Page 46 of Queen of Sherwood

She nodded. “We can fix that.”

“What, right here?” I glanced around, but she brought my face back around with her hand on my cheek. “Are you looking for another woodsy ravaging?”

My smirk faded when her expression didn’t change. The concern twisting her features had me in knots, because I didn’t want her to worry about me. I didn’t want anyone to worry about me.

“I mean we can fight through it. The pain, the loss, the heartache. We can fight through all of it.” She flashed a sad smile. “That’s what you are, isn’t it? A fighter?”

The sigh finally slipped past my lips. “I’m not sure what I am anymore, thorn. I don’t understand my position here at times.”

“I always thought it was pretty obvious.”

My brow creased. “Elaborate.”

Her hand fell from my cheek, and the loss hit me immediately. She stayed staring into my eyes, however, and that was enough to keep me upright.

God, why am I so pliable and weak around her? How does she hold this power over me, to have me on bated breath for her every word?

“Say we do find Sir Guy of Gisborne—or, the more likely scenario, he finds us.” She tilted her head. “Who do you suspect of us will be good enough to fight him?”

It was not what I’d expected her to say. I wasn’t sure what I thought she’d say, but mentioning Guy only made my blood boil. Still, we were being forthright and sincere, so I didn’t lash out. “I’m not arrogant enough to guarantee I can defeat him,” I said.

“No, maybe not.” She shrugged. “But you instill confidence in the group, Will. I think that is your place here, more than anything. You sure as hell instilled it in me, when I was at my weakest. It wasn’t Tuck or Alan or John who did that. It was you.”

My lips parted. A foreign sensation clawed up my spine hearing her words. I was at a loss for words, so I just bent my head forward and kissed her instead.

Her tongue slipped into my mouth and we held the embrace for a long moment. The animals and critters of the woods began their symphony of chittering and clacking. If I scared the creatures away, Robin brought them back.

Our lips parted and I pulled back. “You shouldn’t be so good to me. I don’t deserve it.”

She balked in my face. “Is this the same Will Scarlet? The one who complains when I’m drowning in self-pity? Please, love, don’t ever say that. You deserve all my love, and maybe even more than I can offer.” She winked. “That’s why you have Alan-a-Dale, too.”

I stiffened. “It’s different between us. You know it is.”

“Aye. Tell that to him. I saw him searching for you when he finished his song.”

My brow rose. “Yet you’re the one who found me.”

“I’ll always find you, Will Scarlet. Because I understand all my men better than they understand themselves.”

“Oh?” I stepped back, hands on my hips. “And how about yourself?”

She blinked, taken aback. “W-What?”

“You still hide secrets from us, little thorn. Maybe I’m the only one who spotted it back in Ravenshead, though I doubt it. Little John is just as astute as I am.”

“What are you talking about?” she asked in an alarmed voice. The rise of her voice only deepened the lie she was trying to hold onto.

“You talk of fixing me, lass. Well, something has happened to you, and I don’t know how to fix it. I’m not sure any of us do, because we’re the ones that caused it.”

Robin’s chest moved shallowly as her breathing quickened. “I came here to help you, Will. Not be chastised.”

“Then we’re here to help each other.” I shook my head. “You’re going to have to confront this head-on, love. It’s the only way through it. I would know.”

She bowed her head, glancing down at the dirt and twigs, away from my scrutinizing eyes. “You’re talking about . . .”

“The darkness. The swell of excitement that comes to you when you’re watching a man bleed out. A man you hate. Remember when John and I first captured Peter Fisher and brought him to you, on his knees?”

She nodded curtly.

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