He missed her.
Heaven help him, he missed Bella with an intensity that bordered on obsession.
Now, separated by miles of countryside, Boyd found himself thinking of nothing else.
It was pathetic.Ridiculous.He was the Monk, feared across Scotland, and here he was pining for a wife he'd married purely for revenge.But now that he had ample space to think on it, the story he'd believed for a decade had too many holes, too many inconsistencies.
And Boyd couldn't stop thinking about Bella's face when she'd said, "I never played ye false.I loved ye, Boyd."
The raw honesty in her eyes.The pain.
What if?
"Laird!"Thamas's shout cut through Boyd's spiraling thoughts."Movement in the trees ahead!"
Boyd's warrior instincts snapped into focus, his hand going to his sword.But even as he reached for the weapon, he realized with sick horror that he'd missed the warning signs.
Completely missed them.
He'd been so caught up in thoughts of Bella that he'd failed to notice the telltale stillness of the forest.The absence of birdsong.The way the air felt just before an ambush.
They were already surrounded.
Dark figures dropped from the trees with practiced ease, landing in a circle around Boyd's small contingent.All of them armed.All of them masked.
And in the branches above, Boyd could see at least two archers with arrows nocked and drawn.
Aimed directly at him.
Boyd's men drew their swords instantly, forming a protective circle, but they were outnumbered and outmanoeuvred.
The masked man who was clearly the leader stepped forward, his sword drawn but held casually at his side.There was something familiar about his stance, his build.
"Tsk tsk, if it isn't the legendary Monk," he said, his voice filled with amusement."'Tis unheard of that mere mortals can sneak up on ye so easily."
Boyd's jaw clenched.He couldn't believe he'd missed the warning signs.Couldn't believe he'd let himself get distracted to the point of endangering his men.
But then recognition dawned, with the Monk reference, and with it came a surge of irritation.
He signaled for his men to lower their swords.
"What the fuck do ye want, Shadow?"Boyd growled."I dinnae have time for this."
The masked man burst out laughing and pulled down his mask, revealing the grinning face of Cormac Stewart.Dark-haired, dark-eyed, and far too pleased with himself.
"Now, now," Cormac said, his grin widening."Ye enter my domain, ye pay a price."
"How about I belt ye in the face?"Boyd shot back."Is that enough for ye?"
"Och no, dinnae mess up my pretty looks.How else will I get the ladies to bed me?"
Boyd rolled his eyes and shook his head, feeling some of the tension drain from his shoulders despite his irritation."What are ye doing here?This is not yer usual raiding spot."
Cormac signaled to his men, and they lowered their weapons and relaxed their stances.The archers in the trees lowered their bows.
"Not raiding this time," Cormac replied, sheathing his sword."I'm tracking a group of mercenaries."
Boyd nodded, understanding.Cormac was known as the Shadow because his specialty was information gathering, and his methods were unconventional.He led a band of raiders who preyed on travelers along certain routes, relieving them of valuables and, more importantly, secrets.In truth, he was one of the king's most valuable assets.Every raid was carefully orchestrated.Every victim carefully chosen.
