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“Do you believe me now?” she asked.

Terran nodded, but didn’t speak. He didn’t want the moment to end. He just wanted to hold her close. He liked feeling her body against his. He kissed the top of her head, held her tight against him, and slowly fell into a blissful sleep.

At least in this one regard she had told him the truth.

Bria turned over to gaze into Terran’s peaceful face. She brushed a lock of dark hair from his cheek. Her body still quivered with explosive tingles from their lovemaking. “Are you sleeping?” she asked.

A smile curved his lips and his arm tightened about her shoulders.

Bria grinned up at him, tracing one of the planes of his stomach. “Is it always so... wonderful?”

“Not always,” Terran replied.

Bria’s hand stilled. “Was it for you?”

“Yes,” he whispered. “Like no other time before.”

Bria smiled and laid her head on his shoulder. She stroked his arm, marveling at her husband’s strength.

“Tell me of your friend,” Terran asked suddenly.

Shocked, Bria turned her head to gaze at him.

“Tell me what happened.”

Hope surged in Bria’s heart. “Mary and I were out in the woods near her home, on your lands, when we saw Kenric speaking with Widow Anderson, your herbalist. I saw Kenric kill her.”

“Why would Kenric kill the herbalist?”

Bria shrugged her shoulders slightly. “He owed her payment for a potion she’d made for him, and he didn’t want to pay.” For a moment, looking past Terran into the darkness, she was silent, seeing the execution again. “Then he killed her. And Mary ran.” Bria lifted her head to gaze into Terran’s eyes. “I thought Kenric had killed her. I didn’t know he locked her up.”

“Why would Kenric kill the herbalist? And why lock Mary up for the crime?”

“Something’s not right, Terran, but I know what I saw. I know what happened. Mary didn’t kill Widow Anderson.” Agony filled her at the thought of Mary locked in the damp, dark dungeon.

Terran gently kissed her lips. “I’ll look into it tomorrow.”

Bria slipped from the bed and quickly dressed. She hurried to the door, grabbing her velvet slippered shoes as she moved. There, she paused to glance over her shoulder at her sleeping husband. He was lying on his stomach, one arm dangling over the side of the bed. Bria gazed in adoration at his perfect body. His dark hair touched his shoulders in thick waves. His broad shoulders were strong and muscled, his sculptured back tapering into a thin waist. Bria grinned. He’d made her feel things she’d never dreamt of. He had made her feel loved, by him, by her husband.

Terran had a good heart. He would be a great lord, she was sure of it. He was going to do the right thing where Mary was concerned. And if she coaxed him, he’d investigate the overtaxing of the peasants, too. Everything was turning out wonderfully. She was so proud of him.

There was no longer any need for the Midnight Shadow. There was no tyrant to fight against, only Kenric, and Terran would deal with him.

This would be her last night as the Midnight Shadow. Then he would disappear forever.

Chapter thirty-one

Dismounting in the clearing near the pond, Bria immediately spotted her hiding place. Her sword and disguise awaited her, hidden well beneath the bush. But first she approached the pond. She felt a jubilance she’d never felt. Tonight would be the Midnight Shadow’s last ride. Terran would discover the truth about Kenric, and there would be no further need for the Midnight Shadow.

She gazed into the still pond. Terran would discover the truth. With conviction burning in her soul, she turned... and stopped cold.

Kenric was standing just across the clearing, watching her with his hands on his hips, two of his men on horses behind him.

He approached slowly.

“M’lady could not sleep?” he asked. “Or perhaps she is running away.”

Bria scowled at his sarcasm. “Why did you follow me?”