A Soul for Vengeance (19 page)

Ortono rose from the table. “I can ask them to stop if you’d like, Your Highness.”

“No, don’t.” Kell closed his eyes and listened to the first music he’d heard since returning from Gravaria. It revived his weary spirit, reminded him that despite the dark days his people had endured under Thallian rule, that they still managed to find joy. His feet itched to dance. His heart yearned to be young and carefree, if only for a few moments while he swung a pretty girl around a dance floor. And when he opened his eyes, he found the one woman he wanted that pretty girl to be.

He held out his hand to her. “Care to join me for a dance?”

For a second, Zara hesitated, and he feared her practical side would result in a refusal. But, much to his surprise and delight, she smiled and took his hand. “You have to promise not to step on my toes.”

“I wouldn’t dream of it.”

Ortono led them back to the main cavern of the mine, where the booths that had sold wares hours before had been pushed back to the walls to turn the area into a massive town square. Musicians gathered in one corner, their pipes and bows producing the music that echoed off the walls and stirred the people into a joyful frenzy. Couples laughed and grinned as they swirled by. Kell watched for an opening, pulling Zara along with him when he found it.

She proved to be light on her feet, her grin never fading as her cheeks grew rosy from the fast pace of the reel. Around and around they went, all the other faces fading into a blur except hers. Her gray eyes twinkled under the torchlight with a merriment he’d never seen in her before. For once, the practical border lord’s daughter seemed to forget about her responsibilities and just enjoyed the moment.

And he’d never seen her look more beautiful as she did dancing in his arms right then.

They danced until his lungs burned, demanding that he slow the pace. Kell steered Zara toward the edge of the cavern where they could take a moment to catch their breaths.

“Tired already, old man?” she teased, even though her chest heaved in time with his.

“It’s been a while since I danced with a beautiful woman.”

She rolled her eyes to the ceiling and rested with her back against the wall. “Do you ever stop flirting?”

“What if I said I was being sincere?” He leaned closer, his heart still pounding with a frantic beat that had nothing to do with the dancing now.

She gave him a faint smile. “You know we shouldn’t.”

“Shouldn’t what?” He inched closer, his thighs brushing against hers.

“Be like this.” Yet despite her warning, she gave him that sultry through-the-lashes gaze and lifted her face.

By the Lady Moon, he was going to kiss her tonight, right now, and satisfy his curiosity once and for all. But before he could elegantly take her in his arms and deliver a kiss that would leave her swooning, someone shoved him forward until his lips collided with hers.

His body stiffened in horror. This was not the way he wanted to kiss her. He barely had time to register the softness of her lips before he pulled away, his tongue tripping over an apology.

Zara bunched his shirt in her fist, yanking him back. Her other hand wound around the nape of his neck, tilting his lips back to hers. “You can do better than that,” she said in a soft purr.

Then she kissed him in a way that made his toes curl and his knees grow weak.

It was not the shy, hesitant kiss he’d gotten in the past from other women. This was strong, forceful, demanding, and damn sexy. Her tongue swept along the seam of his mouth, boldly requesting access. Her fingers threaded his hair, holding him close while the curves of her body rubbed against him in the most tantalizing of ways. This was the kiss of a woman who knew how to stir up her lover’s blood, to take what she wanted and to leave him wanting more.

He braced his hands on her hips, holding them still before he lost all control. Now it was his turn to make demands, his turn to explore the sweetness of her mouth, his turn to lead their dance of desire. He’d been patient, waiting for this moment since he first experienced that spark between them, and he intended to savor every second of this kiss by taking his sweet time.

But Zara refused to surrender that easily. Even though a moan of pleasure rose from her throat, she tightened her grip on his hair and dug her nails into his shoulder. With every twist of her tongue, every rock of her hips, he got a taste of what she’d be like in bed, and that left him hungry for more.

He sat on the verge of picking her up in his arms and taking her to the nearest bed so they could finish this evening properly when a man loudly cleared his voice behind them. Zara broke away, her cheeks red and her pupils large and glazed with passion. They were breathing even harder now than when they’d stopped dancing.

They remained locked in their embrace until the same masculine voice repeated even louder directly behind Kell, “Uh-hum.”

He turned around to find Parros standing less than a foot away, his hands calmly clasped behind his back but his stern expression rivaling an irate father who’d just caught his daughter being compromised. “Lady Zara, perhaps it was time you retired for the evening.” He fixed his gaze directly on Kell and added, “Alone.”

She slipped her hands down his chest, biting her bottom lip as she stepped to the side. Something in her grin told him she wouldn’t let this be the last time they kissed. “Thank you for the lovely evening, Kell.”

“The pleasure was definitely all mine,” he replied, bowing to her and wincing when the motion reminded him of his unresolved desire. Hopefully, there would be a next time, and it wouldn’t end with an overprotective knight interrupting them.

She faded into the crowd. Parros blocked him when he tried to follow and managed to push him back against the wall without ever laying a hand on him. “You’d be wise to leave Lady Zara alone, Your Highness.”

The words could have been a threat, but the hint of sadness in the knight’s voice intrigued him. “Why?”

“Because Lady Zara knows better than to engage your attentions, especially considering that her brother has other plans for her.”

Kell wanted to ask what he meant by that, but Parros turned on his heel and disappeared in the same direction Zara had gone.

Now that he was alone, the music didn’t seem as joyful. His body throbbed from his head to his feet, and both fatigue and frustration weighed down his limbs. He managed to find Ortono among the throngs of people, who was kind enough to lead him to a quiet crevice that contained a makeshift bed.

Sleep, however, evaded him. His mind kept circling around two things late into the evening long after the music had stopped. One—Zara wanted him as much as he wanted her. And two—he needed to have a long talk with Bynn when he got back to camp to find out exactly what he had planned for his sister if he ever wanted a chance to see if their desire could lead to something else.

Chapter 16

A hand brushed across Kell’s bottom as he dismounted. He snapped his head to the side in time to catch Zara winking at him before she continued on her way into Bynn’s camp. It was the first contact she’d had with him since the night they’d kissed. He tossed the reins to the stable boy and chased after her. “I thought you’d decided to stay away from me.”

“I should, but I couldn’t help myself.” Her wicked grin reminded him of the way she grabbed him that night and initiated that seductive kiss.

“Yes, my ass tends to have that effect on women.”

She closed her eyes and groaned. “You would think that.”

“You couldn’t keep your hands off of it,” he teased. “Besides, you’ve managed to deal quite a blow to my confidence.”

“How so?”

“Normally, when I kiss a woman, she doesn’t ignore me for two weeks.”

“Maybe it wasn’t that impressive a kiss.” The heat in her eyes told him otherwise.

He covered his heart with his hand. “My dear lady, you’ve wounded me right to my core.”

She laughed and leaned closer to him. “More like gave you a case of aching balls,” she whispered, watching his reaction.

That piece of his anatomy started aching again, but for an entirely different reason. “A lady shouldn’t use such crude language.”

“I’m a border lord’s daughter, not a lady.” Her hand grazed his thigh. “Besides, you seem to like it.”

He more than liked it. He wanted to take her straight to his bed and have her talk dirty to him all night long.

But like an ever-faithful watchdog, Parros cleared his throat. They reflexively jumped apart just before Bynn appeared down the street. Kell held his breath, wondering how much of their flirting his best friend had seen. He slowly released it when he saw no traces of fury on Bynn’s face. For once, he was grateful for the old knight’s phlegm problem.

“Zara, go to your room and change into something more suitable for dinner,” Bynn ordered. “And by suitable, I mean a nice dress that will leave a good impression.”

“Why?” She raised her chin in what Kell had long recognized to be her silent threat to do just the opposite.

“Because we have company.” Bynn nodded in the direction of the banner bearing the Fermo family crest.

She sucked in a breath through her teeth. “How long has he been here?”

“He arrived yesterday. Now go.” He crossed his arms and waited until she backpedaled toward her hut before relaxing. “I feel sorry for the man that ends up with her. He’ll either let her walk all over him or need a good whip.”

“Maybe she just needs a man that allows her to speak her mind.”

“Don’t be ridiculous, Kell. I’ve indulged her far too much as it is, but she needs to remember her place in society.”

How could Bynn so easily dismiss her like that? Had he seen the same woman Kell had? The one who could plan intricate ambushes and knew what was happening in every corner of the kingdom, right down to predicting when a messenger was late? Bynn acted like he was in charge of the rebellion, but it was becoming very clear that Zara was the one who drove its success. “I think Zara’s place is right where she is.”

His friend’s brows rose, and his voice grew cold. “Oh really? And what has she done to make you think that?”

Kell gritted his teeth at the insinuation behind Bynn’s question. “Only prove to me that she’s a damn good leader.”

“Fine, but now it’s time for her to step back and let
us
decide what to do next.”

Kell’s fingers curled into his palm. If their friendship hadn’t stretched back as far as he could remember, he would’ve belted him. Instead, he mentally counted to ten, his fingers relaxing with every other number. “I’m going to get cleaned up.” He flicked his gaze over to Fermo’s banner. “I want to make sure I leave a good impression on our guest.”

****

How did I let Bianca talk me into wearing this?
The corset was laced so tightly, Zara could barely breathe. Who cared how elegant a figure she had when she was in danger of passing out from lack of air?

Bianca slipped the last pin in her hair and stepped back, her homely face actually pretty with excitement. “Oh, Zara, you look like a princess.”

A shiver coursed down her spine. That’s the last impression she wanted to make. She tried to raise her arms, but could barely get them above her shoulders. “How do women in court move in these things?”

“There’s no need to move when you have servants to wait on you. Now turn around.” When Zara did, she nodded in satisfaction. “That dress looks far better on you than it ever would on me. You should wear it more often.”

“I’d starve to death if I did.” But she took the broken fragment of a mirror that Bianca offered and inspected her reflection. Gone was the border lord’s daughter. In her place stood a woman who looked like she belonged in the royal court. “I hope this is what Bynn wants.”

“I still say you should’ve worn something that highlighted your, um—” Her eyes fell to Zara’s chest. “—assets.”

She shook her head. “I don’t want to distract any of the men there with my breasts.”

“Not even Prince Kell?” Bianca grinned. “I saw the two of you together before you left.”

Just one of the numerous interruptions that had occurred since she acknowledged Kell was attractive. Even though she’d managed to kiss him while they were at Ortono’s camp, Parros had made sure they were never left alone after that.

And she liked kissing Kell.

Way too much.

“We both know he’s nothing more than a flirt,” she replied. “Besides, you know I don’t like showing off my scars.”

“I don’t think men care much what we look like when we’re naked, just as long as we’re naked.” Bianca took the mirror back and checked her reflection, pouting as she patted her hair. “You should probably go before your brother gets upset.”

Zara took her time crossing the bridges to Bynn’s hut, mainly because her dress wouldn’t let her move faster than a gentle stroll. Not that she was eager to dine with Fermo. If he’d arrived the day before, she was certain Bynn had already set his plan in motion to ensure the other duke’s loyalty. Unfortunately, that meant she had to play her part, starting with this ridiculous dress.

She knocked on the door before opening it, not waiting for a response. The three men sat around the table, the plump rabbit still steaming from the fire spits below. All of their eyes fell on her. “I hope I’m not too late for dinner.”

“You’re just in time,” her brother replied, his voice brimming with approval for once. He pointed to the empty chair between him and Fermo. “Why don’t you take a seat?”

She crossed the room, her skin growing warm from the way Kell’s eyes followed her. The corner of his mouth rose into an easy grin, and Zara wondered how much truth there was in what Bianca had said about men not caring what women looked like, as long as they were naked.

One look at Fermo, however, confirmed it with a decidedly different result. Her skin crawled as he leaned over to her. “You look very lovely, Lady Zara,” he said, his eyes never leaving the swell of her breasts.

She had chosen this dress because its modest neckline covered her scars. Now she was thankful it didn’t offer her neighbor the slightest glimpse of bare skin below her neck. “Thank you,” she said as politely as she could.