Authors: Titania Ladley
John neared, his gaze taking in Salena’s weak form. “What ails her?” His square jaw set at the sight of Salena’s bloody, bruised body.
She moaned and rested her head on Falcon’s shoulder. His pulse leapt and he felt a rush of protectiveness burst in his chest when her eyelids fluttered up at him.
“She’s been beaten and whipped nearly to death by her own brother. She will need your healing touch, my friend.”
John’s gaze fell upon her with a deep affection. “I shall be honored to touch her.”
Chapter Eleven
Wyngate Hall
One month later
Salena pulled the black mask over her head and settled it over her eyes. She saw that her sword and longbow were secured at her hip and back. Her cloak swirled around her body as she walked. It felt quite liberating, she thought as she moved to the desk in the study, to wear men’s clothing. The freedom of movement, the warmth…the way the braies rubbed over her clit and kept her in a constant state of arousal. She simply dreaded returning home in the early morning hours and being forced to don those cumbersome layers of skirts and bodices once again.
But for now, excitement coursed through her veins. She must hurry, though. Her husband would be here soon to escort her to her mount. She’d awakened from her nap in a sudden state of curiosity. Her deceased mother’s letter confiscated by Falcon in this very room had called to her. Until this moment, she’d refused to read it. But now, something told her it was time to address the puzzle of her brother and then lay it to rest forever.
All Falcon had relayed to her was that Sheldon had wanted her dead in order to inherit Wyngate Hall and all its land. She’d purposely asked Falcon not to elaborate. Just having gone through that horrible ordeal with Sheldon, and seeing the devil that had rode him, had been traumatic enough. Thanks to the serfs who’d turned against him—and to Lorcan’s persuasive talents with the king—Sheldon had been sentenced to a score of years in King Henry’s prison for his atrocities against her. At first, it had been difficult without him around. As children, they’d been the best of friends. But now in looking back, she recalled how he’d suddenly started acting like an ogre struggling to keep his temper in check. All of the sudden, he’d had her betrothed to the duke, then almost as quickly, he’d begun delaying the wedding day, making excuse after excuse.
The king, she knew, had as partial evidence, a copy of the letter she now drew from the unlocked side table near the hearth. Her hands shook as she studied the crumpled lines of the folded parchment.
“Salena…”
She turned with a shiver at the deep timbre of her husband’s voice. Falcon already had his mask on, his longbow and sword in place in preparation for the weekly raid. Since their marriage, she’d insisted on participating in this noble cause of returning property and monies to the rightful, hardworking landowners. Her own people within and surrounding the keep had been reinstated with their lands and possessions. Those men of Sheldon’s who had pledged their allegiance to Robin Hood had joined his band of vigilantes and excelled in their jobs, happy and prosperous for their families. Everyone began to flourish in one way or another. Crooked landlords were suppressed from their overbearing, selfish acts upon the serfs. Even King Henry was starting to curb his ways here and there, yet the Pilgrimage of Grace continued to rage on, flaring up here and there, giving them cause to continue in their own pilgrimage.
“Are you ready?”
“Aye, but first I must…” As he came up behind her, she held the note against her breast where the medallion rested.
He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her against his chest. Warmth and love enveloped her. She could detect that woodsy scent that told her he’d already been outdoors preparing for the foray to come.
“What do you have there, love?”
“‘Tis…the letter.”
He kissed her earlobe, drawing it in between his teeth, making her thoughts go to mush. “Your mother’s letter? You’re going to finally read it?”
“I feel I must. I awoke with a burning sense of curiosity for the first time in the last month.”
“Ah, I can certainly understand that. But are you sure you want to read it now, right before we go?”
“Aye, I do. I must.”
He led her to a richly upholstered loveseat near the fire. Sitting, he drew her down on his lap. “Read. I shall be right here with you.”
Her heart ached at the tender support he gave her. “Thank you, Falcon. Thank you for everything. For rescuing me from my brother’s plot to…to murder me.” She shuddered, surprised it was still difficult to say that ominous word. Salena twisted on his lap and pressed a hand to his stubbled jaw. Looking through the slits of his mask that never failed to excite her, she added, “And for loving me.”
“Nay, thank you for loving such a scamp of a thief.” He leaned in and kissed her, his mouth wet and soft against hers. Fire swirled in her womb, but she held it at bay for the time being.
“Aye, a thief you are, of my heart and my desire. I cannot live without you, brigand.”
He unfastened her cloak and tossed it upon a nearby chair. His hand slid up her braies and found her vee. “Ah, I love it when you wear men’s clothes. It makes the fight to get in there so much more tempting. To see you outlined like this…”
She sucked in a breath when he traced her labia with his fingers. But her hand shot down and gripped his wrist. “Please. I want you, there is no doubt about that. But let me read the letter first.”
Falcon sighed and hugged her closer. “As you wish, milady.”
Her hands trembled as she unfolded the note. And she read it silently, recognizing the familiar scroll of her mother’s handwriting as the firelight danced across the fancy loops and tidy lines.
My dearest Sheldon and Salena,
I do not know where to begin, but I suppose with the truth would be best. I’ve instructed my loyal maid to present this letter to Sheldon upon my death, which shan’t be much longer… In light of your father’s recent passing and my current terminal illness, I find it necessary to write this letter to you both so that you may have concrete documentation.
Sheldon, though your intentions are noble and just where your sister is concerned, Salena cannot marry the Duke of Oxford. You see…he is your real father, Sheldon. Months after Salena was born, he raped me at a ball we’d attended. Of course, there is no definitive proof, but I know it in my heart, as did Salena’s father. You are the spitting image of the duke with your bright red hair and dark eyes, while Salena’s looks favor her own father without a doubt.
Sheldon, darling, I pray that you will forgive your father and I. To the rest of the world, you and Salena will always have the same father. But please know I felt it necessary that you know of your true heritage. And know, too, that your father and I loved you just as much as we loved Salena. The rape was unfortunate and a very difficult secret for us to keep, but we loved you no less for it and we often thought how lonely this house would have been if it never would have happened, if you had never been conceived.
Salena, sweetheart, I hope you will find a man you can love for eternity and who will love you in return. It just cannot be Edward Devonshire, though I suspect that would not have been a love match anyway.
God be with you both. And always remember your father and I loved you equally so.
All my love,
Mother
The tears trickled down her cheeks. “So that is why Sheldon betrothed me to him immediately following mother’s death. He wanted to keep the money in the family.”
“True, but once he learned of Devonshire’s gambling debts, he began delaying your wedding date—which I am very grateful for.” He nuzzled at her ear making shivers of gooseflesh spread over her body.
“My mother, she must have endured such pain and turmoil from start to end.”
“Aye, I cannot even fathom it.” He rubbed a hand up her leg stopping at mid-thigh, as if he sensed it was not the time. “Salena, we do not have to go tonight. If this news is too much for you…eh, let’s just stay home.”
She smiled warmly, dashing the tears away. Her heart swelled with love. Raising the medallion, she studied its intricate swirls surrounding the stone. “I’d like that. But do not worry. I have long suspected Sheldon was…different. It comes as no surprise that he is only my half-brother.”
“So you’re feeling all right inside?” he asked with a worried note. “I mean, you’re crying and all.”
“Oh, it is a bit bizarre to actually see it on paper, but Sheldon is already in prison. I have already accepted it. It is just sort of touching to read my mother’s thoughts. It is…a relief, all of it. To finally understand and get so many questions answered.”
He combed a hand through her unbound hair. It made her long to curl up and snuggle at his side. “Are you sure? Sure you’re all right here with me?”
“Oh, yes! I’m fine and I’m not going anywhere.” She dashed the last tear away and gave him her brightest smile. “You’re not getting away from me, that easily, Montague. And I’ll have you know, you
will
make love to me this night.
She paused and lifted the amulet from her breast, studying the breathtaking jewel. “I am so grateful…because of this, we have an eternity to make love.”
He reached up and traced the pulsing stone with his finger. “Oh, aye. Keep the amulet around your neck and do not ever remove it. That way,” he grinned roguishly, “I get to seduce you until the ends of eternity.”
Salena leaned into him with a sigh. “I still cannot get over how lucky I was to be one of few woman in many centuries of existence who happened to be born at the exact time that the sun and moon were aligned perfectly with your personal
Centaurus
star formation. It was so awe-inspiring when I saw myself there in the sky of my dream.” She pulled a face, a slight feeling of guilt settling in her belly. “Which would never have occurred if I would have been born the second child instead of the first.”
He nodded, dragging his tongue down her neck. She gasped, bowing her head back.
“‘Twas fate, beautiful, but I suppose I do have Sheldon to thank for that, in a sense.”
She slid her arms around him, desire coiling tight in her loins when he found her pussy with one probing hand. “Please, let’s not talk of that, of the unfortunate event with Sheldon and how he came to be. Let’s talk of the amulet and how it will allow me to provide you with immortal energy forever.”
“Ah, I agree. And always remind me of how much I owe you for that energizing power you give me with your love. Now, let’s discuss those gorgeous eyes of yours…” He planted a butterfly kiss upon each eyelid making her heart hitch at the tender gesture. “There couldn’t have been a more exact match to the
Centaurus
—thank the stars for that stroke of luck.”
Her hand wiggled down between their bodies and found his erection. It poked out above his braies a layer beneath where his codpiece had been positioned. Just feeling the warm, moist tip with her hand was almost enough to take her to the edge of bliss.
“Oh, I did notice its color. ‘Twas why, I believe, it seemed familiar to me at first sight. Now…” She kissed his neck tasting the beginnings of perspiration brought on by sexual arousal. “You just said you’d like me to remind you of how much you owe me for my gift that energizes your immortality each time we make love…”
“Lorcan, help me, the wench bargains with an immortal who can, at this very moment, read her mind.”
Salena gasped and leaned away from him, capturing his wily gaze with her own. “Oh, I forgot about that, you cunning, devious thief of minds.”
He chuckled, his hand moving to unfasten her braies. “I do not always invade your thoughts, love, but this time, I could not resist.”
“And what,” she asked, planting a fist on one hip, “did you read exactly?”
She watched as his breaths came quicker. It made her own do the same. The warmth and strength of his thighs beneath her bottom made her passage fill with a slow rush of cream. His eyes glazed over with that wild, untamable passion she so loved.
“You thought that you’d like to kiss my…rod while being pummeled from behind—for John’s sake and my own, of course. The energizing, you know.”
Her pussy throbbed at his confirming words. Excitement danced in her belly, remembering he’d once vowed that all she ever had to do was say the word and it would be all right to invite John in with them. Theirs was a different sort of reason, a customary way to these immortals. It was very common among those of their kind, she was learning, and just as accepted as monogamy was with mortals in good social standing. And all without risking the love of the initial relationship.
She enjoyed the thrill of it, as well as the giving of energy for immortality’s sake, while never having to risk her relationship with her husband.
“It would be my way of thanking him for healing me after Sheldon’s abuse of me. Oh, Falcon, I love you and only you. But I do feel this need to show my gratitude by giving him a store of energy as my thanks.”
“Yes, at the time, I was not completely sure of what the medallion meant for you. But once I learned of its meaning, I was, nonetheless, still grateful to him that he’d hastened your healing, despite the medallion’s ability to eventually do so. You know, it saps his energy to accelerate healing, and he’d already performed his mending talents on another wounded woman that very night. So, aye, I invite him in, as well, for a token of our appreciation.”
“And you will see that Lorcan waves his hands and tosses some magic dust or whatever, to dispel John’s seed from me?”