Page 41 of The Irresistible Warrior
Only when she was gone did Declan turn fully to William.
William’s expression remained composed, but his words held no warmth. “The Church will not ignore what happened here.”
Declan stepped closer, his voice low but adamant. “No witchcraft exists in my clan.”
William inclined his head slightly. “You had better be certain of that, my lord. Or the Church will be.”
Aura sat in the solar,her hands twisting in worry in her lap, staring at the narrow window where gray skies kept barely any light from filtering in. She couldn’t hear the words being spoken beyond those walls, but she didn’t need to. She knew Declan—knew he would stand firm and knew he would defend her with everything he had.
Still, her chest felt tight. The image of him sprawled at her feet, unable to rise until she stepped away, wouldn’t leave her. The curse… had it reversed itself? Was that why he couldn’t stayon his feet in front of her? And if so—was it only her presence that brought him down, or would it happen with any woman?
Her stomach knotted at the thought.
The door opened, and Declan stepped inside. His expression was a mix of controlled anger and the stubborn determination she knew too well. He shut the door firmly and faced her.
“They’ll not speak against you without answering to me,” he said.
“I never doubted it.” She searched his face, then added quietly, “But you’re thinking the same thing I am—that the curse has turned on you.”
His jaw tightened. “I suppose it’s possible.”
“And you don’t know if it’s only me that affects you,” she pressed.
He nodded, realizing how much they thought alike. “We need to find out since no woman stood close enough to me to prove it.”
Needing to see if it would happen again, he took a cautious step toward her, then another.
She saw it happen. The shift in his stance, the subtle weakening in his legs before they began to tremble.
“Declan—”
He swore under his breath, his face hardening as he fought to keep his balance. “It’s worse than I thought.” He stepped back sharply, the weakness ebbing the moment the distance widened between them.
Fury flared in his eyes, feeling helpless. “I can’t go near you without feeling my legs give way. I’ll not live like this, Aura—not able to come near you.”
Her heart pounded in her chest at the thought of him never hugging or kissing her again, but she kept her voice steady and strong. “We will find out what’s causing it, and we will end it.”
He nodded once, the promise clear in his gaze. But beneath it, she could still see the storm building.
“First things first,” she said. “We need to know if it is only me or that you will fall in front of other women. I have a plan.”
They discussed it and Aura left his solar taking a wide berth around him, her heart paining her that she could not soothe his worries with a gentle touch.
The Great Hall was nearly empty when she entered it. Most of the villagers had already gone, their whispers and speculation no doubt trailing them out into the village.
Hamish stood near the hearth speaking with Freyda, who sat at the end of a bench, her healer’s pouch dangling from her belt. At a table not far off, Cleric William sipped from a steaming cup of cider, his gaze idly scanning the room.
Aura crossed to Hamish, keeping her voice low. “Declan wishes to speak with you.”
He gave her a brief, searching look before nodding and walking off.
She turned to Freyda, keeping her voice low. “I need a favor.”
Freyda nodded, casting a hasty look at the cleric who was now busy enjoying a honey cake to notice anything.
“Would you go to Declan when he enters the hall? There’s something we need to know.”
Freyda didn’t hesitate to agree with a smile that showed she understood. “Of course I will.”
