Love's Call (17 page)

Ansley couldn’t keep her eyes off him as they walked down the corridor arm and arm. She wanted to say so much, but words evaporated before they were born.

He’d told Tristan he had no doubt she’d make him happy. Was it true or just small talk for a man who obviously loved his wife?

Shivering, she leaned into him.

Leargan squeezed her against his side, saying nothing.

They arrived much too soon. Ansley shifted, biting her bottom lip. She didn’t want him to leave.

“Good night, Ansley.” He opened the door.

Ali rushed into the room and immediately jumped onto the large bed, lying in the middle.

Ansley and Leargan exchanged a wry grin. “I guess I’ll make sure she’s out hunting on our wedding night.”

He chuckled. “I’d appreciate it.”

“Good night, Leargan.” Ansley took a step closer and rested a hand on his chest. Looking into his dark eyes, she leaned up to kiss him.

Leargan lowered his head and met her halfway, kissing her until she was dizzy. His arms went around her, holding her against his chest as her knees weakened.

She wanted him to spend the night in her room, but he’d say no.

How many times did she have to tell him she didn’t want to wait? Would the man even take her if she stripped naked before him?

“You’d better go inside,” Leargan breathed against her lips, panting hard against her breasts.

Ansley nodded, brushing her lips against his just one last time.

He groaned. “You’re killing me, Ansley.” His intense gaze bored into hers.

Staring, she said nothing. Then she grinned. “I’m sorry.”

Without another word, she closed the door, leaving him standing in the corridor, wide-eyed, his mouth open.

She leaned on the door, sucking in a breath and giggling when she heard his laugh from the corridor.

Chapter Fifteen

Avril watched Sir Roduch shift in the chair, arms crossed over his broad chest. Head tilted to one side, his eyes were shut, but there was no way he was asleep. Or comfortable.

She stopped herself from reaching for him; which was odd, considering she’d been plastered to him for most of the day. In his arms, against his wall of a chest.

His hands on hers, on her lower back, her arm, even the barest brush of her wrist.

It was rare he wasn’t touching her when they were together. It didn’t make her uncomfortable or scare her. It made Avril crave him.

That afternoon, she’d walked the gardens with Roduch, holding one of his large hands, their fingers entwined.

Warm. Safe.

She’d never felt so free in her life.

If she could stay at Castle Aldern, she could get back to feeling like herself…someone she’d lost track of the day Tynan had taken her to his home when she was fourteen.

Avril shivered. She crushed her eyes against the memories of that night...her wedding night.

Tynan’s offensive breath on her face and his rough lips bruising hers. His hands smashing her breasts. His obese body on top of hers, forcing her legs open. The agony when he’d shoved his member into her, tearing her virginity away.

She’d screamed and Tynan had slapped her. He’d told her he knew she liked what he was doing to her. He’d thrust into her, over and over, the pain excruciating. Avril had kept her eyes clenched shut the whole time.

Then he beat her when she’d sobbed afterward. Physically thrown her away from him. Hit her with a bathing linen he’d tossed and demanded she clean the blood up and change his sheets. He hadn’t even given her access to water or the chance to bathe.

Her parents had given her to a monster.

Tynan had paid them more gold than her father had made in the entire previous turn. Her family needed that money. With four younger siblings to feed, she couldn’t go back, or her brothers and sister would starve. Her father’s injured leg meant he couldn’t farm anymore.

She had to stay with her husband to save her family. At the expense of everything Avril had ever held dear.

All for her damn magic. Visions, prophecies, all forced at her husband’s behest, instead of coming naturally as the Blessed Spirit intended.

Sick, sometimes deathly ill, was how she’d lived the past four turns. Weak, with barely enough recovery time before he’d make her do it again.

More.
Tynan always wanted more. Information, gold, power, sex. Ways to use what she saw against his neighbors so he could get their land. Promise them something and blackmail them into being beholden to him. And he wasn’t even a lord. Despite what he told them all.

He’d killed his family—the rightful cousin who was supposed to own his farm. Tynan had made the whole family—wife, husband and two children—ill, kept them ill while he
cared for them
so he could inherit the place she’d eventually lived with him.

Only Avril saw that he’d poisoned them.

Bastard.

She loved Sir Roduch’s name for Tynan Mont.

“Avril?” Sir Roduch shot straight up, fair brows drawn tight as he stared in the dimness of her room. “Are you all right?”

Avril nodded, heart pounding. He’d startled her, but she wasn’t afraid of him. Guilt crept up from the pit of her stomach. Even though she’d told Sir Roduch’s captain and the duke about what her husband had done to her, she’d never mentioned her magic. Never mentioned the crimes Tynan had committed against others because of her gift.

Or was it a curse?

She was safe at Castle Aldern, and no one would use her magic without her knowledge, or against her, but somehow the words wouldn’t form to tell him.

Avril was more than her magic.

Wanted Sir Roduch to see that. Wanted him to know
her
.

Care for her?

Swallowing hard, she sucked in a breath and sat up, leaning into the headboard. “I am.”

Shoulders relaxing, Sir Roduch sighed. “Good.”

She stared until the big knight shifted in the chair, dropping his arms, hands in his lap. “Sir Roduch…”

He leaned in, making her stomach flutter. “Aye, lass?”

“Do you want to sleep with me?” She forced the words out before she lost her nerve, heart thundering.

“Avril…I don’t think…”

“Wait.” After putting her palm up, she took a deep breath. “I mean,
sleep
in this bed with me.”

“Are you sure?” Eyes wide, his face was open, sincere. It would crush him if she changed her mind.

“That chair can’t be comfortable. You’ve been sleeping there more than a sevenday.”

“It’s not comfortable,” he admitted, averting his gaze.

“I’m not afraid of you,” Avril whispered.

It was true.

She wished for eloquent words to explain herself, but nothing came. She wanted to be with him. Wanted him to hold her.

“You mean that?” Sir Roduch breathed.

“I mean it. Please share my bed. I know you’ll not touch me. I know you wouldn’t rape me.”

“Never.” He stood and made a fist, vehemence coming from his whole being. He shed his boots and sat gingerly on the edge of the bed. A move that belied his size. His eyes locked onto hers. “Are you sure about this?”

****

Roduch looked down at her, holding his breath for her answer. He never would’ve guessed, in a million turns she would ask him to share her bed, not even if he’d had a vision about it.

It was true the chair was killing him, but he’d vowed not to leave her side. Except for the headwoman, everyone respected his decision.

Avril would let him know when she was ready for him to leave her room, but for now she was stuck with him.

He wanted her
stuck
with him forever, but he wouldn’t push her.

“I am sure,” she whispered.

It’d take everything he was made of not to touch her at all, but he wouldn’t. He forced himself to not even reach for her hand. “You trust me?”

“Yes,” Avril answered without hesitation.

She trusted him?

“I’m glad to hear it.” He lay down next to her very slowly.

The bed was oversized. Even with his large frame, they wouldn’t have to touch unless they wanted to. No doubt he
wanted
to, but she wasn’t ready, so Roduch would keep his hands to himself.

“Sir Roduch?” Avril’s sweet voice jolted him.

He’d been frozen, stiff as a board. Forcing a breath, he made himself relax enough to answer her. “Aye?”

“Would it be all right if I moved closer to you?”

Roduch nodded. He couldn’t find his voice.

She scooted closer, until her head rested against his shoulder, the length of her body lightly touching his side. He wanted to take her into his arms but stopped himself.

“You’re so warm,” Avril murmured. “Can you hold me?” Her whisper was very low.

“Aye, lass, but only if you stop calling me
sir.
” Heart leaping to his throat, Roduch pulled her to him.

Her nod was shy, and she burrowed her face into his neck. Avril twined her legs with his, her small knee on his thigh. He sucked in a breath when she nearly bumped his tender parts.

His manhood already liked the idea of their bodies close. If she touched him, even by accident and stirred arousal, she’d yank away from him, and that was the last thing Roduch wanted. Holding her in the bed felt damn good.

He needed to ask about her magic, but how could he bring it up? He’d been biding his time for days. At best, it was going to be an uncomfortable conversation. But he’d promised Leargan he’d find out the reason behind her hiding it, to see what dangers were before them.

Roduch took a breath, clearing his throat and pulling her even closer. “Avril…”

She smiled as she lifted her head from his chest, meeting his eyes in the dimness of her rooms. “Roduch.”

His heart skipped at his name on her lips. She’d finally dropped the
sir.
“Before we met, did you know me?”

Dark brow furrowed, she shook her head, her mass of curls shifting. “What do you mean?”

He closed his eyes, swallowing again. If he admitted his visions, he damn sure couldn’t tell her she was meant to be his. She was nowhere near ready. “I…” Roduch averted his gaze and cursed himself.

“Roduch?”

“When I saw you on the road, I knew you.” Rushing the words, he watched emotions flicker over her face, but she didn’t pull away.

Good.

“What do you mean?” Avril repeated.

“Since I was a lad, I’ve…had…visions. Of you.” He rubbed her back, willing her to stay calm, not pull away from him.

Rearing back, she studied his face. Silence descended. “You’re not lying,” she breathed finally.

“No. I would never lie to you.”

“But…how? I sense no magic in you. I can
always
sense magic.” Her emerald eyes shot open wide, and she slapped her hand over her mouth.

Roduch reached for her wrist, gently pulling it away from her face. “It’s all right, Avril. You can sense magic? Is that what your powers are?” He pressed a kiss to her knuckles.

She shook her head, but didn’t move away from his chest. “I—”

“You can tell me. No one will hurt you here. I will protect you forever.”

“I get visions.” The whisper was so low, he almost missed it. “Powerful visions. Sometimes of the future. Sometimes the past. But when I look at someone, I can
know
them. In and out. Strengths and weaknesses, wants, desires.” She paused, a tear working its way down her cheek.

“I get visions, too,” Roduch whispered. “But only of you. I only see you.” He cupped her cheeks, thumbing her tears away.

“It’s not possible. I didn’t know you before that night on the road.”

“I can’t explain it, lo—lass.” Heart pounding, he took a breath. He couldn’t call her
love.
It’d definitely upset her right now.

“I sense no magic in you, Roduch.” Tone insistent, she leaned down, cupping his face with her small hands. She stared into his eyes.

He had to restrain himself from yanking her down and taking her mouth with his. His manhood stirred, and threatening to lop it off did nothing to soften his budding erection.

“Can you feel that?” Avril asked.

“Feel what?”

“I’m probing you. With magic.” Brow knitted, she stared until sweat beaded her forehead.

“I feel nothing but your body on mine.”

“No tingles?”

Not the ones she’s referring to.
“Nothing, lass.”

Avril collapsed onto his chest, blowing out a breath.

Roduch caught her up, wiping the moisture from her brow.

“I don’t understand,” she whispered.

“Neither do I, but I spoke the truth, Avril. I’ve been seeing you in my dreams since I was a child.”

She met his eyes, biting her bottom lip. “I was destined to come to you?”

“Aye, I believe so.” Roduch’s heart sped up again. “Why did you hide your magic from Lord Aldern and my captain, lass?”

Avril averted her gaze, but he drew her face back to his. “I had to.”

“Why?”

“Tynan…”

“He used your magic?”

“For himself.”

Understanding dawned as she shut down. She wasn’t ready to talk about it. Tynan forced her visions, but to what end? And how did one even force magic?

No matter how Roduch had tried over the turns, he could never see Avril on his own demand. His visions came at their own will, his be damned.

And why had she said he had no magic?

“I need to know, Avril.”

“I know.” She quivered in his arms, her voice barely a whisper.

Regret hit him in a wave. He didn’t want to cause her more strife. Roduch wanted to relieve her pain.
Always.
Take care of her.
Forever.
“I won’t push you, but I need to know. Before we can arrest the bastard.”

“Can we talk in the morning? I will even speak to your captain and the duke. I just…can’t right now. I need you to hold me.”

“Lass…” His heart dropped to his stomach when her eyes watered again.

Was she manipulating him?
No
.

She was genuinely shaking in his arms.

Damn that bastard to hell and back.

“I’m sorry, Roduch.”

“It’ll be fine, lass. There’s always tomorrow. Come here.” He pulled her up his body, aching to kiss her mouth. Diverting his lips, he pressed a kiss to her forehead instead.