Page 100 of Laird of Smoke
Bloody hell.The last thing Adam wanted to do was draw attention to himself.
He scooped up the arrows as quickly as he could.
One of the archers took pity on him, dropping down beside him to help.
“My thanks,” he mumbled.
“Of course,” was the reply.
He inhaled sharply.That voice.
He whipped his head around.
It was her.
Aillenn.
To anyone else, she appeared to be an olive-skinned Italian youth in a jaunty feathered cap and parti-colored tunic and trews.She even had a slight foreign accent to her husky voice.
But Adam wasn’t fooled.Not for an instant.
She looked as shocked as he felt.Her eyes widened.Her mouth parted.She froze.
He held his breath, ignoring the rush of joy that filled his veins.He knew one careless glance or word could mean discovery for both of them.
She seemed to understand as well.She gave him the last arrow and looked immediately away, leaving without another word.
But now he was a wreck.
What was she doing here?
Was it coincidence, or had his sister Feiyan invited her?
Did Aillenn know he’d be here?How could she?He’d told no one.
And how the devil had she recognized him when his own clan didn’t?
Part of him was still vexed with Aillenn.After all, she’d left without a word.And she still had possession of his satchel.His armor.His medallion.His heart.
But he couldn’t stop the waves of ridiculous cheer coursing through his brain.
He thought he’d never see her again.Yet here she was, looking more beautiful in a cap and trews than any woman he’d ever seen in his life.
He approached the shooting line.His breathing was ragged as he pulled an arrow from his quiver.Nocking it into the bow, he belatedly realized he’d forgotten to don his bracer to protect his forearm.
He let out a snort of annoyance.
It didn’t matter.He was going to shoot badly.He couldn’t concentrate on anything now.Not with the woman who’d broken his heart looking on.
He loosed the arrow.The string scraped his forearm.The shaft wobbled and landed in the outermost ring of the target.
He growled and turned away.
“Falco de Malisio!”called the herald.
Adam watched Aillenn approach the line.He rubbed at his jaw in disbelief.How anyone was fooled, he couldn’t fathom.Especially when she’d chosen a gaudy, eye-catching costume of bright blue and yellow.
But fooled they were.
