Page 26 of Midnight Shadow

The ghost of a grin appeared on her lips. A dress wasn’t exactly what she had in mind. “Make it three horses’ widths.”

The merchant bowed slightly.

Bria turned a brilliant smile on him and raced inside, moving toward the Great Hall. She didn’t quite understand the surge of excitement blossoming in her chest, but something inside her was telling her she’d just made one of the most momentous decisions in her life.

Dinner was being served as she entered the Great Hall. The smell of spiced duck filled the large room. She took only two steps before she faltered, coming to a dead stop. The cloud of elation she’d brought into the room with her immediately darkened, turning into a thick fog of disheartenment. One seat was empty on the raised platform at the far end of where she always sat to eat. It was between Lord Prescott and Lord Brent. Funny, she remembered their names when she least wanted to. She winced slightly and glanced over her shoulder at the double doors. There was still time to run.

Before she could make her escape, Garret entered and moved past her, whispering, “Coward.” He moved around her and walked confidently up the long aisle to his seat at the head table.

Bria ground her teeth. There would be no escape from her suitors wherever she went. She could avoid them for only so long. It was time to face her future. She straightened her back in resolve and walked up to the head table, smiling as graciously at her suitors as she could while gritting her teeth. Lord Brent smiled up at her like a tiger spotting its kill as she sat next to him. Thankfully, a large portion of duck and bread was placed before them and everyone set about immediately to eat.

She reached for the food and stopped, slowly glancing around her, noticing the conversation in the room had lowered to a murmur. She lifted her gaze to the rear of the Great Hall. A tall man dressed in black moved up the middle aisle toward her, toward the head table.

Bria gasped. It was the man she’d met in the hallway, her lord. She straightened, trying to see him better past all the servants who scurried about the table to accommodate the nobles.

His black hair hung to his shoulders, glimmering in the light from the torches on the wall, the dark strands framing his face. Somehow he was even more handsome than she remembered. His black tunic clung to his broad chest, open in a V shape to reveal the strong, smooth skin beneath. She followed the opening in his black tunic down to his waist, where he wore a black leather scabbard. His muscled thighs were clad in tight black leggings and his black leather boots barely made a sound as he moved toward her.

But again his dark, brooding eyes caught her attention, making her heart hammer in her chest. They were locked on her. A tremor raced up her spine.

He stopped before the head table, and his gaze shifted from her to pin her father to his chair. For the first time, Bria realized her father’s hand was clenched in a fist atop the table.

“Lord Delaney.” The man’s deep voice sent shivers through Bria’s body.

“Good day,” her father answered amiably enough, but Bria heard the barely restrained tension in his voice.

“Since you didn’t greet me last night when I arrived –”

“It was very late,” her father answered.

The lord continued as though her father hadn’t spoken. “I will state my intentions now. I’ve come to marry your daughter.”

Excitement flared through Bria. Her heart raced. He’d come to seek her hand! Bria had guessed as much. Still, the words gave her a thrill she’d never experienced. The thought of being encompassed by those strong arms sent shivers of excitement racing up her spine.

A murmuring of objections came from the lords seated around her at the head table. How could they hope to compete with her lord?

Her father slowly rose from his chair. He was shaking his head as if in amusement, but there was a serious scowl on his brow. “Lord Knowles, I’m afraid that’s quite –”

Lord Knowles? Bria’s mind repeated the name over and over, first in confusion and slowly in mounting anger. “Lord Knowles?” Bria gasped. Any thought of finding excitement in his arms quickly vanished. Anger and humiliation washed through her. How dare he deceive her? He was her enemy!

She was on her feet as she pounded the table with her fists. “Never!” she ground out between her clenched teeth.

That drew his gaze. The two beacons of darkness centered on her.

“I’ll never marry you,” she vowed and stormed from the table.

Chapter eleven

Terran watched with keen interest as his future wife left the room in a huff. The little firebrand from the hallway was Bria Delaney! He studied the sway of her shapely curves as she stalked from the room and realized he could do worse, much worse. At least he knew how she felt from the beginning. There’d be no surprises like the one Odella had presented upon her deathbed. No, Bria was not like Odella at all.

He turned to glance at Garret Dysen, who sat but a few chairs from him. Hatred burned keenly in the man’s eyes. Terran’s jaw clenched as anger and resentment sizzled inside him. It had taken him by surprise that Odella had loved Dysen, but it was no secret how Bria felt about him.

Terran mentally shook himself. That damned Kenric said he’d taken care of everything.

“You’re not welcome here,” Lord Delaney snapped. “I suggest you leave.”

Terran glared at Lord Delaney. The room was so quiet Terran swore he heard the anger boiling in his host’s blood. “I’ll leave when I have my betrothed,” Terran answered.

“You broke that contract when you chose to take a new wife,” Delaney answered.