“I’m fine as well. Your pathfinders offered little exercise,” he said with a wolfish grin.
She snorted before dropping her head to his chest, letting the comfort of his embrace sink in, letting him convince her she was safe even as adrenaline and fear held her in its grip.
They’d survived. Somehow. Both of them had lived despite their enemies’ best efforts.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
They stood like that for a while, each grateful the other had lived, uncaring of those around them.
It took a moment for the trembling in her limbs to abate, but eventually she felt ready to step free and deal with the blows they’d just been dealt. Fallon’s arms tightened before slipping reluctantly away.
It was a sentiment Shea echoed. She would have been glad to stand there wrapped in Fallon’s embrace if not for the trouble brewing over their heads, angry voices that told her their brief respite was over.
“I don’t care what you think,” Gawain snapped. “My men will remain here until I say otherwise.”
“You’ll just get in our way,” Ronan said.
“It’s you who’s more likely to get in our way,” Gawain sneered.
Shea nearly groaned. They’d just come through an attack by beasts. Couldn’t they put aside their differences until they figured out what their next steps were?
“It’s like dealing with children,” Fallon muttered in a voice meant only for her ears.
She stifled her giggle against his chest before looking up at him with a slight smile. “Worse. At least children aren’t likely to try to cut off someone’s head when they don’t get their way.”
He made an aggravated noise in the back of his throat before stepping away, turning his attention on the fight brewing above on the battlements.
“Enough,” he barked.
The argument ceased as the group above slowly turned their attention to Fallon. Reece drifted over to join Shea, his gaze no happier than Fallon’s. Seeing her cousin at Fallon’s side seemed to settle some of the pathfinders, though there were a few Shea noted who took the sight as a confirmation of sorts, their faces darkening and their gazes turning hard. She made a mental note of who those people were. She was willing to bet they were among the ones causing trouble.
Her father also joined Fallon, his gaze disgusted as he looked over his people.
“It’s likely there will be another attack,” Fallon said in a calm voice when all eyes had turned to him. “We do not have time for your petty squabbles as you bicker like children. Put aside your differences before I do it for you.”
Gawain listened with his arms folded and his legs spread, his cold eyes turning to the pathfinder standing beside him.
“Gawain,” Fallon barked. “Draw up a rotation. I want at least one of our people on watch for every pathfinder up there.” His attention flicked to her father in a cutting glance. “Any objections.”
Patrick looked grimly satisfied as he shook his head. “None.”
Fallon’s expression turned cold as it whipped back to the men and women above. “Good, then there should be no problems. Make sure your best archers are among those assigned. Treat this as if we expect another attack at any moment, then report to my rooms.”
Gawain inclined his head at the order before turning to his counterpart above.
“Is there something you’re aware of that we aren’t?” Zeph asked, his warriors at his back.
“We’ll discuss this later, in my rooms,” Fallon responded. “In the meantime, arrange your men into groups. I want them patrolling the Keep, including any secret tunnels our hosts will tell us about.”
Fallon turned dark eyes on her father who grinned with thinly veiled amusement.
Fallon didn’t wait for anyone to voice further arguments, grabbing Shea’s hand and pulling her in his wake. Trenton fell into place behind them, shadowing them as they made their way to their rooms.
The trip was short and mercifully uneventful. They didn’t speak until Fallon stopped at their door, letting Shea precede him in as he turned to Trenton and Caden who she just now realized had followed them.
“We’re not to be disturbed until I say otherwise,” Fallon ordered. “I want this door guarded at all times. Our enemies are close. I want you both to be alert.”
He didn’t wait for a response, slamming the door behind him.
