Page 39 of Midnight Shadow

She paused immediately at hearing footsteps behind her. She turned to see Terran stalking after her. Her heart began to race as he approached. “Good eve, Lord Knowles,” she called.

“Good eve, Lady Bria,” he said with an ingratiating smile, a brilliant smile, a perfect smile.

She shook her head mentally. What am I thinking? She looked again and saw a different smile as he moved toward her beneath the flickering light of the torches. The smile was wolfish, predatory. But something in it caused her pulse to quicken. “Why have you been following me all day?” she wondered.

“I enjoy watching you,” he said.

A thrill raced up her spine. “Thank you,” she replied, embarrassed at her self-consciousness. It wasn’t a compliment she had ever received.

His smile grew wider and more genuine.

It left her breathless. He was so handsome, more handsome than she’d ever known a man could be. Frightened by this newfound sensation, she backed to her bedroom door. “Well good night, Lord Knowles.”

“Good night, Lady Bria,” he whispered.

His voice sent waves of warmth through her body. Bria quickly entered her room and shut the door, hoping to seal out her feelings as well, but that was not to be.

In the darkness of her room, giddiness and breathlessness swirled inside her. What was happening to her? What was this feeling? She had to remember that he was a cruel lord and treated his people badly. But why had he helped Bradley? And why was she feeling this warmth for Terran? She begged for it to stop, chastised herself for feeling anything for him.

The strange, unwanted feelings remained to torment her, and she knew of only one way to rid herself of them.

Terran had expected to be lectured about hounding her in her own castle. He hadn’t expected her large blue eyes to stare at him with such... surprise.

Her silence had given him a chance to study her face -- her perfect little nose, her high cheekbones and full lips. Had she lingered a moment longer, he would have kissed her again, he was sure of it. As it was, his blood boiled in his veins at the mere memory of their kiss.

Terran shook his head. Lust. He’d felt it before. Not this strongly, and certainly not for someone who wanted nothing to do with him. Could that be part of her intrigue? Or was it simply her womanly body that called so strongly to him?

He realized suddenly he was staring at her wooden door and turned away. He would begin his pursuit again in the morning. Perhaps he’d find her alone in the garden, or in a hallway.

Terran entered his room and shut the door. He sat at his window in the dark for a long time thinking about his betrothal to Bria. What would have happened had he not initially rejected his betrothal to her for Odella? Would she still despise him?

The sound of horses’ hooves echoed in the courtyard. He glanced down and saw a lone figure riding through the inner ward toward the outer ward of the castle. Familiar long brown hair waved behind her, uninhibited. Terran’s eyes narrowed as he leaned a little further out the window to watch her path.

Where could she possibly be going this late at night?

The next morning, little Ben Johnson’s mother stretched and yawned. Her first thought was for her son, Ben. The tax collectors had beaten him soundly for spooking their horses, leaving him with a bleeding nose, a fat lip, and bruises on his face. That had been two days ago, but she worried they’d return to exact more vengeance on her family.

She hurried to the main room to check on him.

Ben was already awake, sitting up in his straw bed, playing with something. His black hair bobbed and fell over his bright eyes.

Ben’s mother relaxed and smiled, moving to her son. “Good morning, Ben,” she greeted, sitting beside the bed.

Ben threw his arms around his mother’s neck and gave her a big hug. “Mother, Mother! Look at what I got!”

Ben’s mother looked down at the small wooden horse her son was proudly displaying. She scowled slightly. “Where did you get that?”

“The Midnight Shadow gave it to me,” little Ben replied, his face aglow. “He came last night and gave it to me. He said to stay away from the tax collectors.”

Horror spread over Ben’s mother’s face and through her heart as she glanced around the room. She drew Ben closer to her heart as if to protect him. “Someone was here? In the house?”

Ben nodded. “But he was nice, mother. At first I was afraid. But then he gave me this.” He hugged the wooden horse. “Oh…” Ben rummaged beneath his pillow for a moment and produced a small bag. “And he said to give this to you.”

Wary, Ben’s mother took the bag from her child. She pulled the drawstring and cautiously peered inside. Then she quickly turned the bag over and five gold coins spilled out into the palm of her hand.

Her eyes widened at the sight. “Oh, thank you, Lord!” she exclaimed, hugging her son.

“The Midnight Shadow is a good man, isn’t he?” Ben asked, innocently.