The Lethal Flame (Flame Series) (29 page)

His beautiful eyes studied her, from the locks of unbound hair flowing around her face and down her back all the way to her toes poking out from beneath her gown.  “Do you have any idea how beautiful you are?” his voice sounded as if he were still in awe over the fact.

She did not know how to respond to such a statement.  No one had ever called her beautiful, headstrong, difficult, even impossible, but never beautiful.  “Will you lay with me before he arrives?” the question was out and she did not regret it.

He studied her for a time and she got the distinct feeling he was wondering if she was serious.  “What if your husband is a kind man?”

She shrugged, “It would not matter.”

“What if he takes one look at you and he falls in love with you and would grant you anything your heart could possibly desire?”

“It would not matter.”

“Do vows mean nothing?”

“Vows will mean everything once I take them,” she said raising her head to study him.  Her heart raced because she knew this man of morals was going to deny her the one thing her heart would ever desire again.  “
They will mean so much that after tonight you will be lost to me forever.  I will speak my vows to my husband tomorrow, yield to him in bed, bear him children if God sees fit and be faithful to him for the rest of our days.”  She studied him for a moment then plunged ahead, “But I could never love him the way I love you.”

Damien stared at her for a breath of time before he seized her and pulled her to him.  Their souls melded together.  Everything Keri had to give she gave to Damien.  So much it would have to last a lifetime.  She knew as she spasmed around him and felt him release into her that never would she feel what she felt with him.  Never again would a man’s touch set her on fire.  Never would she desire to give all of herself to a man until nothing was left to give but her eternal love.

When she awoke in the morning, the sun was streaming through the windows and she felt the absence of Damien’s arms around her and she knew he was gone.  She closed her eyes and cried.

By the time she entered the small chapel in the adjacent town Keri was emotionally and physically exhausted.  She felt as if she could take nothing else but she still had the wedding and the bedding before she could close her eyes and think of him. 

She had received word some time ago her husband awaited her at the chapel but she had delayed as long as she dared before she expected him to come drag her to the little church  by her hair.  Her entire body was shaking as she stepped through the doors and made her way to the altar.  Kennet walked beside her, clinging to her hand.  Or was she clinging to his?  She did not know.  Ahead of her Waverly turned and smiled broadly at her.  How could she be so happy at this moment?  Did she know how terrible this day could turn out and bleed over into the rest of their lives?  Of course she didn’t because like Kennet they loved their father.  As fathers went he was not the worst.  

Oh God, don’t let him be mean to them.  Put it on me but not them, she prayed with such intensity she was standing at the altar and facing her husband.  She did not have the strength to do this, she cried to herself as she stared at the floor and his boots.  She felt faint, she was terrified.  Of all the things she had been through she did not know that any of them had frightened her as this moment was now doing.

Hands came out to take hers.  They were rough, demanding, and big.  Those hands would hurt her she knew as her eyes travelled up the arms that could snap her neck in two, to the broad chest and to the face of her husband.  Damien.  What the hell?

She jerked her hands away and he scowled chasing after them to take them back in his. 

“What are you doing?” she hissed in a whisper as she searched the room franticly for the man who would rush forward and slay the man before her.

“I’m marrying my wife if she would cooperate?” he said the humor evident in his voice.

“Wh-what?” she asked unable to form a thought in her tired mind. 

“This manor and you are my reward for a job well done it would seem,” he said refusing to let her go as she tried jerking away.

The tug-of-war became less subtle as Keri’s ire rose.  “You could not have told me this last night?”

“I tried but you interrupted and told me your husband would arrive today.”

“You dirty bastard,” she said giving one final yank and freed a hand.  It whipped up and cracked across his cheek followed by the gasp of the witnesses and the release of her other hand.  Picking up the skirt of her dress she hurried down the two steps and straight for the door.

“Get back here,” Damien demanded.

“No chance,” she turned only long enough to yell back at him before turning and moving to the door that was suddenly filled by Garrick and a couple of his men.  “Get out of my way,” she demanded.

Garrick shook his head then scooped her up, threw her over his shoulder and proceeded to move in Damien’s direction.  She thrashed, kicked and hit him to no avail.  Then she felt his hands on her.  How she wanted to break them, each and every finger for the torment he had subjected her to.  She was sat with a jolt onto the floor.

“All right,” he said to the priest.

“No, it’s not all right!” she yelled.  “It will not be all right because I will not marry you.”

“Continue,” Damien told the priest with far too much humor written on his face.

To her chagrin the priest must have had a service prepared for an unwilling bride for the priest neatly skirted her objections and the vow was given for her.  She was not aware such a thing was possible.  Then Damien’s lips came down on hers and her anger fled.  Everything fled except this man with his arms wrapped around her, his lips on her.  Once he broke away the priest managed then to get her vow to honor and obey her new husband she nearly choked on. 

Damien’s arm guided her out of the chapel and into the sunshine.  She came to a sudden halt and looked up at him, her husband.  She couldn’t help the radiant smile that would tell him how pleased she was with the match.  He looked smugly back.  One thing about this marriage she knew for sure was it would not be a dull one.  She laughed and was pleased to find the uneasiness that crossed Damien’s face before she led the way back toward the manor and their future together.

~   ~   ~   ~

“Something must weigh heavy on your mind if you’ve abandoned the marriage bed so quickly.”

Damien turned to look up at his brother.  The last few hours were bliss as he found peace like he never had before.  Knowing he had the woman he loved wrapped safely in his arms had given him a feeling as no other.  Keri had fallen asleep some time ago but he had been too restless to join her so had come here, to sit on the front steps of his manor.  “She is asleep.”

“I would be able to keep my wife awake all night,” Cyrille boasted.

The thought came instantly to his mind his brother would never have a wife to keep up all night.  “Do you never sleep?” Damien asked turning back around.  “I am deciding how best to build these walls more securely.”

Cyrille took the two steps down that placed him next to his brother than awkwardly sat down, his stiffness apparent.  “Is this just in case or do you expect an attack?”

“I lied to Richard.”  The knot within his stomach expanded to the point he felt it wrenching at his guts, nauseating him.

“Why would you lie to the king?”

Damien turned and looked at Cyrille.  He wore no hood tonight and it suddenly occurred to him that was likely why his brother lurked about in the dark.  That was when he felt the most secure.  The shadows were deeper, darker.  “I wanted Keri.”

Cyrille leaned back, stretching his right leg out, which eased some of the pressure on his knee and back which pained him constantly.

“Richard has gone to war again.  I am expected to join him in Normandy but I do not intend to go.”

“What of our sister?”

“She is safe.  The king will not find her.  Understand Richard would have never released me.  If I had refused this land he would have kept Lenora so I would do what he wanted anyway.  Now I have Keri and he has released our sister.”

“Now all we have to do is build a wall strong enough to keep the English army out.”

Damien turned to look back out at the dark night.  “No.  I want you to leave this place and never look back.”

“You know I will not.”

“I know you have to.  Do you really think I will be able to build a wall strong enough?  I’m yet to figure out how to tell Keri she needs to leave with her children.”  Damien shrugged, “All I could think about was I would get a little time with her.  I would have the life I want for a short while.  It will be a few months before Richard knows I will not be there.  You must be the one to protect my wife and children.  Promise me you will take them away before Richard comes.  I cannot have this life if I know there is no one to protect them from what is to come.”

“Why can you not take them?  I will stay and fight.”

“Richard will want me, not you.  You have served your time, paid your dues.  You are free to go.”

“I will fight in your place.  If the wall falls I will make sure they find my body burned so they will never know it was not you.”

Damien looked again at his brother.  How could there be so much love in a man he was willing to sacrifice so much for his brother?  Cyrille knew better than anyone what pain came with the flames and he was willing to do it again for him.  Never would he allow it.  “No, they will never be safe with me.  You could go anywhere and not be in fear of being recognized.  If we do what you say and Richard discovered our trick he would make sure Keri suffered too, and likely the children.  Promise me you will take them when the time comes.”

Quiet followed for a long time as the two brothers sat listening to the night sounds.  The hour was late, the moon far down in the sky as it descended toward the earth.  It would not be long before the sun would make an appearance.  He wanted to be back next to Keri by the time she woke.  He did not have a lifetime to enjoy her so every moment counted within his mind because never, in a thousand lifetimes would there be enough time.

“I promise.”

Damien felt a sob nearly escape him.  He wished he had an entire lifetime to give back to his brother.  He wished he had not given his soul up for King Richard because he wanted it back to give for Cyrille, so he could be mended back to the man he once was.

“I wish I could return the favors you have given to me,” Damien whispered because the tightness in his chest made speaking difficult.

“Go enjoy your wife and I will consider us even.”

Damien did not hesitate but stood and clapped a hand onto Cyrille’s shoulder before turning and climbing the steps so he could be with his wife when she awoke.

Continue reading the Flame Series

Book 1

Set to Flame

Garrick Fenton was born to the village whore so he had nothing to lose when he made the decision to take what he wanted.  Sir Marcus Kinsey was the only man who could stand in his way.  When the knight rode into Garrick’s camp and practically handed his home over to Garrick, the infamous Fenton Bastard was born. He sold his soul to the highest bidder, the King of England, and would not be stopped in his frenzy for wealth and power.  But land gained is only as good as a King’s grace which comes at a high price.
             

Alena had no hope of rescue when her parents were killed and she was hidden away by an emir.  Regarded as Ghalib’s prize, Alena incurred the wrath of the other women she was forced to share her home with.  When the five knights and one boy were brought into her prison she recognized them as her own kind.  These were not knights in shining armor as those in the stories her mother told her, but men honed on battlefields.  Fearing her own death if caught she could not make herself turn her back on them.  Though they frightened her, they were not as terrifying as the possibility of spending the rest of her life shut away and alone.

Book 2

The Lethal Flame

Lord Damien LeForte is a knight for the Crown of England.  Knighted by Henry II Damien is proud to serve the king, even when that crown is passed to Henry’s son, Richard I.  But Richard is not prepared to forgive the knight for his part in defending Henry’s crown against him.  To prove his loyalty Damien must destroy those who support Richard’s brother, Prince John.  Faced with his toughest test of loyalty Damien vows he will do what he must, because those supporting John oppose the Crown Damien has dedicated his life to protect.

Growing up among the knights and squires of her father, Lady Keri Adlam is unprepared for marriage, especially to the lazy Lord Bryson.  After bearing his second child Keri refuses to be a true wife to Bryson again.  When the King’s men accuse Bryson of being a traitor she sees her husband for the coward he is.  She finds loyalty in only a handful of knights as she faces off with the King’s men to protect her children.  But her defense of her children is misconstrued as her opposition to King Richard and she finds herself forced to answer for her husband’s sins.   

Book 3

The Darkest Flame

Born to nothing Lord Garrick Fenton sold his soul to the highest bidder, the King of England.  He proved himself on the battle fields and off, squelching rebellions and at times killing just for the King’s pleasure.  From whore’s bastard to Lord, Garrick made many enemies along the way.  Despite the wealth he accumulated, the stigma of his birth would forever haunt him.  The only hope to provide a better future for his children was to gain a betrothal to a titled lady.  He found what he was looking for in Countess Ryann Kinnard.

Lord Daniel Stroud was a first born son among the English aristocracy and people like the Bastard was not fit to wipe his boots.  Betrothal to the Countess is the last straw for Stroud, whether he gains the wrath of the King or not, the Bastard has to be stopped. 

Book 4 - Final

The Strongest Flames
(Coming Spring 2014)

Jillian thought her husband’s death would free her of the abuse but when word comes she is to remarry she is devastated.  All she had hoped for was to be allowed to fade off into spinsterhood.  After all, she had borne no living children for Bruce in all the years they was married.  She had little hope the child she carried at Bruce’s death would live.  But Lord Garrick Fenton demanded she marry his commander who was granted the keep at Hawknest.  Terrified, she has no other choice but accept the new husband. 

Emma grew up hiding from the rule of the English kings.  She never understood why the kings would be concerned about their small band of rebels hiding in the forest and among the villagers.  Spending her days exploring the forest as she grew up made her unprepared for the presence of the knight who was determined to hunt her down.  With him she discovered an entirely new game taunting and enraging him as she avoided capture.  Until one day she learned Sir Roland Deveroux did not play games.  By then it was too late and she had to answer to the King for the crimes of her family.