Page 125 of Bride of Fire
“Get out!” Alicia barked.
Startled, Miles screamed.
Jenefer gulped. Fear sent a cold shiver through her blood. She dared not leave the babe alone with this madwoman.
She tried reasoning with her. “Once he’s quiet, we can talk,” she said, managing a sympathetic smile. “Who can think while Miles is wailing like that?”
“Miles?” Alicia scowled.
Jenefer silently cursed herself for her slip. “Allison. I meant Allison.”
Alicia squeezed the squealing babe closer to her. His arms waved in helpless protest. She was apparently deaf to his cries.
“You stay away from him,” Alicia sneered. “And stay away from Morgan. I won’t have you sharing your nasty lies with him.”
Jenefer flushed. If Alicia knew what else they had shared, she’d be livid.
But that was in the past. Now Jenefer’s only concern was keeping his son safe.
Alicia narrowed her eyes to glittering slits. “I know what you’re trying to do. You’re trying to steal the infant from me.”
“Nay, I only—”
“You think by laying claim to the infant, you can have his father.”
“’Tisn’t true.”
“You think if Morgan believes your filthy lies,” Alicia bit out, “you can get rid of me and take my place.”
Her grip tightened around Miles’ chest as she spoke. Jenefer could hear him struggling, coughing between his wails, and she knew she was going to have to take action, regardless of the risk.
Alicia gave her an ugly, twisted grimace of a smile. “I’ll see the babe dead before I let you get your conniving hands on him.”
Jenefer’s heart plunged into the pit of her stomach.
Left with no other choice, she was forced to resort to her warrior ways. She whipped an arrow from her quiver.
Chapter 55
Nothing could have prepared Morgan for the standoff he stumbled onto when he followed his son’s cries, up the steps to his bedchamber.
His wife was clutching their screaming child tightly in her arms. Her eyes were wild and glittering.
The babe’s face was ruddy. His fists shook in desperation. His anguished sobs were interspersed with sputtering as he gasped for breath.
As for Jenefer… She wasn’t trying to comfort the child. To his horror, she had a loaded bow aimed at Alicia’s throat.
His first mad thought was that his hostage had outwitted him. She might not threaten an innocent babe to gain her release. But she may have no such qualms about intimidating Alicia.
It wouldn’t work, of course. One stride would put him within reach of Jenefer. One blow of his hand would disarm her.
But in the blink of an eye, Alicia made him see the situation in a completely different light.
“Morgan!” she screamed, her face dissolving into terror. “Help me!”
She pointed a trembling finger of accusation toward Jenefer, who was already lowering her bow.
“She tried to harm our son!” Alicia cried. “I-I found her in our bedchamber. Sh-sh-she was smothering him! She meant to kill him!”
