A Warrior's Heart (Shields) (10 page)

“Have you heard word from any realms with immortals? Have you perhaps found where I’m from?”

The sadness in Aimery’s unusual swirling blue eyes spoke louder than any words. “Nay, Gabriel. I’m sorry.”

Gabriel rose to his feet and blew out a breath as he began to slowly walk around the solar. “I’ve gone this long without answers, I’ll survive longer.”

“You might survive, my friend, but I know how much you want the truth.”

“I used to want to know everything. Now I’m not so sure. Like you said, my mind has blocked my past for a reason.”

He heard a sigh behind him and then the creak of the chair as Aimery rose. Gabriel turned to face the Fae commander.

“I planned to visit tomorrow,” Aimery said as he moved away from the chess table. “However, I’ve learned what I needed to tonight.”

“Jayna?”

“Nay, though I’m glad to know that as well. I know of the Harpy and the Gargoyle. I must report to the king and queen. My army is still standing guard around the castle and Hugh’s lands. They’ve detected evil.”

Gabriel nodded. “The creatures?”

“I suspect it’s more than just the creatures. It’s time to finish this once and for all. Be vigilant, Gabriel.”

“I’ll let Hugh know.”

“If I’m able, I’ll return on the morrow.”

And with that he was gone.
 

Gabriel slowly walked from the solar and up the stairs to his quiet, lonely chamber.

It wasn’t until he undressed and crawled into bed that he found himself thinking of a certain golden-haired beauty with tempting hazel eyes.
 

Chapter Ten

Jayna yawned as she stretched beneath the warmth of her covers. The coolness of the chamber moved over her skin as she raised her arms over her head. She slipped out of the covers and rose from the bed. Her feet meet the icy stones on the floor as she pulled a blanket around her shoulders and padded to the hearth to stroke the fire to life.

Once that was done and heat once again began to fill her chamber, she turned to dress and found another gown hanging beside the one she wore the previous night. Someone must have come into her chamber during the night or early that morning.

She glanced out the window to see light already brightening the sky. She never slept past dawn, and she never allowed anyone to sneak up on her. Yet both had occurred. Whoever had come into her chamber hadn’t wanted to hurt her, but what if they had? She’d be dead now instead of eyeing a new gown.

What was wrong with her? Was she letting the supposed safeness of the castle, the warm, soft bed and the companionship of a few women yank down defenses that had pulled her through a catastrophe that would have killed most women?

Jayna vowed not let herself get dragged into complacency while she was here, because it would end as soon as Gabriel was dead.

She still couldn’t believe he didn’t have any memory of the past. He spoke of injuries, but the last time she had seen him, there were no injuries.

Just thinking of that awful day left her sick to her stomach. She had pushed aside those hideous images long ago, yet she drudged them up now.

Jayna didn’t like the direction of her thoughts. She quickly dressed in the dark blue gown left for her. Once she was clothed, she pulled the comb through her long tresses as she sat before the fire.

She hadn’t wanted to face the truth last night, but she had learned a hard lesson during her life – it was better to face the truth at the beginning than at the end when mistakes were made.

So, she admitted to herself that she had enjoyed Gabriel’s company yesterday. She hadn’t known what to expect when he had sat beside her, she most certainly expected him to recognize who she was. But once he hadn’t, she let herself go, let herself be something she hadn’t been in so very long.

She flirted and talked, but it had been so she could seduce him to make him remember just what he had done.

But...as they had walked among the dimly lit corridors of the castle she might have forgotten, just for a moment, who she was and why she was there.

Her longing for her old life, the joy and happiness she had felt before Gabriel destroyed everything, was stronger than she ever knew. If she were a weaker woman, it might frighten her, but she had seen horrors people only dreamed about.
 
And that made her stronger than most. It also allowed her to face her fears and her wants head on.

“Don’t go, Jayna. If you seek your revenge on Gabriel, you’ll only succeed in becoming what he is. Let it go. Live your life,” her mother said.

“I cannot. He must pay for what he’s done.”

“Oh, child. If you leave, you’re sentencing yourself to death.”

Her mother had been right, but even now, she wouldn’t change things. Killing Gabriel, she would sentence herself to death, but she was ready for it, welcomed it actually.

Hurt, long buried, rose up to choke her. Jayna blinked away the moisture that gathered in her eyes, making the fire swim before her. She concentrated on combing out the tangles in her hair to keep from thinking of her mother and the life she had left behind.

Try as she might to ignore the memories, she could still recall her mother’s warm brown eyes and they way they would light up when she laughed.

Jayna finished plaiting her hair and sighed. She had come this far, she couldn’t fail now. Not when she was so close to finishing.

A soft knock on her door brought her out of her reverie. “Enter,” she called out, not wanting to leave the warmth of the fire.

“Did you sleep well?” a deep, smooth voice asked.

She turned her head to see Gabriel leaning against the door, a fur-lined cloak of black around his shoulder and something dark draped over his arm.

“I did, thank you,” she replied as she climbed to her feet. “I was just about to go down to the great hall.”

She felt his gaze as she walked toward him, but she couldn’t quite meet his eyes this morning. At one time, she had thought he was the man of her heart, a man who she could trust and would be by her side forever. She had thought she was prepared to face him, prepared to feel any memories that crept up on her.

She had been wrong.

“Jayna?”

She took a deep breath and walked out of her chamber as Gabriel shut the door behind her.

“Are you well this morning?” he asked, concern making his voice soft.

“Aye,” she answered and forced a smile. She certainly couldn’t tell him that at one time she would have walked barefoot over hot coals for him, or that she used to daydream about what their children would look like.

A chill raced through her and she brought her arms up to wrap around her waist.

Lightning fast, he pulled her to a halt as his hand touched her forehead. “There is no fever.”

“I’m fine,” she said as she stepped back.

She knew by the set of his chin he didn’t believe her. Gabriel had always known when she lied.

“I was going to suggest going for a ride this morning, but if you’re not feeling well, maybe we should postpone it,” he said as they set off down the hallway.

Her head jerked toward him. “A ride?”

“Aye. I must check the perimeters and I wondered if you might want to collect your bow and arrows. The storm should hit later today or tomorrow, so we cannot tarry long.”

Jayna closed her eyes and unbidden a memory of her and Gabriel racing across the hills on her father’s fastest horses came to her. She opened her eyes to find Gabriel watching her silently.

“I think I’d like that very much.”

“Then you’ll need this,” he said as he handed her the cloak that was draped over his arm.

She ran her hands over the fur-lined cloak. “What happened to my cloak?”
 

“It’s being repaired,” was all he said as he started down the stairs to the hall.
 

The great hall was nearly empty by the time they arrived. She was slightly embarrassed to have slept so long, and doubly so when she saw Mina smiling at her.

“I do apologize for sleeping so late. I normally wake with the sun,” she said as she took a seat beside the lady of the castle.

“I asked the servants to let you sleep,” Mina said. “I thought you might need it. Want another visit to our bathing chamber?”

Jayna smiled as she remembered the luxurious warmth of the water and the heavenly bliss of soaking for as long as she wanted. “Words cannot describe how wonderful it was.
 
I’m sure I’ll make my way there sometime this day.”

“I thought you might,” Mina said with a laugh. “Usually, Elle and Shannon are in there for hours.”
 

Jayna glanced beside her, expecting to see Gabriel, yet there was only an empty spot. She looked around her, searching for him.

“He went to speak with Hugh in the solar,” Mina said.

She turned to look at Mina and found Mina staring intently at her.

Mina cleared her throat and said, “Gabriel is a very handsome man.”

“I suppose so,” Jayna replied. She wasn’t about to tell Mina Gabriel was the most handsome man she had ever, or would ever, meet. “I must thank Elle for allowing me to borrow her gowns.”

Mina waved away her words. “Think nothing of it. Consider them yours.”

Thankfully, food was placed in front of her then and Jayna concentrated on eating and not thinking of how nice Mina was.

She had just finished eating when Gabriel walked to the dais. “I know it’s early, but I thought we would leave now. The horses are saddled and waiting,” he said.

“Of course,” Jayna said as she rose from her seat and reached for her cloak. She was really looking forward to being on a horse again.

“Be careful,” Mina warned.

Jayna nodded and followed Gabriel to the door where he stopped and took the cloak from her.

“Allow me,” he said.

Jayna lowered her gaze as he swung the cloak around her then fastened it at her neck. The brush of his warm fingers on her skin left her tingling and unable to breathe.
 
Her body remembered his touch, recalled the way he brought her pleasure with his caresses and kiss.

She found herself leaning back into his touch as need speared her.
 
The door banged open, jerking her out of her passion. As soon as the cloak was clasped, she stepped away from him.

Gabriel tried to control his breathing as he fought against pulling Jayna into his arms and smelling her hair once again. The smell had been familiar, just as her face had been.

Even the way his body responded when she was near was too coincidental to ignore.
 
He might not know how he knew her, but his body did.
 
There was no denying that.

“Ready?” he asked as he held open the door. Once she walked out, he followed, nodding to Hugh as they strolled through the bailey.

Their horses stood ready, their breaths billowing around them. He pulled on his gloves and regretted not finding any for Jayna. Just as he was about to return to the castle, Roderick walked up and handed a pair of gloves to her.

“Thank you,” Jayna said and gave Roderick a smile.

For some reason that irritated Gabriel because she might have smiled at him, it hadn’t been as open and inviting as the one she’d bestowed upon Roderick.
 

He waited until Jayna had the gloves on before he wrapped his hands around her waist and lifted her atop her mare. He didn’t move to mount his own horse until he saw her take the reins properly.

A grin pulled at his lips. Just another sign she wasn’t a peasant. The clatter of hooves sounded around them as Hugh and Roderick rode up beside them.

Jayna gave him a questioning look.

“It’s safer with numbers,” he explained as Hugh and Roderick rode ahead of them.

“Ah, the Great Evil and its creatures.”

Gabriel flattened his lips. “Let’s hope for your sake we don’t run into any of them while we’re out.”

Out of the corner of his eye he watched her as they passed through the gate. She sat straight, almost queenly, and with an ease that only a practiced horsewoman could manage.

“Do you recall where you buried your bow?” he asked.

“Over there,” she said as she pointed toward the forest.

Hugh gave him a nod as they set out in the direction she had pointed. Gabriel kept a vigilant lookout for anything that looked out of the ordinary. It was eerily quiet as they entered the forest. Almost too quiet.

He put his hand on his mount’s neck.
 

The horse, long used to the rigors of being forced to endure evil, showed no signs of unease. Gabriel blew out a breath.
 

“Something the matter?” Jayna asked.

He shook his head. “Just keeping an eye out for trouble.”

“Are you expecting something to happen?”