I squirmed against the warm fabric of the shawl wrapped around my shoulders, trying to stir up some body heat.  How my sister had convinced me to wear the low-cut, sleeveless dress that clung to the curves of my body was a mystery to me.  Besides the fact that it was too cold this time of year for such clothing, it also seemed completely unnecessary.  I would absolutely not be trying to attract anyone’s attention tonight.  My sister, Muriel, had been persistent, claiming that I would thank her later.  I pointed out that she had never felt it necessary for me to wear such clothing before.  To which she replied, “Now that I’m married and unavailable, all the men will be looking at you instead of me.”  I felt like that was all the more reason to avoid wearing a revealing dress. 

Eventually, though, after much more arguing, Muriel worked her older sister magic and I found myself standing in front of a mirror glaring at my distressing reflection.   After the initial shock had worn off though, I had been surprised to realize that I rather liked the way I looked in the dress my sister had chosen.  I had never thought of myself as exceptionally alluring or sensual, but it was hard not to be enticed with the cool, silky, sapphire blue fabric sliding across my skin, accenting the curves and dips of my shape and brightening my usually muted eye color into a more intense shade of blue.  Perhaps there would be cause to thank Muriel later after all.

Gazing in a mirror in my sister’s room was vastly different from standing in the middle of a gathering of every Gentleman and Lady of the court.  As soon as I walked out into the garden grounds, I remembered all the reasons why I had been reluctant to wear the dress in the first place.  After an hour of sitting outside in the cold evening air, feeling uncomfortably exposed, I began plotting revenge on my sister.  True, some of the other women in the garden wore clothing that was even more revealing and suggestive than mine, but I was still extremely glad that I had decided at the last minute to bring my shawl.

Taking a deep breath in an attempt to stop shivering, I gazed around the torch-lit garden.  Groups of men and women lounged on the benches or pranced through the greenery.  Many of the women seemed to have more naked skin showing than clothing.  I tugged the corners of my thin shawl tighter against my own skin and glanced over to the Queen sitting on the Flower Throne. 

Queen Riona Tierney of Liathain was smiling warmly at her personal guardsman by her side as he made some causal comment to her.  He leaned in an easy manner against the side of the throne and appeared to be soaking up the visions of the nearly naked women around him.  I smiled slightly to myself.  I had known the guardsman, Brady Ahern, all my life.  We grew up together as children in the castle and I knew him to be a fiercely loyal friend with a very strong sense of duty.  His responsibility was to protect the Queen, and he would do that at all costs, even if it meant that he did not get to participate in the festivities tonight.  He may be acting distracted by the women, but he was probably only scanning the crowd, looking for threats.  Despite his laid-back attitude, he was always on guard, poised and ready to leap into action at the merest hint of danger toward his Queen. 

“Lady Keira?” a deep, familiar voice caused me to flinch and turn rather abruptly, slipping my shawl from my shoulders. 

“Bren--Your Royal Highness,” I stammered, nodding my head slightly in acknowledgment of the tall, broad-shouldered man standing before me.

“I’m sorry, did I startle you?” he asked.

“No, I was just…thinking,” I replied, waving away my stray thoughts with a flip of my hand.  As I inhaled to refocus my attention on the Prince, I became aware of his gaze, which lingered on my cleavage.  I felt my cheeks flush with heat and I exhaled.

Pulling the shawl back up, I smiled and said, “Please, Your Royal Highness, join me.”  I had barely gestured before he was already settling himself next to me on the bench. 

“Thank you, Keira, but, please, let’s drop the formalities.  There’s no one paying us any mind,” he smiled warmly and held out a thin glass goblet to me, “I thought perhaps you would like a drink?” Automatically, I leaned away from him.  He blinked at me in confusion before suddenly dropping his eyes to the cup in his hand.  I watched a deep red creeping up his neck to his ears and I instantly felt foolish.  I had reacted without forethought, my nerves responding before my brain could.  This man was one of the few people I could trust without a doubt.

“It’s clean, I promise,” he mumbled, his voice barely audible.

“Of course it is,” I said firmly.  I reached out to take the cup from his hand, our fingers brushing lightly.  “I’m sorry, Brennan, it’s just… all this…” I swept my hand out to indicate the entire scene before us.  I felt my shawl slipping again and pulled it up quickly.  “I know you would never…”  I paused and took a sip from my glass to keep from having to finish my sentence.  

“No, it’s my mistake,” replied Brennan quietly, “I’m sorry.  I didn’t think about…” 

I placed my hand gently on his arm, startling him into silence, “I know I can always trust you.  Thank you, Brennan.” At the seriousness of my tone, Brennan, who had been staring at my hand on his arm, looked up and fixed me with an oddly intense gaze.  Quickly, I pulled my hand back and shrugged nervously in my shawl.  “The wine will warm me,” I said with an attempt at a light laugh. 

“Are you cold?” Brennan’s gaze flickered across my body, taking a quick assessment of my attire.  I felt the heat rise in my cheeks again.   “I could… send for your cloak if you’d like,” Brennan offered.

 “No, thank you,” I answered while mentally cursing my sister.  I was certain that this was not the man whose attention she had hoped my dress would attract.  I tugged my shawl tighter, “It’s just nerves, I guess.  This evening is always so… much.” 

Brennan chuckled and turned to look out over the gardens.  Relieved at diverting his attention, I followed his example.  Men and women stood around in pairs or, in some cases, clumps.  Everyone seemed to have a drink in their hand and a smile on their face.  I knew the majority of the drinks tonight would be laced with some herb or another.  Some of the herbs lowered your defenses or gave you courage, others invited passion and desire, and one herb, very popular among the Ladies of the court, prevented a man’s seed from taking root in a woman.

Most of the women in the garden wore dresses that left very little doubt as to what their goals were tonight.  The Eve of Druana was supposed to be a celebration of fertility, a time to come together to create new life, as all the earth does every spring.  In the country villages and towns, and even somewhat in the city, a huge amount of babies were born every year approximately nine months after the Eve of Druana.  But here, in court, among the noble families who used children as pawns of power, the celebration was less about creating new life and more about being free to enjoy the pleasures of flesh against flesh.  Thus, the herb-laced drinks were in abundance.   

Already people were starting to vanish, some couples to their own privacy, others half hidden behind shrubs, their limbs entangled, bodies pressed firmly together, clearly incapable of withholding any longer.  I felt some relief at seeing the embracing couples; the Queen wouldn’t linger much longer.   Riona Tierney never joined the night frenzy that always overtook the garden on the Eve of Druana.  Nor did she allow her son to do so.  When the Queen left the garden, she expected Brennan and his wife to follow.  And as lady-in-waiting to Brennan’s wife, I would be released from my duties for the evening just as soon as the Royal Family retired. 

On that thought, I scanned the garden for Brennan’s wife, my sister, Muriel.  I spotted Fergus Dolan first.  Fergus was the eldest son of an extremely wealthy and influential family.  The Dolan Family could claim royal ties through sons or daughters married into the Royal Family throughout history.  They had attempted to do so again, pushing Fergus’s younger sister, Ashling, toward Brennan.  Ashling Dolan was quite young and extremely beautiful.  She was also well schooled in how to attract a man’s attention.  I suspected that Ashling’s advances were one of the reasons why Brennan had decided to marry Muriel fairly quickly. 

Ashling’s brother, Fergus, had grabbed my attention because he stood out above the crowd, a giant among all of those around him.  His clothing stretched taut against his massive, muscular bulk showing off every flex and release as he moved.  He had a dark, brooding seriousness to him that I knew many women thought attractive and most men found threatening.  He frequently had a small gathering of women around him attempting to catch his smoldering gaze, but, for the moment, the only woman near him was my sister.

Muriel stood close to Fergus, idly fanning herself with a large red hand-fan that perfectly matched her silk dress.  She was the only woman who could still manage to shine in Fergus’s impressive shadow.  Fergus might catch your attention first, but with hardly any effort, Muriel could pull you toward her and keep you there as long as she wanted.  She had a power about her that was unmistakable. People tended to follow her lead without even realizing they were doing so.  She was going to make an amazingly effective Queen. 

I studied them for a moment, wondering why Muriel would be socializing with Fergus, or any of the Dolan family for that matter.  Our families could never be said to be friendly with one another. But as I watched, Muriel touched Fergus’s arm and with a coy tilt of her head said something that produced a tight smile from Fergus.  Muriel laughed at this controlled reaction and leaned in close to him to whisper something in his ear.  This time he broke into a broad grin, softening his stern demeanor.  My curiosity was piqued.   

Being married was not usually, by itself, reason enough to have only one partner on the Eve of Druana.  Many women and men all but dismissed their wedding vows on this night, claiming to be working toward a greater purpose, that of creating life.  But, of course, a happily married couple usually still found themselves in each other’s arms with the sunrise.  

Whether Muriel and Brennan were happy or not, I was unsure of, but I was sure of the fact that they would not have the luxury of disregarding their wedding vows, regardless of what night it was.  The same rules did not apply to them.  As members of the Royal family, they were compelled to follow stricter standards.  Brennan and Muriel held exclusive rights to each other as partners and lovers and if Muriel were to conceive a child tonight, it had better be with her husband and future King.   For Muriel to take a lover would be considered treason.  So, why would she be flirting with anyone so publicly, especially Fergus Dolan, of all people?

 “Do you think your sister is happy?   Being married… to me?” Brennan asked quietly, closer to my ear than I expected.  He had clearly followed both my gaze and my thoughts.  I had nearly forgotten he was sitting next to me.  I turned back to him and smiled innocently.

“She seems happy,” I said vaguely, with a slight shrug.

“Hmmm,” Brennan replied noncommittally, a slight scowl on his face, his eyes still on Fergus and Muriel.  When I failed to elaborate, he returned his gaze to me.  “I hope she is.  Though, I had hoped to give her a child by now,” he sighed, “I worry, sometimes, that her desire for a child might… lead her to look elsewhere.” Brennan held my gaze, the slightly veiled question clear in his eyes.

A quick heated defensive anger flashed through me with the accusation that my sister would be unfaithful to him, despite the fact that I had just been thinking the same thing.  “You doubt my sister’s loyalty?” I demanded coldly, glaring at Brennan. 

“Look at her, Keira,” Brennan scoffed, “You know what kind of rumors she’s starting right now?”

He was right, of course, but my own loyalty to my sister had me answering with a heavy air of superiority in my tone, “I had thought you above trading court gossip, Your Royal Highness.” With a hint of satisfaction, I watched him flinch at the unnecessary use of his formal title. 

Brennan’s deep brown eyes met mine with obvious irritation, “I hardly see how my wife’s desires could be considered mere gossip to me, as her husband.”

“As her husband,” I retorted, “you should be over there with her, don’t you think?  Instead of here, with me.  Perhaps, you should be more concerned about your own desires.”

To my pleasure, Brennan flushed a deep red and dropped his gaze to his hands in his lap.  “My desires are well known to you, Keira,” he mumbled under his breath and I realized my mistake at once. 

  As quick as it had come, my anger evaporated, leaving regret in its place.  Having spoken in spite and without forethought, I had touched on a very tender subject, reopening a festering wound.   Brennan was an old friend, but, distressing to both of us, he was in love with me.  Because I did not return those feelings, neither of us ever knew exactly how to act around each other and found ourselves frequently stumbling through awkward moments.  I struggled to keep him an ally, but this had become significantly more difficult since he married my sister nearly a year ago, after I had turned down his private marriage proposal to me.

 “Oh,” I sighed, “I’m sorry, Brennan.  I didn’t mean...  This whole evening has my spirits leaping about.”

Brennan gave an uneasy chuckle, obviously trying to move past the uncomfortable moment.  He turned back to surveying the unfolding eroticism all around us, “It is a bit… overwhelming, isn’t it?”  

Abruptly, I wondered if the strong pull of desire that clearly affected most of the other people in the garden was also affecting Brennan.  I doubted he had taken any herbs, but one hardly needed an herb with all the exposed sexual excitement throbbing through the garden.  I stole a sideways glance at him.  He seemed normal enough to me.  He sat a little uncomfortably next to me, glancing around at the garden views, not lingering too long on any particularly seductive sight, nor avoiding them either.   

“Brennan,” I spoke before I realized what I was saying, “have you ever been with anyone on the Eve of Druana?”

Startled by the question, Brennan stared at me openly and I immediately regretted my words.  I averted my gaze, shying away from his intensity.  After an uncomfortable moment, he answered slowly, “No.”   I could feel his eyes on me, watching for my reaction. 

I furiously wondered what had made me ask him.  Despite our friendly relationship, I had no right to ask such a personal question of him.  But, the sudden thought of him entangled among naked, writhing bodies… I just couldn’t reconcile my mind with the image.  I knew none of the Royal Family ever joined in any of the public displays like those here in the garden, but I wondered if, maybe in a more private setting…

“I, uh… it wasn’t as if, I…”Brennan stumbled over his words, “I was… uh…” I bit my lip and let him struggle, unsure what I could possibly say.  Brennan took a deep breath and shook his head in frustration.  “I swear, Keira, you get me so—sometimes, I forget how to talk when I’m around you,” he burst out in exasperation.

I burst out laughing, surprised by his unusual frankness and the sudden force behind his words.  He stared at me in bewilderment for a minute before breaking into a broad grin.  The momentary release of tension had us laughing together nervously, helped along, no doubt, by the atmosphere and the wine. 

As our laughter settled down into a quiet chuckle, I glanced around to see if we had been overheard.  As Brennan had pointed out earlier, court gossip did have a way of transforming a shared laugh into a full-blown affair.  Luckily, it didn’t appear that anyone had taken any notice of us.

Suddenly, Brennan reached out and took my hand in his.  I flinched but made an effort not to pull my hand away.  “I was waiting for you, Keira.  I spent every night, not just on the Eve of Druana, but every single night, dreaming of being with you.” Brennan’s voice was deeper than normal, saturated with a deep longing.  I closed my eyes against the sudden blaze of passion I saw flickering in his dark eyes.  How had we come to this again?  These were forbidden words, in more ways than one.  Had he completely forgotten he was married?   

I took a slow breath and opened my eyes again.  Brennan met my gaze, read my thoughts there, and pulled his hand away from mine quickly, mumbling, “Forgive me, I forget myself sometimes, with you, I—“ he paused and took a quick, unsteady breath, “I have a wife.  She’s your sister,” he reminded himself, “That was not something I should have—I’m sorry.  Please pretend I didn’t just say that.  I’ve clearly had too much to drink or something,” he trailed off with an attempt at a self-effacing smile.

“Brennan, I…”  I felt an urge to comfort him, but stopped myself and shrugged helplessly.  There was really nothing I could say.  I bit my lower lip and looked away, out across the garden.  Muriel was still flirting shamelessly with Fergus.  It dawned on me that perhaps she was trying to make Brennan jealous.  If that was her plan, it wasn’t working.   

After a few moments of uncomfortable silence, Brennan cleared his throat.  I glanced back over at him and he flashed me a wry smile, “It’s the evening, right?  Spirits leaping about and all that?”

“Right,” I nodded, returning the smile appreciatively.

  “Keira, I do have a small favor to ask of you though,” Brennan added, clearly forcing his tone to be light.

 Attempting to match his tone, I answered, “Oh?  What can I—“

I froze in mid-sentence, having caught sight of a rough-dressed, dark-haired man peeking through the doorway behind Brennan.  He was staring directly at me, waiting to catch my attention.  For a second, no longer, our eyes met before the man vanished behind the door.  My thoughts scattered and my pulse began racing.  Brennan noticed my distraction and turned to see what had captured my attention so raptly, but by the time he looked the doorway was already empty. 

Suddenly, I was feeling quite warm.  As Brennan turned back toward me, I tried to keep my expression calm, “Forgive me, I need to speak with my sister,” I said, clearly distracted.  Before Brennan could argue, I had already risen to go.

“Wait!” Brennan said, jumping to his feet after me, “Please, wait.”  He grabbed my arm to stop me.  “Please, Keira,” he pleaded, “What is it?  What happened?” 

My thoughts elsewhere, I shook my head impatiently and mumbled, “Nothing, I have to go.”

“Please, Keira,” he spoke quickly, obviously realizing that he couldn’t hold my attention for long, “I have something for you.  I fear I will lack the courage to make the offer again.  It is only a token really, but I wish you to have it.” 

Momentarily intrigued, I watched him pull a small object from his pocket.  He still had one of my hands in his and he turned it over to place a small wooden box in my palm.  I brought it closer to my face to examine the intricate designs etched on the sides.  It was exquisite.  Tiny details of leaves and flowers tangled together in precise, delicate lines, traveling all the way around the box, encircling it.  On the lid a perfectly formed starlight flower stood out in relief, a tiny blue jewel sparkling in the exact center.  I had never seen anything like it; the craftsmanship was breathtaking.  

I swallowed and looked up to find Brennan studying my face.  “It’s beautiful,” I whispered, all thoughts of the man in the doorway temporarily forgotten.

Brennan glanced down at the box in my hand, his ears glowing red, “It’s just a trinket box,” he gave a small shrug and looked back up at me, “I thought… I wanted you to have it.  It… reminds me of you.”

“It reminds you of me?” I repeated absently, absorbed in watching the way the light caught the details in the carvings as I tilted the box, “I don’t see a latch. Does it open?”

“No,” Brennan answered quickly, “well, I mean, yes,” he continued more slowly, “Yes, it does open, but it’s locked.  It belonged to my grandmother.  The key…  I don’t have the key.”

“Your grandmother?” I pulled my eyes from the box to look up at him, “Brennan, you know I can’t take this.  It wouldn’t be right…  especially not if it’s a Royal Family heirloom.”

Brennan laughed nervously, “It’s just a simple trinket box.  You can’t even unlock it.  It’s useless to you.  Please, Keira, just take it.”

“Don’t give this to me… give it to Muriel.  By all rights, it’s hers,” I said, holding the box out to him.

“No,” he said, shaking his head and stepping back away from me, “it’s yours.”

“Brennan, I can’t,” I said quietly.

Brennan stared at me for a long moment, indecision clear on his face.  Then, he dropped his gaze to his feet and took a slow breath.  When he looked back up at me, his expression was fierce with passion again.  “It has always been yours, Keira.  Nothing can change that and I will not take it back,” he said firmly.

Before I could even process the meaning of what he said, Brennan leaned in and planted a quick kiss on my cheek, then spun on his heels and walked purposefully across the garden toward his wife.  As he approached her, Muriel turned toward him with a delighted smile and reached out to loop her hand through his arm possessively before returning her attention back to Fergus.  I stared at his back in shock, my head spinning and my thoughts tangled.

“Whoa!” snickered a teasing voice behind me, “What was that all about, Keri?”

I blinked stupidly and turned to look over my shoulder at my brother, Devin.  “Nothing,” I said as nonchalantly as I could manage. 

Devin gave me a knowing smirk and, jutting his chin toward my hand, asked, “What did he give you?”

“I don’t know,” I said, shaking my head and tucking the box into the pouch hanging at my waist, “He said it’s just a trinket box, but… I don’t know.” 

When I looked back up from retying my pouch, Devin flashed me a warm, private smile and I knew he wouldn’t push me for more information.  That didn’t mean, of course, that he wasn’t going to refrain from teasing me about it.

“Mother will be so pleased,” Devin taunted, “One daughter to be the prince’s wife and the other, his lover.”

“Don’t mock me, Devin,” I warned, “You know how I feel about Brennan.”

“What do feelings have to do with it?” Devin scoffed.  He rolled his eyes and took a long drag of his drink.  I noticed his dark pupils were a much larger than usual.  Obviously, his drink was not clean.  Considering what he had just said, I wondered if he was preparing himself for an evening with his wife or his lover. 

“Don’t worry, my wife is in no danger of being left alone tonight,” Devin mumbled, clearly having guessed my thoughts.  “In fact, she seems to already have found company,” he added under his breath so that no one but I could hear.  I realized that I had not seen Devin’s wife, Treasa, since the feast.  Treasa was expecting their third child, but she had only just begun to show the small roundness of her belly.  She would be a very safe partner for any man worried about begetting a child on the wrong woman tonight.  Add to that her exquisite beauty and it was not surprising that she had no trouble finding a willing partner with whom to disappear quickly.  This was most likely a relief to my brother.  I knew he would rather be spending his night somewhere else. 

“Good for her,” I smirked.  Devin cocked his eyebrow in response before taking another drink.

“And what about you, Little Sister?” Devin asked suggestively as he lowered his cup, “Are you worried about being alone tonight?”  His tone was mocking, but I realized that he was purposefully reminding me that I had somewhere else I wanted to be right now and someone waiting for me there.

“It seems we are both eager to leave,” I replied, taking the hint.

Devin flashed a broad, winning grin and said, “Perhaps your mistress could be convinced to retire for the evening.  I would bet her husband is ready to go.”

“Don’t embarrass me, Devin,” I warned.  In response, Devin dramatically swept his arm toward Muriel and Brennan, gesturing me to lead the way.  Somewhat reluctantly, I started moving toward them.

As Devin and I approached, Fergus said something to Muriel, bowed slightly to Brennan and strode off in the opposite direction.  Muriel had turned toward us when he spoke.  She greeted us with a warm smile, “Keira, Devin, I was just talking about you.  Wasn’t I, Brennan?” Muriel tugged slightly on Brennan’s arm, which still had her hand looped around it.  I decisively kept my eyes on Muriel, completely avoiding any need to interact directly with Brennan.  He mumbled something that must have confirmed Muriel’s words, but by then, she had already continued, “I was just saying how—“

“Dear Sister,” Devin interrupted her, “we were hoping you and your Royal Husband might speak to the Queen about retiring for the evening.  We’re a bit anxious to leave.”

Muriel narrowed her eyes at Devin suspiciously.  Devin merely smiled back at her sweetly.  Not having the patience to let them play out their usual games, I broke in, “Surely, Muriel, you’d like some more privacy, too… with your husband?” I saw Brennan stiffen at my words and Muriel must have felt it because she flashed a brief scowl up at him before turning her gaze on me.

“Oh,” she cooed sweetly, “Keira, anxious for privacy, are you?  You’ve found yourself a partner for the night, then?”

Beside her, Brennan coughed abruptly.  “I’ll speak with my mother,” he said in a rough voice and immediately began striding away, pulling his arm free from Muriel’s grasp.  Muriel paused only long enough to shoot me a dirty glare before moving to follow him. 

“Ha,” Devin snorted as we watched them walk away, “She meant that more for his benefit than yours.”

“What does she expect?” I sighed.

“Come on,” he said, rolling his eyes.  He started off after our sister and, after a beat, I followed him.  We stopped to wait a respectful distance behind Brennan and Muriel, who stood now in front of the Flower Throne.  

 “My Queen Mother,” I heard Brennan intone and Muriel say the same beside him. 

“My Son Brennan,” the Queen replied with a nod to each of them, “My Daughter Muriel.” 

Formalities over, Brennan stepped closer to the throne, “Mother, I am beginning to become somewhat overwhelmed with all the… celebrating.  If it pleases you, I would ask that we might retire for the evening?”

Riona arched her eyebrow, “Overwhelmed?  Or eager to be alone with your wife?”

Even from where I stood, I could see the back of Brennan’s ears flush a deep red.  “Yes, Mother, I would like some time alone with my wife,” he replied in a surprisingly firm voice.

“I see,” Riona grinned knowingly, then shifted her gaze to take in Devin and I.  “And your friends,” she continued with a smirk, “Have I lingered so long that even your young friends tire of the delights this evening has to offer?”

“I do not speak for them,” Brennan answered stiffly.

Queen Riona gave her son a thoughtful look, her smile fading.  “No?” she asked quietly.  In a louder voice, she said, “Then, perhaps they will speak for themselves.” 

Thus address, Devin and I both stepped forward. I bowed my head slightly and touched the fingertips of my left hand to the middle of my forehead.  From the corner of my eye, I saw my brother do the same.

Devin spoke first, “Your Majesty, My Queen, I admit, I am anxious to leave.  My wife, Lady Treasa, wasn’t feeling well earlier.  She has already returned to our home.” 

“Why did you not go with her then, Lord Delaney?” Riona asked.  I blinked in surprise.  That was a very good question.  As Muriel’s lady-in-waiting, I was obligated to stay as long as she did, and she, as a member of the Royal Family, couldn’t leave until the Queen did.  Devin, though, had no such obligations holding him from leaving.  I turned to look at Devin, curious how he would answer.

“It is a weakness, Your Majesty,” Devin said smoothly, “I am, unfortunately, the elder brother to two extremely beautiful women.  While I am quite certain that Muriel would have been well protected by her Royal Husband, I dared not leave my youngest sister to the mercies of an evening such as this.”  He leaned in conspiratorially and whispered, “Just look at how she’s dressed, Your Majesty!”

Riona laughed, sounding more like a gleeful child than a queen.  I caught Muriel’s eye and read the same vexation in her expression as I knew must have been in mine.  Devin could charm a fox right out of its own fur if he had the inclination to do so.  He was frustratingly enchanting, capable of deflecting any question, sneaking out of any trouble, and causing everyone around him, even Muriel and I, who knew his tricks, to forgive him anything.

“I’m not sure your sister appreciates your protection, Lord Delaney,” Riona chuckled.  Embarrassment heated my cheeks, but I kept my gaze on my feet.  “Your wife,” the Queen said, thankfully shifting her attention back to my brother, “Is your child giving her grief again?  This one seems to be giving her a much harder time than the first two.”

Devin laughed, “Treasa is sure that it must be a girl this time.  She says only a girl would give her so much trouble before she is even born.” 

Riona returned his laugh, “Yes, she’s probably right.”  She smiled tenderly, reminiscing, “If I remember correctly, your mother always complained about your sisters causing trouble, but never you.  You were so gentle and well-behaved; always a sweet little boy.”

I snickered under my breath.  Our mother had no idea how much trouble Devin was actually responsible for causing.  Even Brady, the guardsman standing behind the Queen, had a smirk on his face.  Brady had been just as much a part of the childhood trouble as Devin had been, though I was certain that neither our mother, nor Riona, knew that.  There had been a small group of us who had been friends growing up together, constantly causing mischief.  Besides Devin, Muriel and myself, there had been Brady, a guardsman’s son, and the Stable Master’s children, Tara and Liam Reilly.  Between the six of us, we had wreaked havoc around the castle for most of our early years, at least until my grandfather had died.  My parents had inherited the titles of Duke and Duchess of the Western Province of Liathain, and we had been obliged to spend more time on our own estate, rather than in the castle.  

“My Queen Mother,” Brennan spoke up, pulling us all back from our reverie of childhood days.  There was no hint of amusement in his voice. “Shall we retire?”

“Yes, yes,” Riona replied with a patient laugh, “Let us be gone, then.”  She stood gracefully and led us all back through the castle doors without another word.

Once inside the castle, Devin muttered something about his wife, bid everyone a quiet night and, with a sly wink toward me, he slipped away quickly.  I glared at his retreating form, envious over the ease with which he had managed to escape. 

Muriel touched my arm, pulling my attention away from Devin.  “Honestly, Keira, do you have a partner tonight?” she whispered, leaning in closely to keep from being overheard.  I glanced behind her.  Queen Riona, followed closely by Brady, hadn’t paused in her exit and was already nearly out of sight down the corridor.  Brennan was standing nearby but was tactfully looking the other way, his back turned slightly toward us, pretending not to listen.  I hesitated, not quite sure how to answer.  Muriel laughed, “Okay, don’t tell me.”  She straightened up and looped her hand through Brennan’s arm again, pulling him closer to her.  “Have a quiet night then, Little Sister,” she said with a knowing grin.

“Quiet night, Muriel… Brennan,” I replied with a nod of my head toward each of them. 

Brennan’s gaze passed over my head, avoiding eye contact with me, but he mumbled a quiet night in response.  I spun and walked away as quickly as I dared.   

As soon as I was out of sight, I quickened my steps.  Like Devin, I had someone waiting for me too.  Tired of waiting, apparently, since he had come looking for me in the garden.  Not being a member of nobility, or even a lesser member of court, Liam Reilly hadn’t been invited to participate in the court’s festivities, but we had planned on meeting up afterwards, secretly, of course.  He was a groom in the castle stables, as his father before him, and for him to have risked being seen lingering at the garden’s gate meant he was getting very impatient indeed. 

A quick rush of anger surged over me at that thought.  Liam had not only risked losing his job and the perks of being a member of the castle staff, but more importantly, he had risked exposing my relationship with him.  When I had spotted him in the doorway he had been staring directly at me, obviously waiting to catch my attention.  How long had he been waiting there before I had seen him?  Had anyone else seen him before I did?  Had anyone witnessed our quick acknowledgment of each other?  I absolutely could not be known to be socializing with a lowly stable hand.  I was the daughter of Duchess Mona Delaney of the Western Province, one of the most powerful women in the realm. My older sister was on her way to becoming the most powerful woman, as Queen.  My brother would be Duke of the Western Province eventually, after my mother.  A mar in my reputation could have disastrous consequences for my entire family.  But even more devastating would be the fact that if Liam and I were caught, that would be the end of our relationship. 

My mother would be sure that we never saw each other again.  She had the power to make people mysteriously disappear and I knew she would never hesitate to use it if there was a threat to her own ambitions for herself or her children.  My brother was the only person who knew of my illicit relationship with our childhood friend and I expected to keep it that way.  How dare Liam risk that now just because he was anxious to see me.  Unless… the thought suddenly struck me, unless there was some kind of emergency, something important enough that Liam thought the risk worth taking.  I quickened my pace, nearing running now. 

Anxiously, I considered going straight for our usual meeting place, but decided that I must change my clothing first.  Dressed as I was, I would certainly draw attention to myself sneaking around the castle grounds. 

Besides, I needed to be seen going into my rooms.  One of the benefits of being lady-in-waiting to Muriel was having my own rooms in the castle assigned to me. Unfortunately, it was in an area of the castle that had a guardsman posted nearby.  Supposedly, the guardsmen were only there to ensure the safety of the more important inhabitants of the castle, but I suspected they also reported the comings and goings of the residents to anyone willing to pay for a bit of information. 

I wasn’t sure who would be the guardsman in the hallway nearest my door this evening.  Usually, on the Eve of Druana, all the guards around the castle took turns standing duty so that everyone got a little bit of a chance to celebrate at some point during the night.  Some of them I trusted more than others, but regardless, if anybody had seen Liam in the garden earlier, it was even more important that I be reported to have gone into my rooms alone tonight.

I slowed my pace as I came nearer to my rooms.  The guardsman, whom I did not recognize, nodded his head at me as I went past him.  Good, I thought.

Once inside my rooms, I went immediately through my sitting room and into my bed chamber, stepping out of my shoes just inside the door.  I untied the belt from around my waist and tossed it onto the dressing table.  I heard a muted clunk when it hit the table and I remembered Brennan’s trinket box in my pouch. 

Just as I moved to retrieve the box, I became aware of the scent of horses mixed with a hint of fresh baked bread.  A feeling of warmth spread through me, making me smile blissfully.  Liam.  He never could sneak up on me.  His scent was much too familiar to me.  I closed my eyes and inhaled deeply, relishing in the comforting familiarity.  Suddenly, I remembered my earlier anxiety and spun around to find Liam leaning nonchalantly in the door frame between my bed chamber and my sitting room.  As soon as my eyes met his, he flashed me a roguish grin.

“What are you doing?” I asked him suspiciously.  Liam’s grin broadened and, pushing himself off the door frame, he started toward me.  “How did you get in here?  And what were you doing in the garden?” I demanded, resisting the urge to step back away from the mischief I saw dancing in his eyes.  He didn’t answer and as he got close to me, he reached out and took my hand and pulled me toward him.  I stumbled a bit, but he turned me easily to lean back into his chest and caught my arms against my stomach.

Having me neatly pinioned, he began placing tiny kisses across my shoulder and up the side of my neck.  “I couldn’t wait any longer,” he whispered when his lips reached my ear. His warm breath on my neck raised bumps on my arms.  With a content sigh, I relaxed back against him, taking pleasure in the solid warmth of his body.  We stood silently, leaning against one another, feeling the rise and fall of each other’s chests as we breathed deeply together.  My concerns about Liam being spotted in the garden earlier dwindled.  For the moment, the only thing in the world that mattered was the heaviness of his arms enveloping me, the irresistible musky smell of him filling my senses, the whisper of his steady breathing in my ear.  I had the odd, yet not unusual, sense of myself dissolving.  Liam’s presence always seemed to draw away the tension and stress from my mind and body, leaving me floating in serene comfort.  I was reluctant to return to a solid form, but, after a few minutes, I could feel Liam starting to fidget behind me. 

“How did you get in here?” I asked again.

“A helpful friend,” he replied, indifferently.  I felt him shrug against my back.  He shifted his weight, pulling back away from me slightly, but instead of letting go, he began rubbing his hands over my waist and stomach, sliding the silk of my dress against my skin. 

“Who convinced you to wear this dress?” Liam asked in a thick voice.

Thank you, Muriel, I thought with a smile and stepped out of his arms, turning to face him. 

“Do you like it?” I asked teasingly, twisting in slow half-circles to let him see how the dark blue fabric moved with me, swaying across my curves in some places and gliding along my skin in others.

“I hate it,” Liam replied with a smirk on his face, “Honestly, Keri, how is any man supposed to control himself with you dressed like that?” 

I grinned playfully.  “This is nothing,” I said, “You should have seen what some of the other Ladies were wearing.”

“Well, I tried,” Liam admitted, pulling me back toward him. “In the garden, I meant to look,” he continued, “but I couldn’t take my eyes off you.”  He shook his head, his eyes sweeping down the length of me, “Your dress… the way it moves, and…  ” He let out a heavy, wavering sigh, his words lost to him. 

 “Get control of yourself, Liam,” I playfully chided him, though I was thoroughly enjoying his reaction.

Liam snorted in exaggerated disbelief, “Get control of myself?  Keri, do you have any idea what you are doing to me right now?  It took everything I had not to charge in and throw myself on to you when I saw you in the garden earlier,” I started to laugh again, imagining the scene, but he interrupted me, suddenly dropping his voice to a low playful threat, “I’ve been waiting for you all evening, and now that I finally have you alone, you’re asking me to control myself?” 

Without warning, he yanked me closer with one hand, pressed his other hand into the small of my back and squeezed me hard up against himself.  We both lost our breath from the force with which our bodies came together.  Liam’s voice came out in a barely restrained whisper, “I need you now, Keri.” 

He kissed me fervently and I found myself echoing his need, his passion, with my own overwhelming surge of desire.  My hands slid behind his head; my fingers tangled in his hair.  His arms wrapped around me, pressing me closer, holding me trapped.  I leaned against him, attempting to eliminate any tiny space that separated our bodies.  I felt the silk of my dress crushed against my skin in sharp contrast to the roughness of his homespun shirt rubbing across my bare shoulders and arms as his hands slid down my back.

Through the flood of sensations, a thought suddenly struck me and, with effort, I broke off the kiss, dropped my hands to Liam’s shoulders and tried to lean back away from him.  He took the opportunity to lean in, burying his face in my neck, kissing up to the tender spot just behind my ear. 

“Liam,” I sighed heavily.  Mistaking my sigh as an expression of desire, which in fact it had been, at least by half, Liam grasped my bottom in his hands, urging me up closer against him and lifting me onto my toes.  I felt my back hit the wall abruptly.  Liam crushed his body to mine, pinning me against the wall.  His hands, now free from holding me, moved to start gathering up the fabric of my skirt.  The cool, smooth silk slithered up my thighs and bunched around my waist.  His mouth traveled across my collar bone, down to the upper swells of my breasts.

Without thought, my back arched, pushing my breasts within easier reach for him.  I felt the pressure of his swelling need digging hard into my lower stomach and the answering throb of my own.  I struggled to catch my breath, to remember why we needed to stop.  Liam placed his knee between my legs to keep my gathered skirt from slipping back down into place.  Reluctantly, I pushed against his shoulders, trying to get some space for coherent thought.  He leaned back from me for a second, but only to leave room for his hands to tug at the draw-strings of his trousers.  That second of respite was what I needed.

“Liam, wait.  Please, wait,” I whispered, placing my hands on his chest to keep him from leaning against me again.  He looked up at my face, but he was distant, distracted, lost in desire.  His fingers still fought with his trouser lacings. 

I leaned in closer to him and planted a slow, tender kiss on his cheek.  His hands dropped his trouser draw-strings and glided slowly around my waist instead.  He staggered a small step back away from me, but kept his hands resting on my hips.  With his knee removed, the blue fabric of my skirt swept back down around my legs.  Liam breathed deeply before meeting my eyes again.   This time his expression was clear, but I could still see fevered passion dancing impatiently behind his calm exterior.

Plainly back in control of himself, he cocked his eyebrow at me questioningly.  “What was that?” He was attempting to feign nonchalance but his voice was thick with raw desire.

“I thought maybe a sweet gesture might remind you that you are not, in fact, a rutting stallion, but, rather, a gentleman,” I answered with a pretended air of self-importance, but my own husky voice betrayed me too. 

“Ha!” Liam snorted, “I’m no gentleman, but that’s not what I meant.  I meant what was it that you said?”

“Oh, um,” I tried to remember if I had even said anything other than his name, “I think I was just asking you to stop.”

“Why?  Did you forget to—“

“No, no, it’s not that,” I interrupted, “there’s no chance I could get with child.  It’s just… don’t you think we should go… someplace else?” I asked, glancing around my bedchamber, my eyes lingering for a second on my soft, inviting bed.  Liam shook his head.  “We’re likely to get caught here,” I added quickly before he could argue.

“No, we won’t,” Liam said, taking my hands in his protectively, “The guardsmen won’t bother us tonight. I told you, remember? We have a helpful friend.”  He began moving toward my bed, pulling me along with him.

“Brady?”  I asked, a little surprised that the Queen’s guardsman would have arranged for Liam to sneak into my rooms tonight.  Childhood friendships could only carry one so far.

Liam chuckled, “Good guess, but no.”  He gave my hand a reassuring squeeze, “Don’t worry about it, Keri, just trust me on this, we’re safe here tonight.” 

“Are you sure?” I pressed again, not entirely convinced that one blissful evening with him in my own bed would be worth the risk of exposing our socially unacceptable affair.

“Yes,” he nodded, “I’m positive.”   We had reached the foot of my bed and he stopped and turned toward me.  Placing both hands on either side of my face, he leaned in and kissed me slowly, gently.  “I promise,” he whispered as our lips parted, “we don’t have to worry about getting caught tonight.  Okay?” 

I nodded slightly, before letting a mischievous smile spread across my face.  I cocked my head toward my bed and whispered, “I have a real bed.”

“I know,” Liam laughed, “and I plan on taking full advantage of that.  I’ve never slept on a real bed before, you know?”

“Oh? You plan on sleeping—“ I teased, but Liam lifted my chin and kissed me again, effectively cutting me off.  This kiss was not quite as tender as his last one.  It took my breath away as well as my words.   I felt the barely restrained passion and realized that Liam was working hard at reining in that mindless stallion. 

“Maybe later,” Liam whispered before kissing me again, with a little bit more urgency.  He pressed his hand against my back, forcing our bodies back together again.  His self-control was slipping more with every second. 

So what if we lose control?  I thought.  If we truly were safe from getting caught tonight, then why couldn’t we enjoy ourselves fully, let our passions overrule our cautions? 

I slipped my hands up under the bottom hem of his shirt to feel the heat of his bare skin.  I slid both hands slowly up his back, pulling his shirt along with me.  Liam lifted his arms and helped me pull the shirt over his head.  I rubbed my hands back down across his chest, stopping to lean in and plant a row of kisses across his collar bone and the small hallow at the base of his neck.  My hands traveled further down, my fingers tracing a line at the waistband of his trousers.  I stepped closer to let my stomach brush teasingly against him, while I slid my hands back up his chest and around the back of his neck to pull his head down to mine.  Lightly, I let my lips brush his, tickling, then pulled back.  A deep, guttural noise escaped from his throat as I leaned in again, let our lips barely touch, then pulled back a second time.  The third time, Liam slid his hand behind my head through my hair and held my face to his, forcing the kiss.  I let my hands fall back down his front.  Despite the trouble he had had with them earlier, his draw-strings came undone easily for me and his trousers fell in a puddle at his feet. 

Liam stepped out of his pants and began guiding me onto the bed.  One of his arms wrapped around my waist, while the other supported us as we scooted up across the quilts.  His face was buried in my neck, his lips and tongue tasting the tender spots along my jaw.  I twisted away slightly and started unlacing the bodice of my dress.  Liam grasped my hands, pulled them up over my head and pressed my body down onto the bed, his mouth on mine again.  I squirmed under him and felt him shift on top of me, trying to keep his position.  He had to let go of my hands to take some of his weight and I returned to fight with my bodice lacings.

Liam laid his hand on top of mine, stopping them.  “Leave it on,” he whispered huskily and let go of my hands.  When he saw that I was going to leave the laces alone, he leaned in and kissed me gently on my forehead, my nose, my cheeks, and finally my lips.  I laced my fingers through the hair at the base of his head, but he twisted out of my grasp and moved his body down a little to kiss the tops of each one on my breasts.  I arched my back slightly, pressing myself more firmly up against him, but he shifted further down along my body, pressing my hips flat against the bed beneath him.  Keeping one hand firmly on my stomach, Liam reached down to slide his other hand up under my skirt.  His hand slipped slowly along the inside of my leg, up past my knee, across my inner thigh, the smooth fabric bunching up ahead of his hand.  When his hand had reached as high as it could go on my leg, he squeezed lightly, then let go.  His other hand left my stomach.  I felt him shift again, settling himself into a comfortable position.  Within seconds, I lost myself to him.  

                I awoke several hours later, in the absolute stillness of pre-dawn.  It was the unfamiliarity of having someone lying next to me in bed that woke me.  The heat of Liam’s body warmed the side of me closest to him, but left the opposite side of my body cold and exposed.  I rolled towards him, intending to snuggle up closer, but was stopped short by a sudden glimpse of his face in the dim candle light.  Abruptly, I realized that I had never seen Liam sleeping.  We had fallen asleep together countless times before; curled in the dry hayloft or stretched out in the grass under a canopy of forest trees, but those had been light dozes, cautious snatches of dreamless rest.  We were both always aware of the risk of being discovered.  Even when we drifted off to sleep together, we remained on guard, both waking at the slightest sound or movement.  As a result, I had never caught sight of him in a truly relaxed, deep sleep. 

                I marveled at what I saw there.  He looked so different when asleep, younger somehow.  His entire face seemed rounder, softer than usual.    His lips stuck out a little, as if he was pouting like a child.  He appeared so innocent and vulnerable that I felt an urge to reach out and comfort him, to smooth back the hair that fell across his forehead.  Not wanting to wake him, I resisted the urge to touch him, by pulling my gaze away from his face and letting my eyes travel down his naked body. 

                Despite the early morning chill, Liam had thrown all the quilts off himself.  Belatedly, I noticed that they were, in fact, all piled atop me.  With a pang of embarrassment, I hoped that he had done that intentionally and that I had not merely stolen them all while we slept.   He didn’t seem to be cold though.  He appeared relaxed and comfortable, stretched out on his side facing me.  Even at rest, his lean muscles were well-defined.   The candle-light on his rough skin seemed to emphasize the shadows of scars and imperfections, bought by a variety of childhood injuries and the hard manual labor of adulthood. 

                I studied him, memorizing the way he looked lying asleep in my bed, cozy and content.  It was distinctly dissimilar from how he had been in my bed earlier in the night when the fire in the hearth had been far from the only blazing heat in the room.  On that thought, images and sensations from the night just past flashed through my mind, and my breath quickened with the memories.  Immediately, I felt my body respond, fully awake now.

                My gaze swept back over Liam’s body, admiring it again in a different way, but when I came to his face, those thoughts vanished too.  My eyes met his.  He was awake now and watching me with a sleepy half smirk playing on his lips.

                Whatever he saw on my face, made him chuckle, a deep, half-asleep sound, and mumble, “That much fun to look at, am I?”

                Giving him a coy smile, I said, “I like the way you look sleeping in my bed.”

                Liam chuckled again. “I didn’t expect the sleeping part to be so good,” he admitted, squirming closer to me.  I lifted the quilts and resettled them over both of us.  He wrapped his arms around me and pressed his entire body against the length of mine, his cool skin sending a quick shiver through me, causing him to chuckle once more, “I could get used to this.”

                “Me too,” I sighed as I nuzzled against him.

                “We could have a little cottage in a village out in the country side,” Liam mumbled in my hair, “but there’d be a room with nothing in it but a huge bed, a real one, like this, overstuffed with feathers.”

                “And a goat,” I added, playing along, “we could have a goat.”

                “A goat?” he laughed, “Why a goat?”

                “I don’t know,” I said, “It seems like every villager has a goat.”

                “Okay, then.  We’ll have a goat,” Liam squeezed me affectionately, then, in a playfully threatening tone, he whispered, “But if it eats my bed, I’ll skin it alive.”

                I scoffed with feigned indignation, “You’d better not kill my goat.  I wouldn’t let you sleep in the bed if you killed our goat.”

                I felt him shrug, “Doesn’t matter.  The goat already ate the bed, remember?”

                “Oh, right,” I laughed again, “Then maybe we should be raising chickens too.  So we can make a new bed with their feathers.”

                “That’d have to be a lot of chickens,” Liam mumbled, “Don’t really think I’d like to be a chicken farmer.”

“No?” I teased, “Then what kind of farmer are you going to be, since you said we’re living on a farm?”

“I didn’t say farm.  I said cottage in a village,” he smirked, “You’re the one that added the goat and chickens.”

“We can still have a goat in the village,” I argued, “for milk and cheese.  And, at least a couple chickens for eggs.”

“Horses,” declared Liam, “We’ll raise horses.  And, we’ll be known for miles around as having the very best breed of horses that anyone has ever seen.”

“I don’t know anything about breeding horses,” I laughed.

“You don’t know anything about goats either,” he replied.

I laughed again, “Well, I do know that a goat can fit in the yard behind our cottage.  Where are you planning on keeping your amazing herd of well-bred horses?”

He chuckled, “Okay, you were right, we’ll have a whole farm.  Goats and chickens and horses and pigs. And pastures as far—“

“Pigs?” I interrupted, “Who said anything about pigs?”

Liam burst out laughing, shaking us both, “You don’t want to be a pig farmer, huh?”

“Not particularly, no.”

“All right, then, no pigs,” Liam agreed, laughter still in his voice.

“Good,” I said, nuzzling against his shoulder contently. 

Liam kissed the top of my head.  “No pigs,” he repeated, his voice becoming tender as he continued, “Just a cottage… with a small yard for the goat and chickens.  Right on the outskirts of the village, so there’s room for a barn and a pasture for the horses…  close enough to the cottage so I can watch you…  I can see you there, hanging laundry in the sunshine…  with a child clinging to your skirt, and another one—“ He cut his words off abruptly, a tiny strangled noise escaping him instead.  I felt him press his lips against the top of my head, holding them there to keep them silent.

                The air around us felt heavier.  I bit my lip, trying to think of a way to bring us back to the lighthearted fantasy and away from the wistful images that had become too real. 

                “Sounds perfect,” I said, my voice sounding just a little bit too high pitched, “We’ll need lots of children to take care of the farm since we’re going to be asleep in this big feather bed all the time.”

                Liam swallowed.  “Right,” he muttered into my hair.

                I slipped my hand purposefully down underneath the quilts.  “Let’s not sleep all the time though.”

                He moved, rolling us both so that he lay above me, supporting his weight on his elbows.  “Keri,” he said, holding my gaze intently, “If I could, I would sleep forever, to stay with you there in that dream.”

                “I know,” I whispered, “I would too.”

“Lady Delaney, what a pleasant surprise,” my brother’s wife, Treasa, stood to greet me as I walked into the grand room of her townhouse, a warm smile on her face.

“It’s good to see you, Lady Treasa.  Please, call me Keira,” I replied, returning the smile.  With a tiny hint of astonishment, it dawned on me that this was probably the first time I had ever spoken privately with Treasa.  Although she was frequently in Devin’s company, she tended to hide quietly in the shadow of his animated energy, and having always interacted with her in a public setting, it had never occurred to me before to offer her my given name.  If I hadn’t had more pressing matters on my mind, I might have felt a little shameful about not attempting to get to know her better during the past four years of her marriage to Devin. 

“Of course,” Treasa gestured to the large, cushioned chairs, “Please, Keira, have a seat.”  I perched myself on the edge of the chair opposite where she had been sitting, while she dismissed the maid who had escorted me in. 

I spoke as soon as Treasa returned to her chair, “Treasa, do you know where Devin is?” 

I thought I saw Treasa’s smile slip slightly, but there was no hesitation in her voice when she spoke, “He left early this morning.  He had some business elsewhere in the city to attend.”

I studied Treasa quietly, desperately hoping she had more to say.  I wasn’t sure how familiar she was with Devin’s personal life outside of their marriage, though I suspected that she knew a fair amount.  She had, after all, found other company on the Eve of Druana.  But, I hadn’t seen my brother since that night, three days past, nor had anyone else I had asked so far.  After a few seconds, Treasa added only, “I’m not sure when to expect him back, but if you’d like to leave him a message, I can give it to him when he returns.”

“You saw him this morning?” I asked, furrowing my brow in disbelief. 

“Yes, before he left,” Treasa answered firmly. 

“Is he okay?” I asked, still not convinced.

Treasa fixed me with a blank expression, and said shortly, “He’s fine.”

I took a deep breath, feeling frustrated.  She was giving me nothing.  “Treasa, I haven’t seen Devin since the Eve of Druana.   I’m worried about him,” I said, having decided the admission was worth the risk.  Because I was watching closely for it, I saw a flash of concern cross Treasa’s face.  Encouraged, I added, “I know that Devin was… I know he was not with you that night.”

Treasa looked at me thoughtfully.  “Devin told me that you and he were close friends,” she said warily. 

“I trust him with all my secrets,” I said circumspectly. I hoped she understood that meant that he also shared all of his secrets with me.  Treasa nodded to herself.

“The last time I saw him was at the feast,” Treasa confessed with a deep sigh. I blinked, taken aback by this news.  I had seen Devin in the garden, after the feast.

“Do you know… with whom he spent that night?” I asked cautiously.

“Yes,” Treasa said quietly, gazing at me intensely, “do you?”

“Yes.”

Treasa closed her eyes and I saw the tension visibly ease from her body.  I could feel it in myself as well.  There was no more need for us to dance around each other, guarding secrets. 

“Do you know where they went?” I asked.

“No,” Treasa whispered, her voice thick with worry, “I don’t know where he is.”  Her words gushed out in a rush, “At first I thought maybe he just needed… I don’t know… more time, I guess.  I told everyone that came looking for him that they had just missed him, that he was somewhere else at the moment, but now it’s been three days. Three days!  I’m afraid to tell anyone, I don’t want to risk exposing him, but I don’t know what to do now.  He would never stay gone that long unless something,” she swallowed audibly, “unless something terrible has happened to him.”

“We will find him, Treasa,” I said firmly, leaning forward.  The words sounded more like a pleading prayer in my ears, but Treasa seemed comforted by them.  Now, I would need to figure out how to find him. “Do you know any of their usual places?”

“I don’t,” Treasa said, sounding apologetic, “We don’t share details with each other.  It’s not really—“

“It’s okay, I understand,” I interrupted her.  I took Treasa’s hand in mine, “They might still together and, since we can’t risk revealing them, we’re going to have to find them on our own.  Can you think of anyone else we might be able to trust?”

Treasa sighed, “No… maybe your sister?”

I hesitated before answering, “Well, I know we can trust Muriel; Brennan trusts her.  But I’d rather not bring her into this unless we really need to.  Involving her might… attract attention.”

“What are we going to do?” Treasa asked.

I bit my lip, thinking. 

“I have an idea of where to start looking for him,” I answered finally, the plan forming in my mind as I spoke, “If I don’t come back by tomorrow morning, then you go to Muriel for help.”

“Please, you have to find him, Keira,” Treasa pleaded, squeezing my hand tighter, “Devin and I… we may not have passion for each other, but we do have respect and… and affection for each other.  I don’t expect that you’ll understand, but I...  I love him.  And our children—“ she broke off abruptly, choking back tears.

“I think I do understand, Treasa,” I said soothingly, “We will find him.”

After leaving Treasa, I headed straight for the castle stables.  Out of habit, I glanced at the training yard as I approached.  It was empty and the fence that surrounded it was bare.  Had there been a saddle blanket left casually draped over the top of the fence, I would have known that Liam was alone in the stable barn.  This time of evening I hadn’t expected to find Liam working by himself, but it would have been easier. 

As I walked into the cool, dim light of the stables, I spotted Liam sitting at a small bench, his attention absorbed in repairing a saddle.  When my shadow crossed over him he looked up.  Immediately, he jumped up and rushed toward me.

“What are you doing here?” he hissed through his teeth while craning his neck to look down the aisle of horse stalls.

“I require my horse to be readied, please,” I replied in a loud, formal voice for the benefit of his hidden partner.  Liam checked himself quickly, taking several steps backwards, away from me.  I wanted desperately to talk to him about what was happening, but I knew I did not have that luxury right now. 

I heard a noise and turned, then relaxed a little.  I knew Alan, the old stable hand stepping out from the end stall, to be a no-nonsense type of person.  He wouldn’t be likely to try to start a friendly conversation and he certainly wouldn’t ask any questions when I requested my horse this late in the evening. 

As he got closer, Alan bowed his head slightly toward me.  “My Lady Delaney,” he said, then turned to stare pointedly at Liam.

Hastily, Liam followed his example, nodding his head and mumbling, “My Lady.”  I mentally cringed at him having to pretend subservience to me.

I directed my words toward the older man, “I require my horse to be readied, please,” I repeated. 

“Right away,” Alan replied, already starting to move toward the saddles hanging on the wall.

“My Lady,” Liam stepped forward with a look of determination, “It will be getting dark soon.  Do you think it wise to ride out alone?” 

What is he doing? I thought frantically. “That is none of your concern,” I said as gently as I dared.  I knew he was concerned, but, with Alan present, there wasn’t much either he or I could do about it.

“But, My Lady,” Liam pressed, taking another step closer, “I am worried about your safety this late in the evening.  I do not think you should ride alone.”

The sharp intake of breath from Alan told me that Liam had overstepped his place.  I clenched my jaw in frustration.  How was I supposed to handle this?  Obviously, I couldn’t just ignore it, not while the other man was watching. 

“I think you have forgotten to whom you speak,” I warned, trying to give him a way out.  A cold flash of anger flickered across Liam’s face, chilling me.

“No, Lady Delaney,” he asserted defiantly, “I have not forgotten who you are.”

A loud crash jerked my attention away from Liam.  Alan, apparently so taken by shock at Liam’s insolence, had dropped the saddle he had been holding, which had fallen against a shelf full of metal bits causing that shelf and the two below it to come crashing down at the man’s feet.

“So sorry, My Lady,” Alan mumbled, “I apologize...”  He continued to mumble to himself as he bent over to begin gathering up the mess.

Taking advantage of this distraction, Liam tugged on my arm.  As soon as my eyes were back on him, he whispered, “Don’t go alone.”  When I furrowed my brow in confusion, he hissed between his clenched teeth, “Take me with you.” 

I felt completely foolish.  He had been trying to tell me that all along and I had been too busy worrying about Alan’s reaction to even realize it.

“Enough!” I snapped, both angry at myself and annoyed at Alan’s murmurings.  Hastily, Alan straightened up, horse tack still clenched in his fists.  “Ready my horse now,” I ordered, then added more gently, “Please.  You can clean the mess later.” 

“Of course, My Lady,” the man bowed and retrieved the saddle again.

“And you,” I growled at Liam, in my best imitation of my mother’s voice, “if you are so worried about my safety, then, you ride with me.  You look quite capable of protecting me and I do not have time to summon a guard.  Ready a horse for yourself.  Quickly, please.”

“As you command, My Lady,” Liam bowed toward me dramatically, hiding the smirk on his face from the other stable hand.

As soon as we were out of sight of the city walls, Liam urged his horse up alongside mine.  Throughout the entire silent ride through the city I had been uncomfortably aware of Liam riding to my left and slightly behind me.  I found it unnerving to be seen with him publicly.  Liam and I worked so hard at not ever being seen together that riding through the city so openly felt horribly wrong.  Rationally, I knew that most of the people we passed were too busy closing up their shops or rushing home to be with their families to bother paying attention to two riders traveling down the street.  Even if someone stopped and looked long enough to recognize me, there would be no reason for them to think it odd that I rode with an escort.  Still, I was relieved when we finally made it outside of the city and into the open countryside. 

“Okay, so why are we out here?” Liam asked, as soon as his horse was even with mine.

“Devin is missing.  As far as I can tell, no one has seen him since the Eve of Druana,” I answered.

“No one has seen him?” Liam repeated thoughtfully, “Then, why doesn’t the Queen have all the guardsmen out searching for him?”

“Because his wife has been hiding the fact that he’s missing,” I explained, “Treasa’s been making excuses for his absence, hoping to give him more time to return.”

“More time? Druana was three days ago,” Liam said, incredulously, “How much time does she think a man needs?”

“What do you expect her to do?” I snapped, “It’s not as if she can say, ‘My husband left with his lover and hasn’t come back home.’”

“I’m sorry, Keri.  I didn’t mean… I just meant, why didn’t she tell you sooner?” Liam said, softening his tone.

I sighed, “She’s scared… and I am too, I’m sorry I snapped at you.”

“It’s going to be okay, we’ll find him,” Liam reassured me, “What’s your plan?”

“I think they might still be together,” I answered, “The only thing I could think of that would keep Devin from coming home is if one of them got hurt or sick or something and they couldn’t leave each other’s side.”

“Do you think they are out here somewhere?” Liam asked, gesturing with his chin toward the darkening horizon. 

“If Devin’s in trouble or needed a place to hide, there’s only one place I can think to look for him,” I replied.

“The cave,” Liam guessed, “Do you really think he would have gone there?  I don’t think any of us have even been there in years.”

I shrugged, “I don’t know, but I have to start somewhere.”

Liam nodded and reached over to give my knee a brief squeeze for comfort.  We rode in silence, lost in thought.  We were headed for a place Devin, Muriel and I had discovered as children one day when we were exploring the forested land to the south of the city.  It was a small cave, nothing spectacular about it, but it became our secret hiding place, along with our small group of friends.  We gathered there frequently to play or to hide while waiting for some mischief to blow over.  I knew Brady sometimes even spent the night in the cave when his father had come home too drunk and violent to be around.  The cave was our safe haven from the social etiquettes and rules of the castle.  

At the cave, we weren’t children of nobility or castle servants, we were just friends.  It was our very own magical land where no adults existed, no responsibilities weighed us down, and nothing could bother or harm us.  We spent many lazy afternoons daydreaming elaborate scenarios in which dragons attacked the castle, or deadly plague ravaged the land, or a magic spell had gone terribly wrong and everyone had been turned into newts, except the six of us.  We would always be safe hiding together in our secret cave.  Now that we were adults, and our troubles were real, I could only hope that Devin would be hiding there waiting for the rest of us to show up. 

The cave wasn’t too far from the city, only about a twenty minute ride.  Once[JV1]  full dark had descended, we were forced to stop and light the lantern Liam had brought, but otherwise the trip was uneventful. We followed the small stream through the woods, until we came to an outcrop of rocks.  As we were heading around to the backside of the outcrop, we came upon a horse [JV2] standing among the trees. 

Liam dismounted and approached her cautiously.  The mare was fully saddled, but dirty and eager for company.  Without any trouble, Liam was able to gather her dangling reins and bring her over to join us.  Our horses greeted her with perked ears and friendly nickers.[JV3]   If Devin were here, why would he have left his horse wandering in the woods, unhitched with the saddle still in place over night?  The horse looked as if she’d not had anyone brush or care for her in days.  Still, finding her there so near the cave, gave me hope.

“We should leave the horses here,” Liam suggested, “they’ll stick together and won’t go far in the dark.”

Agreeing, I dismounted and joined Liam.  We left the horses huddled together and walked the last distance toward the cave.  Liam carried the lantern to light our way.  When the lamplight hit the side of the cave, Liam grabbed my hand and squeezed, “Ready?” he whispered.  I returned the squeeze and we stepped forward through the entrance. 

Slowly, the dim light filled the small space.  Flickering shadows danced on the walls.  At first glance, I didn’t see anyone there, but the second time I scanned the cave I noticed a dark shape in the corner.  Liam must have seen it too because he edged closer to it, holding out the lantern for better light. 

When we got close enough, I could see that it was a man.  He appeared to be sleeping, lying on his back, covered by his cloak.  The deep, wavering shadows across his face made it difficult to see if it was Devin but the lean body size and shape seemed right.  As I knelt closer to get a better look, Liam squatted down beside me and the full light of the lantern hit the man’s face.

With a sharp intake of breath, I recoiled at the face I saw.  It was Devin, but dark purple bruises colored his face, his nose and one of his eyes were swollen and black, his lip was split and dried blood was crusted around his mouth and nose.  Both of his eyes were closed.  I rested my hand gently on his chest and could feel him breathing shallowly.  I let go of the breath that I hadn’t realized I had been holding.

“Is he unconscious or just sleeping?” Liam whispered at my ear.  I jumped, startled by the unexpected sound.  I gave a shrug, not trusting my voice to work.  I could feel a flood of emotion rising up within myself and feared letting it release until I knew for sure what had happened to Devin.

Liam reached passed me and gave Devin a small shake on his shoulder. “Devin,” he called, his voice just barely above a whisper.  Devin groaned faintly in response.  “Devin, it’s me, Liam, and Keira is here too,” Liam said, his voice quiet and soothing.  Devin shifted slightly and grimaced in pain.  Slowly, he opened his one eye that wasn’t swollen shut and looked up at us. 

“Keri?” he tried to say, but his voice failed him.

“I’m here, Devin,” I whispered, “what happened to you?”  In the uneven lamplight, I could see the dark wave of anguish cross his bruised features, the aching intensity of his vibrant blue gaze making a sharp contrast to the blue-black blotches covering his face.  “Are you alone?” I asked, trying for an easier question to answer.  Devin closed his eyes again as a convulsion of pain shuddered through his body.  He groaned loudly at the movement.  “Don’t move,” I said, placing my hand on his shoulder. 

“Water,” Devin croaked, lifting his gaze to Liam.

“I’ll go get some,” Liam stood up, “I have a bag on my horse.”

“No need,” a voice spoke behind us.  Liam and I both flinched violently.  Liam spun around, landing in a crouch, ready for a fight.  I felt my heart leap into my throat.  Without thinking, I moved to place my body in front of Devin. 

“I have some water here,” the stranger said and stepped into the circle of light.

“Brady!” I exclaimed, my voice suddenly sounding extremely loud, “What are you doing here?”

“The same thing you are,” he replied calmly, “searching for Devin.”  He nodded to the shadow behind me, “Looks like we’ve found him.”

I shifted out of the way to let Brady see my brother.  Brady came closer and crouched down beside him.  I noticed that Brady showed no outward reaction to Devin’s injuries as he lifted his water flask and offered my brother a drink.  With Brady’s help, Devin took several small sips of the water. 

“Who did this to you, my friend?” Brady asked gently when Devin was finished drinking. 

Devin tried to shrug but grimaced in pain at the movement, “Don’t know,” he said, his voice rough, “A dozen or so men.  It was dark and—“ his voice broke and another shudder ran through his body, causing him to moan in pain again.

“Are your ribs broken?” Brady asked, his eyes making a quick scan of Devin’s body.

Devin nodded, “A couple, I think.  Arm, too.”  His voice was gaining strength now that he had started talking.

“What happened?” I asked.

“We didn’t hear them… they grabbed me first and I couldn’t…,” Devin swallowed, “So many of them.”

“We?” Brady asked, glancing around the cave.

Devin swallowed again and couldn’t seem to answer.  Brady lifted the water bag to Devin’s lips for another drink.

“I think he was with… a friend,” I volunteered.

“And where is your friend?” Brady asked Devin, as he lowered the water bag.

Devin closed his eyes before replying, “We couldn’t…  They were…”  He shook his head slightly, seemingly trying to order his thoughts, then grimaced at the pain the movement caused.  Tears began leaking from the corners of his eyes. “It happened so fast… no chance to fight back,” Devin’s voice caught as he choked back a sob.  “I tried to… but Carrick was already… and I...  I ran.”

“Carrick?” Brady said, sounding perplexed, “the blacksmith’s apprentice?  Carrick MacGowan?” 

 “They killed him,” Liam growled, voicing what Devin couldn’t.  Alarmed by depth of malice I heard in Liam’s voice, I turned to look at him.  He had been silently standing over us with the lantern when Brady had appeared in the cave, but now I saw that the lantern had been left propped up against a nearby pile of stones and Liam had moved to stand a few steps away from the rest of us.  His body was rigid with blatant fury, his fists balled tightly at his sides. 

“Did you kill any of them?” Brady asked, his gentle tone had turned low and threatening too, close to Liam’s.

Devin shook his head.  He swallowed thickly before answering, “I didn’t have any weapons.”

“You always carry a weapon,” Brady countered.  He and Devin had both been taught to fight by Brady’s father when they were younger.  Brady knew how quick and dangerous Devin could be with a weapon and that he would never have been caught without one.

“There was a sword on my belt and a dagger hidden in my clothing,” Devin said with remorse before fixing Brady with a purposeful look, “but it was the Eve of Druana and neither of us had our clothing within reach.”

I watched Brady carefully, trying to judge the impact of this revelation.  I was fairly sure that he would not judge my brother too harshly, but I didn’t know for certain.  For a second, confusion still lingered on Brady’s face, then, his expression cleared.

“I suspected you had a lover, but I thought…” Brady paused, shaking his head in disbelief.  An odd, almost relieved emotion flittered across his face but was immediately replaced by a look of utter compassion.  He took a deep breath and whispered tenderly, “His death is a very deep loss for you, then, my friend.  May I share in your sorrow?” 

“I can’t…” Devin muttered, but as he spoke another wave of tears leaked freely from the corners of his eyes and his breathing became shallow and erratic.  I felt wetness slip from my own eyes, and I ignored it, letting it fall. 

Abruptly, Liam spun on his heels and stormed out the entrance of the cave.  It was near pitch black outside the lantern-lit cave so I knew he wouldn’t go far.  I yearned to follow him, both to comfort him and to seek his comfort, but my brother’s need for support greatly outweighed Liam’s at the moment. 

For several minutes, Brady and I sat quietly with Devin, each experiencing the ache of loss in our own way.  I didn’t know Carrick MacGowan well and felt no real distress at his death, but I mourned tremendously for the misery my brother must be feeling.  He and Carrick had been lovers for a long time, since even before my brother’s marriage to Treasa four years ago.  I tried to imagine what it would feel like if I were to lose Liam in the same way, but the thought was too overwhelming and I pushed it away. 

Eventually, Liam returned.  He slunk back into the cave quietly.  “We’ll need to leave soon if we want to make it back to the castle before daybreak,” he said with a cold air of detachment.  The uncomfortable woodenness with which he moved made it clear to me that he was barely restraining his underlying feelings.

Brady offered Devin some more water, which he drank eagerly, and we began talking about how to get Devin back to the castle.  Devin had a horse which he had somehow ridden all the way to the cave with a broken arm and broken ribs, but he didn’t think he would be able to make that ride again[JV4] .  Brady and Liam were debating ways to build a hammock or sling in which to carry Devin, but couldn’t seem to come to any agreement.

“Is the whole guard out searching for me?” Devin asked me quietly, while the other two left to get saddle blankets off the horses.

“No,” I answered, “Treasa has been hiding the fact that you’re missing.”

“She has?” Devin sighed weakly, “You and Brady figured it out.”

“I don’t know how Brady did it, but I talked to Treasa,” I admitted, “She’s very loyal to you, you know?”

“I know,” Devin said, appreciatively, “My boys?”

“I’m sorry, I didn’t think to ask Treasa about your children, but I saw Conor in the courtyard yesterday trying to catch honey bees.  He seemed well.”

“Thank you, Keira,” Devin said, “Thank you for coming to find me.  I wasn’t sure if anyone would think to look for me here.”

“Why did you?” I asked, “Come here, I mean.  Why didn’t you just go home?  Treasa could have helped you.”

“I couldn’t…” Devin looked away from me, turning inwards, “With Carrick, I…” he swallowed and attempted to take a deep breath, then winced and continued, “I needed to be alone.  I didn’t realize how badly I was hurt.  All I could think of was... I just took a horse outside the inn and ran.”  His gaze focused back onto me, “I just kind of ended up here.”  Devin paused to gesture for another drink of water.  There were so many questions I wanted to ask, but I didn’t want to interrupt his story.

After I helped him take a few sips of water, he continued, “I thought about going home, but then… then, the pain…  I just couldn’t make myself move.  How long?  How long have I been here?”

“This is the third night since the Eve of Druana,” I said softly.

“Three nights,” Devin mumbled, closing his eyes.  The small speech clearly had used up what little energy Devin had and I got the impression that if I just sat quietly he would fall asleep.  I stayed silent, holding his hand, stroking my thumb across his palm and, before Liam and Brady returned, he was asleep.

The walk back home was not easy, but we managed.  Devin seemed to have lost consciousness, not even budging as he was jostled along in the makeshift litter carried by Liam and Brady.  I led the horses.  It was slow going but once we reached the city walls, the trip got easier.  As the Queen’s guardsman, Brady had no trouble getting us past all of the city guards.  The minute they caught sight of Brady, they nodded their heads to him and stepped out of the way.  Being the Queen’s guardsman had some obviously significant advantages.  The hood of my cloak hid my identity and Devin wasn’t easily recognizable in his current condition anyway.  No one even looked twice at Liam, who remained quietly aloof.  [JV5] 

Once inside the city gates, Liam took the horses from me to put them in the castle stables.  As I handed him the reins, he grasped my hand, leaned in and kissed me.  The kiss was surprisingly forceful and demanding, a tiny release of the scarcely contained furor still boiling within him.  It had been a long, difficult night for both of us and I yearned for the quiet serenity of his arms around me.  But there was nothing serene about this kiss.  Liam seemed to need a different kind of comfort and I wondered if there would be a chance for us to have some time alone together later.  Despite the bruising nature of the kiss, I was loath to break the connection with him.  Eventually, though, the kiss had to end and when it did our eyes locked, burning together, before Liam turned to leave without saying anything.

I watched him disappearing [JV6] across the courtyard before turning back to find Brady smirking at me.  “I’ve learned all sorts of secrets tonight,” he muttered.  I blushed slightly and quickly bent to lift my side of Devin’s litter to avoid meeting Brady’s gaze. 

The city streets were mostly empty at this time of night, but I knew it wouldn’t be long before people would be up and moving about.  We made it to Devin and Treasa’s townhouse as quickly as we could and after an extremely relieved Treasa admitted us, we were able to transfer Devin into his bed. 

As soon as we got Devin settled, Brady and I left again[JV7] .  Brady said that he knew a physician whom we could trust and I wanted to wake my sister and let her know what had happened.  As I was walking alone down the dark, quiet corridors of the castle toward Muriel’s rooms, I became increasingly aware of how exhausted I was, both mentally and physically.  I had been so worried about my brother, first about finding him and then dealing with what we had found, that I hadn’t noticed my own desperate need for rest.  I wanted desperately for the day to be over, to just close my eyes and be empty for a while. 

In the corridor outside of Muriel’s rooms, a guard stood, watching me approach.  I recognized him, but couldn’t remember his name.  He nodded slightly to me when I stopped in front of him.

“I need to speak with my sister, Her Royal Highness,” I said.

“I’m sorry, Lady Delaney, but Her Royal Highness is unavailable right now,” the man replied with a slightly condescending tone.

“It’s urgent,” I answered, making my own voice sound more commanding, “It cannot wait until the morning.  You will wake her, please, and let her know that I must speak with her immediately.”

The corner of the guard’s mouth curled up in a sneer.  “Of course, My Lady,” he mumbled and turned toward the door to knock.

                “What is your name, Sir?” I asked, as he knocked on the door.  He turned to look over his shoulder at me.

                “I’m not a Sir, My Lady, just a guard,” the man said, knocking on the door again.  Before I could respond, the door opened slightly and a candle appeared, followed by Muriel’s chambermaid, Sorcha, a young sleepy-eyed woman with long blonde hair pulled back in a messy braid.  “Her Royal Highness has a visitor, go wake her,” the guard said to the girl.

                “But—“

                “It’s an emergency,” the man interrupted her, “Go wake her.”

                “But she… she isn’t to be disturbed,” Sorcha persisted in a small, quiet voice.

                “It doesn’t matter.  Wake her.”

                She hesitated at the door, clearly torn.  “I don’t think…”

                “Oh, forget it,” I exclaimed, “I’m her sister; I’ll go wake her.”  I shoved passed them both, pushing the door open and marching into the room, but was stopped short by the darkness. 

                Sorcha followed me closely but her small candle did not provide enough light for me to see clearly.  “Please, Lady Delaney, let me go wake her first,” the girl begged, already headed with the candle toward the bedroom door. “She’ll be very cross with me if I don’t warn her that you’re here first.”

                “Wait,” I said and she stopped immediately. Softening my voice, I added, “Light a few more candles in here, please, and then wake her.”

                “Right away, My Lady.  Thank you,” she bobbed her head at me eagerly and then flittered around the room quickly lighting candles.

When she was finished, Sorcha slipped into the bedroom, leaving the door slightly ajar behind her.  Standing just outside the door impatiently, I heard her tiny whispers trying to wake Muriel and I rolled my eyes.  She was going to need to be a lot louder than that to wake my deep-sleeping sister.

I wondered if Brady had already made it back to Devin with the physician.  I was eager to be returning myself.  Taking a deep breath and closing my eyes, I slowly counted to 10.  That seemed like long enough for Sorcha to claim that she had tried to wake my sister.  Surely, Muriel wouldn’t get too upset at her.  I opened my eyes. 

My turn now, I thought and walked into the room, pushing the door open wide to let the candle light behind me flood into the bedroom.  I had taken a breath and opened my mouth to call out my sister’s name, but as soon as the light hit Muriel’s bed, I was stunned to stillness.

There was a man’s body curled up against my sister.  He was half hidden behind her, his face buried in her hair.  One arm draped protectively over her, he lay on his side with his body echoing the shape of hers, fitting together.  They were both naked with the bed quilts tangled around their legs.  The dim candle light stretched across their bare skin, emphasizing the shadowed spaces where their bodies met, erasing their individual outlines, making them appear as one being.  The image was beautifully picturesque, almost otherworldly. 

I could feel the heat of embarrassment rushing to my face.  I wished I had immediately turned and left the room.  But I was frozen, trapped in place by something… shock, embarrassment… fascination, maybe.  I stood there, staring at the intimate scene before me.

Belatedly, I realized that Sorcha was trying to quietly wake my sister without waking the man in bed with her.  She was crouched low, right near Muriel’s face.  Unfortunately, her efforts were for naught, because the man moved, pulling himself up slightly to peek over Muriel’s shoulder.

“What is it, Sorcha?” the man whispered and I stopped breathing.  It was Brennan.  Of course it was; he was her husband, why should he not be in bed with his wife?  But, for some reason, the thought had never crossed my mind.  I knew they were attempting to conceive an heir, but… but, that was a duty, a job, and this… this scene I had walked in on was tender, intimate, loving.  I had never, not once, imagined Muriel and Brennan together in that way.  They had separate rooms in the castle.  I had assumed that once their marital duties were over they would return to their own room to sleep.  To see them comfortably sleeping, snuggled together like that, I was completely taken aback.

“Her Royal Highness has a visitor,” Sorcha whispered, cocking her head my direction.  Brennan twisted his body to peer at me.  I clinched my teeth and mentally cringed, anticipating his reaction to finding me standing there.  He moved slightly, attempting to reposition the quilts a little more modestly, but otherwise didn’t seem at all concerned.  I let go of the breath I had been holding.

“Can I help you?” he asked politely, keeping his voice pitched low so as not to wake Muriel.  I realized that he didn’t know who I was.  The only light in the room was coming from the candles behind me, leaving my face in complete darkness.  I swallowed with difficultly and took a deep breath.

“It’s me, Keira,” I said quietly and was immediately rewarded with a yelp from Brennan, followed by a flurry of rustling quilts and a loud thump as Brennan ejected himself from his wife’s bed.   

The commotion woke Muriel, who sat up abruptly and quickly scanned the room.  I stepped the rest of the way through the door.

“Keira?” Muriel mumbled, her voice still heavy with sleep.

“Yes, it’s me,” I answered, making my way over closer to her side of the bed and keeping my eyes on her instead of on the man just now raising from the floor with a quilt held wrapped around his waist.  Muriel, her attention caught by his movement, turned to look at him.

“What are you doing?” she asked him.

“I… fell,” he muttered sheepishly.  Muriel studied him for a long second before shifting her gaze back to me.  I heard her sigh, as if to herself, and I assumed she had a pretty good idea of what had happened.

“Why are you here, Keira?  What do you want?” Muriel asked with an edge to her voice.

“I need to talk to you,” I answered, doing my best to ignore Brennan, still standing awkwardly on the other side of the bed.  “Privately,” I added. 

“I can go,” Brennan spoke up quickly and Muriel turned sharply to glare at him.

“No,” Muriel answered coldly, “you can stay.  She’s the one that doesn’t belong here.”

“Muriel,” Brennan said soothingly, “She wouldn’t have come to wake you up in the middle of the night, unless it was extremely important.  Right?” He looked over at me for verification.  I nodded stupidly, suddenly finding myself at a loss for words.  Having actually looked at him when he spoke up, seeing him standing there naked in the candle light, clutching the quilt around his hips, I was bewildered by what I saw.  He was strikingly well-built.  The muscles on his stomach and chest were sharply defined, but not overly bulky.  The man probably had never done a hard day’s labor in his life.  How had he become so attractively well-shaped?  I cringed to think it, but he reminded me of Liam.  Liam, who worked hard physical labor every day, mucking stalls, training horses, tossing bales of hay. 

“He hides it well,” Muriel’s voice cut through my thoughts, “under all those courtier’s clothes, doesn’t he?”

I blinked and dragged my eyes up to Brennan’s face.  He was looking down at himself, as if trying to figure out what Muriel meant.  When he lifted his head back up, our eyes met and I suddenly felt light-headed and unbearably hot as deep humiliation flooded over me.  I spun away, quickly, putting my back to him.

“I... I’m sorry, Muriel. I… uh,” I stammered, trying to regain my composure, “It is important… yes, what I have to tell you, it’s important.”  I remembered Devin then, of course, and all other thoughts were driven from my head, “In fact,” I continued, hastily shifting to an urgent, serious tone, “it’s extremely important.”

Alerted, finally, by the earnestness of my words, Muriel climbed out of bed.  “Sorcha,” she called to her chambermaid who had silently disappeared back into the other room, “Can you bring me some clothing, please?”

“Yes, Your Highness,” Sorcha called back.  I could hear her start to move about the sitting room, apparently gathering things.

“Now, what is it?” Muriel asked, turning to me.

“Well…” I hesitated and nodded my head back over my shoulder.  I could hear Brennan shuffling around behind me.  I hoped he was retrieving his clothing.

“Keira, it’s Brennan,” Muriel scoffed, “You know you can trust him.”

I sighed, resigned.  She was right; I could trust Brennan, more than most people in fact.  But, part of this story wasn’t my secret to tell.   “It’s Devin,” I said carefully, “he was… he’s been injured.”

“Injured?” Muriel asked, “What do you mean?  Is he okay?”

“I’m not sure,” I admitted, “He was unconscious when I left.  The physician hasn’t seen him yet.  Or hadn’t, anyway, when I left.  By now, he might—“

“What happened?” Muriel interrupted. 

“He…” I hesitated, “He was… attacked.”

“He was attacked?” Brennan repeated, coming up next to me.  I was relieved to see from the corner of my eye that he was adequately clothed.

“Attacked?  Who would attack Devin?  Why?” Muriel asked.

“I’ll alert the guards,” Brennan declared with gravity before I could respond to Muriel, “Where was he?  Does he know who attacked him?”

“No,” I answered Brennan’s last question, turning to face him, “it was a group of men, a dozen or more.”

“A dozen or more?” Brennan asked, taken aback, “Do you know, did the men scatter?  Do you think Devin could describe them?  I can have the guards—“

“You won’t find them,” I interrupted him, “They’re long gone by now.”

“When was he attacked?” Brennan asked.

“It was, uh… a few nights ago,” I muttered.

“A few nights?” Muriel nearly shouted, “And you’re just telling me now?  In the middle of the night?”

“I just found him,” I retorted, “he’s been missing for days.”

Muriel flinched, bewilderment creasing her brow.  She was silent for a moment, thinking.  When she spoke again her voice was solemn.  “You’re right,” she said, “I haven’t seen him since… since the Eve of Durana.”

“Me neither,” Brennan added quietly.  “Three days ago.”  I nodded and Brennan continued, his tone grave, “He was attacked three days ago.  He’s been lying somewhere, alone and injured, for three days before you found him?”  I nodded again, unable to speak.

“Where is he now?” Muriel asked, reaching out to touch my arm, pulling my attention back to her.

“At his house in town,” I answered, “The physician should be there by now.”

“Sorcha,” Muriel called again and the girl materialized with Muriel’s clothes draped in her arms.