Page 10 of The Warrior’s Forbidden Virgin

The slickness upon her fingers was starting to bother her, so she stitched as fast as she could, using his knife to cut the thread. She blotted the wound once more, and it remained closed.

Ademar caught her hand. “Thank you, my lady.”

It was done now. Relief poured over her, but her knees were still wobbly. Her uneasiness had little to do with the stitching. And everything to do with being so close to him.

She touched his face, examining him for other cuts or bruises. A small scar edged his throat, one she’d not noticed earlier.

“What are you doing, Katherine?” he murmured, his large hands stroking her spine. He brought her closer, so that she was almost sitting in his lap. And Lord help her, she wanted to rest against him, to feel the heat of his kiss and release some of her unbearable tension.

But she forced herself to step backwards. “I-I’m sorry,” she stammered. “Was that the only place where you were hurt?”

He nodded slowly, his gaze indiscernible. Rising to his feet, he towered over her.

“Thank you for helping my sister,” Katherine managed.

“She isn’t safe yet.” Ademar strode over to the window, looking out upon the inner bailey. “She still has to find Ewan. And John might pursue her.”

Katherine exhaled, hoping her sister would escape. Perhaps her father would agree to send escorts to help Honora, despite their disagreements. She rested her hand upon Ademar’s shoulder, drawing comfort from his nearness. Though she didn’t know how it had happened, his steady presence made her feel safe. Beloved.

He turned toward her, and for a heart-stopping moment, she thought he would kiss her again. His hand moved to her nape, threading through her long braid.

“I don’t trust John,” Katherine whispered. “He’s not going to let Honora go, is he?”

Ademar shook his head. “I don’t think so.”

“She’s alone. Someone should escort her and ensure that she finds Ewan.” She touched his cheek, imploring him, “Will you go?”

His eyes locked onto hers, and she saw the ruthless air once more. “Only if you marry me.”

Ademar had tracked Honora’s path toward the coast, but he questioned whether they would find her. They had waited until dawn, when Lord Ardennes rode out to hunt once more, which gave them the opportunity to leave. Though he’d intended to go alone, Katherine had followed in secret and caught up to him on the road. She struggled to keep up with his furious pace, and her posture sagged on horseback.

“Does your father know that you followed me?” He prayed she would say no. The last thing they needed was the wrath of Lord Ardennes and his garrison of soldiers tracking them down.

She blushed. “Not exactly. I told him yestereve that I wasn’t feeling well, and that I would stay the rest of the night and the morrow in my chamber. My maid knows where I am.”

He was still trying to decide how to send her home safely. If he didn’t bring her back before anyone else noticed she was gone, the earl would have him murdered before he could ever claim Katherine as his bride.

Ademar still couldn’t believe she’d agreed to wed him. Not when there were men far better than himself with vast holdings well beyond those of his own estate. He gripped the reins of his horse, uneasy about what he’d done. What kind of man had to coerce his bride into marriage? Was it because he’d agreed to follow her sister and ensure Honora’s safety? He’d have done so even without Katherine’s acceptance of his proposal. Despite the chainmail disguise, he didn’t like the thought of Honora traveling alone, not with the dangers she might face.

Nervous energy twisted his gut. He wasn’t the man Katherine had wanted, while she was everything he’d dared to dream about. Risking a glance back at her, he saw the exhaustion on her face along with resignation.

She wasn’t happy about wedding him. He was nothing but a stuttering fool, and if he had any honor, he’d release her from the agreement. He hadn’t spoken to her father yet. There was time enough for her to change her mind. But God help him, he didn’t want that. And he hadn’t the faintest idea of how to keep her at his side.

Katherine shielded her eyes from the dying sunlight. “Do you think we’ll find her?”

He shrugged and admitted the truth. “I don’t know.”

She stared in the distance, her face masking an uncertain expression. “They’re together, aren’t they?”

He nodded. Katherine reached out for his hand, gripping it tightly. He held her palm, offering silent reassurance. Nonetheless, she appeared tired and downtrodden. He supposed that thinking of her sister and Ewan together didn’t make it any easier to bear.

“I wanted her to be safe. I did. She’s my sister, and I…told her to go with him.”

Ademar could hear the pain in her voice, and it seemed cruel to stay any longer. It would only hurt her more. “We could return to Ardennes, Katherine. No one needs to know that you came with me.” It was safer for her anyhow.

“No, we need to help Honora.” She took his hand in both of hers. “Lord Ceredys won’t let her go.”

Ademar agreed with her on that. John was a man who didn’t like being denied something he wanted. And he had no doubt the baron had pursued Honora and Ewan.