Page 33 of Bound By Deception

With her husband gone a few days, she’d seized a quiet moment—after breaking her fast, while Mirren worked in the bakehouse—to visit the dungeon.

There would be guards down there of course, but she had a story ready for them too. She’d tell them that the chief-enforcerhad promised her one of them would give her a tour while he was away.

Bree strode along the passageway and turned left, down the dungeon stairs.

Although she’d tucked an eating knife in her boot—old habits died hard—Bree didn’t plan to use it. Instead, she had to find out if Bryce actually was a prisoner here.

After that, she’d plan the next step: how to get close enough to question, and ultimately kill, him.

What she needed to focus on at present was charming the guards she encountered below.

Her lips pursed.Easier said than done.

The scuff of booted feet below jerked Bree from her thoughts then. Her pulse lurched. Someone was approaching.

Halting, she put out a hand to steady herself on the damp, moss-covered wall, debating whether to turn and flee up the steps. There was no time, for an instant later, a tall, lanky figure, clad in enforcer-black, appeared below her.

The warrior-druid had close-cropped dark-blond hair and grey eyes. She’d seen him at her handfasting feast, sitting at the table opposite. He was handsome, for a Marav, and smiled easily. However, there wasn’t any humor on his face this morning. Instead, his mouth was compressed into a thin line.

Seeing her, the enforcer frowned. “Lady mac Brochan … what are you doing down here?”

Ignoring the thud of her pulse in her ears, and the instinct to draw the knife in her boot and lunge for his throat, Bree flashed him a bright smile. “Exploring … although I’ve no idea where I’ve ended up.”

“These stairs lead to the dungeon.”

“Do they?” Bree gave an embarrassed laugh. “How foolish of me.” She met his eye then. “I don’t suppose you could give me a tour?”

The enforcer’s frown deepened. “I don’t think so … this isn’t a place for you.”

Bree waved his comment away. “I’ve a strong stomach.”

His handsome face hardened. “Cailean wouldn’t approve.”

Frustration beat like a caged raven in Bree’s chest.

“No,” she replied, forcing another smile. “I suppose he wouldn’t.” Bree then twisted and began the climb back up. After a few steps, she glanced over her shoulder. The warrior-druid was glaring at her back as he followed her. “We haven’t yet been introduced, have we?” she asked.

“No … I’m Torran mac Rab.”

Bree turned away once more and resumed her climb, her pulse skittering. So, this was the enforcer Mirren had gone giddy over? She wasn’t surprised. He wasn’t as cold or as intimidating as mac Brochan. Even so, the whoreson had thwarted her—and he’d likely tell the chief-enforcer that he’d encountered her on the dungeon stairs.

“My husband has spoken well of you,” she said as they climbed higher, the light from their torches glowing against the wet stone. “He values your loyalty greatly.”

Torran huffed a laugh, the sound echoing up the stairwell. “Your flattery is appreciated, Lady mac Brochan … but you’restillnot getting a tour of the dungeon.”

“What do you think … the light green or the darker one?”

Princess Lara held up two swathes of linen, and Bree peered at them. “The darker one,” she said after a moment. “It’s the color of pine … and matches your eyes.”

Lara’s gaze glinted. “I knew there was a reason I asked you to come shopping with me,” she teased.

Bree favored her with a tight smile. Her encounter with Torran had left her in a sour mood. “It’s not an empty compliment, Your Highness … but fact.”

Iron bite her, she hated fawning like this—and shedespisedshopping. Back in Sheehallion, she lived in her beloved hunting leathers. She had two sets of them and never wore gowns. The long tunics Marav women wore hampered her movement. However, when the princess asked Bree to accompany her, she couldn’t refuse.

Lara laughed, the warm sound drifting through the mild, smoky, air. Up here, near the broch, the stench of the offal pits and drains dug into the lower levels of the fort wasn’t quite so bad. “Aye, and your directness is another thing I like about you. It’s refreshing.”

Bree kept her smile in place, even as discomfort rolled over her. She’d seen a bit of the princess since mac Brochan’s departure and had been initially wary of her, for Lara had a probing gaze and asked a lot of questions. Nevertheless, she’d quickly realized that the princess only sought her out because she craved company. Besides servants, there were few women her age living within the broch.

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