glared at Gahan. “I did nae know what she was about.”
“Good,” Achaius said. “I would have been sad to let yer sister go. She’s a juicy treat.”
Achaius turned to face Gahan and licked his lips. Disappointment raked its claws across her gut, it was so intense. She thought she saw Gahan stiffen in anger, but she realized she was seeing only what she wanted to.
“Come, mistress.” Fann was tugging her up the stairs once more. Achaius was smirking at Gahan. The suggestive nature of his expression turned her stomach, so she relented and let Fann lead her away.
But she wrung her skirt all the way up the stairs.
Was Achaius so feeble-minded he didn’t realize he hadn’t consummated their union? Or was he playing a game with her brother?
Both options promised her grief. Bari would not have her back if Achaius turned her out, while Gahan’s offer had been an empty one. She needed to forget about him. No good could come of giving in to her desire for the man. Except that taking a lover would solve the problem of her still being a maiden. Achaius would have no trouble turning her out if a midwife testified she was still a virgin. She’d be accused of soiling the sheet too.
Gahan would make a fine lover…
The idea was intoxicating. It was balm for the fear burning through her. He’d hardly admit to their liaison.
She stiffened. Her thoughts disgraced her. Gahan had honor, and she was thinking of ways to tarnish that noble trait. Bari might have dictated the circumstances of her life, but he did not control her morality. No matter what happened, she’d face it.
Even if the idea of having a reason to let Gahan kiss her again was nearly impossible to resist.
***
“Mistress?”
Gahan’s captain stepped up beside her mare once she was mounted. He offered her something, and when she took it, she realized it was a leather gauntlet. Athena was perched on his forearm. Her hand shook as she pushed it into the thick leather glove.
Cam offered her the hawk, and she cooed softly to her. Athena fluttered her wings
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