Lady Thief

by Wend Petzler

  She felt the raw heat from his body sear her though they were a scant inch apart. Eiry knew she should flee, but her legs wouldn't work. His bulk blocked out the torches lit in the hallway behind him. The fire from Lilia's room cast shadows about his handsome visage, making him appear as if carved from marble. Helpless, she stared in awe, unbelieving the sight of the heart-stopping smile curving his hard mouth. Lucian was actually smiling at her! Lucian bent toward her, a wicked gleam in his dark eyes. Powerless, she stood there, wanting him to kiss her, terrified he would. Panic set in and she bolted past him. Yanking open the door to her chambers, she slammed it shut behind her. Eiry leaned against it, breathing hard with an emotion she never thought she would feel.

  Yearning.

  Amused by Eiry's flight past him, Lucian peeked into Lilia's chamber, satisfied the child was sound asleep. Now seeing the similarities between the girls, he was amazed he had not done so before. Sisters. Why the deception? What did Eiry Savoy fear? The answer presented itself—Lord Robert. The man was persistent when it came to Eiry. It was understandable why she hid her identity, not wishing to be forced into marrying him by order of Prince John.

  His head ached from lack of sleep and too much drink. Lucian went into his chamber and collapsed in the comfortable chair. Setting the wine and cup on the floor, he rested his head back, closing his eyes. Unbidden came the vision of Eiry, her long hair loose about her slender shoulders and soft silvery-gray eyes warmed with laughter. His eyes flew open. Damn, was he not to be given a peaceful moment without thinking about the girl? Lucian groaned, rising from the chair. Disrobing, he decided to attempt sleeping in the bed again. Curling onto his side, he took a deep breath and closed his eyes once more, hoping to sleep through the night.

  * * * *

  Eiry stripped off her gown, leaving on the thin shift, unable to sleep. A feeling of expectancy robbed her of her peace. Pacing the small chamber, Eiry felt torn inside, hugging herself as she walked around, confused and frightened by her growing feelings for Lucian Martine.

  The castle was quiet.

  Suddenly, the silence was broken by the soft, anguished moans coming from the direction of Lucian's chambers. Afraid, Eiry opened her door and stood indecisive in the hallway. When Lucian cried out again, she flew to his door.

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  Chapter Seven

  Leaving her chambers, Eiry pressed a cautious ear against his door. The restless noise was definitely coming from within. Cautious, she turned the doorknob and opened the door slowly. Peering into the dimly lit room, she saw his large bulk on the bed, thrashing about, tangled in the blankets. She slipped inside the room, breathing hard with fear. Eiry stood transfixed at what she saw. The hardened warrior she knew was entranced, fighting his inner most demons as the nightmares tormented him while he lay vulnerable in sleep.

  "Martine? Wake up,” Eiry whispered, her voice sounding hoarse in the chamber. Unsure what to do, should she go and get Derrick or try to wake him herself? Deciding he was in peril of hurting himself, she called out, “Lucian, you must wake up,” she spoke louder, afraid for him when she realized he was firmly entrenched in the nightmare.

  "Lucian,” Eiry raised her voice again but to no avail. He did not wake.

  A proud man during daylight hours, he now whined in fear, thrashing about the clinging blankets, fighting his demons. Her heart went out to him, wanting to ease his pain. Without thinking, Eiry touched his shoulder. Gasping when Lucian grabbed her by the arm, he yanked her onto the bed beside him. Rising above her, his eyes open and wildly looking around, seeing and not seeing her. One huge hand pinned her shoulder down as the other wrapped around her throat.

  Terror gripped her and she fought him. When it only made him tighten his grip, she forced her body to relax. Calming down, she reached her shaking hands up to cup the hard planes of his contorted features, terrified for he truly looked evil. “Lucian, please wake up. Tis's me, Eiry. Please look at me.” Shaking uncontrollably, Eiry tried to speak calmly to him, hard since he was slowly squeezing her windpipe. Burying her fingers in his long hair, she gently urged his head down to hers.

  As if coming out of a fog, Lucian heard a woman's voice, soft and husky, calling out to him. The savage, dark features of a Saracen blended with that of Eiry's. Tears of fright were streaming down her pale face. Lucian drew back in horror when he realized where his hand was placed. “Christ Jesus! Eiry, please forgive me.” He gathered her limp body to him, holding her close to his bare chest.

  Coughing, Eiry felt his powerful arms wrap around her, pressing her against him. He was shaking violently from what he'd done. Swallowing, she was finally able to slip her arms around his waist, trying to comfort him. “I'm fine. Please, Lucian, calm down,” her voice croaked, unrecognizable from the bruising.

  "I almost killed you,” Lucian choked out, forcing himself to release her. Flopping onto his back, he covered his eyes in shame. Reeling from the torment deep in his soul, the guilt of almost killing an innocent woman overwhelmed him. To his eternal disgrace, he mourned, he had finally become the evil the world thought him to be.

  She wiped away her tears, sniffing as she looked about, unsure what to do until Lucian uncovered his eyes and looked at her. The anguish in those dark, fathomless eyes undid her. Eiry sat up and shifted closer to the visibly shaken man. She wrapped her arms around his neck, drawing his dark head to her pounding heart. Miraculously, Lucian threw his arms around her, clinging to her in desperation. Gently stroking his thick hair, she clung to him as he did her. All of a sudden, eyes as black as sin met hers and his hard mouth swooped over hers, bruising her lips in raw, hot intensity as he kissed her.

  Never had she been kissed with such passion or desperation as his mouth moved over hers. She barely felt him shift her restless body more under his huge frame, devouring her as if he were a starving man. Perhaps they both were hungry from the utter loneliness of choices made for the sake of others. In her inexperience, she tried to release the wild passion burning inside her, growing inflamed by his hot mouth moving over hers. Taste and touch blurred into fire. The electrifying sensations his roaming hands incurred sent her moaning with the pleasure. His tongue teased her lips into allowing him entrance. Her mind exploded with the first feel of his velvet rough tongue caressing hers, urging her to use hers. Her pain was forgotten when she touched his tongue with her own, tasting wine and heat. Her world exploded with the raw, sensual, erotic feelings.

  Lucian was drowning in the sweet offering of Eiry's lush mouth, melting into her safe, warm embrace. Being in her arms felt like coming home, a welcome he never received on his return from the Crusades. A mere dream, he sighed, not wanting to end. Wait! A deep shock of cold reality slammed him. This was no dream!

  He drew back slowly, staring deep into eyes of charcoal gray, wide with amazement, and hunger to match his own. Her luscious lips were swollen and pink, ripe for more of his heady kiss. She felt hot and delicious in his arms. Her scantily clothed breasts rose and fell, pressed tight against his bare skin where he could feel the thundering of her heart as it beat in time with his. They lay panting from the passionate kiss they shared. Rising onto his elbows, his eyes remained glued to the dusky outlines of ripe nipples, erect and proud, demanding his attention. He almost gave into the beckoning temptation, but with a will of iron, he refrained. He had lost control once already and nearly killed Eiry, he would not jeopardize her reputation, too. Reluctant to withdraw, he watched the uncertain emotions flutter across her lovely, flushed face.

  "Please forgive me. I—I forgot to lock the door. My dreams sometimes get violent as you have ... endured.” Lucian propped his back against the headboard, running his fingers raggedly along his scalp. “I am sorry."

  Shocked to her very core, Eiry lay on the very bed her parents had once shared and now she did so with a man who almost killed her, a man whom she had shared the most incredible kiss of her life! Unsure what to do or say, Eiry tried to rise, wanting to flee in mortifica
tion of the complicated situation. The terrified look in Lucian's haunted eyes made her stay.

  "Is this why you are afraid to sleep?"

  Nodding miserably, he covered his face in his hands. Swallowing hard, he forced himself to look at the purpling bruises on her throat. “I haven't slept in such a long time. It's a wonder I have not collapsed before now.” Feeling alarmingly close to breaking down again as they talked, he had to look away, ashamed.

  Eiry rolled to her side, resting her head in her hand, watching Lucian as he, too, rolled on his side, facing her. They looked into each other's eyes, recognizing the same loneliness in their souls.

  "Why do you have nightmares?"

  A self-mocking smile curved his lips. “There are so many reasons to have nightmares.” Seeing she was determined to learn the truth of his pain, he answered honestly, “Many deaths have I caused in my illustrious career as a knight. Many senseless killing have I witnessed caused by Crusaders in the attempt to claim a land not of our own and condemn a religion which need not concern us.” His tone was dead as he crept back into the safe shell of feeling nothing, shutting everyone out. But she would not let him hide.

  Unable to stop herself, Eiry lightly traced the hard lines of his arresting features with the tips of her fingers, fascinated by the way the harshness softened under her light touch. “Your war is over,” she whispered softly. “Rest, Lucian. God knows your heart. You did only follow orders of a king bent on winning a futile war. Let your enemies rest, let them go. They cannot haunt you if you take back your life and start living instead of reliving death."

  He blinked at her softly spoken words of wisdom. Was he really living with the death he caused, avoiding living in the real world? It rattled him deeply to admit he wanted Eiry to stay with him. With her beside him, he felt alive and whole, at peace with the pain.

  "Eiry...” He was unsure how to proceed, knowing he'd jeopardized her reputation, even if he laid not a hand on her. He needed her.

  "Stay with me."

  Shocked Lucian would make such a request of her, Eiry was caught in the ultimate predicament of her life. The rules of propriety were strict against unmarried women sleeping in a man's bed. Nonetheless, her heart went out to the dark knight who would never admit fear in battle, but was brought low by the terror of something Lucian couldn't control—his own dreams. Knowing the Butcher needed her more than anything in the world, she had not the heart to deny him. A deep, inner part of her was amazed. Of all the women in the world, Lucian Martine chose her.

  She gave a small nod of consent. “Aye, I will stay with you."

  Taking a deep, troubled breath, Lucian rolled to his back, drawing Eiry close until her cheek rested upon the curve of his chest. Shocked by the incredible sense of completion he felt by the way she curled against him, he lay there, confused. Inhaling the soothing lavender scent of her hair, he felt peace enter his tormented soul. Eyes grew heavy, and it was not long when they fell asleep, entwined, feeling at last the comfort of not being alone anymore, if for a brief while.

  * * * *

  Before the sun was even up, Eiry woke in his arms, her head resting on his massive chest, feeling Lucian's hot flesh under her resting cheek. Ever so slowly, she raised her head, cautious not to wake him. Lucian lightly snored, sleeping deeper than anyone she'd ever known. She bit the soft flesh of her lower lip, carefully shifting out of his loose embrace. Stilling when his handsome face scrunched in silent protest, she waited and watched until his features relaxed and he rolled away onto his side, releasing her. She took the offered opportunity and leapt agilely off the bed, landing without a sound on the cold, carpeted floor. The fire had gone out sometime in the night, not that she'd noticed. Lucian's body gave off a heat unlike anything she'd experienced, leaving her uncertain and afraid. Not of him, but of her own self.

  At a safe distance, Eiry took a moment to observe the man who was changing her life with every breath he took. Lord, she was in trouble. Her insides fluttered at the quiet repose of his magnificent visage, remembering the incredible power of his enormous body. What terrified her most was how right it felt when he held her in his strong arms. Sighing softly, she turned away. Walking with mincing steps, her feet numb with the cold. The brutal season was at hand and her trials elevated. She could not deviate from the path of her revenge, not even for the Butcher.

  Biting her lower lip, she tried to open the door quietly. CREAK! Glancing back at him to make sure he was still asleep, she waited, holding her breath. Assured he was still sleeping, Eiry peered out in the hallway. The coast was clear. Making her break, she dashed to her own room. Sagging in relief on her bed, happy no one would ever know she spent the night in Lucian's chamber. No one had seen her.

  But someone had.

  Louie stared, unable to comprehend what he had just witnessed. Last night when the knights had gone to sleep, he had snuck up to Eiry's room to talk to her about tomorrow's raid. Finding her gone, he had waited up, thinking she had gone out into the night. Seeing her sneak out of Martine's chambers hurt him, a stabbing pain right through his heart. Sickened by Eiry's obvious betrayal, he abandoned the stairs and left the castle.

  * * * *

  Eiry dressed quickly and checked on Lilia. Smiling as the child continued to sleep, oblivious of Eiry's predicament. Heading downstairs to the kitchen, she was relieved to see Allen sitting with Anne.

  "Good morning,” she greeted the couple, their girls yawning as they sat by the cheerfully burning fire.

  Allen lifted his cup of ale in greeting as Eiry accepted one from Anne. “We got a plan for getting food for our friends?” He frowned at the purplish marks on her throat. “What happened to yer neck?” Rising to his feet, he tilted her chin up to see her throat better, noting the wince of pain as she shook it off.

  "Worry not about my throat, I'm fine. The plan tonight is one of true daring. We're going to sneak up through the caverns under Peveril Castle and raid Robert's kitchens, taking all of his food supplies,” she informed the shocked couple, successfully distracting Allen from the bruises.

  "You've got to be kidding,” Allen exclaimed in total shock of her idea. A small, wicked smile drew her mouth to one side and the determined glint in her eyes made Allen ask, “Do you really believe we can just sneak inside Lord Robert's castle and steal his food right from under his very nose?"

  "Aye, and it will be made simple when we send some of our men to draw the sheriff from his castle, giving us the perfect opportunity to pluck him clean."

  Seeing the possibilities, Allen started chuckling. “Well, we just might have something to work on here. What does Louie have to say about this?"

  Frowning, it dawned on Eiry she had not seen Louie yet. “I haven't told him of my plan. When I do see him, I'll tell him to lead the distraction while we loot the castle."

  "Sounds like a plan. What time do we meet?"

  "After supper, I'll put Lilia to bed and we'll sneak out of the castle. We'll then join you at the Devil's Arse.” She paused as the nagging thought plagued her about the increased reward on her head. If anyone wanted to, they had the means to jeopardize her life. “Allen, have you noticed anyone acting peculiar of late?"

  "What do you mean?” he asked, frowning at her question.

  "The bounty on my head was raised again. I'd like to be prepared if the temptation should become too much for someone to resist.” She hated to think one of her own people could become greedy, but gold was a rare commodity. Five hundred gold pieces was a fortune to the poor people she was trying to help.

  Allen and Anne glanced at each other quickly. Anne nudged him, urging him to tell. Motioning Eiry to lean closer, Allen whispered, “Watch out for...” Before he could say the man's name, Louie entered the kitchen. Avoiding his inquisitive gaze, Allen smiled at his wife. “Anne, can ye get me another cup of ale?"

  * * * *

  "Good morning, Louie,” Eiry greeted him solemnly as he took a seat across from at the table.

  "What goes today?”
Louie asked."I was just telling Allen to gather the men tonight and meet us at the secret entrance of the cave. We are going on a raid. Tonight we change our tactics. I want you and several of our men to set fire to the sheriff's office while I lead the rest into Peveril castle and raid his food supplies."

  "Sounds like a good plan. Allen, you ride with me.” Louie made to rise from the bench, stilling when Eiry firmly stated her orders in the matter.

  "Allen will remain with me. See to your men and watch for traitors. The bounty on our heads is getting dangerously high.” Although Eiry spoke softly, the authority was unmistakable.

  "I'll gather them together and meet you in the orchard after dinner.” He left the kitchen.

  Allen prepared to leave, too. “I best be about double checking our work on the roof. Martine says his men will be arriving within the week, and they must have shelter.” A rueful smile made him appear bashful. “By the way, thanks for recommending me. I never thought another lord would entrust me again with such an important job."

  "I knew who to recommend the minute Lucian asked who I thought best for the job needing to be done. There is no other better man than you."

  "Lucian? When did you start to call him by his Christian name?” He raised his hands in surrender when Anne smacked him with her ladle. “All I'm sayings is that Martine relies a lot upon her opinion, does he not? Eiry, please be careful. I know you have a kind and generous heart, but heed my words. Lucian Marine is still a man, no matter the gossip. He might demand more and ask you to share yourself in ways inappropriate of a noblewoman."

  Her mouth went dry at his words. Could Lucian find he needed her more than was proper? Would she give in to him if he were to demand it or worse, if Lucian was to ask her to be his? “I promise, I shall strive to watch my steps.” Allen appeared to be reassured, though Eiry wasn't so certain if she could keep her word, not where Lucian Martine was concerned.