Page 10 of War King's Treasure

“Sometimes, you scare me, Gavin.” But Theo’s face didn’t show that. If anything, Gavin’s brother appeared impressed.

“I learned from the best.”

Theo shook his head. “I’m all brawn. That brain is all you. There’s one thing I don’t understand, though. If you already had this in the works, why did you send Armstrong as your proxy?”

“I had things I needed to put in place back at the castle, and John was willing to stand in for me.”

John, the father of Serena Armstrong, now Serena Lyons, had taken to all of them like a paternal figure. Gavin thought the man had more than a friendly liking of Geoffrey’s mother, Maura, but if so, the two were keeping it quiet. Gavin respected that because he knew John Armstrong would never do anything without Maura Lyons’ consent. That was a concept Gavin’s father hadn’t cared for.

“I thought the attacks from the coast were dying off,” Theo said.

“They have. I wanted to make sure everyone understood that I would be returning with a wife.” Gavin was a perceptive man. “I wanted everything prepared for her arrival.”

“That was thoughtful,” Theo said.

Gavin nodded, but his gaze was on the road ahead of them where Jo and Nori were surrounded by the warriors. Cris moved toward the front of the group while Gavin watched.

“What the hell?” Theo thundered. “That doesn’t look like a friendly group to me.”

“It looks like a troop of Phillip’s soldiers. Do you think he called them before or after he agreed to our terms?” Gavin asked.

“Doesn’t matter. If even one of them touches a hair on Jo’s head, I’ll kill them,” Theo warned. “Let’s go.”

Gavin didn’t bother with taking out his bow. Their men had Nori and Jo encircled. Not a man who wore Phillip’s colors would get to them. Instead, he let out a hoarse, raspy cry that descended in pitch. It was that sound that had earned him the battle name of The Hawk. It served its purpose, pulling the eyes of Phillip’s men to Gavin and Theo. Theo drew his axe and though Gavin was still too far to hear, he saw Jo say something that had his warriors laughing. Nori used that moment to urge her horse up by Cris’.

One of the soldiers rode closer, far too close to Nori for Gavin’s liking. He was close enough to hear when the man spoke.

“We’ve come to fetch you home, Eleanor,” the man yelled, reaching for her.

Nori reared back, startling her horse. Cris smoothly forced his mount in front of hers, managing to block access to her while still striking out and punching the other male in the jaw.

“What the hell? I knew you were heathens, but I didn’t think you’d attack unprovoked,” the man roared, fumbling for his sword.

“Unprovoked?” Gavin asked as his men parted to let him and Theo through. Theo halted next to Jo, who whispered something that had him grinning. Gavin rode straight for Nori. He never moved his gaze from the man who’d attempted to grab her as he swept his wife onto the saddle in front of him. “You meant to touch my wife. Men have lost their lives for much less than that.”

“Your wife? What the hell is going on here?”

“Hello, Robert,” Nori said, and Gavin heard the tremble she tried to hide, felt it as she pressed back against him. “Didn’t your father tell you about my marriage?”

“I haven’t spoken to my father. I was made aware you were seen being taken from my home in the company of Lord Armstrong and a group of heathens. I feared for your safety.”

Nori laughed, but Gavin seethed as he took in Robert Buckingham’s use of my. My father. My home. Not theirs. His.

“You’ve never feared for my safety a day in your life, Robert. I’m fairly certain you wouldn’t bat an eye if something happened to me. I’m just a little, lost orphan girl who nobody loves, right?”

Gavin saw red then but didn’t let it show. He dropped a kiss atop his wife’s head and eased his hold as she lay her head against his shoulder. He saw Robert’s gaze narrow as he took them in.

“You’re married?” Robert looked ready to leap from his saddle and take Gavin to the ground. If not for Nori in his lap, Gavin would welcome the other man to attempt.

“We are,” Gavin answered.

“That’s impossible,” Robert argued.

“Why?” Gavin already knew the answer. It had been part of what his spy had shared with him when he’d arrived early that morning. What his man hadn’t been privy to was the fact Buckingham was looking for her.

“Because Eleanor is my bride. We were pledged to one another as children. She’s mine.”

“The hell you say!” Nori thundered. “I would never be your bride!”

---