Page 37 of A Rogue and a Noble Lass

The man turned and wore a sneering smile.

“And I ken ye, Master Logan,” he hissed. “Yer Da is pleased ye hae infiltrated the enemy camp, but he requires yer presence at home.”

Logan bristled at the words. Anxiety lined his throat. Whenever his father was mentioned, he thought about the pit, the taunts, the insults. He had forged himself into a powerful warrior over the years, but that traumatized child remained inside him.

“I will nae dae anything he says,” Logan rasped.

“Then ye will be punished. He hae eyes everywhere. He kens who ye ride with. And I’m sure everyone in that Keep will love tae ken the truth of yer blood.”

Logan saw red. The thought of Beitris being hurt, coupled with the threat of revealing his secret, meant that he had no other choice. He swung his sword through the air and the spy had no chance to react. The blade cut through his tunic and neck, sending him crashing to the ground, dark blood staining the green, lush heather. It trickled towards Logan’s boots. He stepped back and stared at the dead man, knowing that he was just the first of many.

Logan returned to his horse. He didn’t have to wait long for Brody and Beitris to return. He breathed a sigh of relief, although his countenance was grim.

“There wasn’t anything there,” Brody said.

“I must hae been mistaken. Let’s continue, although I dinnae think we are gaeing tae find anything. Even Warnock cannae be stupid enough tae send his men this far into our territory,” Logan said.

This time he pretended there was a problem with his horse and held back, asking Brody for help. Beitris was out of earshot. Logan kept his voice low.

“There was a spy. Warnock kens I’m here. I must gae tae him.”

Brody stared at him with utter bewilderment on his face. “All the way back there?”

“It’s the only way. The army is coming tae him anyway. I can lie in wait there and strike when Ryan least expects it.”

“I dinnae ken what is gaeing on with ye, but if that’s what we must dae…”

“Nae, I must gae alone. I need ye tae stay here. Watch over Beitris. Keep her safe.”

“Logan, ye ask too much of me. This is madness. Ye hae lost sight of everything.”

“I ken I hae asked much of ye over the years, but indulge me one more time,” Logan said with an imploring look in his eyes.

Brody cursed under his breath but knew there was no point arguing with Logan when he was like this. Logan made sure to lead them away from the heather so Beitris wouldn’t ask questions. They didn’t find sign of any intruders, of course, and returned to the Keep.

When they dismounted, Beitris asked Logan if he wanted to go for a walk.

“I cannae,” he said gruffly, unable to look at her. “There is too much tae dae.”

Beitris furrowed her brow and closed the distance between them, her gaze sharp and unwavering. He felt the same pull as he had the night before, and it took all his willpower to stop himself from giving in to his instincts. But if he didn’t go and see his father then she would die, and at the moment keeping her alive was more of a pressing matter than killing Ryan.

“Logan, I thought after last night things changed between us.”

“I am still the same man,” he almost choked on his words. “I can come tae yer chamber again taenight, but until then I must train.”

Beitris shrank back and he could tell that he had offended her yet again Her eyes grew narrow and her lips became thin.

“I cannae believe ye would act like this again. I thought ye were brave, but now ye are retreating when things become real.”

“I am nae retreating from ye,” he rasped, and then grabbed her and kissed her because he couldn’t help himself. He was too weak to resist. “I will see ye taenight,” he said as he summoned his willpower for a brief moment and was able to tear himself away from her.

He would have to do the same thing soon enough, and it might well be the end of things because the next time he saw Ryan Knox the truth would be revealed. Beitris would know him to be the son of her enemy and the slayer of her father.

15

The first threads of dawn were beginning to spill through the windows. They flickered in Logan’s eyes, although he was already awake. He might have slept for a few moments, he couldn’t truly remember. He turned his head away from the light, towards Beitris, who was fully asleep. Her breaths were deep, and those curls he loved flowed down her back and along her shoulders. Logan stared at her bare skin, feeling something stir inside him. He closed his eyes, although it didn’t stem the flow.

Beitris’ skin was milky and supple. Her muscles were taut, and yet she possessed feminine curves as well. She was a paradox, a mix of contradictions, and he still didn’t truly understand why he wanted her.