Exile’s Bane Read Online Free PDF

from place to place. If not physically, then certainly in our minds.”
    I stepped back in bitter disgust. “You, who follow your prince from here to hell and back, can say that very easily, can’t you?”
    His stance tightened with insult, then loosened, his facial expression settling into amusement. He searched my face.
    “You are safe here. For now, it is the best I can do for you and your friend. No one will harm you while I am here. I will post guards at the lower tower door and at this entry. I am sworn to obey the countess’ orders.” He placed a warm palm atop my clutched hands and added in a soft voice, “I’m sorry, ‘tis my duty.”
    He seemed sincere enough. Mixed up in that sincerity, I sensed his mounting desire which, to my distress, made my own soar. I wanted nothing more than to curl up in the safety of his embrace.
    A group of approaching lifeguard cavaliers burst through the doorway and ended the moment. It was just as well, for I was probably about to embarrass myself. Duncan greeted them and snapped out clipped orders to the solidly built, black-haired man suddenly before us.
    “Sergeant Burke, send two men down to the lower entrance and a man to the roof. You and Smith remain at this hallway entry. The two young ladies here may not leave this tower. Nor are they to be disturbed.”
    “Sir,” Sergeant Burke responded sharply, though his salute was unhurried.
    Duncan strode through the door and out of sight. His men dispersed around me, and Sergeant Burke, with his shocking blue eyes and a nasty-looking firelock, one of the new flintlock muskets, pushed me gently back into the room. I looked around, distraught at the thought of being left with soldiers I did not know. All I could hear of Duncan was the clank of his sword and the crash of his boots as he descended the stair in the distance. Fleeing as soon as he got the chance.
    Sergeant Burke rested his firelock on its armored butt and pulled the door closed in my face.
    When I returned to the upper room, Peg confronted me.
    “I was on the stair, and I noticed that special something between thee and the good captain. Very attractive he is, with all that heathen hair.”
    I ignored her, for she accused me of what I had tried desperately to avoid all morning. Sensing my withdrawal, she turned back to her fire. I returned to my perch atop my father’s hangings, where I ran my fingers through hair that hung to my waist, angrily jerking out the tangles.
    I knew Duncan was as attracted to me as I was to him. Though he would not disobey orders for me, I could not fault that in him. In fact, I admired his loyalty. No, the ominous issue that disrupted my thoughts was my escalating feelings for him. They would surely engulf me if I gave in to them. So I spent some time trying to figure out how I might evade the one person whose services I needed, only to come to the conclusion that, short of a drop off the tower roof, there was simply no way out without his help.
    Some time later, the sudden scrape of the heavy door sounded below, boots came through the open doorway, and the burr of his voice told me he had returned. I went immediately down to him, driven by unmitigated desire.
    He stood in the cramped circular room over by the deep-set window and peered out as though he might find something useful in the rain in the postern courtyard. I moved toward him along the disordered path to the window. The sight of his powerful body sent a flutter through my stomach. His scent of precious horse leather and fresh air washed over me. His thick, leather buff coat and his breast plate were spotted with rain. He had been in the front courtyard then, if not beyond the walls.
    At my approach, his hat in hand, he turned to me, tall, square-jawed and impressive. His eyebrows went up, and a smile warmed his face.
    “I must see my uncle,” I said, plunging into the simple plea I had memorized. “I cannot defend myself without your help.”
    He stiffened, and the smile