Page 133 of Bride of Fire
When she left the room, he felt her absence. More than ever, he wanted her beside him. But now that his circumstances had changed, he was at a loss about what to do with her.
He’d told Alicia that Jenefer was under his protection. Of course, that wasn’t true. He’d been holding her as leverage against attack by her clan. But that attack hadn’t come, and he wasn’t sure it ever would.
He could no longer keep her here on the pretext of needing her to calm Miles, for Morgan was now capable of soothing his son’s tears.
The king’s messengers would arrive any day now to clear up ownership of Creagor once and for all. Yet he dreaded their coming, for he was in no hurry to be rid of Jenefer.
And unless he was mistaken, she was in no hurry to leave.
As if Bethac had read his thoughts, she said, “That lass is goin’ to be heartbroken to leave the two o’ ye.”
Morgan replied carefully, “I fear Miles is goin’ to miss her.”
“And ye?”
He tensed his jaw and ignored her question. The woman could be as pushy as an ox-driver.
She continued. “She could stay on as your archery master. She’s done wonders for my William.”
Miles chose that moment to wave his fists wildly, making Morgan chuckle.
“Ye see?” she said. “Miles agrees.”
A distant rumble of thunder served as a welcome interruption. But it made him think again of Alicia, alone and defenseless against the coming storm. Not only the one the thunder predicted, but the one she’d face if she returned to the English keep.
“You have to eat something,” Feiyan insisted, chewing on whatever Bethac had brought to the nursery.
But Jenefer had no appetite. Her heart was breaking.
She’d always been able to get what she wanted. Whether it was procuring a new bow, secretly competing in an archery contest, or laying claim to the holding at Creagor, she’d always found a way to achieve her ends, usually by threat or force or simple stubbornness.
For the first time, she was unable to influence her destiny.
She couldn’t take Miles by force.
She couldn’t make Morgan love her.
She couldn’t make Alicia disappear.
“I’m going to the archery field,” she decided, seizing her bow from where it was propped against the wall.
There was nothing she could do to change the course of fate. So she’d vent her frustration with the one thing shecouldcontrol.
In spite of the moody clouds, heavy with rain, and lightning on the horizon, the practice field was crowded with knights when she arrived. To Jenefer’s consternation, Morgan was there too, crossing swords with his men. Even here, it appeared she couldn’t purge herself of the Highlander.
She paused beside the yard-high wattle fence that divided the fields to watch him. His aggressive blows took her breath away.
His fighting was fierce and brutal, and he wielded the heavy claymore as if it weighed nothing. His bellows as he charged forward, plunging his sword violently against his opponent’s targe, sent a primal shiver through her bones.
His scowl of concentration as he cast off blade after blade with powerful swipes of his shield was as magnificent as it was intimidating, and she found her heart pounding from the thrill.
Even in this cold weather, he was dripping. His hair fell in damp locks over his brow, and his cheek was smudged where he’d wiped away sweat with a grimy gauntlet.
His was the face of a champion, brave and noble and steadfast.
A face that demanded respect and admiration.
A face Jenefer had grown to love.
