Page 36 of War King's Treasure

Gavin laughed. “They all offered you up before they died. Not by my hand. By your king’s. Save your words. They won’t sway me. We’ll fight until my need to spill your blood is satisfied.”

“You won’t kill me?” Robert asked, and Nori almost felt sorry for him. Almost.

“Your death won’t be by my hands,” Gavin agreed, and Nori knew everyone could see how unhappy that made her husband.

Robert waved his fingers. “Let’s go then. I have no fear of you.”

Even she knew how stupid Robert was to say such a thing. Gavin merely grinned before roaring to the sky and running at Robert. They met in a clash with Gavin taking Robert to the ground beneath him. They fought, split apart, then crashed together again. Nori knew Gavin was merely playing with the other man. She could see it in the way he allowed Robert to skirt around him, the way he let the other man gain confidence. He wanted Robert to think he might walk away when everyone watching knew there was no chance.

“Not so tough are you, War King?” Robert sneered, wiping blood from his busted lip onto the shoulder of his tunic. “Let’s end this.”

“Let’s,” Gavin agreed, standing his ground as Robert flew for him.

Nori saw the glint as sun hit blade and screamed her husband’s name as Robert lunged for him. Gavin sidestepped, grabbing Robert’s hand and twisting. The sound of breaking bone filled the air as the blade fell to the dirt before Gavin kicked it away. As if Gavin had only been waiting for that moment, he attacked. His fists struck with brutal force as he knocked Robert to his knees. Still, he didn’t stop. Not until, with one final punch, the other man was knocked flat in the dirt.

The crowd roared their approval. She knew there had been executions at her grandfather’s castle. Seeing this, she was grateful she hadn’t been there to witness them or the bloodthirst of the crowd, civilized people lost in the haze of violence. This was something she never wanted to see again. She squeezed Rory’s hand.

“I think I’m ready to go inside, now,” she said to no one in particular.

“About time,” Lord Kingsley muttered as he ushered them back into the keep. “I’ll have some water brought to the table for you, Queen Drake.”

Nori glanced at the woman in question and felt guilty for not thinking of her condition while they stood outside.

“I’m fine,” Rory assured her. “Jamie would have created a scene if he thought I shouldn’t be there. Baby and I are fine, but I will accept the promise of water.”

Lord Kingsley led them all to the upper table, making sure they were seated with plenty of warriors around them, before leaving to see that food and drink were brought for them. Cris sat at one of the lower tables with several other warriors, not seeming upset at all that he wasn’t outside watching the fight.

“Did you get a chance to speak with your father?” Nori asked Rory, once they’d been served.

Rory nodded. “He’s better than I’d hoped for. I see what my mother saw in him. He’s strong, intelligent, and charming. He and his men plan to head back with Jamie and me. He asked for an opportunity to show me the kind of father he can be. He apologized over and over for not knowing, for not coming for me and my mother. He showed me a ribbon my mother gave him long ago. He keeps it in between the pages of a book and takes it with him wherever he goes.”

“That’s romantic,” Serena offered with a sigh.

“And you?” Jo asked. “Do you want to build a relationship with him?”

“I do,” Rory told them before casting a glance at Nori. “I’ll never forgive Phillip for what he did. For placing my mother with Montrose, for leaving me there. For not letting my father know I existed. He robbed us of what we might have shared as a family. He let my mother be used and abused when there was a man who loved her and would have treated her well. Phillip made those choices and didn’t care about the consequences. He never even checked on us himself. I can’t forgive that. I don’t think my father ever will, either.”

“I understand,” Nori promised, and she did. There were things she struggled with, as well. She loved her grandfather, though. Had always loved him. She merely saw him more clearly now. Flaws and all.

They were still chatting at the high table when the men joined them. Gavin had cleaned up and wore fresh leathers.

“You bathed without me,” she murmured as he pulled her close. She brushed her fingers along his brow, down his cheek, then along the line of his jaw. “It’s done?”

“It’s done,” he agreed. “We’ll leave for home tomorrow.”

She’d been expecting that announcement once this final matter was finished. She’d honestly expected him to say they’d leave as soon as Robert had been dealt with.

“Why morning?” she asked. “There’s plenty of day left.”

“I thought you might enjoy a little more time with your grandfather. Plus, I have something planned for this evening.”

“What do you have planned?” she asked.

“A surprise,” he said then chuckled at her expression. “A good one, I promise.”

“Will it end with you and I in our bed?” she leaned closer to whisper.

“Definitely,” he murmured then ran his tongue along her neck, causing a shiver of desire to pass over her skin.

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