“Why, Solara?”
Now she felt like the foolish child that Roarke had called her. She laced her fingers together and contemplated her lap. “I wish I knew. The night before we were to leave…something happened.”
“What happened?”
How much should she tell Noele? Could she confide in her sister about her feelings for Roarke? If she told Noele about what happened between her and Roarke, Noele would have to tell Garick. Or lie to him to protect Solara and Roarke. That, she would not ask her sister to do.
“I simply had a feeling that my betrothal to Braedon was not right, was not my destiny.” She looked up and met Noele’s blue eyes. “I wrote the note and gave it to Trista. She swore to me that she would deliver it to you that morning.”
Noele pursed her lips. “Ah, I see our little sister is up to her old tricks.”
“I had no idea she would hide the note from you. You must believe I would never intentionally worry you so.”
Noele took her hands and held them. “I believe you. I know how difficult this has been for you, betrothed to a man you have never met. Uncertainty fills your life right now, mixed with a bit of fear at the unknown.”
“I know you of all people are aware of my feelings.” Only Noele had not been in love with another man when she met Garick. There was the difference. A difference she could not begin to explain to her sister.
“I beg your forgiveness, Noele. I am sorry that Garick had to leave and explain my absence to Braedon.
I know you hate to be apart from him.”
“I do not blame you, sister. How could you know that Trista would hide the note?”
“I should know better than to trust the little minx. I worry about what kind of havoc she will create once in Greenbriar.”
“Oh, Garick will make sure she maintains proper decorum. Have no fear on that count.” When Trista was involved, one never knew what could happen. Already she’d made a bigger mess of the situation here than Solara had made by herself. As if she had needed help causing chaos at Winterland.
“Nevertheless, I will still beg forgiveness from you, and from Garick upon his return. As far as Trista, I will be having a firm word with her when she arrives.” Noele laughed. “As will we both. Come now, let us get some sleep.” When Noele stood, she swayed and grabbed for Solara’s hands. Alarmed, Solara gently sat her back down.
“What is wrong?”
Noele offered a gentle smile. “I felt a bit faint for a moment. I am fine now.”
“You’re pale. Something is wrong with you.” She stood, intending to call for Isolde, but Noele grabbed her hand.
“There is nothing wrong with me, Solara. Sit down.” She shook her head. “No. You are dizzy and obviously something ails you. Let me get Isolde and she can fetch the physician.”
“I have already seen the physician, and he pronounced me fit. And pregnant.” Solara sat abruptly. “Pregnant? You are having a child?” The color began to return to Noele’s face, the silver on her cheeks sparkling. “Aye. In seven months time.”
Joy replaced her earlier anguish and she hugged Noele fiercely. “I am so happy for you. May all that is magic in the universe bestow the gifts of love and happiness on your child.” Noele nodded. “Thank you, Solara.”
“I imagine Garick is beaming with pride.”
“He will be, once I tell him.”
“He does not know yet?”
“I only found out two days ago. I did not want to tell him before he left for Greenbriar, knowing how he would worry.”
The guilty feeling returned. “Oh, Noele, I am so sorry that you had to delay telling Garick your good news. I truly have mucked things up, haven’t I?”
Noele graced her with a beautiful smile, the magic of her happiness giving her a silver glow like a halo surrounding her body. “You have followed your heart, Solara. There is nothing wrong with that.”
“I have been impulsive and stupid for no reason. There is plenty wrong with that.” Noele laughed and kissed her forehead. “Rest now. We will talk more tomorrow. There is much to plan now that the baby is coming.”
After Noele left, Solara paced her chambers, with every passing moment convinced that Garick needed to return to Winterland immediately. She worried about the danger he might face traveling to and from Greenbriar.
What if something happened to him? Not only would his child not have a father, but he would never even know about the child he’d created with Noele. And it would be entirely her fault.
She had to do something, and now. Hurrying out of her room, she crept down the hallway, stopping in front of the massive door leading to Roarke’s chambers.
It was late. Would he be abed? Images of him throwing open the door naked refused to leave her mind.
Now is not the time for fantasies of Roarke. He is the only one who can help you. You need his warrior’s heart right now more than you need his man’s body.
If only she could convince her own traitorous body of that fact. Before her courage failed, she rapped on the door.
Her heart leaped into her throat as Roarke threw open the door. She tried to keep her eyes focused on his face, except he wore only half-laced breeches and no shirt. His chest gleamed strong and smooth in the light of the hallway.
“What do you want?”
His gruff voice nearly scattered her flagging courage. “I need to speak with you.”
“See me in the morning. I’m busy right now.”
He made to close the door. “Roarke, please. It’s urgent.” With a resigned sigh he motioned her inside and shut the door. “It’s very late and you should not be here in my room.”
She walked in, her gaze gravitating to the huge bed in the middle of the room. Fur coverlets looked warm and inviting. Shaking off thoughts of Roarke’s bed and the endless possibilities of what they could do there, she stepped in front of the hearth and warmed her cold hands, preferring to stare into the flames rather than his half-naked body. “I have something important to tell you.”
“I think we’ve said enough.”
“This is not about you and me.”
“Then what is it? And will you turn around? I find it difficult to converse with your backside.” She whipped around and looked at his face. He had stepped close to her, so close the golden flecks in his eyes glowed from the firelight. Shots of molten heat emanated from his gaze.
She swallowed past the dry lump in her throat and concentrated on his face, rather than his bronzed chest. Except his face was a work of art, too, his angular features accentuated by his closely trimmed beard. She remembered the softness of his beard against her thighs, and clamped her legs together to ward off the moisture gathering there.
Unfortunately, she could do nothing about her nipples beading against her thin gown.
Roarke must have noticed, because he dropped his gaze to her chest, then back up again at her face.
“Make it quick, Solara.”
“It’s…it’s about Noele. She is with child.”
His eyes widened. “Are you certain of this?”
“Aye. She told me tonight.”
“Does Garick know?”
She shook her head. “No. She did not tell him before he left for Greenbriar.”
“Why not?”
“Because she was afraid he would not go if she told him. She feared for D’Naath if Braedon was not advised of the delay.”
He did not have to say the words, because she felt them within herself. Because of her.
“And what problem does this present? She can simply tell him upon his return.” Obviously Roarke failed to see the urgency in getting Garick to return. “Garick should be alerted so that he can immediately return to Winterland. He belongs here, with his wife and child.”
“That is not possible.”
“Please, Roarke. Can’t you ride out and bring him back?”
“Is everything so simple to you, Solara? I cannot leave Winterland. I am sworn to protect it during Garick’s absence.”
“Then send a few of the guards to catch up to him. He would be delayed in D’Naath for a day.”
“No. We can spare no guards. Besides, it would do no good. Garick must go to Greenbriar with haste.
He will not stay even a day in D’Naath, merely alert your parents to your disappearance and move on to the southern lands. Braedon must be told immediately.”
“Oh, why must we have all this ritual and custom? If I was not expected on a certain day, this would have been much simpler.”
“If you had stayed here and left for Greenbriar when you should have, there would be no problem.”
“If you hadn’t touched me, perhaps I would have.”
His eyes widened. Her fingers brushed over her lips, unable to believe what she’d just uttered.
If she had but one wish right now, it would be to take back what she had just said.
* * * * *
Because of him she’d run off? Because of him she had not wanted to go to Greenbriar?
“If I hadn’t touched you. Care to explain that?”
Her dark lashes fluttered against her cheeks as she looked down. “No. ’Twas not what I meant.”
“Then what did you mean?”
No, do not ask her to explain. Do not spend any more time alone with
this faerie than necessary. She is too dangerous
.
“I meant…what I meant was…oh what does it matter? Can’t you take me to Greenbriar yourself? If we cannot bring Garick back, then you can escort me there so he can hurry back. Maybe we would even catch up with him and he could turn around.”
He grasped her shoulders and forced her to meet his gaze, hoping he could make her understand. “Have you listened to anything I’ve told you? I cannot leave Winterland, I cannot fetch Garick and I cannot take you to Greenbriar. You are simply going to have to wait until he returns, then you can go.” Perhaps she had decided to hurry on to Greenbriar because she’d found nothing in Winterland to stay for.
And now he was being ridiculous. He did not want her to stay. Her destiny lay with the southern king, not at Winterland.
“I have heard you; I just refuse to believe there is no other way.” Her skin was soft as cream, her scent permeating the air and making him mad with the urge to bury his lips against the pounding pulse in her neck. She stood with her back to the fire, the flames from the hearth appearing as if they burned through her scarlet wings. Her face was shadowed and her entire body glowed like a bonfire.
The same way she lit him up, setting him afire each time he was near her. She was the magical flame, he the tinder that longed for the spark.
Damn his desires, and damn her for tempting him this way. His only recourse was to make her so angry she would leave.
“You will get what you want soon enough, Solara. For now, you will simply have to be patient and wait until Garick and the guards return. Your childish actions have put both Garick and your sister in danger.
Why don’t you spend the time praying for their safety instead of concocting more ridiculous schemes?” He heard the rush of air as she sucked in a breath. Unfortunately, it also forced her breasts against the thin gown she wore, outlining nipples that he remembered touching, tasting. His cock came to life and he realized that railing against her would never tamp down the need he had for her.
“Why do you act as if I’ve injured you?” she asked, folding her arms across those delectable breasts. “I have done nothing to you, Roarke. I have asked nothing of you.” Her skin burned against his hands, and he pulled away as if she’d just set him on fire. “You have injured my king with your foolishness. You have put Winterland at risk by diluting our guard strength. And you have taken Garick away from Noele when they should be celebrating together, not suffering apart.” She winced and turned away, swiping at a tear creeping down her cheek.
Remorse fought hard over the need to remain impervious to her beauty. Not one to hurt a woman, he wanted to take her into his arms, stroke her hair, and murmur apologies against her soft lips.
But that he could not, would not do.
Ever.
What he could do, what he had to do, was stay as far away from her as possible. Beginning with removing her from his room before he did something foolish like carry her to his bed and sink his shaft deep inside her sweet cunt.
“It’s late and I have much to do tomorrow. You should leave.” She nodded, her eyes like moist, green pools. Blinking against the tears, she said, “Aye, that I should. My apologies for wasting your time, Roarke.”
She fled his room quickly, shutting the door behind her. Roarke released the tension knotting his shoulders and turned to his bed, knowing that sleep would not come for him tonight.
He cared for Solara, that much he could admit to himself. But caring and wanting warred with honor and duty, and in the end, he would do what was expected of him.
He would leave Solara alone, no matter how much he wanted her.
Solara busied herself tending to the tables, making sure the cloths were set so the dishes could be brought out.
“I saw you last night, Solara. What were you doing sneaking out of Roarke’s bedroom in the middle hours?”
She turned at the sound of Noele’s voice. Attempting a nonchalant shrug, she said, “I asked him to fetch Garick.”
“You did what?”
She refused to look at her sister. “I asked him to bring Garick back and take me to Greenbriar.”
“I assume he told you that notion was ridiculous.” Did no one take her side? “Yes, he made that quite clear.”
“I’m surprised you would put yourself in a compromising position like that. You know better than to go to a man’s room. You are a virgin Solara, and promised to another.” Solara didn’t respond.
“Aren’t you?”
“You know very well I am promised to Braedon. Your comment did not require a response.”
“And are you still a virgin?”
Solara looked up and scanned the room, grateful that she and Noele were alone. “Aye, I am still a virgin.”
“You play with fire, sister.”
“I play with no such thing. I am resigned to my duties, Noele. Do not fear that I will do anything else to embarrass you or Garick.”
“I do not worry for that. You have done nothing to embarrass us. You are simply confused. I want to make sure your confusion does not lead you to make a mistake.” How easily it would have been to make a mistake with Roarke that night. If he’d told her he wanted to make love to her, she would have gladly given her virginity to him, only to discover later that he cared nothing for her.