Page 38 of Dark Embrace

“Royal armies are on the road ahead, coming south, hoping to cut us off,” Will told her, apparently unperturbed.

Brie did not like the sound of that. “Cut us off from what? Will there be fighting?”

“We’re to tryst with the MacDonald an’ Maclean armies, closer to Inverness. But the Frasier has his men between them an’ us. Come into the tent, my lady. Ye’ll be warmer inside. An’ dinna think o’ the battle on the morrow. Ye’ll be well-guarded.”

“Tomorrow!” Brie cried, utterly aghast. Aidan would go to war tomorrow and commit treason. There would be no taking it back!

She turned and saw Aidan stalking off into the camp, various men following him. She got it. They were the leaders of the lesser ranks and he was having a war council.

How on earth was she going to stop him from going to war? Will lifted the heavy canvas flap. Brie stepped inside and was instantly distracted.

The interior was spacious and well-furnished. She was surprised by the sight of a small bed on a low wood frame, the bedposts beautifully carved. A portable desk consisting of a slab of attractively carved wood on two plain stands was present, as was a chair with a leather seat and back and a beautiful, iron-banded wood chest. A Persian rug was on the dirt floor. “This is how Aidan goes to war?”

“Aye. ’Twill take months to besiege Inverness,” Will responded.

Brie slowly faced him, acutely aware of the single bed behind her. Aidan had made it clear that he and she were sharing the tent. One of them would probably sleep on the floor.

It shouldn’t be a big deal, but it was. “There’s only one bed.”

Will grinned at her. “Then yer fortunate, my lady. His prowess is well known.”

Brie tried not to look at the bed. Every inch of her was firing up, when she knew nothing was going to happen. Except…he’d given her that male look twice today. Sex was probably no big deal for him. What would she do if he made a pass at her?

Her heart thundered. She’d accept. She wouldn’t even think twice about it. She recalled Claire’s warnings and dismissed them. Aidan wouldn’t hurt her. He wouldn’t use her—not demonically. She was sure of it. And only a fool would refuse a man like that.

Will glanced at her. “O’ course, we have hundreds of women to choose from. He may be well occupied until late in the night.”

“Of course,” she murmured. A medieval army would have a population of camp followers, especially for a long siege. They weren’t going to share the bed, or the tent. He’d probably have Will sleep inside with her, to guard her. She was dismayed, absurdly. She should be relieved.

Brie sat down on the bed and realized she was ready to collapse. She wasn’t just physically exhausted, but mentally, too. She needed to think, to figure out how to convince Aidan to retreat from this war. But just then, she was too tired.

The tent flap opened and Aidan stepped inside. He gave Will a look, which sent the young man out. Brie stood as he walked to the desk, not looking at her. The spacious tent suddenly felt really small. She was acutely aware of the bed behind her, and the fact that they were alone.

“Will says you’ll fight the royal armies tomorrow.”

He poured a glass of wine. “Aye.”

She trembled. “I made the decision to trust you. You have to trust me now.”

He turned and stared for a long moment. “Why should I trust ye, Brianna?”

“I have your best interests at heart.”

He laughed without mirth. “Aye, ye plot to change my life, against my wishes.”

Brie tensed. He was right. “You’re so caught up in your grief, you can’t think straight.”

He tossed back some wine and said, “Dinna dare speak down to me.”

She trembled. “I am not patronizing you.”

He drank more wine, then refilled his cup and another one.

“Aidan, you have lost your way. I want to help you find it again.”

“I beg to differ with ye,” he said coldly. He thrust a cup at her. “I dinna lose my way—I found it. I like the darkness.”

“No one likes the dark. That’s like saying you’d rather be alone and unloved than surrounded by friends and family, beloved by all.” She clutched the cup to her chest.