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Galien peeled his eyes from her to address her father. “I would say I am sorry for your troubles, but alas, I am not. Instead, I am quite glad to be alive and have your daughter to thank for it.”

“I’ve heard the tale in his words,” her father said to Reina, referring to Galien, “but am most curious to hear it from you as well. ’Twas a bold plan, Reina. To release him in exchange for the information you sought.”

Her father’s voice was more curious than censuring. “It was one I’d execute again,” she said honestly. “Though I will admit to having some assistance.”

“Joan, I presume?”

“You cannot punish her, Father.” Reina blamed Galien for jumbling her thoughts. She spoke much too soon, having revealed her accomplice.

But her father held up his hand. “Joan loves you dearly,” he said. “Because of it, I would never see the woman come to harm. Anyone with your interest at heart is an ally to me.” He addressed Galien then. “I do thank you again for keeping my daughter safe,” and to the chief, “You’ve raised quite a man.”

Toren Kerr, a man every bit as intimidating as his son, acknowledged her father’s words. As it always seemed to do, the discussion turned back to the English king and his plans. She dared peek at Wallace, who kept mostly silent. His smile was both bold and unexpected.

Galien pushed his chair back so swiftly, Reina thought for certain it would topple over. It did not, but everyone in the room did stop speaking. “I would speak to you about an urgent matter, Lady Reina,” he said to her.

When Reina peeked at her father, his expression clearly said he was removing himself from the discussion. Where once it would have been entirely normal, and proper, to seek his permission to speak to a man such as Galien without escort, given what they’d been through, it did not seem such permission was necessary.

“Begging your pardon,” she said then, pushing back her wooden chair, with Galien’s assistance. “I would be but a moment,” Reina muttered, avoiding Wallace’s gaze in particular.

As they left the room, Galien whispered, “Nay, you will be longer than that, Reina.”

Suddenly, she was very much anticipating this “discussion.”

32

This was madness.

With her father in the small hall, Galien should not be dragging Reina away like this. His intentions were less than honorable. But as William—a notorious flirt and good-looking man—continued to look at Reina as if she were the sweetmeat to their meal, Galien’s anger grew.

Of course Wallace had no knowledge of Galien’s claim on her. He’d left that detail out of his story. And as Galien pulled Reina into the bottlery where wines and other provisions were kept, he shrugged off one convenient detail.

Galien had no real claim on Reina.

“’Tis dark,” she said as he opened the door and pulled her inside.

Galien said nothing but pulled her into his arms, attempting to decimate the rage that bubbled inside him when Wallace looked at her. As Galien imagined her in the man’s arms, never had he experienced such sharp pains of jealousy. It was a feeling he cared little for.

Without preamble, he crushed her to him. Galien’s mouth claimed her in the only way he could at the moment. It slashed as Reina so sweetly opened for him. Their tongues melded and tangled as he spun her toward the door they had just walked through. He pressed against her, wanting to be closer still.

Reina did not hold back.

Her hips circled his as she understood, after last night, what this could lead to. Except she had no real notion of how much better it could be. Galien would love nothing more than to be inside this woman, to become one with her.

He would protect her.

Love her.

Panting, he pulled back, immediately apologetic. “I should not have dragged you here—”

Reina was not having it. She reached up and pulled his head toward her once again. The aggressor now, his sweet Englishwoman had fully become the woman who had withstood so much on their journey.

Never had he expected to discover the truth about her past the way they had. Or for his supposed foe to be uncovered as a friend.

Certainly he never expected to fall in love.

Galien wanted to ask Reina if she loved him as he did her. But he could not. There was a room full of people waiting for them. And one in particular that he had to confront.

“Reina,” he said, reluctantly pulling from her again. He could not see her, but Galien could feel every curve. “I would take you against this damn wall if I could. Lift up your gown and finish what we started last eve. Make you mine, in truth.”