Part 2 (2/2)
”Really?” Cahill said with that insufferable degree of c.o.c.kiness that males his size too often exhibited. He let go of her and stepped around to face her. ”Then go.”
But Brea's wounded leg gave out and she crumpled to the ground. With what seemed too little effort, Cahill stooped down and lifted her into his arms.
”Put me down, you swine!”
”Stop squirming,” he said, turning back in the direction of the castle and walking briskly as if she weighed nothing at all.
”I said put me down,” Brea said through clenched teeth, pulling her dagger out of her bodice and shoving the tip under Cahill's chin.
Cahill stopped walking, but did not put her down. ”What are you going to do? Slit my throat and then crawl away? Your neck is much too lovely for the hangman's noose. It would be such a waste.”
Brea dug the tip of her dagger into the soft flesh beneath his jaw, drawing blood.
”Ouch.”
”I don't play games, Prince. Now, put me down.”
Reluctantly, he lowered her back to her feet, but did not let her go. ”You are not a prisoner here, you know.”
”Then help me to the stable.”
”Where will you go?”
”I can take care of-” Brea was about to say myself, but the truth was, now that her belongings had been burned, the dragon scale along with everything else, she had nothing. The only things of value she had were her horse, her sword and her family ring, and Brea was not prepared to part with any of those three things yet.
”Princess, you are my guest. I beseech you to stay at least until you are well enough to walk on your own.”
Brea squinted up into Cahill's face, considering his words. ”And that's all? I'm simply a guest guest?” she asked.
”What do you mean?”
”You don't have any...designs on me?”
First Cahill's eyes widened and then they narrowed before Brea noticed a distinctive twitching at the corners of his mouth. ”What in Cragmar's name makes you think I have designs on you?”
”It doesn't take a great sage to see what's going on here. You're young and attractive yet still single. You have a stepmother who appears to be sp.a.w.ned by dragons, and I'm guessing you need a wife to take over because you've been watching me like a hawk.”
Cahill studied her for what seemed an eternity. Then a broad smile flashed across his face, and he burst out laughing. He laughed so hard, tears streamed down his cheeks. He let go of her only for a second to wipe the moisture from his eyes. But without his support, her knees buckled, and she cursed a blue streak under her breath as she stumbled forward.
”Fine language for a princess,” Cahill said with mirth as he caught her before she fell.
The blush in her cheeks came as a complete surprise, annoying her to no end.
”Now that we have everything out in the open, will you stay?”
Brea studied him hard for a moment, but then dropped her gaze when she felt her cheeks grow even warmer.
”I won't make any untoward advances.”
”Do you promise?”
He put his hand on his heart and swore, ”I promise I will not attempt to seduce you...unless you ask.”
She gave him a shove and said, ”That's about as likely as a talking pig.” Then she put her weight on her crutch and willed herself to move without his help. She made it a few steps before he took her elbow again and steered her toward the castle.
”A talking pig, eh?” he said conversationally. ”I seem to recall someone calling me a swine swine earlier. Does that count?” earlier. Does that count?”
Brea bit the inside of her cheek. There was no way she would let him catch her smiling.
Cahill deposited Breanna in her chambers with the promise he'd send up the court tailor immediately so that she might have some clothing fas.h.i.+oned more to her liking. He still reeled from her transformation. If it wasn't for those luminous grey eyes, he would never have recognized her. Never! Although he should have identified her right away once he noticed the baldric. There was only one lady of his acquaintance who wore a shoulder belt to hold a blade across her back. He'd missed it because he hadn't been looking at her back. He'd been eyeing her slim waist, her long neck and the enticing dip of her bodice. Even her scent had caught him unaware-suns.h.i.+ne and pine. She smelled like a mountain meadow.
Contrary to what she might think, her reluctance only increased his interest. There was no doubt about it, Breanna of Morainia was a rare woman, and the challenge of wooing her and bringing her to her knees excited Cahill in a way that even the most beautiful princesses were unable to.
As Cahill turned down the hall to the queen's receiving room, his thoughts of the delights of Breanna's person were quickly forgotten. A number of the queen's guards milled about in the hallway outside the double doors to the chamber. At the sight of him, they drew to attention and parted, bowing as he pa.s.sed. Cahill threw open the doors and strode across the room to where the queen conferred with Captain Peac.o.c.k and four other officers of the guard.
”What is it, Stepmother? What is afoot?”
But it was Peac.o.c.k who replied, ”A horde is forming and has attacked along the border of Arcana and Baldane on Lorentia's western border.”
”When did this happen? Why was I not informed?”
”We've only just learned of the attack ourselves, Your Highness. Lieutenant Rodham just arrived from the western border.”
Cahill nodded to the lieutenant, a man he'd met only twice before, and then drew near, peering down at the map unfurled across the large wooden desk. ”How many?”
”Reports confirmed three fiends. Unconfirmed tell of four.”
”Not so many, then.”
”No,” Lieutenant Rodham agreed. ”But they've managed to decimate two villages and evade the slayers.”
”What is your opinion on containment?” Cahill asked Rodham.
”Arcana and Baldane have always been allies. They should be able to manage this between them-”
”But it wouldn't hurt to fortify our western border,” Cahill finished for the man.
”Exactly.”
”Will fifty men do the trick?”
The lieutenant nodded, and Cahill motioned to Peac.o.c.k. ”Ama.s.s fifty of our best soldiers and ride out immediately.”
”Yes, Your Highness,” Peac.o.c.k said with a pointed glance at the queen.
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