Page 43 of Love Beyond Words
I interrupted him. I didn’t want to think on that moment a second longer.
“I know. The smell down here is the same.”
He nodded. “Aye, and ’tis the first time such an incident has occurred. It means that her power has strengthened, and there is no way for us to know just how much.”
I suddenly felt very willing to go along with whatever Raudrich needed me to do. I had no desire to be the target of an evil faerie’s ill will.
“So how do we convince her that I have no interest in Nicol?”
He smiled. By the glint in his eye, I knew what he would say even before he said it.
“By convincing her ye belong to another.”
* * *
It was a rotten thing to put the lass through, but it truly was the only thing he could think of to keep her safe, and he was determined to do anything to do just that.
“Stay behind me, lass.”
He knew it was an unnecessary directive. Laurel was plastered against him, and he knew she was doing everything she could to keep from shaking all over.
He’d not seen Machara in years, but the moment he lay eyes on her, all his hatred for her came rushing back.
She slinked toward the front of her cell, her silver hair dragging on the floor behind her, her long nails drumming against the rail as she smiled at him.
“Yer absence was good for me, Raudrich. ’Tis been more than a decade since I have felt this strong.”
“Enjoy yer strength while ye can, Machara, for it willna last long. Timothy’s body was weak for years before he died. The next druid will be stronger and with it, so will his magic.”
She laughed, and the sound of it caused the hairs on his arms to rise.
“We shall see. Let me see the bitch behind ye, Raudrich. Let me see the whore that has come to try and seduce Nicol.”
He’d known Machara would try to rile him up. He couldn’t allow himself to give in to the anger he felt at hearing Laurel referred to in such a way. He needed his composure to keep his powers in check. It was even more important, with Laurel down here, that he not allow Machara to weaken him through rage.
“She is no threat to yer love for him, Machara. ’Tis why I thought ye should meet her.”
Stepping away from the bars of her cell, Raudrich watched as Machara crossed her arms.
Carefully, he stepped away to clear the path between Laurel and Machara. He’d expected Laurel to hesitate, but she did no such thing. The strength in her steps shocked him. She didn’t hesitate, didn’t shake. She stepped up beside him, looked straight into Machara’s eyes, and spoke. “I’m Laurel. I wish I could say that it’s nice to meet you.”
Machara gave one short chuckle as her sinister smile grew even wider.
“Ah, I see Raudrich has already tried to poison ye against me. If only we lassies could have spoken first, I doubt ye would have such an ill opinion of me. These men have never been able to understand me, but ye, I think could, if given the chance.”
Raudrich could’ve laughed at the blasé expression on Laurel’s face as she paused and pursed her lips. She cocked her head to the side in contemplation, but she knew better than to do anything that might anger Machara.
“I doubt that very much.”
“So, tell me, whore, why are ye here? Do ye mean to take my Nicol from me?”
Raudrich watched the exchange with great anticipation. Everything was up to Laurel. How she decided to speak, what she decided to do next, would determine whether or not she was safe inside this castle.
“No. I may not like you, but I am not that sort of woman.
Raudrich watched as Machara’s expression softened just the littlest bit, and hope rose within him.
“Who does yer heart belong to then? If it is still yer own, then ye are a threat, for a heart untethered is bound to fall for my Nicol.”
