Page 87 of The Highlander Steals a Virgin
Cheers broke out. William laughed outright.
Finn lay there for a beat, chest heaving. Then he let his head fall back with a groan. “God above, cousin. Wasall thattruly necessary? I mean… I’m still injured and ye made it seem like yetried.”
Rhys shrugged, still standing over him. “Had to make it look like a challenge. Wouldnae want the lads thinkin’ ye’ve never beat me before.”
Finn sighed dramatically. “That’s rich. I’ve come close.”
“Aye. Close only counts with arrows and bad poetry.”
He winced as Rhys offered him a hand to help him back up to standing.
His cousin didn’t take it right away.
Rhys frowned. “What is it?”
Finn shook his head, jaw clenched. “Just feelin’ it. That’s all.”
Rhys crouched, brows drawn. “Did I catch ye wrong?”
Finn looked up, face caught between pride and pain. “Ye caught me fine. I’m just nae all the way back yet.”
Rhys hesitated, then held out his hand again.
Finn took it.
As Rhys hauled him upright, the grin returned to his cousin’s face. “Still smug, though.”
“Always,” Rhys muttered.
As he turned away, Rhys caught a flicker of something across Finn’s face.
Tension. And not the playful sort.
Concern flickered through him, and Rhys took a step back toward the ring. “Finn? Are ye alright? Truly? Did I hurt ye?”
Finn blinked, then gave a lopsided grin. “I’m fine, Rhys. Nae made of glass. Just nae fully mended.”
Rhys frowned. “If I overdid it…”
“Ye dinnae.” Finn patted his chest, then coughed. “Well, yedid.But only a wee bit. I’ll survive. Again.”
Rhys’s grip on his staff tightened slightly and stepped back. He hated that flicker. Hated that Finn had been close to death again and somehow kept joking through it.
“Ye’re daft,” Rhys muttered, walking toward the edge of the ring.
Finn followed, slower now. “And ye care more than ye let on. But daenae fash yerself. I’ll keep yer secret.”
Rhys didn’t respond.
He didn’t have to.
As they split off toward separate corners of the yard, he watched as Finn limped off toward the water barrel.
Not just for the bruises, but for whatever he wasn’t telling him.
There was more to his cousin’s escape.
And Rhys would get it out of him.
