Page 26 of Moon Craving

He said a word she could not interpret and glared over his shoulder, barking out an

order she could not hear. She didn't need to though, because one of his other soldier's

was making his way rapidly around to the front of the cottage. Abigail knew it was to take

up a guard's position at the door.

She would have gone to check but could not make herself leave the dark-haired

warrior's company.

"Where are your father's soldiers? Surely they do not all sleep?"

"Those on duty, or who wished to visit with the MacDonald soldiers, are inside the

keep. With him." She kept her hand against her throat to make sure it vibrated with sound,

monitoring her tone as Emily had made her learn to do.

"He is not on his own land. All of his soldiers are on duty at all times," the Sinclair

warrior bit out, his jaw clamping between words.

Abigail looked toward the keep where her parents entertained themselves with no

thought to a deaf daughter's terror on the night before her forced wedding. "It is not for me

to say."

"You are Emily's sister. The woman I am to wed."

She nodded and brushed her curls back in a nervous gesture Sybil would have

harped at her for. "You are Talorc, Laird of the Sinclair. I knew it the moment you faced

me. You carry yourself like a lord."

Talorc's eyes narrowed dangerously, and she thought she had offended him with

her out-of-turn comment. He reached toward her, and she wanted to flinch back, but she

would not let herself.

She must face this man with strength or forever lose herself to the fierce terrors

plaguing her.

Perhaps he would think her wanton for not attempting to avoid the shockingly

gentle brush of fingers against her cheek, but she would not move. The most amazing

sensation of shivering pleasure spread throughout her body at that one small caress.

She would question her sanity on the morrow, she was sure, but she felt as if in

that moment she had been touched by a piece of her soul that had been missing. How

could that be?