Page 23 of Stay with Me

She’d witnessed plenty of violence over the years, but this fury in Nicholas was swifter and more severe than she’d ever seen.

As Potter nodded frantically, Nicholas released his hold on the man’s throat.

“I could have taken care of him myself.” She crossed her arms and spread her feet.

Nicholas gave a curt nod toward a long, plain shirt he’d taken off the younger man. “Put it on.”

“What about you? You need something more than—”

“You cannot go anywhere without donning clothes, or you will encounter more of the same vulgarity.”

Shewasclothed. But apparently by the standards of the Middle Ages, she was nearly naked. As much as she wanted to argue, they couldn’t waste the time. She swiped up the shirt, caught a whiff of the sourness of body odor, but yanked it over her head anyway. As she tugged it down over her leather jacket and jeans, it fell almost to her knees, like an oversized nightgown. She looked ridiculous in it, but now was neither the time nor the place to fret about how she appeared.

“Let’s get the guards into the dungeon cell.” She reached for the younger guard.

“No. We must be on our way.”

“But they’ll yell and draw attention—”

Nicholas slapped his hilt against the older guard’s head, knocking him unconscious again. He straightened, wrapping a weapons belt around his waist and grimacing as the leather made contact with his open wounds.

She held out her hand. “Give it to me. I’ll wear it.”

He slanted her a sideways glance but continued fastening it.

Was her offer inappropriate too? Or was he stubborn?

When finished, he nodded toward the stairs. “Follow me.”

As he strode away from the guards, her attention fixed upon the older guard’s hand still pinned to the door. “Shouldn’t we release his hand?”

“After his threats to you, he is fortunate I am allowing him to keep it.”

Nicholas was clearly a man accustomed to brutal methods that didn’t play a part in modern law enforcement. She hesitated only a moment longer before trailing after him, hoping she hadn’t misjudged him and put herself into greater danger than she’d anticipated.

~ 11 ~

Thank the saints he was free.And thank the saints, Sybil was clothed.

Nicholas paused at the base of the steps. She hadn’t seemed uncomfortable in her state of undress, but immodesty would draw undue attention from other men like Potter. It was drawing his attention, too, and would only add to his trouble with lust when he needed to abolish it.

She was still indecent in the tunic, but it would have to suffice for now. Maybe he could also grab a cloak on the way out of the castle.

If she was still with him.

As she approached, he had the urge to pull her close and hold her, as if that could somehow keep her from disappearing. She’d been here with him much longer than she had previously. That could only mean she would be leaving any second.

Her eyes were troubled, likely because he’d left Potter’s hand pinned to the door. Simon’s lackey would free himself from his knife soon enough and would have no lasting damage. Little did she understand how fortunate Potter was. After his threats to her, Nicholas wanted to punish him much worse and probably would have if she hadn’t been present.

Nicholas guessed he still harbored an unholy rage from all that had happened to Jane, from the way she’d been sorely abused. Regardless, he had no tolerance for men like Potter.

Sybil halted beside him, and he couldn’t keep from studying her face, needing to memorize it before she faded from him,maybe this time forever. After all, she’d finished what she’d come to do and had no need to stay. He could make his way out of the castle now without her.

Her features were as delicate and beautiful as the last time, maybe more so now that he wasn’t in so much pain and could focus better. Her hair was pulled back, sleek and smooth and flowing in a long mane down her back. Her dark eyebrows and long lashes framed her eyes and made the green seem brighter. She had a cut on her chin that hadn’t been there during her last visit. It wasn’t bleeding, which meant she hadn’t sustained the injury while freeing him. So how had she been hurt?

“What are we waiting for?” she whispered, peering past him up the stairway.

Her mouth, her lips. They were full and rounded and beckoned to him. It wouldn’t hurt to steal one tiny kiss from this angel, would it? Before she disappeared? Yes, he’d told himself he wouldn’t get involved with a woman. But since she wasn’t staying, he didn’t have to worry about the ramifications of kissing her.

---