Chapter Eleven
Christian felt the sting of Willow’s wrathas they rode. She held herself stiff and away from him. It was agony to have his arms around her without being able to touch her. Not being able to run his fingers through her hair or down her arm. What had she expected? That he would trust her despite the fact she had stolen his book?
He clenched his teeth. Because even knowing he should be angry with her, all he wanted to do was kiss her neck and her lips.
They found two more parchment pieces during their trip, and Christian surmised they were about half a day behind Marcus and Sage. Not far.
Willow suddenly adjusted herself in the saddle, shifting her bottom against him into a different position.
Christian fought every urge that sprang to life. He thought of dung. Maggots. Anything repugnant. He had once seen an open abscess oozing puss out of the side of a horse’s jaw.
It worked. He didn’t spring to life. But he needed a break from having her so close. He steered the steed to the river’s edge. “Let’s rest for a while.”
Once the horse halted, Willow swung her leg over the head and slid to the ground before Christian dismounted.
She stretched her arms out before bending over to touch her toes, giving him a moment to admire her perfectly bottom. When she straightened, she put a hand on her hip and faced him. “This monk who took Sage. Marcus. Who is he?”
Christian slid his arm from the strap and uncorked the ale skin, taking a deep drink.
“I deserve to know who I am tracking,” she insisted.
Christian slowly lowered the ale skin and held it out to her.
She shook her head.
He capped it. “Marcus de Nogarert has Sage. He has been trailing me since I received the book.”
“De Nogaret. I know that name.”
“He is cousin to Guillume de Nogaret.”
“The king’s man?” she asked, shocked.
Christian nodded. “He inherited his family’s ruthlessness,” he muttered. When he was young, his father had sent him to the chateau for training. That was where he met Marcus. Christian had not trusted Marcus then, and he had been correct not to. “If he gets the book to the king, they will know everything in that book.”
Willow chuckled.
Christian scowled, angered at her lack of concern. “You find that funny? You find it funny that it could be the ruin of the Templar Knights? Philip will do anything to bring the Order down. He—”
“He won’t be able to read it.”
Christian shook his head. “I’m certain the king knows how to read.”
“It’s coded.”
“What?” Christian asked, confused.
“Brother Nicolas told us the book was coded. He couldn’t read it.” Willow looked at the ground sadly. “Sage wanted to stay with him so he could teach her to decipher it.”
“That’s why you and Raven weren’t with her,” Christian realized.
Willow nodded.
Christian knew how close the Hawke sisters were. His heart ached for her, and he stepped closer to her. “Willow—”
Willow moved away from him toward the horse. “What is in the book?”
“I don’t know,” Christian answered, feeling the sting of her rejection of him.
