“Ah. So you’re smitten with her already?”
Leo considered physically wiping the smirk off Brody’s face. “Have you noticed anything else about her that seems … off?”
Brody shook his head. “Haven’t seen her much since yesterday. I’ve been guarding the entrance of the tower while she’s up in her room.” His eyes glinted with humor. “Apparently, you’ve seen her more than I have. I heard some guards were knocked unconscious when a mysterious stranger sneaked into her room to be alone with her.”
Leo shrugged. “A simple security check, nothing more.”
“Right. Well, the guards never reported it. They were too embarrassed by how easily you breached their defenses—or was it her defenses?”
Leo gave him a pointed look. “Watch how you talk about my betrothed.”
Brody grinned. “Oh, you’re smitten all right.” He tilted his head, considering. “All I’ve heard lately is that she talks to herself quite a bit. The guards think it odd, but we already know she talks to spirits. And I’ve heard that the tower is haunted. Last night she ran from her room, yelling, Wait!”
And then she’d run at the wall, reaching for something. Or someone. Leo took a deep breath. No wonder she’d refused to tell him why she was on the wall walk. She didn’t want to admit she was talking to dead people. “There must be a ghost she’s anxious to talk to.” Her mother?
Another thought occurred to Leo. “If the tower is haunted, then that must be why she went there the night Willem stabbed her pillows.”
Brody nodded. “She was hoping to talk to the resident ghost.”
Nevis sauntered over and grabbed a small loaf of bread off Brody’s plate. “I’ll be going now.”
“Be careful. It could be a trap,” Leo warned him. “And have your men dress as a band of thieves. We can’t attack the king’s guards as soldiers. Uncle Fred would take it as a rebellion.”
“Got it.” Nevis strode from the room as the jailer came in with another tray of food and bottle of wine.
“Thanks.” Brody opened the bottle and took a long drink.
“The duke wants to see your lordship in his library,” the jailer told Leo.
“Very well.” Leo grabbed a grape off the tray and popped it into his mouth. “Post additional guards and be extra vigilant. The other two assassins might consider our prisoner a liability.”
The jailer nodded. “Yes, my lord.”
* * *
Luciana dipped her quill into the ink bottle as she considered what to write next. Luckily, she already had paper and ink since Jensen had delivered them to her tower room the night before. She hadn’t needed to write to Leo after all, but this evening she had to compose a letter for her sisters. Tomorrow morning at dawn, she was supposed to place the bottle with the new letter on the rock offshore. Then the seals would deliver it to Maeve.
After the duel, her father had invited her to a midday meal with him, the general, and Leo. She’d declined. After Leo’s confession last night of wanting to bed her, she felt too flustered to be in his presence. How could she sit calmly beside him and eat a meal when her stomach was fluttering and her mind was racing with questions? Was she really falling in love? How could her heart be filled with longing for a man whose touch could kill her?
So she’d hurried back to her dressing room to change into a more comfortable gown and hide the bottle with the Telling Stones in her pocket. Now she was alone in the tower room, seated at the table, writing to her sisters.
She’d started with a greeting and confession of how much she missed them. And then she’d stopped, overwhelmed for a moment with homesickness. By the goddesses, she yearned for her sisters. If only they were here now. They would listen to her and help her make sense of the confused jumble of emotions she was feeling.
With a deep breath, she refocused on her letter. She didn’t want to frighten them with news about assassins or a betrothed who could kill people with his touch. She needed to write something happy.
You won’t believe it! My sister didn’t remain at the convent, but followed me here. We’re becoming good friends.
Luciana winced. That was a bit of an exaggeration. Her gaze fell on the bottle she’d placed nearby on the table. She uncorked the bottle and shook the Telling Stones into her hand. The number two, red and black.
She placed the pebbles on the table and ran her fingers over them. They would remain with her here, a physical link to her sisters. Touchstones that would bring her comfort whenever she felt overwhelmed. She picked up the quill and began again.
Something wondrous has happened. Two weeks after we played with the Telling Stones, I met a man with red hair and a black horse, exactly like the stones predicted! His name is Leofric of Benwick, and we are to be married. He seems quite strong and dependable, honest and trustworthy. And I find him extremely handsome. His hair is a dark red, but he doesn’t have the freckles that Sorcha feared he would. His skin is tanned from being in the sun. His eyes are a beautiful green like the new leaves of an oak tree that unfurl in spring. Though at night, they seem a darker green like a pine—
Luciana paused, her eyes widening as she realized how lovesick her words looked.
A blob of ink stained the paper, and she quickly moved the quill aside. Was she truly in love? Maybe it was simply an infatuation. After all, she’d been raised in a convent, so she’d never seen that many men. Especially young, healthy men.
But the ship had been full of them. And the fortress of Vindemar had plenty. She’d even been kissed by Tatiana’s lover. And she’d felt nothing. No flutters, no yearning.
She groaned. Why not let her sisters think she was happily in love and her life was rosy and perfect? It was better than making them worry.
Soon, I will be going to the royal court in Ebton to be wed, so you may not hear from me for a while. I will send notice in my father’s next wine shipment to let you know when I have returned to Vindemar so we can resume our correspondence. Even though I will be away, distance can never separate us. You will always be with me in my heart.
Missing you and loving you always,
Luciana
When the ink dried, she folded the letter up, slipped it inside the bottle, and squeezed the cork in as tightly as she could. The letter was too incriminating to be left out in the open, so she hid the bottle beneath her pillow. Her gaze lingered on the dagger Leo had given her.
Would there ever come a time when she could tell him the truth? Or would her deception make him feel so betrayed that he would turn on her and her father? The minute the king learned of their deception, their lives were over. With a sigh, she realized there was no help for it. She’d have to carry her lies to the grave.
Remain strong, she reminded herself. Right now she had a more immediate problem. How was she going to place the bottle onto the rock offshore at dawn?
She unlocked the door and cracked it open a few inches.
Jensen bowed. “Was there something you needed, my lady?”
“Yes. If you recall a few days ago, I took a morning swim. I would like to do it again tomorrow at sunrise.”
He frowned. “My lady—”
“I’ve been cooped up here too long,” she continued. “The exercise will do much to revive my spirits.”
“I understand. But there are still two assassins—”
“They would never suspect I would be at the beach at dawn.”
Jensen shook his head. “I can’t take that chance.”
“I’ll have my father approve it.”
“Actually, the Lord Protector has taken charge of your safety. He would need to approve—”
“Oh.” She waved a dismissive hand. “There’s no need for him to know—”
“Know what?” Leo’s voice called out from the spiral staircase.
Luciana’s heart lurched as he came into view.
“My lord.” Jensen bowed.
Leo nodded at the guard, then gave Luciana a wry smile. “No need for me to know what?”
br /> She swallowed hard. “It’s a trifling request, not worth bothering your lordship about.”
He stepped closer, his eyes watching her intently. “That’s a relief. I’d hate to think you were keeping secrets from me, Ana.”
Her fingers dug into the door as she looked away. “Of course not.”
“My lord,” Jensen began. “Her ladyship has requested permission to take a short swim in the sea at dawn.”
“Yes.” Luciana nodded. “The exercise will do me good. And I don’t believe the assassins would ever suspect I would be at the beach at dawn. I’m sure I’ll be perfectly safe.” She glanced at Leo and found him still staring at her. Her cheeks grew warm.
“Could you wait a few days till after we catch the assassins?” he asked.
She winced. “I have my heart set on tomorrow morning.”
His eyebrows rose. “It has to be tomorrow?”
“Yes.” More heat poured into her face.
“Perhaps I should go swimming with you.”
She tensed. “That won’t be necessary. I prefer to swim alone. For modesty’s sake.”
His eyes narrowed. “I will agree with certain conditions.” He turned toward Jensen. “You may do as she requests. I want you and two guards to accompany her. Do not tarry on the beach for long.”
“Yes, my lord.”
Leo glanced back at her. “I have a matter to attend to, then I’ll return to fulfill the rest of my condition.”
She swallowed hard. “What would that be?”
He stepped close to her and lowered his voice. “We will talk. And you will answer my questions.”
Chapter Eighteen
Back in the southern tower, Leo waited in his room for Brody to arrive. After leaving Tatiana’s tower, he’d asked the dog shifter to meet him here. On the ground floor of his tower, he’d found two of his personal guard and his squire, Edmund, sharing a meal.
“Brody will be coming soon,” Leo had told them. “Can you spare some food for him? And some clothes?”
When they agreed, Leo headed up the stairs to his room. Now he paced about the small, circular chamber. It was much the same as Tatiana’s room, furnished with a bed, a table, and two chairs. One window overlooked the Southern Sea, and the other one gave him an excellent view of the southwestern tower where Tatiana was living.
He stopped at the second window to scowl at her tower. Morning swim, my ass. She was exchanging messages with someone. And she didn’t want her future husband to know about it.
There was a knock at the door, then Brody peered inside. He was dressed in a spare uniform from one of the guards below. “Did something happen? Has Nevis returned?”
“Not yet.” Leo motioned for him to enter. “Did you get something to eat?”
Brody shut the door behind him. “They didn’t have much left downstairs, so Edmund ran to the kitchens to get some more. What’s going on?”
Leo crossed his arms as he gazed out the window. “The seals will be back in the morning.”
“The ones that brought my lady a secret message? How can you be sure?”
With a wave of his hand, Leo motioned toward her tower. “She asked permission to go swimming. It has to be tomorrow. At dawn. And she wants to be alone.”
“Damn,” Brody whispered. “What is Lady Tatiana up to?”
If she was Tatiana. Though now, she wanted to be called Ana. Leo dragged a gloved hand through his hair. Dammit. After the duel was over, she’d been invited to lunch with him, the general, and her father, but she’d refused. Was she avoiding him in order to keep her secrets?
With Captain Bougaire’s accusation still ringing in his head, Leo had wondered how her father would react. So he’d mentioned it during their luncheon in the library.
“Bougaire said something odd when he surrendered.” Leo had pretended to be engrossed in his roast beef. “He claimed your daughter was not actually Tatiana.”
General Harden had chuckled. “What a sore loser.”
But the duke had instantly turned pale, and his hand had trembled slightly when he’d set his wine goblet down. “What nonsense.” He’d cleared his throat. “As if I wouldn’t know my own daughter.”
Dammit to hell. Leo paced across the tower room. He couldn’t bring himself to tell Brody about his latest suspicions, but it seemed clear that the duke and his daughter were both hiding something. “I need to know the truth about her.”
A knock sounded at the door. “I have your food, my lord,” Edmund called out.
“Bring it in,” Leo ordered. He continued to pace while his squire set a basket on the table, then left, closing the door behind him.
Brody retrieved a bottle of wine and two pewter mugs from the basket. “Here. Have a drink.” He poured the two mugs full.
Leo took a sip. “I’ve spent my entire life on land, so I don’t know much about sea creatures. Do you think it’s possible to track the seals?”
Brody ran a fingertip around the rim of his mug, apparently deep in thought. Finally he took a deep breath and looked up. “It could take a few days, but I’ll do it.”
Leo blinked. “You can do it? How? Do you need to rent a boat? I can give you the money for that. And you can take as many soldiers as you need. Or hire as many sailors—”
“Don’t worry about it. I’ll take care of it.” Brody took a long drink.
Leo narrowed his eyes. Was he becoming paranoid, or was Brody withholding information again?
Brody removed a platter of cold meats and cheeses from the basket, along with several small loaves of bread. “The prisoner hasn’t said anything yet?”
“No, Willem has refused to talk until he knows his family is safe.”
Brody ripped open a loaf and stuffed it with meat and cheese. “And Captain Booger? Did he leave like he was supposed to?”
“Yes.” Leo suspected Brody was trying to steer the conversation away from his mission of tracking the seals. “What do you think she’s up to?”
“Lady Tatiana?” Brody bit into his makeshift meal.
“Who else?”
“Well,” Brody mumbled with his mouth full, “I don’t know whom she’s communicating with, but they must be very important to her. The last time the undertow was strong enough to pull her off her feet. She put herself in danger in order to reach the bottle.”
Leo recalled seeing a bottle before in her bedchamber in the keep. “There were pebbles in the bottle.”
Brody shrugged. “Don’t know what that means.” He took another bite.
“You’ll be ready at dawn?” When Brody nodded, Leo continued, “We can’t let her know that we’re following the seals.”
“Right.” Brody swallowed. “You know, you could try trusting her. If you’re truly smitten with her.”
Leo scoffed. “Or she could try trusting me enough to tell me the truth.”
“We already know almost everything. She’s worshipping the moon goddesses. She talks to the dead. That’s a strange ability, so we’re assuming she’s Embraced. The only thing we don’t know right now is who is on the other end of these messages, but I’ll uncover that soon.”
There was also the question of her identity, but Leo didn’t want to admit to that. “I’m to be her husband. She should tell me everything.”
Brody took a long drink. “Look at it from her point of view. Why would she ever tell anyone she’s Embraced, when it could get her killed? And get her father killed for hiding it?”
“I need to know the truth so I can protect her!”
“You’re a member of the royal family, so as far as anyone knows you’re loyal to your uncle.”
Leo shook his head. “I told her the king has tried to assassinate me, too.”
“Why should she believe that when she hardly knows you? The king wants her dead, so he’s demanding she marry you, and everyone knows you’re…”
Leo closed his eyes briefly. “A monster? Is that what you were going to say?”
Brody sighed. “You’re poten
tially dangerous. She’s known you for only a few days, so you can’t expect her to totally trust you. No doubt, she’s heard some bad things.”
Like he’d murdered his own mother. Leo wandered over to the window to gaze at her tower. There was something between them, something pulling them together. He could swear she was feeling it, too. Couldn’t she trust in that?
By the Light, he wanted her. The first time he had seen her in that flimsy nightgown, he’d had to turn away to keep her from seeing the swelling in his breeches. He was aching to touch her. But she’d said it herself. How could they possibly marry when his touch would kill her? “Why would she want to marry the Beast?”
“Give her some time,” Brody said.
Leo rested his gloved hands on the windowsill. “Fine.” He would send Edmund over to her tower to inform her that he’d given her a reprieve for the rest of the day. The questions could wait till tomorrow.
* * *
The next day before dawn, Leo crouched behind some bushes on the bluff that overlooked the beach. As he waited for Tatiana and her guards to arrive, he assured himself that his main purpose here was to protect her. It wasn’t that he was spying. He had his bow and arrows with him in case the remaining two assassins attempted an attack.
He sighed. Admit it, you’re spying. But wasn’t it normal for a man to want to know everything about the woman he was to marry?
As the twin moons descended toward the western horizon on the far side of Vindemar, the beach below him fell more into shadow. Patches of mist hovered over the dark sea and rocky shore.
In the distance, Leo spotted a light, moving slowly through the mist. As it came closer, he could see it was an oil lamp. Jensen was using it to illuminate the path to the beach. Tatiana and two more guards followed close behind.
All three guards were well armed. They wore sword belts, their swords sheathed. Jensen had a spear he was using as a hiking stick, while the other two had bows and quivers of arrows slung across their backs. Tatiana was dressed in a simple black gown tied around the waist with a strip of leather. Her dark hair was braided, her face pale as she concentrated on the steep path down to the beach.