Page 31 of A Rogue and a Noble Lass

He pulled away, pretending that his wound was bothering him. Beitris stepped back, a confused look on her face.

“That’s a cheap way of trying tae get me tae concede authority,” he said.

Beitris’ cheeks turned a bright red. He knew that he’d offended her, humiliated her, but it was necessary. She’d gotten too close. He couldn’t allow himself to feel these things.

“That’s nae why…” she began, but then trailed away.

“Dinnae waste yerself on me, lass. I doubt I will outlive this war,” he muttered without looking at her.

He knew that if he met her eyes again he might tell her everything, he might lose himself in her and forget everything he held dear. His lips burned as he walked away, and he knew that he wasn’t endangered by his sword but by his feelings for Beitris.

12

“W

here hae ye been all day?” Brody asked, finding Logan sitting on his bed, a brooding expression on his face.

The other guards were all feasting and drinking, so they had the barracks to themselves, although they still made efforts to keep their voices low; otherwise, their ruse might have been uncovered.

“Resting, like ye wanted,” Logan replied dryly.

“Resting, aye, and I’m supposed tae believe that? I saw what happened, Logan. Ye are letting yer feelings for Beitris interfere.”

“I hae nae feelings for her.”

“I saw ye two kissing. I ken what ye are like. Ye would nae kiss anyone unless ye meant it, nae even for this plan.”

“Ye dinnae ken anything.”

“Ye are my brother. I ken ye better than I ken yerself. Ye hae been different ever since ye met her. We dinnae come here tae woo her or get confused, unless the mission hae changed.”

“It hae nae changed,” Logan hissed.

“Then stop getting distracted. I never thought I would be the one reminding ye tae avoid getting yer head turned by a pretty lass.”

Logan sighed. The matter of Beitris got under his skin and he hadn’t been able to resolve the tension. The echo of her kiss lingered on his lips even hours after it happened. The sting of shame pricked his heart as he remembered how wounded she looked when he left.

“Maybe ye are right. The longer we tarry here, the more chance there is of getting something wrong. I should strike now, when I hae the chance. Taenight. I will dae it taenight,” he said.

Brody exhaled deeply. “I ken ye are resigned tae being captured, but I will be near the forest with a horse. Make it there and we can ride away.”

Logan shook his head. “Ye should leave now, before anyone can find ye. Once they learn about what I hae done, they will try tae capture ye.”

“We hae been through too much taegether for me tae leave ye now, Logan. I’ll wait for ye and we can be away from here. Perhaps ye will finally smile once we’ve put this sorry business behind us.”

Logan grimaced. He didn’t think that was possible, because he had a feeling that of all Ryan’s children, Beitris would be the one to come after him. Then the feelings behind their kiss would be tested.

Would either of them be able to kill the other?

He tried to put the thought out of his mind, because whenever he thought of himself and Beitris in close proximity he felt a strange sensation come over him, as though he was losing control of his entire body.

Logan waited until later in the evening before venturing towards Ryan’s study. He had a dagger tucked in his sleeve, ready to be unleashed in one swift motion. Ryan would die before he had a chance to utter a word or raise the alarm, although it surely wouldn’t be long before the alarm was raised. Ryan Knox would leave a legacy of peace, war, children, and heroism, but Logan would never let him forget the stain on his honor, the life that had been taken because he chose another woman.

Logan had learned Ryan’s habits. Ryan liked to spend a few hours in his study, alone. Logan’s footsteps were quiet against the floor. He passed residents of the castle. His heart skipped a beat every time he did so, fearing that at any moment one of them might accost him, somehow sensing his evil intentions. He reminded himself that they had no way of knowing that he had won their trust and respect.

Including Beitris’.

“What are ye daeing?” a stern voice called out.