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“When do the warriors leave?” Septimus asked.
“When the messenger who was sent returns.”
He nodded. “We will keep a watch over Everagis and if you are in need—”
“I will reach out to you,” Terese said with a promising nod. “One more thing.”
Septimus waited.
“What of the warring clans?”
Septimus grinned. “That will be settled in the next few days and will be a problem no more.”
Terese understood. “If your men should need care—”
“I know where to bring them,” Septimus concluded and after a slight bow disappeared into the dark.
Piper was at her side before she summoned her and wisely she remained quiet until they were a distance away.
“I don’t understand,” Piper finally said, slowing the pace.
“You don’t need to,” Terese assured her.
“You spoke of a secret.”
“It is between the leader and me.”
“Does it place you in more danger?” Piper asked anxiously.
“Any secret has its danger.”
“You do not intend to share, do you?” Piper asked.
“I cannot, for I gave my word, as you all did to me,” Terese reminded.
“I understand,” Piper said. “But I fear the danger this will place you in while trying to protect us.”
“It is necessary.”
Piper merely nodded. “We better hurry. The sun will rise soon and Lachlan will expect to join you on the hill.”
No more words were necessary between them. Terese knew that Piper would say nothing of this meeting. It would be Terese’s decision when and what she shared with the other women.
It wasn’t the women Terese was concerned with; it was the secrets that she continued to accumulate. Sooner or later, secrets had a way of being discovered.
As much as she didn’t wish to see Lachlan leave Everagis, she knew it would be safer for all when he did. The thought had her hurrying her pace even more and when she and Piper approached the edge of the woods, the sun was just about to break on the horizon.
Terese left Piper and sprinted across the field and up the hill where Lachlan was waiting. He turned and smiled.
And she ran into his arms.
Chapter 13
Lachlan hugged her waist and felt his heart swell with the kisses she lavished over his face. But it was a twist to his gut that he got when he saw the look of sorrow in her blue eyes, and he felt a sudden sadness as if she were saying good-bye to him.
The thought tore at him, the pain unbearable and he yanked her against him. With a fiery glare that was meant to mark her, he claimed not only her lips, but her as well.
Her surrender sealed the exchange for him. She submitted to him willingly, eagerly, and that told him that she wanted to be part of him as much as he wanted to be part of her.
Their kiss trailed off to smaller kisses until their lips simply brushed and they rested foreheads to each other.
“I thought you might not show up this morning,” Lachlan said.
Terese rested her head to his shoulder and her hand to his chest. “Why?”
“I was told last night that you took to bed early and were not to be disturbed. I thought perhaps that you changed your mind about us.”
“I needed to think,” she said, taking his hand and leading him to their favorite spot where with an arm around her waist he lowered her and himself to the ground.
He ran the back of his hand down her cheek and lightly across her lips, and she turned her face into his touch.
“You have a gentle and patient way about you.”
“Not all that patient,” he said with a glint of a grin. “But tell me what troubles you.”
He saw that she hesitated and it disturbed him. He took her hand. “We are friends, Terese, and always will be. I trust you and wish for you to trust me.” He felt her ease slightly away from him, not far, barely a fraction, but it was a distance nonetheless. He would have none of it and tucked her closer against his side. “Don’t,” he warned softly. “Stay beside me. You belong there.”
Her smile though sweet, was sad. “I’m not sure where I belong.”
“I can only imagine. Being sent away by someone you thought loved you, having to assume a different identity to remain safe, and learning to be a warrior to protect yourself and others. It cannot have been easy. But trust me when I say I will not hurt you. I would never send you away and I will always protect you.”
“Why? We are but friends who will pass in the night and then be no more.”
This time the pain struck his heart and gave him worry, for she spoke the truth and yet, he didn’t like the sound of it. It took a moment for him to respond and even then he wasn’t sure of his words.
“Think of no time beyond this time. Nothing else matters, nothing else exists, except you and I, and here and now.”
