Page 28 of Taken By the Exiled Laird

Still giggling falsely, moving with a coy grace, Briana slid into the man's lap from the side, leaning back into his arm with a practiced casualness that impressed even Theon. One of her hands rested on the man's chest while the other disappeared behind him down toward the pouch.

Theon held his breath.

She offhandedly moved that arm again, this time touching the pocket of her cloak, slipping her hand inside while she leaned closer and whispered something in the man's ear.

The man shivered with a disgusting delight. His hand settling on Briana's waist. "I'll show ye a good time," he promised. "These other eejits dinnae have a clue how tae treat a woman, but I'll make ye see stars."

Theon snorted at the pathetic attempt at seduction, but Briana moved the hand on the man's chest to his face, cupping his cheek.

"I'm an honest woman, sir," she replied coquettishly, all the while moving her other hand between the pouch and her pocket, unnoticed by either the man or his companions. "Ye'd make a sinner of me?"

The man's voice dipped into a wolf-like growl. "I'll make ye see God and scream the devil's name." It sounded more like a threat than a seduction.

Briana froze, and Theon took a half-step closer. But she gathered herself in an instant, moving both her hands away from the man and laughing airily. "Och, I wouldnae wish tae pay too much attention tae one of ye than all the others. I'd like the company of ye all," she said. Casually, she moved to get up. "I can have a drink with ye all, surely. I⁠—"

But before she could get away fully, the man grabbed her wrist and pulled her down again. She stumbled and the soldier stood, using her momentum to shove her against the table. With a dark, dangerous glee to his voice, he said, "Ye can give us all attention here and now."

Theon did not hesitate.

In a few strides, he crossed the room and swung his fist, colliding hard with the man's face. His knuckles connected with a satisfying crack and blood spurted from the man's nose as he released Briana and screamed in pain.

Briana had her wits about her and got back to her feet, slipping into a defensive stance at Theon's side. Theon caught sight of her, impressed by how quickly she'd learned, but the thought was interrupted as the other soldiers attacked.

"That's Theon MacKenzie!" one of them shouted.

"Oh, of course they recognize ye," Briana snarked, dodging out of the way as one of the men lunged for her.

Theon laughed wildly, caught up in the adrenaline and spirit of the moment, grabbing Briana's arm and shoving her behind him just in time to send another attacker sprawling to the floor. He didn't bother reaching for his weapon, instead throwing another hard punch and crumpling one of them to the ground. He knew they were outnumbered and that he wouldn't be able to win, but something about Briana fighting alongside him and having witnessed her audacity had lit a fire in him that would not be quenched.

One of the soldiers hit him back, opening the wound that his own brother had caused so recently, but Theon just laughed again. Briana darted beneath his arm, tripping his attacker. The other soldiers rounded on them, and Theon stood tall. If this was where it was to end, then at least he'd go down fighting—with her.

The sound of glass shattering paused the scene for a moment as they all swung their heads toward it. The innkeeper stood on the top of the bar, her eyes blazing, looking as though life had finally returned to her.

"Take that, ye bastards!" she shouted, throwing another bottle at the soldiers. "And that!"

Theon gaped at her.

"What are ye doin'?" she shouted. "Run!"

Briana grabbed Theon's hand and pulled him, and the two of them fled out the door. Theon wasn't worried about the innkeeper—the men would follow him for the bounty—but he hoped she had the sense to stop attacking once they were out of sight. They turned, racing down the alley that had hidden them before. When they reached the dead end, Theon spotted their salvation—a narrow crevice between the building and a back outhouse. He pulled Briana's arm and they squeezed into the narrow space, counting on the shadows to hide them.

Panting, breathing heavily, the two stood together in the cramped space and tried to stay silent. They heard the clattering of soldiers' boots as they moved down through the alley, and Theon held his breath.

"This is a dead end!" someone shouted, only inches from where the two were hidden.

The boots clattered as the soldiers left the alley, and Briana and Theon remained silent for a few more beats before at last they were sure they were safe.

"At least ye didnae rip me skirt this time," Briana teased. "And I'm gettin' quite used tae watchin' ye bein' punched in the face."

Theon started to laugh under his breath. His nose and lip felt like they were on fire, but delight surged through him as Briana laughed too.

They were still worlds apart, and perhaps they always would be and should be, but in that moment, cramped together in that tiny crevice, Theon and Briana understood each other completely.

Chapter Twelve

In the alley, a door creaked and light flooded out accompanied by the hushed voice of the innkeeper. "Ye can come out now," she said.

Briana and Theon slipped out of the crevice. To Briana's utmost relief, the woman looked completely unharmed except for a small bruise on her cheek. The innkeeper shone with life, and at her side, the two children held onto her hands, watching in wonder.