Page 35 of A Rogue and a Noble Lass

“But he is still wounded,” Beitris said, raising her voice.

“I hae seen him on the training field, and if he sees fit tae ignore the healer’s advice then I trust that he kens his limits more than we dae,” Allan said.

The conversation moved onto other matters after that, but Beitris couldn’t concentrate on what was being discussed. Her thoughts were consumed with Logan, for better or worse.

“What happened last night? Ye missed yer chance,” Brody said. He and Logan were standing in a dark corridor, their conversation kept secret from everyone else.

“I was interrupted. Allan ordered me elsewhere and he was close tae his father.”

“Aye, well, he hae his suspicions about ye. He’s ordered ye on patrol. It will nae be easy tae get close tae Ryan now.”

Logan turned his head and sighed with disappointment. “Then I will hae tae find another way.”

“I hae thought of something. If we gae on patrol taegether we could take Beitris with us. She would be captured without being aware of it. We send a message back tae the Keep, tell Ryan tae come alone. I’m sure he will nae hesitate tae sacrifice himself tae save his daughter.”

“Nae,” Logan said abruptly.

He couldn’t bear the thought of putting Beitris in danger or seeing the look in her eyes when she learned that he intended to kill her father. Brody grabbed Logan’s shoulder and stared at him with incredulity.

“Logan, this was yer quest, but I feel that I’m the one making it happen. We are here. We’re in their home and all ye hae tae dae is swing the blade. There’s nae time for pity now. Did they show pity tae Abigail?”

“Nae,” Logan muttered.

“Right, and ye once told me that ye would dae anything tae get justice. There’s naething stopping ye. And she will dae anything ye ask. She came tae yer defense taeday against her brother. Ye hae tae use her. It’s the only way.”

“She what?” he asked, his ears pricking up.

“Allen raised his suspicions, and she told him that ye hae proven yerself. She hae bought the sob story ye told her. She really believes that ye are an orphan. It’s there for the taking, Logan! Ye can finally hae yer revenge, ye just need tae bring Beitris with us and then Ryan will come too.”

“I need tae gae,” Logan said, pushing past Brody, leaving the man with a confused look on his face.

Logan marched towards Beitris’ room. The hour was late, and when she opened the door she was standing in her nightgown. One strap was barely hanging on her shoulder, and the milky skin of her neck was on display. Her collarbones were smooth and she looked too alluring in these soft clothes. Candles flickered behind her, casting her in an amber glow that softened her features. Logan could not still his desire and he could not stop his gaze from falling down her body, following the lines of her curves.

“Logan,” she gasped.

Logan cleared his throat, trying to remember why he had gone here. He should have stayed away, but whenever Beitris came into his mind a haze descended and he did not make the optimal decisions.

“Ye dinnae need tae speak on my behalf. If someone dinnae like me, that’s their problem,” he said.

“It’s yer problem when he could stand in the way of yer future. I thought Brody might hae told ye what happened,” she said.

“I dinnae need ye tae come tae my defense.”

“Aye, it dinnae feel good,” she said pointedly.

Logan tilted his head and frowned. “There is a big difference between that and what I did. Swords are more fatal than words.”

“That depends on who is uttering them. I ken ye think ye are worthless, Logan, but I will nae watch ye be broken for duty’s sake. I ken ye think that ye hae naething in yer life but war. That’s nae true. Ye just need tae look past revenge. Whatever happened, ye hae a place here. Ye dinnae need tae turn away from life. Ye dinnae need tae turn away from me.”

Her voice dropped at the last sentence. The words were like hammers against his heart. She reached up and twirled a lock of hair around her fingers. Her eyes shone and he could feel something coming undone inside him.

Without thinking, he stepped forward, over the threshold of the door. She reached out and took his hand.

Something shifted between them. He wasn’t sure what it was or how it happened, but the air had transformed and he felt as though he was possessed by an intense spirit.

“Why are ye daeing this?” he asked, his voice hitching on emotion. His head bent down, his lips parted. His hands twitched as their palms slid together.

“Because I hae always acted without thinking. I hae always trusted my instincts and there is something about ye, Logan. I hae felt it from the beginning. I ken I should nae. I hae every reason tae hate ye because ye are impossible and stubborn and pig-headed and downright rude, but ye are also…”