Page 82 of The Dragon Laird’s Obsession

What is he doin’?

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

What am I doin’?

The question had been circling Gordon’s mind since the Games began. He had no business competing or being here in the first place.

The prize was a favor from Ailis. Nothing more. And yet the thought of Kerr winning it had sat beneath Gordon’s ribs like a stone.

He stepped into the yard for the first fight.

The first warrior barely lasted a minute. Gordon disarmed him with a sharp turn of the wrist, sending the man’s practice blade skidding across the grass.

The crowd cheered for him, but Gordon heard none of it.

His gaze lifted, and he caught Ailis watching him. Their eyes met, and his chest pulled tight again.

He looked away and called for the next man for the next round of sword fighting. The second man fell. Then the third.

Gordon moved with the precision years of hard training had carved into him. Every strike was measured. Every defense came without thought. His blade turned aside each attack, his boots barely shifting over the trampled earth.

And between every bout, his eyes found Ailis. She watched him with her hands clasped before her, her eyes bright with something he could not quite read.

Stop lookin’ at her.

He could not. And he nearly dropped his sword to the ground when his opponent thrust his sword forward again.

Focus, Gordon, he chastised himself.

Kerr stepped into the ring next, and the cheering faded a little as they stared hard at each other for a moment.

Kerr smiled. “Ye look troubled, Laird MacLaren. Are ye nae confident to beat me in this final round?”

Gordon wiped a hand over his forehead. “I daenae need confidence. I ken I will win.”

Kerr cackled at that as he lifted his sword, and Gordon braced himself before Kerr thrusted forward.

Their blades met. Steel rang across the yard, and their battle began.

Kerr was good with his sword. Gordon blocked one strike then another. He drove Kerr backward until the man’s boots dug into the earth. Then Kerr changed direction and swung with precision before Gordon could respond.

The practice blade caught Gordon along the cheek. A flicker of pain tinged his cheek as the crowd gasped. Gordon touched the cut with two fingers and felt the stickiness of his own blood.

Kerr lowered his sword. “Me apologies.”

Gordon looked into his eyes. He knew the cut was not an accident. Kerr’s smile was all the proof he needed.

He moved again, but a movement caught his attention, and he saw Ailis coming toward him.

“Gordon!”

His heart lurched as he saw her rush forward.

Kerr chose that moment while he was distracted to strike again, and this time with brute force. Gordon barely blocked the blow.

The crowd erupted into harsh chaos again as they sliced through one another.

He recovered quickly but not fast enough. Kerr drove him backward, their blades still pressed as they both struggled for balance.