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Alex laughed at Reid’s expression, his younger brother not hiding his displeasure at the nickname meant to remind him of his status as the youngest Kerr brother.

“Do try to keep up,” Alex shouted over his shoulder, already running toward the keep.

Giving the men one last challenge, he moved more quickly than usual, knowing none would be able to catch him. Slashing through branches, hardly noticing the cuts and scrapes appearing on his muscled arms, Alex chanced a look over his shoulder.

Only Reid was close.

Alex ran through the open field, past the training yard, and through the sole curtain wall that separated Brockburg Castle from the castleton below it. Built on a rocky crag that afforded spectacular views on a clear day, even into England at times, the ancient castle had been in his family for generations. It was both well-fortified and one hell of a climb, especially at this pace.

The guards hardly glanced at him. They were accustomed to the sight of the middle Kerr brother putting his men through one final grueling exercise as the sun set over the mighty Brockburg Castle. By the time Alex arrived at the foot of the hill that gave the castle its impressive vantage point, he was far ahead of the others. He ran to the top, ensuring the men would curse him by the time they finished. Only a visiting merchant packing his goods looked his way.

The man and his assistant were about to say something, but Alex held a finger to his lips to silence them. Regaining the same brutal pace he’d set earlier, Alex moved toward the small building adjacent to the main keep. This was the realm of the most important member of Clan Kerr. . . their cook, a Frenchman who had been serving their family for longer than Alex had been alive.

He turned the corner and placed his back to the cold stone of the building behind him.

And then waited.

Reid should already have made it up the hill, and by now the other men should have also made their way to the castle grounds. But he was as patient as he was quick, so when no one appeared, he stayed in the same spot. His brother was hoping to sneak up on him, just as he’d suspected. With the delicious smells emanating from the building that lent him shelter, Alex suspected his brother would soon be pressured into giving up his game.

When he heard the old door of the kitchens creak open, Alex somehow knew, without looking, that Brockburg’s priest would be joining him. Father Simon spent as much time in the kitchens as he did in the chapel, and the cook and his assistant and the maids would be too preoccupied preparing the evening meal to venture outside.

“You’ve the devil’s look in your eye, Alex.” As he’d suspected, it was Father Simon’s brogue.

“How would you know, Father?”

Alex did turn then, not surprised by the man’s bemused expression. Only a few years older than Toren, Alex’s elder brother, Father Simon was more a member of the Kerr family than he was their priest.

“’Tis a common expression for you, Alex.”

Alex put up his hand again, effectively stopping the father’s next words.

Someone was coming.

“Damn you, Alex Kerr,” Reid said, walking around the corner of the building.

Alex stepped away from the wall and walked toward his brother. “For the run or for effectively evading your not-so-subtle scouting party?”

Reid rolled his eyes. “Both. And pardon, Father.”

While he’d enjoyed proving, yet again, his younger brother was no match for him, he was extremely hungry.

“Bernard is anxious to start the meal,” Father Simon said.

Alex and his brother turned toward the priest.

“Bernard, is it?” More likely it was the priest, not the cook, who was eager for the repast. Father’s appetite was legendary. Alex knew the castle inhabitants waited on them for the evening meal, but he’d been too eager to best Reid to concern himself with that.

“Aye, well. . .” Simon shrugged.

All three men laughed.

“It’s a wonder to me that you stay so lean, Father,” Alex said.

While he and Reid ate with an equal amount of enthusiasm, they spent the majority of their days in training, while Father Simon’s habits were much more sedentary. Even so, it didn’t take a toll on his looks—his lean frame, shoulder-length brown hair, and well-formed features made him the target of many sideways glances from women who seemed to forget he was not theirs for the taking.

He and Reid, however, had no such vows holding them back, and both enjoyed the attentions of the fairer sex. They’d often attempted to get Father Simon to admit he had made a grave error in taking his vow of celibacy, though he still had not admitted to any such thing.

Alex turned to his brother.