The tips of my ears burned as he took several steps away from me.My first instinct was to hide my face now that he had freed my hands, but I forced myself to lower them to my sides.
I looked away from the mask he had dropped back into place to see the audience we had attracted.Over Torgrin’s shoulder, I met the green eyes of Bethel, who was clawing at the rail in front of her.
Every soldier in the arena had their eyes on me.Had they heard me all but moan their captain’s name?The only person not looking at me was Torgrin.
I didn’t wait for Torgrin’s dismissal.I fled the training arena and didn’t stop until I was safe inside the fortress.
I stripped off my damp clothes and attempted to wash the sweat from my body quickly.I wanted to get to the stables and see Webber about horses for Bethel and Ania.
I ignored the way my breasts still ached and the tingling between my thighs as I roughly washed with a cloth and cold water from a jug.I felt betrayed by my body’s reaction to Torgrin.The sharp pang of desire for him had taken me by surprise.We hardly knew each other.I also felt I was betraying Cillian and what we had started before the tournament.
Cillian.
With his sweet kisses and gentle touches.Cillian was the kind of man who would treat me the way my father treated my mother – with devotion and respect.
Had I kept Cillian at a distance because I was nothing like my mother?She had always been kind and received love with an open heart.Loss had hardened my heart.Did I even deserve a man like Cillian?
I pushed my conflicted feelings aside and headed to the stables, where Webber helped me saddle two gentle mares for Lord Warwick’s daughters.As promised, Wolfe would be with me on Nightmare.I was saddling her when Webber brought over his slate and chalk.
Not sad anymore?he asked.
I shook my head no.I smiled at him to prove I was feeling better.
Good!He smiled back.
Wolfe and Ania soon arrived, but not Bethel.‘She said she had a headache,’ Ania explained.
I shrugged.One less person meant less work for me.
Satisfied that Ania could handle her horse well, we headed into the city with Wolfe sitting before me.
Our first stop was Cillian’s.He was up early working in the forge when we arrived.I felt a wrench in my chest.I already missed him.
He looked up as we neared, and the moment his face lit up with that wide grin, I knew he would forgive me.I introduced Ania and Wolfe as my new charges, and Cillian took them on a quick tour of the forge.
Wolfe marvelled at the tools, asking Cillian if he could lift all his hammers.‘What about that one?’Wolfe pointed at one that was at least seventy pounds.Cillian grinned and winked at me as he indulged Wolfe and swung the massive hammer at an anvil, colliding with a thunderous clang of metal.
Ania was more interested in the shop and bought several hair clips and a small dagger.‘I will be careful with it,’ she assured me.‘I just think it’s beautifully made,’ she murmured.
When the Warwick siblings had finished shopping, Cillian handed me a pouch of coins.I looked inside to see it was full of silver and gold.
‘What is this?’I asked, having never seen so much coin all at once.
‘It’s your share of the profits we made before the tournament,’ he said, laughing at my stunned expression.
‘There’s so much, Cillian!’I tied the coins to my waist with my rope belt and lowered my shirt over it to keep it hidden from nimble-fingered pickpockets.
‘Yes, well, now I can upgrade the rooms above the forge.’His happiness made my heart flip a little, despite what his words meant.
‘I’d better collect my things so you can get started.’I smiled despite the twinge of sadness I felt.
His tone dropped a register, and his words sounded like warm honey to my ears.‘Well, you can keep some things there.They are your rooms for as long as you’re in Murus,’ he promised as he tucked a strand of hair behind my ear.
A tingling sensation skittered over my skin at his touch.I was happy he still wanted me around the forge despite leaving the way I did.Nervously, I touched his broad chest and slowly pressed my lips against his.With a groan, he pulled me in tighter, wrapping his enormous arms around me and kissing me back.He released me far too soon, leaning back to catch my gaze.
‘I think I know why you did it.’His face grew serious.‘You were looking for your mother’s murderer, weren’t you?You said he was a soldier?’
I nodded.‘He’s not there,’ I admitted.I looked to where Wolfe and Ania were waiting outside by the horses.‘I have other things keeping me in the fortress for now.’
