Warlord's Ward

A New Captive

Tanya looked every bit as astonished as I did.

I can't believe he said that.

He'd announced that no woman was fit for his bed other than me.

She was giving me a questioning look.

Asking me what? I didn't know.

Not knowing how to respond, I shrugged.

That was not something I never expected to hear from him.

It felt like a vow.

A promise to be with no woman but me.

"You love her?" Tanya blinked slowly. Pushing his hand away.

Thought her touch was light, he complied and let her slide down the wall to her feet.

Clearly stunned at her bold statement.

"I do." He said flatly. Without looking at me.

Somehow, I was even more shocked that he'd admitted it to a woman he hardly knew.

It made it feel more real. Something with substance.

"And you, him?" She asked me in shock.

I nodded.

"How can you love someone so dark?"

"You tried to kill a man. Are you any less dark?" I queried.

She looked as if I'd slapped her. Then her gaze dropped thoughtfully. "No, I suppose not."

"Why am I here?" She looked at Killian. "Why didn't you kill me?"

"Because." He turned from her to walk to my side. Putting an arm around me as if claiming me as his. "We're going to kill the King."

***

He looked down at me then back at her. "Together."

She frowned as she puzzled out his sincerity. Seeming far more inclined to believe me than him.

So, I spoke up. "What he says is true."

I left the warmth of his arm over my shoulders to walk to her and take her upper arms. "We're going to come up with a plan to free his sister."

"His sister?" Her eyes widened, shooting up to him. "Who the devil is your sister?"

"Her name was BailaLae." He said. Lips tightening with emotion at just having said her name.

"The King had a mage trap her in the form of a wisp of smoke."

"The one under glass in the servant's quarters?" She queried in wonder.

"You've been snooping around." His brows lowered in disapproval.

I gave him a staying look over my shoulder.

"As I would, if I'd had the freedom to roam." I reminded him.

As I did, at the first opportunity.

He gave a grudging head tilt.

***

"That is her." I verified.

"How could we possibly free her? That's clearly a nightmarish curse to change her entire form."

"It is." Killian swallowed. "One we had only one mage that could manage."

"Your Second in Command." She blinked in wonder. "Hawk did that."

Killian nodded as he took a leisurely seat on the edge of the table. "He's the only one that could've."