Page 107 of Luthias

“I summoned all the men for the search, my lord.” Darach’s expression turned bleak. “Ah, fack me. I didnae think to put a guard on her before I left the stronghold.” He glanced back in that direction. “She wouldnae wander off on her own.”

An image of Emery washing blood from her hands flashed through Luthias’s mind.

“Finish here, and ask the druid when the work ’tis done to come see me at the castle.” Luthias sprinted back to his horse.

As he rode back to the stronghold the thought of Emery crossing paths with the intruder hammered inside Luthias’s head. Once he returned to the keepe, he would lock her up in her chamber––or better, his. He had to make her understand how dangerous it was for her to go anywhere by herself. She could stay safely indoors until the time came for her to save the clan.

What if the sain brought her back to die for the MacRoss?

Halfway through the woods Luthias saw a small figure tugging along an empty cart, and reined in his sweaty mount. When he saw it was Emery by herself a dark fury filled him. Slowing the horse to a trot he caught up with her.

“Fair morning, my lord.” She let go of the cart handle and walked up to stroke the stallion’s nose. “You should water this big guy. He looks hot and tired.”

Luthias’s temper boiled over as he dismounted, grabbed her and held her tightly.

“What do you out here alone?” He checked her hands. “Dinnae you ken how dangerous ’tis for you to go traipsing about the woods now? Anyone might take you and we’d never ken. You’d be at their mercy.”

“Looks like I’m at your mercy right now.” Emery winced. “You’re hurting me.”

He snatched his hands away from her, walked a short distance away, and came back. “I forbid you leave the keepe alone, ever again. Do you understand me?” When she nodded he marched her over to the horse and put her in the saddle.

“What about the cart?” Emery asked as he swung up behind her.

“Fack the cart.” He folded an arm around her, and touched his heels to the stallion’s sides.

As the horse trotted toward the stables Luthias held himself stiffly at first, not wanting to enjoy having her pressed up against him, or breathe in the sweet scent of her. He’d let his heart rule his head, but no longer. He’d put an end to this nonsense, and see to it that Emery Parker never stepped foot anywhere inside or outside the castle alone. She was too important to allow anyone or anything to harm her.

The stable master came out to take the stallion, and once he dismounted Luthias scooped Emery out of the saddle to put her on her feet. That was when he saw the blood on her leine.

“You’re injured?” Without waiting for an answer he lifted her into his arms and ran through the gates.

“My lord. My lord. Luthias.” When he stopped and looked down at her Emery plucked at the front of her leine. “It’s not my blood. I’m not injured. I bandaged someone who was hurt, that’s all. Put me down. I can walk.”

Cursing himself and her, he carried her into the great hall, up the stairs and down the passage to his bed chamber, kicking the door shut behind him. Only when he put her on his bed could he breathe easily.

“You’re a healer now?” he demanded as he glared down at her. “Who bled on you? Why didnae you come back to the keepe for help? Think you naught shall happen if you smile at a man? What if that mad fack found you? You saw the gibbeting cage, and you ken how ’tis used. You cannae swim. Shall I someday find your bones cobbled together in a dark place, then?”

Instead of fear something strangely like worry flickered over her features.

“I just helped one of the woodcutters. He’s a nice guy, and nothing happened.” She climbed off the bed and put one of her little hands on his arm. “Calm down. I’m fine.”

She had been alone with one of the lowlanders, who might have done anything to her, and thought herself safe. She thought the man nice.

Every man had his limits, and Emery had just pushed him past his.

“You think me nice, do you no’? Shall I teach you, then, what a nice man may do to you?” Luthias took hold of her bloodstained leine and ripped it apart, hurling the pieces into the hearth.

Emery looked frightened, but didn’t resist as he did the same with her boots, trews and undergarments. Seeing her standing there naked and defenseless nearly stopped him, but he knew if he did she would learn nothing. He seized her and pushed her against the wall by the bed, trapping her against the stone with his body weight, taking just enough care not to injure her. Clamping one hand over her mouth, he bent his head.

“A lowlander or any bastart with a cock may seem nice, until he decides to take what he wants from a wee pretty wench like you,” he told her as he kept her pinned. “You’ve no’ the strength to fight me off, do you? Nor could you another. He’d strip you like this, and be inside you before you could cry for help. Aye, and he’d take you in every fashion he pleased, and do as he wished with your soft flesh, and laugh as he hurt you. Then to silence you, he’d choke the life from you with his hands. You’d be left violated and dead, naught but fodder for the forest beasts.” He took his hand from her mouth, and yanked her around to face him. “Now tell me to calm down.”

Emery took in a shaking breath before she looked up at him, her Fae-green eyes brimming. “I’m sorry.”

The fury in Luthias’s heart abruptly plunged into icy regret, and he tugged her away from the wall and folded her into his arms.

“’Tisnae so much anger as fear in me,” he admitted. “If I lost you to a brute, or this mad fack cobbling bones––’twould end me, Mery. The clan, they’d put us both in the ground.”

As she burst into tears he carried her over to the bed, holding her against him as he lay with her. Letting her sob against his neck as he stared up at the flickers of light on the ceiling from the candles, Luthias wondered if he would ever be the same now. He had spent nine centuries ruling the clan and their vassals, knowing he could never love a mortal woman. He’d allowed himself a few hours of pleasure now and then, but he had always remained aloof and alone. Was that why he had let this wee lass into his heart? Because he knew someday she would leave him, never to return?