Legendary Warrior (26 page)

Magnus enjoyed the feel of her against him, his thoughts on the lovemaking they would soon share. “I promise you will have no trouble sleeping tonight.”

Lost in desire, she gave no thought to her response. “Good, then tonight I remain in bed.”

He was about to kiss her senseless when he stopped and asked, “Remain in bed? You left our bed last night?”

Her passion cooled instantly when she realized her mistake, and she silently chastised herself for being so foolish.

When she did not answer, Magnus asked, “Where did you go?”

“A brief walk in the keep to clear my mind,” she said, not looking directly at him.

He raised her chin with the tip of his finger. “That is no answer, and I do not intend to repeat the question. I want no secrets between us, Reena. I want us to trust enough to share all—after all, you did trust me enough to fall from a tree into my arms.”

She did trust him, and she knew that she would not be sharing something with him that he did not already know.

“I came up here to this room to read more of your mother’s writings. It must have torn at your heart when you learned that it was Robert Kilkern who shot the arrow that pierced your father’s heart.”

Chapter 29

“W
hat did you say?” Magnus asked, his dark eyes narrowed, his nostrils flared. His deep voice was much too calm and in control.

Reena held her breath for a moment, her mistake all too obvious:
he had not known
. “I am sorry,” was all she could think to say, feeling the pain that twisted at his heart.

He grabbed her arm and shoved her toward the wall. “Read me the passage.”

“Magnus—”

“Read it to me now,” he demanded through gritted teeth.

“I must kneel to read it,” she said, attempting to free herself.

He would not let her go: he kept a firm grip on her and lowered her to the floor so that she may read it to him, and Reena for a moment felt the fear of being shackled and imprisoned. She shook the disturbing thought off, reminding herself it was Magnus, the man who loved her, who had hold of her. He would never hurt her.

“Read it,” he demanded once more.

She knew that what she read would only bring him more pain, but she had no choice. “Your mother writes sparsely, since it was extremely difficult to etch in stone.”

He nodded. “Read it as she wrote it.”

She read with a tremble on her lips. “My heart hurts. Discovered Robert killed my beloved Brian. Land. Wants land.”

Dead silence followed, Magnus’s breathing grew heavy. He bared his teeth, and then he released a cry of torment that tore at the soul. When he finished, he reached down to yank Reena up against him.

His emotions warred like a raging storm in his dark eyes and across his handsome face. He looked torn as to what to do, for his emotions were at the extreme. He either loved or hated, and right now Reena was in his arms.

He captured her mouth with a kiss that left no room for her to respond, and his hands held her firm.

She understood his pain and his need, but he left no room for her to comfort him; he took and took like a man who ached to lose himself in someone he trusted and knew loved him and could take him to a place where pain and hurt did not exist.

He rushed her up against the stone wall, her feet unable to touch the floor, and he kissed her with a frightening need. His kiss turned more demanding than she thought possible, and after a few moments she found herself unable to breathe.

She tried to tell him, but he would not free her lips. It was as if he needed her breath to survive, the very essence of her soul to help ease his anguish.

She grasped his arm and dug her fingers into his flesh as hard as she could, his taut muscles making it difficult to penetrate the skin, and she wrenched and pulled her mouth from his until finally she was free.

“I can . . . not . . . breathe,” she said, pushing at his chest.

He tore away from her and she fell to the ground, her breath labored and her heart beating madly. She placed a hand to her chest, feeling as though her heart was ready to burst.

He reached down in haste, and she instinctively drew back away from him, needing a chance to breathe.

He bent down beside her, his clenched hands remaining at his sides. “I will not hurt you.”

Tears pooled in her eyes. She hesitated, and then she reached out to him.

He scooped her up into his arms and held her tight as he walked with strong strides out of the confining room.

She was relieved and grateful that they left the tower room, and she was not surprised or upset when he took her to his bedchamber. He shut the door behind them with a shove of his boot and sat on the end of the bed with her in his lap, cradling her in his strong arms.

He touched her face so gently that it almost seemed he thought she would break. “You are pale; are you all right?” Before she could answer, he rested his forehead to hers. “Good God, Ree, I am so sorry; can you ever forgive me?”

Her heart continued to pound madly in her chest, but she looked into his dark eyes. His anger was gone, replaced by despair, and she suddenly realized he needed her concern, her gentleness and, most of all, her love.

She placed a tender hand to his face. “There is nothing to forgive. You suffered a hurt so shocking—”

He placed a finger to her lips. “I had no right, no matter what I suffered I had no right to abuse you.”

She took hold of his hand and kissed his palm. “Your anger took hold.”

“A fatal mistake to any man or warrior. Sound reason is a better weapon.”

“Pain, hurt and revenge blind many, and in the end it is the innocent ones who suffer the most.”

He closed his eyes a moment and Reena thought that he battled tears, but when he opened them not a tear shone in his eyes. He had won the battle—or had he?

“My mother was an innocent. I thought she had endured misery beyond reason, but this . . .” He shook his head. “I do not know how she retained her sanity.”

“She had you to protect, the son of the man she loved with all her heart and always would.”

He remained silent, heavy in thought, and Reena rested a gentle hand on his shoulder, letting him know she was there and would remain by his side always.

“My mother taught me about love. She spoke about how love would find me when I least expected it, for she insisted love was unpredictable and could strike at the strangest times. She told me not to have any expectations but to accept the love that was sent to me and cherish it and never ever do it harm.”

Thoughts of the anguish and pain his mother had endured choked the breath from her, and she sighed, hoping to ease her troubled emotions. To think that his mother had been forced to be intimate with the man who had killed her loving husband was incomprehensible. Her courage to endure such torture was remarkable, and to survive it all and encourage her son to love was even more remarkable.

“Your mother is a special woman, strong and courageous, and she taught you well of love, for I know you would never harm me.”

Anguish surfaced in his dark eyes, and she knew he regretted his actions and that no apology would ease his regret. But she would not have him suffer, for he had suffered enough, now it was time for him to love.

“I—”

Reena pressed a firm finger to his lips. “Love you with my whole heart and soul. And did I ever tell you how handsome I think you are?” She rubbed her nose to his. “And how I love when you kiss me. Nibbles, I especially love nibbles, and touches, the slow lazy kind.” She pretended to shiver. “Mmm, you make me tingle.”

She faintly traced his lips as they slowly spread in a smile. “I am so very glad I found you to love.”

“It is I who am grateful to have found you,” he said and nibbled the tip of her finger.

“I think it is love that found us.”

“And I intend to cherish that love and you forever and all eternity.”

She rushed a kiss across his lips, leaving him aching for more, then nibbled at his ear and whispered, “I ache for the feel of you.” She let her hand slowly travel down his chest to settle intimately over him. She squeezed ever so lightly, then slightly harder, lighter again, then harder until he enlarged in her hand. She laughed softly in his ear. “You ache for me too.”

“You play with fire, Ree.”

“That is good,” she said with a nibble at his ear. “I like when you are
heated
.”

His reaction was so swift that she did not realize what he intended until she was flat on her back on the bed, he looming over her.

“Now to heat you to a fiery blaze.”

He had her naked in seconds, his own garments following with the same speed. And then he touched her slow and easy, running his fingers over every inch of her naked flesh and setting her soul on fire.

It was a torturous pleasure she never wanted to end.

His lips followed the same path in the same lazy manner, driving her completely insane with the want of him.

“Now,” she insisted. “I must have you now.” Her hands clung to his shoulders, her fingers digging into his hard flesh.

“Not yet.” He moved down over her to taste her sweetness.

She grabbed at the covers on the bed, bunching them in her hands as her cries of pleasure radiated throughout the room. Finally she pleaded with him to satisfy her ache. “Please, Magnus, I want to feel you inside me.”

He obliged her, his own desire to the point of eruption. He moved over her, slipped his arms beneath her back, and held her close as he entered her slow and easy.

Their passion took over and they held on to each other while the fiery inferno grew hotter and hotter and hotter and erupted in a blaze of blinding fury.

Their cries of pleasure swirled in the air and settled down around them in a breathless silence. They lay quietly clinging to each other, their bodies wet with the aftermath of lovemaking while the last ripples of pleasure faded away.

And as was their way, they both at the exact same moment whispered, “I love you.”

They were dressed and looking over sketches of maps Reena had made of Dunhurnal land when a sharp knock sounded at the door.

“Enter,” Magnus called out.

Thomas walked in. “A messenger from Peter Kilkern waits for you in the great hall.”

“He is alone?” Magnus asked.

“No one was seen traveling with him, nor has anyone been seen since his arrival. It seems he carries nothing but a message.”

“Where is Brigid?” Reena asked.

“With the weavers discussing a bridal veil.” His words could not help but bring a smile to his face regardless of present circumstances.

Magnus grinned and walked over to him to slap him on the back. “Are you ready to be a husband?”

Thomas nodded vigorously. “Aye, and a good husband I will be to Brigid.”

“Then let us go settle this thorn in our sides before the wedding so the celebration may be one of pure joy.”

Reena smiled at the thought, for she and Magnus would wed the same day as Brigid and Thomas if all went well. She hurried to trail after them.

Magnus stopped outside the bedchamber. “Why do you not join Brigid and discuss your own bridal veil?”

Reena planted her hands on her hips. “You cannot get rid of me that easily, and besides, Brigid does not yet know of our plans to wed.”

“Then this is a perfect time to tell her,” Magnus urged.

She remained firm in her intentions to join them. “I want to know what goes on.”

“I will tell you.”

“I prefer to hear for myself.”

Magnus stepped in front of Reena. “I am sorry, but I must insist. It would appear strange for my mapmaker to stand beside me while a message is delivered.”

Thomas added his opinion. “He is right and we waste time.”

Reena nodded, knowing there was no use in arguing. She turned to walk the opposite way.

“I will tell you all later,” Magnus said. Reena simply waved as she kept walking.

The two men hurried off, their footsteps heavy on the wooden stairs. Reena turned in a flash and rushed after them, though she kept a safe distance behind so they would not see or hear her approach.

She crept slowly down the stairs, and once at the bottom she slipped around the stone wall that led to the great hall. Once there, she blended with the shadows along the wall and concealed herself in the dark corner of the hall where she could hear yet not be seen.

She thought of the Dark One and how he used the shadows and darkness to his advantage. She felt the comfort of the dark ease around her to conceal and protect her, and she felt safe.

The messenger bowed his head in respect when Magnus appeared before him, after he shivered. She could not say exactly how Magnus intimidated, but he did. He was tall and broad, but there were men taller and broader than he. Perhaps it was his confident strides or the set of his squared shoulders drawn back in pride, or it could have been his clothes, black as the blackest night, or his dark eyes that appeared to know all. Whatever it was about him, he was feared and regarded with respect, a respect he had earned at a costly price.

“You have a message from Kilkern?”

“I have a message from the earl of Culberry,” the man corrected with a tremble.

“I will hear it,” Magnus said and folded his arms over his chest to lean back against the edge of the table on the dais, his relaxed stance one of pure insolence, as if the message afforded him little interest.

The messenger appeared average in height but thick in muscle and looked as if he could best many in a fight, yet the Legend gave him cause to mind his tongue and manner.

Still, he held his head high when he spoke. “The earl of Culberry wishes to meet with you.”

Reena furrowed her brow. Whatever good would a meeting between the two men accomplish?

Magnus gave no hasty reply; he waited as if giving thought to the suggestion. “Did Kilkern suggest a place for this meeting?”

The man stood straight. “He invites you to his home.”

Reena thought to laugh. That would be like having the prey walk into the hunter’s trap.

“When does he suggest this meeting take place?”

“Tomorrow.”