Page 72 of Warrior’s Lady

He turned away and picked up her shoes, sliding them onto her delicate feet. When he had finished dressing her, he fastened her cloak about her shoulders. "Thank you," he said.

"For what?" she asked, startled.

"For the best memory of my life." He smiled at her crookedly. His body throbbed to life once more at the thought of the passion they had shared. He could never get enough of her. "I intend to take you inside and further my seduction."

She stared at him, stunned. Good. He liked having her a little off-balance. With a chuckle of satisfaction, he lifted her into his arms once more and carried her back to the keep. A soft kick opened the bedchamber door.

Orrin stood just inside the doorway.

"Orrin." Camden set Rhiannon on her feet.

Orrin's troubled gaze shifted between Camden and Rhiannon. "I waited for your return. I did not wish to interrupt you."

"What's wrong?" Camden frowned.

"The gatekeeper and the two warriors who were with Rhys when he first arrived have both fallen ill. What could it mean?"

Camden's frown increased. "I had intended to speak with Rhys further." He allowed his words to trail off. He had meant to talk to the man the moment he'd arrived home, but he'd been distracted by Rhiannon.

"Go to Rhys now while I attend to the other men who have fallen ill," Rhiannon said, removing her cloak to set it on the edge of the bed. "I may be able to make them more comfortable until you or Lady Violet can heal them with the Charm Stone."

Camden strode to his wardrobe. He opened the door and withdrew a tall black boot. He turned the boot over and placed his hand at the opening. The Charm Stone tumbled into his hand. "Take this." He held the Stone out to Orrin. "Go wake Lady Violet and bring her, along with the Stone, to Rhiannon and the men."

Orrin accepted the precious amulet. He paused, staring at the stone. Something that looked like indecision crossed his face before he clamped his fingers shut and hurried from the chamber.

"This is not how I wanted this night to end," Camden said, wrapping her in his arms once more.

She melted into his embrace. "The night is young still." Rhiannon smiled as she pulled out of his arms and with a sigh of satisfaction left the room.

His mind shifting from Rhiannon to the troubles Rhys had caused him and his people, Camden strode down the hallway and the stairs to the great hall where Orrin reported he'd last seen the man.

Rhys sat near the hearth, alone. He carefully sipped from a mug of steaming liquid. At Camden's arrival, he set the mug down on the long table before him and dropped his gaze to the wooden surface, unwilling to meet Camden's questioning gaze. "Lord Lockhart, I beg forgiveness."

"Have you told us all of it? Everything you did to assist the bishop?"

Rhys nodded, his expression a mixture of remorse and pain.

Regardless, Camden could not stop the anger that surged through him. This man had spied for Bishop Berwick, breached his outer defenses at the castle and helped the assassin he'd hired to kidnap Rhiannon. "Why would you betray your own people?"

The man flinched at Camden's tone. "At first I thought 'twas ye who'd betrayed us all."

"How?" Camden asked, startled by the man's accusation.

"The Ruthven girl," he explained. "Ye protected her. It angered me at first until I saw past my own rage." He shook his head slowly, a look of awe on his face. "She would've allowed herself tae be burned tae death rather than betray either ye or Lady Violet."

Camden's anger dissipated. "Then why, Rhys? Was it revenge that drove your actions?" As he said the words, Camden's heart stumbled. He could ask himself the same question and be found guilty.

"Revenge wasn't the reason. The bishop threatened my son's life."

Camden tamped down his anger at the thought that any holy man could use a child in his schemes. "The man has proven he'll do anything to get what he wants."

"Even try tae murder me," Rhys said.

"You survived."

"Only because of ye Lockharts and the Charm Stone. I'll be forever grateful."

"Then help us now by telling me who else was trying to kill us. You could not have brought a cannon to our walls on your own."