Page 54 of Midnight Shadow

As he turned, his gaze stopped upon the small woman standing where his warhorse had been before the stable boy had led him away. Around her, his men were dispersing, but she stood motionless, her hands clasped before her, her large blue eyes trained uncertainly on him. Bria looked so lost that for a brief moment, Terran had the urge to sweep her into his arms and assure her everything would be all right.

He took a step toward her, but suddenly a voice called out, “M’lord!” Terran turned to find a blond woman standing on the stairs to the keep. Every detail about her was impeccable, from her horned headdress to her slippered feet. She was a marvelous woman to look at, and Terran used to love to do that. But now another woman needed his attention.

But the woman came toward him, holding out her slender hand. Terran brushed her knuckles with a kiss. “Lady Kathryn.”

“Yes.” Her haughty blue gaze swung to Bria.

“Lady Kathryn, meet my wife, Lady Bria.” He turned his gaze to Bria and was crushed by her crestfallen expression. But she straightened her shoulders and marched up to them.

“A pleasure,” Bria said, expressing anything but.

Terran stared in confusion at Bria. Her large eyes all but danced with fire as she gazed upon Kathryn. Kathryn’s reaction was just as baffling. Her eyebrow rose in disdain. Then both women turned their gazes on him.

Terran smiled enigmatically, but he’d never felt so burdened and strained before. He felt expected to do something, but he didn’t know what they wanted. “Kenric!” he called out.

His cousin strolled over to him.

Terran’s eyes shifted from Bria to Kathryn and back again. “Show Lady Bria to her room.” Something flashed in her blue eyes like the distant glint of lightning. Was that hurt or anger? She lowered her eyes before he could figure it out.

Terran’s gaze shifted to Kathryn’s, and he saw victory shining in her blue eyes. Strange, Terran thought. He’d never realized before how dull her eyes were. They were pale blue and hard, almost like stones set into her sockets.

Terran stepped past Bria and paused. “I will come to you tonight,” he promised his new bride. Then he took Kathryn’s arm and moved into the keep. Kathryn was aglow as they strolled through Castle Knowles’ halls. She primped for the peasants who watched them, holding her chin high. Terran tried to restrain his impatience.

They turned down a dark hallway, their footsteps echoing. Kathryn was strangely quiet. She could talk for hours about herself, but now her mouth remained shut. Something was wrong.

“What brings you here, Kathryn?” he asked brusquely. Terran paused before the closed door of the room she always occupied when at Castle Knowles, although the last time had been over a year ago.

“My darling,” she cooed, leaning back against the door. “Why are you so cruel to me?” She placed her hands on his chest.

Terran had once found her coy manner irresistible, before Odella. “I’m not cruel, Kathryn,” he said softly. “I just know your games.”

“Games?” She pouted those once sensual lips. But now Terran could only see one pair of lips in his mind’s eye.

“You wound me.” She took his hand and placed it upon her breast. “Deeply.” Her voice took on a husky tone.

Terran leaned forward. “Our relationship is finished. It ended long ago. You know that.”

“Of course,” she said, “when you were marrying Odella.” She arched slightly so her breast filled his palm. “I couldn’t come between you and my sister.”

Terran’s jaw clenched fiercely and he looked away from Kathryn.

“I came as soon as she died,” she whispered.

“I see,” Terran said.

“To comfort you,” she said softly. Her lips were but inches from his now.

“So when your sister died, you came to Castle Knowles to... comfort me,” Terran clarified.

She nodded.

“Only to find me married.” He reached around her and opened the door.

Kathryn almost spilled into the room, but she quickly righted herself. She shrugged slightly. “A mere inconvenience.”

Terran’s eyes narrowed. Bria was his wife now, and the thought of her as a mere inconvenience boiled his blood. He entered the room and lit a candle. “What do you want, Kathryn?”

Kathryn came up behind him to hug his broad shoulders. “I want things to be as they were before.”