Midnight Shadow

by Laurel O'Donnell

  ***

  Terran stared out his chamber window at the late morning sun. Its bright rays bathed his face with warmth, but only coldness reached his soul.

  “She knows who he is,” Kenric said from behind Terran. “We should question her thoroughly.”

  Terran’s mind refused to focus on Kenric’s request. Bria was still out there somewhere. Had she reached Castle Delaney? Had brigands hurt her? Did she need him? Terran’s jaw clenched.

  “Terran,” his cousin called, “he’s robbing you, taking your coin, making a fool of you in front of your people. Why are you not more concerned with capturing him?”

  Terran whirled quickly, fury binding his hands into fists. He approached Kenric, and Kenric retreated before Terran’s anger. “I am no fool,” Terran said. “But this Midnight Shadow is not important right now. The whereabouts of my wife is. And you failed to find her last night.”

  Kenric was silent for a moment, unused to Terran’s rage. Finally, he bowed slightly. “M’lord,” he said, “I did not realize she meant that much to you.”

  Did not realize she meant that much to you. The words echoed inside him. God’s blood, Terran thought. She does mean that much to me! That’s why I’m going mad with worry.

  “I will – ”

  A knock came at the door. Terran whirled, breathless in anticipation of any news. “Come,” he commanded.

  The captain of the guard, Sir William, entered. He looked at Kenric as if gaining approval, then glanced at Knowles. “We found her,” he announced.

  Terran took a step forward. “Where?”

  “In the old garden, m’lord,” he said.

  Terran wasted no time in racing out the door toward the old garden. She hadn’t left the castle! Or had she and then returned? What was she doing in the garden? Had she gone to that weed-infested patch to get away from him? Or was it as Kathryn had said, that he had hurt Bria’s feelings? Guilt surged within him.

  Terran cursed his rashness, but caring for someone so deeply was new to him.

  He threw open the door to the old garden. It was smaller than the main garden and grossly neglected. Perhaps Bria felt she fit in here, Terran thought. He stepped through the door and looked quickly around, but there was no sign of her.

  He moved down the stone walkway, continuing to scan the garden for her. Near the back wall something colorful caught his eye, a single rose, almost buried in the weeds. The rosebush had somehow managed to poke one of its branches out through the tangle of weeds, and one small bud was displayed proudly atop the stem, its petals yet unopened.

  Terran stared at it for a long moment. Then something moved just to the right of the rose. The weeds had made a shelter, a cave of sorts. Vines grew down the wall and stretched over an old bench. In the sheltered, weedy cave, Terran could make out a head of dark hair. Bria’s hair.

  Was she hiding? Was she that fearful of him, of her new home?

  Terran stepped closer, but she didn’t move. “Bria,” he called. She wasn’t moving. Was she hurt?

  Terran bent down before the strange shelter to look inside at his bride. She was nestled in the weeds, her knees pulled up gently, her hand up near her face, her head lying on a cushioned bed of moss. “Bria?” Terran crawled into the shelter. She shifted her head slightly, and Terran saw she was sleeping.

  Terran stared at her, dumbfounded. Why would she choose to sleep here, alone and unprotected? Why wouldn’t she come into the castle?

  He ducked his head beneath the canopy of vines. He reached for her, but stopped suddenly as his eyes traveled to her face. Her long dark lashes rested against her ivory skin, her cheeks were tinted a luminescent pink, and her lips were full and red and parted.

  He was transfixed by her beauty and could do nothing but gaze upon her perfection.

  “M’lord?”

  With a silent curse at Kenric for disturbing this moment, Terran leaned forward and gently brushed Bria’s lips with his before he scooped her up into his arms, pulling her close against his chest.

  She stirred and Terran whispered soothing words to her. Bria sighed and settled down once again, resting her cheek against his shoulder.

  Terran moved through the garden toward the castle door, passing Kenric without uttering a word. He brought Bria to his room and gently laid her on his bed. She stretched a little, opening her eyes just enough to give him a teasing glimpse of their brilliance, then turned over and went back to sleep.

  Terran pulled a warm cover over her body. Then he sat in a chair and stared at his wife. Wife. The word took on a powerful, potent meaning.

  Somehow through her defiance and stubbornness, Bria had worked magic on him. She was his wife in more than just name, and all he wanted was to make her his wife in every way.

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Warmth splashed across Bria’s eyes. Light burned into her lids even though they were closed. She turned away and stretched. The warmth of her bed was luxurious. She almost hated to open her eyes and greet the new morning. Reluctantly, she peeked out at the day.

  The sight that greeted her caused her to sit up and clutch the blanket to her breast. Terran Knowles sat in a chair near the bed, his eyes trained on her.

  “What are you doing here?” she demanded of Terran. “How did you get into my room?” But her voice died as she looked around. The window was in the wrong spot. The small table against the far wall that was littered with her collection of doves wasn’t there. In one comer of the room hung a large tapestry she’d never seen before, depicting a richly colorful tournament, the jousting pole of one knight skewering the chest of his opponent.

  She was not in her room. The last thing she remembered was returning to the castle and ducking into the garden as she tried to avoid the guards.

  “You are in our room,” Terran softly corrected her.

  Bria gripped the blanket tightly as the previous day’s events came back to her. “I am your wife,” she whispered.

  “A disobedient wife,” Terran growled.

  Bria scowled. Yes, that was right. He’d gone with another woman on their wedding night. Not that I wanted him to come to me, she told herself, knowing it was a lie. But I certainly didn’t want him to be with another woman. She bit her lip and looked away from him, trying to hide her disapproval.

  “Why did you run away from Kenric?”

  At Kenric’s name, Bria’s eyes snapped up to Terran’s. “I didn’t feel it was Kenric’s place to escort me to my new home.”

  “So now you see fit to tell me how my castle should be run.”

  Bria’s scowl deepened and she looked away again.

  Suddenly, he was beside the bed, her chin in his palm. He lifted her chin until she was looking into his eyes. “I will not have lies between us,” he said.

  “Even if I would be punished for speaking the truth?” she asked.

  He dropped his hand. Suspicion flared in his black eyes. “Is there something I would punish you for?”

  The Midnight Shadow hung over them like a thick black cloud. She studied his face, his strong chin, his thinned and angry lips. But there was something gentle in his eyes. Most men would beat her for her disobedience, but Terran hadn’t raised a finger against her. She had to grant him that much. He made her feel things she’d never experienced. She wanted to be with him. She wanted him to kiss and touch her. She wanted him to... fulfill her.

  Bria shook her head, looking away sadly. It would never happen if she didn’t reveal herself to Terran. “The Midnight Shadow is not my lover,” she said.

  Terran sat beside her. “All right,” he said softly. His arm brushed hers, causing shivers to race up her skin to her shoulder. As if beckoned, she lifted her gaze to his.

  He was staring at her, his dark eyes scrutinizing every aspect of her features. The sweep of his gaze was like a caress. Fire radiated from his eyes, warming her, reassuring her. And then he lowered his head to hers.

  Bria closed her eyes, waiting for the kiss, anticipating the feel of his
lips against hers. His hot breath fanned her lips. “Then tell me,” he urged, “who is the Midnight Shadow?”

  Her body tingled with the remembered caress of his kiss. She opened her mouth to tell him something, anything so he’d kiss her.

  His lips touched hers, demanding, coaxing.

  “Tell me,” he whispered against her lips.

  Bria wanted to tell him, but she’d tried before and he wouldn’t listen to her. Would he now? Would he listen to how Kenric killed Mary? Would he listen to how he was mistreating his people? Would he change so she wouldn’t have to become the Midnight Shadow? Tears rose in her eyes. She wanted to tell him. She wanted to give him everything he wanted.

  His hot kisses moved over her chin, down her neck.

  Her throat worked. “I can’t.”

  He pulled back so fast cold engulfed her and she trembled. “You side with him,” Terran growled. “You side with your lover against me!”

  Bria saw the fury in his eyes, the stark, vivid anger seething inside him. “No, Terran,” she pleaded, tears blurring her vision. “He isn’t your enemy. He takes the tax money and returns it to your people.”

  Terran ground his teeth. “How do you know this?”

  “Someone has to help them, since you won’t!”

  “I asked how you know this,” Terran repeated.

  Bria swallowed hard, but closed her mouth, refusing to answer him. She couldn’t tell him. And it was tearing her apart.

  He grabbed her arm and agony flared up from her healing wound. “Tell me,” he snarled.

  “I can’t,” Bria replied. “I won’t. What he’s doing is good.”

  “He’s stealing from me!”

  “If you wouldn’t overtax your people, he wouldn’t have to!”

  “I won’t permit it!”

  Bria stared into Terran’s eyes just as determinedly as he gazed into her own. Stubborn resolve warred on both sides. Suddenly he moved, dragging her across the bed, through the soft velvet covers. She almost tumbled, but Terran yanked her to her feet. He flung the door open so hard it banged against the wall.

  He pulled her out into the hallway, where he paused to look left and then right. Then he started down the hall with Bria in tow. Bria stumbled and almost fell as he pulled her behind him, but his grip on her arm kept her on her feet. He moved to the spiral staircase, and Bria had to run to keep up, holding her long dress up so as not to trip over the stone steps. The wound in her arm flared again, but she bit back any protestations.

  Terran did not pause at the bottom of the steps. He pulled her roughly down the hallway, stormed into the Great Hall, and paused in the doorway, scanning the room.

  Bria had a quick moment to catch her breath, but it didn’t last. Terran started toward the hearth where a group of men gathered.

  They turned as Terran approached.

  Suddenly Terran shoved Bria to the ground. “If you will not tell me who my enemy is, I can only consider you my enemy as well.”

  “Terran,” Bria cried, pushing herself up to a sitting position.

  Terran’s eyes shifted to someone standing over her. “Find out who he is,” he ordered.

  Bria looked up to see Kenric staring at her, a grin quirking his lips.

  She scrambled to her feet. “No!” she shouted. “Please, Terran.”

  Terran turned his back on her, moving out of the Great Hall. “No!” Bria screamed as Kenric grabbed her arm.

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  As Bria moved down a long set of stairs, the sunlight faded and then vanished altogether. The only light came from the few torches on the wall. Behind her, the footsteps of two guards echoed softly.

  Down they went into the darkness, until they reached what felt like the very bottom of the castle. The air was cool and damp. Bria scanned the small room, which was illuminated by a lone flickering candle on a table in the corner. The stone walls were moist and speckled with a mossy growth. Ahead of her stretched a dark corridor, from which emanated occasional moans.

  “Well,” a voice behind her said.

  Bria turned to see Kenric emerging from the stairway. The flame flickered over the sharp ridges of his face as he approached. “Not exactly where you expect to find the lady of Castle Knowles.”

  Bria’s skin crawled as he stepped near her. He studied her face, and she turned her gaze toward the darkness.

  “You may leave us,” Kenric commanded the guards.

  Bria snapped her gaze back to Kenric. Shivers of apprehension raced along her spine.

  The guards turned and moved toward the stairs. Bria had a sudden urge to call them back, to beg them to stay, but she closed her mouth quickly.

  The guards quietly disappeared up the stairs, and she was alone with Kenric. Fearful images of her childhood rose to the forefront of her mind.

  She blinked her eyes, trying to erase the visions. She succeeded in pushing the terrible images from her mind, but those black, black eyes of Kenric’s still stared at her as if he read her thoughts. A smile curved his lips.

  “Bria...”

  Bria straightened slightly at the intended insult.

  Kenric chuckled slightly. “Of course I meant ‘my lady’,” he said mockingly.

  Bria swallowed. There was no sword strapped to his waist, so he would not run her through. What could he do?

  He moved slowly around her until he was behind her. “Do you remember the bramble patch?” he asked.

  Bria stiffened as his breath fanned her neck. He was right behind her, standing near her, taunting her, making her afraid. He loved to have people fear him. She had seen it as Bria and as the Midnight Shadow. She lifted her chin, but refused to be baited by his taunts.

  “That was quite some while ago,” Kenric whispered. “Perhaps you’ve forgotten.”

  Bria still said nothing.

  “Who is the Midnight Shadow?” Kenric demanded.

  What could she tell him? She could no more tell Kenric than she could Terran.

  Terran. He didn’t care about her. He’d abandoned her to Kenric. A strange sadness came over her at his betrayal. She’d wanted to start the marriage out right, to try to make it work. But how could they make it work when he treated his people so horribly? When he left her standing alone on the stairs of the castle while he took his mistress inside the stone keep? When he let Kenric question her?

  Suddenly Kenric’s hands were loosening the hooks of her dress. Bria tore away from his touch, demanding, “What are you doing?”

  Kenric’s lips twisted in a grimace of dark amusement. “I’m questioning you.” He took a step forward. “Who is the Midnight Shadow?”

  Bria stepped quickly away until she came up against the cold, wet stone wall. She opened her mouth to reply, but promptly closed it. What could she tell him? “You’d never believe me,” she said.

  “Try me,” he ordered.

  At her hesitation, Kenric reached around behind her, almost in an embrace, touching her neck with his hand and her shoulder with his arm. Bria slunk back, trying to protect herself by leaning into the wall. She fought back a shiver as the cold wetness of the wall began to seep inside her.

  “Go ahead and scream,” Kenric whispered. “No one will hear you.”

  Bria swallowed the scream that rose in her throat. She would never allow him to know the terror she was feeling, the sheer unabashed fear that froze her limbs.

  “Who is the Midnight Shadow?” Kenric demanded again. He pulled away from her, having undone all the hooks of her dress.

  Bria wanted to dissolve into a fit of sobs and become the frightened child lurking just below her consciousness. But she was an adult now, and she fought back the urge.

  Kenric reached up to her shoulder and eased her dress down over her arm. All the while, a smile etched his lips. He was enjoying her humiliation, her terror.

  Finally, she lifted her chin and met his glare. “I remember the bramble patch,” she retorted bravely. “And I am not that child any longer. You do not frighten me.�
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  Uncertainty flashed in his dark eyes and Bria knew a moment of victory.

  But then the cruel anger etched its way into his slanted eyebrows. “I should,” he growled and pulled her dress roughly from her shoulders.

  “Stop it!” Bria pushed at his hands, knocking them away. She grabbed at the dress, keeping it from falling any lower.

  “Tell me who he is and I will stop,” Kenric urged, a tight smile on his lips. “But it would be much more fun if you didn’t.”

  Bria couldn’t stop humiliation from painting her cheeks red. Fear ate away at her bravery. “Terran will never allow you to do this.”

  “On the contrary,” Kenric said, wrenching the dress from her grip and sliding it down lower and lower. “He ordered it.”

  Bria grabbed the material before it slid completely from her body. “Liar! He didn’t tell you to -- to hurt me.”

  Kenric reached out to touch her fingers, sliding his flesh along the length of her knuckles to the tips of her fingers to pry them open. “All you need do to stop this is tell me who the Midnight Shadow is.”

  The dress dropped to the floor, pooling around her ankles. “You bastard,” she hissed.

  Her chemise was now the only barrier between his evil gaze and her flesh.

  Kenric flashed her a grin, displaying sharp white teeth. His scorching look assaulted the flesh beneath the sheer fabric.

  “If you touch me, I’ll tell Terran.”

  “My dear,” he said silkily, “he already thinks you’re a slut. Who will he believe?”

  Slut. The word rocked Bria. Was that how Terran described her to his men?

  Suddenly, Kenric stepped away from her into the darkness and Bria knew a moment of fierce relief. She reached down for her dress, but he suddenly caught her arm and pulled her forward, into the dark corridor.

  “I’ll let you think about it for a night,” Kenric hissed. “I’ll be back come morning to continue our discussion.”