Page 152 of Forbidden

“So is Duncan,” Simon retorted.

Dominic grunted. “Seeing him with his witch, I no longer worry that he looks at Meg with more than friendship in his eyes.”

Simon followed Dominic’s glance to where Duncan lay cradling Amber against his body.

“Aye,” Simon whispered. “What do we do now?”

“What we must,” Dominic said quietly.

“And that is?”

“Question him before the witch awakens.”

“Let me,” Meg said.

After a brief hesitation, Dominic nodded.

“All right, small falcon. He remembers you with…affection.” Dominic smiled thinly. “His memories of me might be somewhat different.”

“Particularly if he remembers what happened in the church,” Simon said sardonically.

Meg gave Dominic a sideways glance. She knew quite well how little her husband like remembering Duncan and John’s plan to wed her to the Scots Hammer—over Dominic’s freshly killed body.

“Duncan,” Meg said.

Though her voice was gentle, it wasn’t timid. She was the lady of a great keep and a Glendruid healer, and she meant to have Duncan’s attention.

He looked up, his eyes wild with shades of darkness.

“Is she better?” Meg asked.

“Her skin feels less cool,” Duncan said.

Muted cries of bells marked Meg’s progress toward the girl who lay unmoving in Duncan’s arms. Meg bent closer but didn’t touch Amber.

“How does her heart feel beneath your hand?” Meg asked.

“Strong. Steady.”

“Excellent. She appears to be in a healing sleep rather than in a stupor. When she is ready, she will wake without lasting harm.”

Meg stood and watched Duncan’s large hand smooth hair back from Amber’s face. Though asleep, Amber seemed almost to follow the caress the way a flower follows the sun across the sky.

“I take it your touch doesn’t wound her,” Meg murmured.

“Nay.”

“Odd,” Meg said.

“Aye. The people of Stone Ring Keep were much surprised.”

Meg sensed Dominic’s sudden, intense interest at Duncan’s mention of the contested keep.

“Is Amber from Stone Ring Keep?” Meg asked.

“Yes.”

“Vassal to Erik, called the Undefeated?”