Be careful in everything you do.”
Simon nodded.
Ian helped Simon with the dead fish while she stared on.
“What happened back there?” Fin whispered in her ear, his breath a warm caress on her neck.
Liz glanced over her shoulder. “I don’t know.”
“You were hovering above the ground. Your hand tugged against mine. Had I let go, you might have flown as high as Simon.”
A chill shot to her head. “I’m sure it’s a fluke. I didn’t try to make it happen.” Even as the words left her mouth, Liz knew they were only half-true. She hadn’t tried, but it wasn’t a fluke. Just as Simon said morphing into an animal felt normal, so had hovering above the ground.
Fin grunted in disbelief. “I think not.”
“Still, I don’t think I could repeat it.”
“Perhaps you should try.”
“Not today. Today is for Simon.”
Ian laughed at something Simon said before placing the fish on the fire.
“He did well.” Fin stepped in, placed a hand on her back.
She flinched on impulse.
“I won’t hurt you.” Fin rested his hand more firmly, his fingers fanned out to small of her back.
When her knees weakened, Fin chuckled.
Liz scrambled away from his arm and rounded on him, angry with herself for her feminine desire, angry with him for his candor.
“Listen,” she hissed. “I say when and where if I want to be touched.”
“Really?” Fin’s hand fell, his brow lifted in amusement.
“Really!”
“So you did want my touch the other day.”
Oh God, yes. “No. Yes.”
“Which is it, Elizabeth?”
His cocky smile infuriated her. Damn him. “I have needs too, Fin. Only I say who has the right to fulfill them.”
His smile fell. Confusion passed over his face.
“’Tis Logan you wanted?”
Liz rolled her eyes and held in her instant denial. The longer she said nothing, the angrier he became.
Satisfaction at his obvious discomfort kept her smiling.
“Well? Is it?”
Watching his body tense nearly had her laughing. When she turned to walk away, Fin caught her arm in his firm grip.
“I asked you a question.”
Trying not to call attention of them, Liz grasped his hand and squeezed. “The next time you touch me… if you touch me, it will be when I choose.”
“Hey, Mom? Come here,” Simon called from the fire pit.
Fin let her arm go but kept her eyes glued to his. “’Tisn’t if, lass. ’Tis when.”
Chapter Eight
“They’re traveling?”
“’Tis what I see.”
Grainna slid a wicked grin over her lips. “Where do they head?”
“West.”
Simple direct answers. If only all her minions would follow Tatiana’s example. She knew most stuttered and rambled out of fear. Little did they know how close to death they came when they couldn’t answer a simple question.
“Who guards the keep?”
“I do not know. My visions only show the family.”
Grainna barged into Tatiana’s mind to see if she lied. Though she had no reason to, Grainna searched anyway. To the girl’s credit, she didn’t flinch with the pain Grainna’s intrusion provoked.
Tatiana’s shoulders slumped, she sighed in relief once Grainna left her mind.
The girl’s appearance improved in the short time she’d been under her thumb. A simple bath and clean clothes worked wonders. The girl had worked hard to disguise her beauty when her uncle was alive. Now, without the threat of rape and abuse, she took better care of herself.
With a wave of her hand, Grainna dismissed the girl. Tatiana hesitated.
“What is it?”
“I…I have a request.”
“Oh, really?” No one requested anything of her.
They wouldn’t dare.
“Aye.”
“Be quick then.”
“The knight, the one ye call Sampson.”
“What about him?”
“He, he watches me.”
Grainna tilted her chin high. “You mean he lusts after you.”
Tatiana swallowed and held her hands tight to her side.
Funny, the girl feared the man, but not the witch.
“Why should I care?”
Horror flashed and dread filled Tatiana’s aura.
“Please. I beg ye not to let him touch me. I will have no man touch me.”
“Then stop him.”
“How? He is bigger, stronger. How can I stop him?”
Grainna stood and reached her hand out. A dagger from across the room flew to her hand and landed safely in her palm.
“If he comes to you, wait until he is close, then use this to ward him off.”
“What if I kill him? What if he uses the knife on me?” Her face went pale.
“I need all my men. Kill him and I will kill you!
Cut him, make him bleed.” Grainna bent close and whispered her next words. “Cut off his manhood if you must. He will not touch you again.”
Tatiana’s fear slammed into Grainna’s senses.
Warmth spread over her body.
****
After a full day’s ride, Fin oversaw the squires and the few servants they brought along for their comfort. Accustomed to the outdoor accommodations, the knights sparked a fire and gathered around it while a meal was prepared.
He glanced over to where Todd and Duncan were helping erect a tent for the women. The men would sleep under the stars. Thankfully, the weather cooperated with their journey. Then again, perhaps his father helped with the lack of rain. Fin wondered if any of the knights noticed that the journeys with the family were met with perfect accommodations from above. No one said a thing if they did.
Myra laughed at something Todd said. Her smile warmed his heart. She noticed his attention and walked his way.
“What is it you’re smiling about?” she asked.
“Nothing.”
She rolled her eyes, a gesture she picked up from either Lizzy or Tara. “I know you, Fin, better than you know yourself I’d venture. You are smiling for a reason.”
“I’m pleased you’re happy.” He nodded toward her husband. “’Tis good you found each other.”
“So you do approve?”
Fin’s eyes pinched together. “Of course. I like Todd.”
“Considering you introduced yourself to him with your fist, I wondered if you supported our marriage.”
“Yes, well, Todd deserved it.” The man was lucky Fin didn’t do more than blacken his eye. He had taken Myra’s innocence. ’Twas up to him to put the man in his place. Never mind the fact that Myra loved him and hadn’t been forced into his bed. A man should never take advantage of a woman in Myra’s position.