Page 148 of Moon Craving

"Talorc, please." She grabbed his arm, but he shook her off.

"You have already made a fool of me, will you add to my humiliation by disobeying

me in front of my warriors?"

"Why not? You revealed my secret in front of them."

"You deceived them as well; they deserved to witness the truth, too."

"I wanted a chance to fit in." She didn't expect him to understand or care. The only

one who ever had was Emily, but she told him the truth anyway.

"There is no place in our clan for deceivers and cowards."

She felt the words like blows and went to her knees from the pain.

A gentle touch landed on her shoulder. She looked up through eyes swimming in

tears to find Guaire's face covered in compassion.

He put his arm out. "Come, my lady."

Before she had a chance to take it, she was being lifted with jerky movements into

Talorc's arms. He carried her toward the stairs, his entire body radiating fury and

repudiation.

Unwilling to hide from anything any longer and needing to face the full

ramifications of her situation, she looked toward the table of Sinclair soldiers. They were

glaring at her. The expression on Osgard's face was one of smug satisfaction, but that did

not hurt nearly as much as the revilement she read in Niall's eyes.

He had been her first friend among the Sinclairs. Now he was her enemy.

Chapter 14

Talorc dropped her onto the pile of furs in their bedchamber. "If you value your

safety, you will stay here."

She could think of nothing to say to such a threat being issued from the lips of the

man she had come to equate with her safety.

He turned and only then did she realize Guaire had followed them up the stairs.

"Stay with her. Allow no one in this room until I return."

Guaire nodded without a word.

Then Talorc left. Guaire locked the door.

"Am I prisoner?" she asked, making no effort to modulate her voice.