“Ask Toby about his love bite.”
He thought he hadn’t heard correctly. He turned to Alec curiously, wondering how a statement like that became mixed up in the grieving process. But Alec was looking at Toby, a dull twinkle in his sky-blue eyes.
“How inappropriate, Alec,” Ali scolded quietly. “We are mourning your brother’s loss and I consider your remark improper at best.”
Alec sighed and stood his full height slowly, wearily. “Ali, you know that my brother and I were never close. Paul was more of a distant relative than a brother, and I shall mourn his loss as such. But nothing more. Were you or Toby to perish, then I would mourn your deaths for the rest of my life, as with Peter,” he eyed his younger half-brother. “Since I do not feel like dwelling on my brother’s death until there is something I can do about it, for my own sake I choose to lighten the mood. For Christ’s sake, I am tired of grieving. Toby, show Ali your love bite.”
Ali shook his head in resignation, knowing Alec’s explanation to be correct. But he stopped short of concurring to alleviate the heady mood. “Do not show me, Toby. I do not care about it, nor do I wish to see it.”
Alec cocked an eyebrow. “Jubil did it.”
Ali’s eyes flew open wide and he yanked up the young knight’s tunic. “God’s Blood! She did not merely bite you, man, sheateyou!”
The bite was purple and swollen, and Toby flinched when Alec touched it. “She must be half-wolf,” Alec remarked.
Ali’s black eyes glittered with mirth. “I am curious to know what else she did to you.”
Toby looked sheepish and Alec put his arms around his brother’s wide shoulders. “I was quite astonished to realize my little brother is no better than the rest of us. I believe he needs our experienced advice.”
Ali suddenly thrust himself forward, embracing Toby as one would a lover. “God’s Blood, Toby, I never knew. I think I am in love with you.”
Toby yanked himself free of the two taunting men. “Too late, Ali. You had your chance.”
Alec and Ali were grinning mischievously, closing the gap between themselves and Toby, and backing the young man into the wall. “Jubil, is it?” Ali queried seductively. “I am surprised. Your tastes usually run to the petite young women from the village that comprises your admiring throng.”
Toby groped for the door latch, opening the door to escape just as Alec slammed it shut.
“Do not leave yet,” Alec purred. “You told me you might marry the woman. Well?”
Toby pursed his lips irritably. “I said might.Might!” he snatched at the door latch again and yanked it open, wedging himself in the archway when Alec tried to close it again. “And I think it’s terrible that you should disregard Paul’s death so easily. Instead of mourning properly for the man, you choose to taunt me instead.”
Alec’s expression softened somewhat. “Were I not teasing you, I would most likely be riding to Blackstone, determined to receive answers to our assumptions,” he said quietly. “You as well as Ali know that I have spent the majority of the past twelve years grieving. No one grieves more deeply than I do. But I explained my reasons to Ali regarding my relationship to Paul and I shall not repeat them. I am, however, deeply distressedwith the circumstances regarding his death. I suppose lightening the mood helps me deal with the overwhelming situation.”
Somewhat appeased, Toby lowered his gaze uncertainly, rubbing at his bite. Alec, his humor fading, opened the door wide and put his hand on the young man’s shoulder. “I think, mayhap, it would be best if you return to Blackstone immediately and comfort mother. The woman has lost two sons and I expect she would like to see her remaining sons as soon as possible.”
Toby nodded, albeit hesitantly. His first reaction was to refuse for two reasons; firstly, he was becoming far too infatuated with Jubil and their blossoming relationship and was eager for another encounter, if for nothing more than to further explore the attraction between them. The sexual magnetism was obvious; it was the emotional aspect he was more concerned with. And secondly, mayhap more prevalently, she had yet to divulge the promised information of his heritage.
Upon reflection, he wondered if she truly held the key to his past. Mayhap she has simply hinted to the fact to obtain what she wanted from him which, in fact, turned out to be what he wanted from her as well. But he would do what was asked of him; family came first, and his raging emotions secondly. Perplexing as they were.
Ali moved past the brothers and into the foyer, feeling his fatigue and eager for sleep. “When do you wish to leave for Blackstone, Alec?” he asked as he reached the stairs.
Alec scratched his scalp, passing a glance to the lancet window facing the bailey. “Christ, there cannot be more than two hours until sunrise. I would like to leave by early afternoon.”
Ali nodded shortly. “I shall inform my family. We will be ready.”
Alec watched his dark friend mount the stairs, turning to Toby after a moment. “Are you well? You and Paul were fairly close.”
“I am fine, truly. Just a bit shocked, I suppose,” Toby moved for the stairs. “I shall change clothes and ride to Blackstone. Is there any message you wish me to deliver to Mother?”
Alec gazed at his fair-haired brother a moment. “Nay,” he said softly. “I shall be seeing her soon enough.”
Toby took the stairs and disappeared into the bowels of the upper story. Alec continued to stand in the doorway, his sky-blue eyes dark with speculative thought.
There was a murderer among them. He knew who it was, and he was determined to know why. The same bastards responsible for his father’s cowardice were responsible for his brother’s death, although he knew not how at the moment. And a separation that promised to dissolve his relationship with his parents was apparently on the mend. He knew without a doubt that Peyton was included in their merciful disregard.
He leaned his head wearily against the doorjamb, wondering how so much could happen all in the space of a day. Too much, too quickly, too violently.
It was enough to set his head to spinning.
