Black rage covered Killian’s face. “Do not speak ill of your Taryn.” His hand remained upon the hilt of his dagger. “I would suggest that you leave us. Now.”
“The marriage can be annulled,” the Queen started to argue, but Taryn held up a hand.
“No. It will not be.” Daring a look at Killian, she realized he was right. This truly was the best way of overcoming her mother’s control. “The marriage has already been consummated.”
Maeve paled, but sent Taryn a look. “This isn’t finished. I will never let you endanger yourself at Tara.”
“She is under my protection,” Killian answered. “And you can do nothing to change it.”
Her mother’s mouth set in a hard line. “Then we will accompany you to Tara,” she stated. “My men will join with yours.”
And I will learn if you are lying, her tone seemed to say.
Taryn stared back at her. “I care not what you do. But I intend to find out the truth about my father.” She put her arm around Killian’s waist to underscore her words. There was a hint of approval in his eyes, and he led her back towards their horses.
In a whisper, she leaned in. “I cannot believe what you just said to my mother. But it worked.”
“Of course it did.” He appeared entirely confident in the ruse. And although she could not know what would happen once they reached Tara, for now, she was grateful to him. She could travel freely, with no worry about an army pursuing them.
Relief filled her up, and he lifted her onto her horse. His hands lingered upon her waist for a moment, and his expression turned enigmatic. After he swung up to his own mount, he sent her a sidelong look.
“Is something the matter?” she asked, as they began their journey back to the MacEgan men.
His eyes held a glint of wickedness. “Well, now, that all depends,a mhuírnín.”
“On what?” She urged her horse forward alongside his.
“If we are now married, then it seems we’ll now be sharing a tent,” he said. There was an unspoken question, one that warmed her skin with promise.
She understood what he was asking, and she straightened in the saddle. “Don’t fear, Killian. Your virtue is safe with me.”
And with a smile, she rode back to the men.
Chapter Ten
The Queen was as good as her word. The moment Killian returned with the MacEgan soldiers, she joined them. Though Maeve did not issue commands, she kept a close eye upon Taryn. Her insistence upon controlling her daughter, though out of a mother’s love, had made him realize that only a husband had the right to supersede Maeve’s authority.
And he was well aware that she didn’t believe their story at all.
Taryn, thankfully, had recognized the deception as their best means of reaching Tara with no further interference. He had no doubt that her mother would have prevented a marriage at all costs. It was only his resemblance to the High King that had made her falter. She would learn, soon enough, that he was a bastard. But for now, he had the right to travel with the Lady Taryn.
They would reach Tara within another day or two. Night was falling, and he finally chose a place to make camp. Taryn appeared weary, but at least she still had her freedom, such as it was.
He set up their tent away from the others, knowing they would have to share a space tonight. The thought of being so near to her was a raw temptation, and he worried that he would be unable to keep his distance. Each night, he thought more about touching this woman, about lying beside her.
The truth was, he wanted her with a fierce need he didn’t understand. He was like a flask of oil, ready to ignite with a single flame. Every time he kissed her, he thought of what it would be like to pleasure this woman, to teach her what it was to surrender to his touch.
They ate among the other men, and he didn’t miss the Queen’s resentful look when he escorted Taryn back to their tent. But his so-called bride took his hand and went with him obediently.
Instead of walking inside the tent, she stopped him for a moment. “She is watching us.”
He knew that and didn’t care. “She doesn’t believe what we told her.”
Taryn nodded. “Will the men tell her the truth?”
Killian shook his head. He’d given orders to one of the MacEgan captains to spread the word among the soldiers. The guard had understood the need immediately, and he was confident that the men would maintain the illusion to prevent bloodshed.
He took Taryn’s hands, and she lifted her face to his. In the shadowed moonlight, her eyes glowed. “I suppose, in this instance, I am using you to avoid a conflict with my mother. But you needn’t worry that it will come to anything more than this.”
