Page 69 of Dark Seduction

Royce cut into her thoughts. “But the real question might be, how did the page come t’ be in yer store?”

Claire tensed. If the page hadn’t been believed to be in her store, she wouldn’t have been burglarized by Sibylla, she wouldn’t have met Malcolm and she wouldn’t be in the fifteenth-century Highlands now.

And the truth was, they didn’t even know if the page had ever been in her store, except that Malcolm was certain Aidan had it, and that he’d found it there. “Do you have any ideas as to who started the rumor that the page was in my store?” Claire asked uneasily. But she had a very bad inkling.

“Let us hope it was nay the lord o’ darkness,” Royce said. “He used Mairead to torture Brogan—and to trap Malcolm.”

Claire felt sick. “He can’t use me that way. Malcolm and I have just met.”

“Ye love him. He be sworn to protect ye. If he comes to love ye, ye can be used, just like Mairead.”

Claire began to shake.

“In the end, ye canna help Malcolm, ye can only weaken him. If he does start to care fer ye, ye canna allow it. He be a Master, Claire, an’ he must live an’ fight alone.”

She was dismayed. She wanted Malcolm to care for her—after last night, she wanted it a lot. “Like you,” she whispered.

“If ye truly love him,” he said tersely, ignoring that, “when the time comes, ye will go.” He spurred his horse forward, leaving her alone between the troops.

HOURS LATER, with the sun hanging low in the sky and threatening to vanish beneath the western ridges, Malcolm rode his destrier up to Claire. “Castle Awe be below,” he said as he halted the huge gray beast. “Ye must be tired. If Aidan permits, we’ll spend the night outside his walls.”

He had gotten over her offering him a bit of advice, Claire thought, relieved. “I am sore,” she admitted, pulling her mount up. They had spent hours riding through the pass. For Claire, it felt like days. And she wasn’t just sore from gripping the horse with her legs; their vigorous lovemaking had taken its toll on her, as well. She was also bone tired. After all, they hadn’t slept at all last night. But she knew her fatigue was more than physical. Every day seemed to bring a slew of new challenges. Royce’s advice had felt like a warning. She didn’t want him set against her now. They needed to stick together.

“Dinna grip so with yer legs, lass,” Malcolm said softly.

Claire had the distinct feeling that he was thinking about just how strong her legs were. “It’s a reflex. Fortunately, this old boy doesn’t seem to care what I do.” She could not be diverted from what Royce had just said.

Malcolm smiled. “Brogan learned t’ ride on Saint.”

“Is that what you call him?” Claire stroked the brown gelding’s neck.

“Aye, Saint Will, as he takes care o’ his rider.”

Claire looked at the horse’s neck, thinking about every instance in which Malcolm had taken care of her since they had met. His fate was clear. He was a Master, meant to protect people like her and battle evil like Moray.

Of course a real relationship would make him weak and vulnerable to his enemies. On that point, Royce was right.

Claire slowly looked up. “I never want to fight with you.” She bit her lip as his eyes widened. “Especially after last night. I know you’ve read my mind. You know I don’t take what we did lightly. No matter what I say, what I do, you can trust me. I’m your ally and your friend, Malcolm. I want what’s best for you.”

“A friend,” he echoed. “An ally? What nonsense has Royce been whisperin’ to ye, Claire?”

She flushed. “I don’t want to make you weak.”

His eyes widened. “Ye make me strong, Claire. Yer my woman.”

She wasn’t going to argue over his use of words and she certainly wasn’t going to change his possessiveness. She wasn’t sure she wanted to, no matter what Royce had said. “If I’m your woman, don’t you expect me to be loyal?”

“Ye ken I do. An’ ye be very loyal. Aye, I lurk all the time.”

She couldn’t be angry. “I’m sorry I told you what to do in regards to Aidan,” she said. “I don’t want you to get hurt. And in my time, women boss men around all the time. In fact, wives usually rule the roost.”

He smiled grudgingly. “Ye be right,” he said flatly, the last of his men passing them on the trail.

“Highland women dominate their men?”

“Nay. I wanted t’ charge into Awe with my sword raised. But I’ll ask Aidan nicely fer the page.”

Claire smiled widely, filled with relief and happiness. He had changed his mind because of her. “Maybe he’ll surprise you and turn it over without hesitation.”