“Or ye.” His voice cracked as he spoke, and her heart leapt into her throat. “I’d lay waste to everything on Earth and in hell to keep ye safe.”
Her heart fluttered at his words. How did a man so hardened make her insides soften to the point her legs threatened to buckle? How had the Blackguard of Scotland managed to steal her heart?
“As I would ye. Dinna forget, James. Just as ye made a vow to me, I made one to ye as well.”
Then his full, sensuous lips latched onto hers, his tongue caressing hers as if to seal their shared vow with their kiss.
The evening meal inthe hall was a subdued affair. At Bruce’s table, Robert’s head bowed close to those of James and Asper Sinclair as they conferenced on serious events of the past several days.
June had ended in a bloody wake. Tavish had been the start of a series of violent escapades that the King’s army had tracked back to the MacDoualls, and the king’s frustrations seeped from his skin, marking his face with severe lines. His plan to quell the English and their lowland sympathizing clans had to be put on hold to deal with this more pressing issue.
“We can wait no longer. I’ve wanted my vengeance on the bloody MacDoualls, and now I might have it. Most of their attacks have occurred as evening claimed the day, as ‘twas when they murdered my brother. I’m sure they expect us to attack in a similar measure, if they expect us to attack at all.”
His statement hung in the air as a question, and he flicked his steady brown gaze to James, who dipped his head in a slight nod. James’s set jaw and icy verdant gaze left no doubt as to where his mind was — assessing the best way to inflict the most damage to the MacDoualls, for both his king, and his wife.
Under hooded eyes, James glanced around the hall, but Tosia was nowhere to be found. She had taken her meals with her brother for the past several evenings, and he had missed her clear, bright face in the hall. As much as it chafed him, the lass, her modest strength, and acceptance of a man such as he for husband had endeared her to his heart.
What chafed him even more was that Shabib and Robert had been correct — Tosiahadbeen good for him. A balm for his soul, for his heart. He hadn’t lost that organ, no matter what the gossips claimed.
And if he lost it now, it was because the forest fae lass was stealing it from his chest.
The king had continued, and James rubbed his hand across the stubble of his sprouting beard to focus on the matters at hand.
“We’ll take our lead from Douglas, and his renowned larder. Daybreak, after a night of drink. They may well be sleepy and sore from a night of imbibing, but we will give them full opportunity to raise sword against us. We will surprise them as light touches day, instead of attack in the dark like the cowards they are.”
The Bruce’s voice rumbled roughly on the wordcowards, and James ginned at the king. The man had grown into his crown well, a warrior king, and Scotland deserved no less.
“James.” The king shifted to face James directly. “Your man, the Moor, ye’ve said he has a talent of working well in the shadows?”
James tilted his head and glanced at his blue-robed friend. “Aye. And he’s been waiting for ye to find him of use.”
Robert nodded. “The tomorrow night, we will ride out. Stay to the woods but send your man to the Dumfries keep. Have him spy on the men, and if they are drunk enough, he can tell us. Then we will prepare our raid.”
James nodded. “And if he overhears anything of note, the words will fall eagerly from his lips.”
Robert slammed his fist on the table. “Then we are in accord. Gather the men on the morn, prepare for an attack. James, I trust ye will concoct a ploy for success?”
A slight shiver coursed over James’s back, but he cleared his throat and leveled his gaze at his king.
“I am ever yours to command.”
