Page 160 of Forbidden

I am afraid for you, for me, for us.

Because I can’t remember?

No. Because you might.

And he had done that, too.

Would to God I could forget her more thoroughly than I ever did the past!

But that Duncan could not do. The memory of Amber was a thousand torches afire in his mind, his body, his soul.

Touch me.

Take me.

With a throttled sound, Duncan fought his brightly burning memories as savagely as he had once fought a thousand shades of darkness.

Without success. He was a man torn by conflicting needs. The part of Duncan that was ruled by rage hoped that Amber would take the men-at-arms he had sent to her and run for Sea Home or Winterlance.

And part of Duncan feared she would do just that.

Then he would never again hear her laughter, never again turn and find her watching him with eyes of fire, never again feel the sultry yielding of her body as he sheathed himself in her.

“Sir?”

The whispered word came from behind Duncan. He spun with such fierce speed that Egbert backed up in alarm.

“What is it?” Duncan asked.

“Three knights and a lady are riding up to the keep. They have a small amount of baggage with them.”

“Just one lady?”

Duncan’s voice and eyes were a blunt warning of his temper. Egbert swallowed and backed up.

“Aye,” the squire said nervously.

“Amber?”

“I recognize neither the lady nor the knights.”

Rage and pain struggled for control of Duncan’s voice. Neither won. He was unable to speak.

Duncan turned his back on Egbert and looked out through the open gate to the road. There were indeed horses coming up the road. One of them was Shield, his own battle-trained stallion. Shield’s saddle was empty, but the broadsword was now at Duncan’s side rather than in its riding sheath.

“Sir?” Egbert prompted.

“Go back to your post.”

Egbert hesitated, then turned and sped away, wondering what had caused Duncan’s expression to be as bleak as a stone carving of hell.

Motionless, Duncan watched Dominic le Sabre canter up to Stone Ring Keep, his Glendruid wife at his side.

“Was there any difficulty?” Dominic asked.

Duncan shook his head.

“For a man who has just secured his own keep without bloodletting, you look quite grim,” Dominic said, dismounting.