Page 44 of A Touch So Wicked

Oh God, she was torn; wrenched between loyalty to her kinsmen and the newly discovered empathy for the man who was her enemy. Her choices were woefully slim; none of them pleased her. Damned if she did and damned if she didn’t.

She took another small step forward, then stopped, a silent cry of denial building in her throat. She couldn’t go through with it. Her heart demanded that she awaken Damian and tell him about Tavis’s plan and her part in it. She whirled to do just that and hit a solid wall of human flesh.

“So lovely yet so deceitful,” Damian hissed. “I knew better than to trust you, lady.” He grasped the candlestick from her hand and extinguished the flame. “Who were you going to signal, lady?”

“No one!” A sob caught in her throat. “I couldn’t do it. Tavis wanted me to…”

“To do what? Kill me?”

“Aye…nay…I brought no weapon, Damian.”

His voice rang with mockery. “You tried to poison me once and failed.”

“I merely put you to sleep.”

His hands tightened on her shoulders; she cringed, but her gaze did not waver from his. She was frightened, but somehow she knew he wouldn’t hurt her, though he had good reason to.

He gave her a rough shake. “What treachery did you and Tavis hatch?”

Her mouth went dry. She shook her head.

His expression turned murderous, his voice low and threatening. “Tell me. No more lies. You’ve too much to lose.”

Elissa knew exactly to what Damian was referring. He could do anything he wanted to her mother and sister with the king’s blessing, and it would be all her fault.

“Tavis entered the gates with a group of tradesmen a few days ago,” she blurted. “He found me alone and presented his plan.”

Damian’s eyes narrowed. “Aye, go on.”

“He gave me a knife and asked me to kill you. He suggested that I come to your chamber and let you bed me, then I was to kill you while you slept. After the deed was done I was supposed to signal with the candle. Then I was to open the postern gate so the Gordons could slay your men while they slept.”

“Are they still waiting for the signal?”

“I suppose. But I wasna going to do it, Damian. I couldna.”

“Where is the knife Gordon gave you?”

“I forgot it, but even if I had the blade, I could never kill you, Damian.”

Why wouldn’t he believe her? She stiffened as his large hands slid over her body, searching for the knife.

“I’m surprised you didn’t use my own sword to kill me. ’Tis sitting in the corner. Did Tavis tell you to seduce me?”

She looked away. His sword was indeed sitting against the wall, but using it hadn’t even entered her mind. “Tavis suggested I do whatever was necessary. But that’s not the reason I came to you tonight. I wanted you, Damian. I…wanted you to love me.”

He shoved her away, a feral growl on his lips. She stumbled backward and tumbled onto the bed.

“Liar. I didn’t trust you when you came to my chamber all sweetness and seduction, and I don’t trust you now.”

“Damian, please, I’m not capable of killing in cold blood.”

“Not even your enemy?”

She regarded him solemnly, her eyes misty. “Are we enemies, Damian? Truly?”

“I was never your enemy, Elissa. You’re the one who chose that relationship for us.”

He pulled on his breeches and shirt and snatched his sword and scabbard from the corner. He buckled it around his hips and headed out the door.