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Coaxing her lips to part, he swept his tongue across hers and the fire shot all the way to her toes. Heat and ice both rushed through her at the same time. It left her dizzy, breathless and wanting more.
Faucon released her wrist and wrapped his arm around her. “You were a fool to come here alone.” His hot breath grazed her ear. “What made you think you would succeed?”
Before she could answer, his lips closed over hers. The half-formed response fled her mind.
He stroked her side, his fingertips barely brushing her flesh. Lyonesse shivered from the unexpected contact.
No man had ever touched her like this—igniting fires with a gentle stroke. Not even Guillaume had kissed her in this manner—turning her legs to water and causing her heart to beat so rapidly. Never had she imagined the feelings running through her now. Faucon was just a man and she’d been certain of his reaction upon seeing her indecent clothing. Yet she had not expected him to touch her—or to kiss her.
She’d not expected to become the prey.
He traced across her chin and up to her ear with his lips and tongue. She could no more stop the tremors rushing down her spine than she could stop the moon from rising at night.
Faucon cupped her breast and ran his thumb across her already swollen nipple. “Ah, Lyonesse.” His whispered words against her ear drew a moan from her. His lips against her neck caused her to gasp for breath. He chuckled softly against her skin. “The next time you seek to kill me, do not get within my arm’s reach.”
Threading his fingers tighter in her hair, he pulled her head back.
Lyonesse stared into his eyes. The golden flecks shimmered with life. The fire in her veins cooled instantly. What had she done?
His brows rose and a smile lifted one side of his mouth. “Next time, Lyonesse, I will do much more than just kiss you. I will make you mine.”
She bit her lip as the heat of embarrassment rushed up her face. Pushing against his chest, she swore, “Next time, Faucon, perhaps I will see you dead.”
He laughed at her idle threat. “There won’t be a next time, my love.”
“Do not call me that!” Her gown stuck to the already drying blood on his chest as she pulled away.
Faucon looked down and pried at the cloth, freeing them from each other. “I would appreciate it, if you would summon Howard.”
She backed away and turned to retrieve her mantle from the floor, just as the door to the chamber banged against the wall.
“Again you could not honor Milord Guillaume’s wishes.” Sir John stood in the doorway. His sword already drawn, he started for Faucon. “I told you I would see to it myself.”
Lyonesse grabbed at his arm, but he jerked away from her. “Nay. Do not.”
Sir John paused and looked at her. “Do not?” Narrowing his eyes, he let his gaze travel slowly down her body. His rage, when he returned his stare to her face, was almost tangible. “I see that even you have fallen under this blackguard’s spell.”
Pulling her mantle around her, Lyonesse returned his stare. “Nay. But I will not have him killed. We will let the king deal with Faucon.”
Rhys looked from one to the other. Who was his biggest enemy? Sir John with a heart of hate and a ready sword? Or Lyonesse with a heart of deceit and tongue filled with lies? He’d rather face the sword. At least with Sir John he knew when and where the attack would come. But his unexplained lust for Lyonesse would cloud her approach.
He studied the opponents as they confronted each other. No, his lust was not unexplained. Here was a woman who would fight for what she wanted. A woman who would follow her own form of honor—even if it was a bit misguided. A woman who could contain her fear.
This was a woman who could touch his soul. The thought excited him and terrified him at the same time.
Her last words registered in his mind. “You will permit the king to deal with me?”
Without shifting her gaze from Sir John, Lyonesse replied, “’Tis what I said.”
And he’d just thought her honorable. “Are there any other games you wish to play with my life?”
“What is wrong, Faucon? Do you not like a taste of your own treatment?”
With a curse, Sir John shoved Lyonesse toward the door. Then he turned and brandished his sword toward Rhys’s chest. “Sparring with words is not the way to deal with this murdering scum.”
Quickly glancing about the cell, Rhys spied the dagger. Before he could get his hands on the weapon, Howard and five of Taniere’s men rushed the chamber.
“Hold!” Howard’s shout caught Sir John unaware. After disarming the man, Howard handed him over to the guards. “Sir John and his men will leave this keep tonight. From this moment forward they are to be considered enemies of Taniere and Ryonne.”
He paused a moment and when Lyonesse offered no argument, he continued, “If you naysay me on this, milady, I will lock you in your chamber and summon your father from Ryonne.”
Lyonesse bowed her head and sought to pull her mantle more tightly around her, but Howard saw the bloodstains on the front of her gown before she could hide them. Grasping her arm, the captain exclaimed, “You are injured. What has happened here?”
Pulling away, she reassured him, “I am fine.”
Howard glanced at Rhys, back to Lyonesse and finally chose Rhys. “What have you done?”
Rhys shook his head. “Me? Nothing.”
“Milady Lyonesse?”
“I said I am fine, Howard. Leave it be.”
“Then how did you come to be covered with blood? If you are uninjured, then I assume it is Faucon’s.”
“An accident.”
Rhys wanted to laugh at the pair. Where had Taniere’s vicious kitten gone?
“Lady Lyonesse, I told you to stay away from this cell. Why did you come here alone? Who dismissed the guards?”
Straightening her spine, Lyonesse glared at the captain. “I dismissed the guards. They are, after all, my guards.”
Much better. Rhys was pleased to see her return to normal. Since the two of them were obviously distracted, he took the opportunity to snatch the dagger from the floor.
Howard did not seem the least impressed with Lyonesse’s demeanor. “Did Faucon’s blood just suddenly run from his chest unaided?”
She lifted her chin a notch and lifted one tawny eyebrow. “Perhaps.”
Rhys took a step forward. If he could get his hands on Lyonesse, maybe he could use her and the dagger to escape. “No, my blood was quite content in my body before she entered this cell.”
She pointed at Rhys. “But he—”
“Cease!” Howard cut off her reply. “I have heard enough. I still insist that you do not have enough proof to know if Faucon murdered Guillaume or not. Call an end to this, Lyonesse. Send out a ransom note and be done with it.”
Even though a ransom would be an accepted action, Rhys would not stand for that plan. It was unacceptable to him. “It would be better if you would just let her kill me now than wait for ransom.”
Howard scratched his chin in confusion. “And why is that? It makes little sense.”
Rhys pointed at Lyonesse. “Ask her.”
She leaned against the rough-hewn door frame and smiled.
Howard rolled his eyes to the ceiling before focusing his attention on her. “What have you done now, milady?”
“Did you know that if Faucon cannot locate someone to take the blame for killing Guillaume that he will be forced to prove his innocence in a trial by combat?”
The captain looked to Rhys for confirmation. “Yes, she is correct, but she left out one important detail.”
Her smile grew. “Oh, silly me. Yes. He only had a month to accomplish his task.” She paused and shrugged one shoulder. “I will not release him in time.”
Gripping the dagger he still held behind his back, Rhys quelled his temper. “I know you hate me. I seek not to change that. But what has my family done to make you hate them so?”
She frowned. “Nothing.”
“If you follow through with this plan, you will be taking everything away from them.”
“I thought you did not fear death, Faucon? I thought none could beat you in battle? What trick do you now play?”
Rhys laughed bitterly and then looked at Howard. “I play no trick. This trial by combat will be a farce. Guillaume du Pree’s holy man will arrange the combat, ensuring that success will be his.”
“Surely you see the folly in this course of action?” Howard pleaded with Lyonesse. “Milady, please, you cannot permit this to happen.”
Rage contorted her face. She stepped away from the door. “Permit it to happen? What do I care if his family loses everything? What about me? What about all I have lost already and stand to lose in a few short weeks myself? Where has your loyalty gone, Sir Howard?” Her voice rose with each question. “What do you care that we will be forced to leave Taniere? You will simply assume your duty under my father’s command. I will be left with nothing and Taniere will no longer be in my family’s possession.”
Racing by a stunned Howard, she yelled, “I will not permit that to happen.”
Rhys was ready for the woman who literally flew at him. Catching her unaware, he wrapped his arms around her to stop her renewed assault on his already injured chest. When he did so, Howard saw the dagger and paled.
Rhys looked toward the door. Freedom beckoned. Tightening his grip on the dagger he drew his gaze back down to Lyonesse. He saw not the defeat of a vanquished foe, but the bitter agony of a young woman.
Rhys held Ryonne’s daughter in his grasp. Ryonne was a trusted ally. Surely the man’s daughter possessed a small measure of his honor. He’d already seen a glimmer of her loyalty and honor. Had grief caused her to become irrational? Could he take advantage of her and still live with himself?
So much had already been taken from her. Her betrothed. And soon her keep. No wonder she was at her wits’ end. Rhys could not take her pride. ’Twas all she had left. He would find another way out of this predicament.
A sliver of light flashed across his face. The gleaming tip of Howard’s sword pointed at his face with unwavering accuracy. Rhys relinquished the weapon he held to Howard’s outstretched hand.
Ignoring her halfhearted attempts to free herself, Rhys drew Lyonesse closer and held her face against his chest. “Hush.”
Whispering meaningless words of comfort, his thoughts raced to his sister’s inconsolable grief at their parents’ graves. Compassion flooded his heart. He was stunned by the urgent need to comfort the woman in his arms.
“Count Faucon. Nay, you must not. You cannot. ’Tis not seemly.”
Without looking at the man, Rhys shook his head at Howard’s half-completed sentences. He also paid scant attention to the meager struggles of the woman he held against his chest.
“Aye, you are correct, Howard. I should not.” His accusing gaze met the captain’s look of concern and illconcealed fear. “But do you not think someone’s lack of heart brought us all to this point? Why did nobody realize how du Pree’s death distressed your lady?”
For an answer Howard stared at the floor.
“Good lord, man, is there no one here who cares for your lady?”
While the captain walked out the door and issued quiet orders to the guards, Rhys stroked Lyonesse’s back.
Trembling fingers gripped his tunic. Her startling reaction surprised him. The warmth of tears seeped through the fabric of his clothing. Her choked sobs tore at his heart.
After lifting her in his arms, Rhys crossed the room and sat down on the floor. Resting his back against the wall, he settled her on his lap.
Gently, he pulled her tear-streaked face to his shoulder, coaxing, “’Tis all right, milady, I will not harm you.”
He fought the warring of his head and heart. He needed to find du Pree’s murderer. His own carelessness had allowed this woman to capture him. He was probably foolish to relinquish his chance at escape.
He should be angry. He should hate Lyonesse of Ryonne. But as illogical as it was, he didn’t. Against his better judgment, against all the memories his mind conjured, he felt something for this she-devil that he’d never felt before. Something in her pain and rage called out to his own.
Her sobs lessened, but her tears still warmed his chest.
He could not leave Lyonesse to live with her mistaken notion about him. Why it mattered, he did not know. Nor did he care to delve into any of his irrational reasoning this day.
“Milady…Lyonesse, is there no one you can go to? Someone who will make you laugh? One who can bring a ray of sunshine back into your days?”
She pushed against his chest. “No.”
Rhys lifted her chin with the crook of his finger and stared into her liquid gaze. It glittered with a brilliancy that rivaled a chest full of gems. Drawn unwillingly into the sparkling treasure trove he leaned closer.
The tantalizing scents of exotic spice and heady floral beckoned him still nearer. Their breath mingled, warm and moist between them. No more than a slight movement would bring their lips together once more. A space so close, yet more distant than the stars above.
A strangled cry left her lips. “Unhand me.” She pushed against his chest. He winced at the pain. This time Rhys did not stop her struggle for freedom.
Scrambling to her feet she pointed down at him. “You have taken away everything I had.” Her finger shook. “You destroyed every ray of sunshine I could ever hope to enjoy.”
Rhys stood up and grasped her shoulders before she could flee. He didn’t try to keep his frustration from his tone. “Never have I denied taking another man’s life. But I am tired of being accused of a murder I did not commit.” He shook her lightly. “Listen to me. I have been on the king’s business for nigh on a full year.”
Blood drained from her face, leaving behind a ghostly mask of disbelief and fear. Had he not been holding her so tightly, Rhys was certain she would have fallen.
“No.” Her hushed gasp sounded more like a plea to his ears.
“Yes.”
Barreling through the doorway, Howard crossed the room and grasped Rhys’s forearm. “’Tis enough, Faucon. No more. Let her maid take her now.”
Eager to be rid of this bewitching siren, Rhys released his grip on Lyonesse’s shoulders and allowed her maid to lead her away.
Rhys silently watched the two women and Howard leave the cell. When he heard the key turn in the lock, he stretched out on his straw-filled pallet and stared at the ceiling.
He crossed his arms over his chest and frowned. It was imperative to his family that he complete his mission. It was imperative to his own well-being that he remove himself from the presence of this woman.
And do it quickly before this emptiness he felt at her leaving became a regular occurrence.
Chapter Four
