Page 26 of Conquer the Highlander

He had told her that they would speak further on her predicament this morning, and he found himself both wanting to speak to her and not wanting to speak to her. When the woman looked at him a certain way, he could feel himself willing to do anything for her.

Last night, he had.

Whack!

Something hit him from behind, nearly knocking him to his knees, and he turned to see one of the other fighters standing behind him, shield in one hand and a gladius, or wooden practice sword, in the other.

He found himself looking at Christos.

“What is wrong with ye, Eagle?” Christos demanded. “Ye’re in another world.”

Titus turned to him, rubbing the spot on his back where Christos had smacked him. “I’m in this world long enough tae send ye tae yer knees,” he said, shaking a finger at him. “Dunna test me. Ye willna like the results.”

Christos grinned, big white teeth against his tanned skin. “Probably not,” he said. “But something has ye distracted. What is it, sweetheart? Is yer womb troubling ye again?”

Everyone in earshot burst out laughing, including Titus. “Christos, my friend,” he said. “I think I’ve kicked ye in the head one too many times. Ye’ve clearly lost yer mind.”

Christos closed the gap between them as the group began to disband so they could move on to something else. While the others were walking away, Christos and Titus remained.

“What is it?” Christos asked more seriously. “I’ve not seen ye like this before. There has never been a time when I could come up behind ye and smack ye on the backside without ye trying tae throttle me first.”

Titus wasn’t sure he could tell him. It wasn’t like him to let his guard down, to anyone. Everyone saw what Titus wanted them to see, which was a man who was always and forever in control.

He had no weaknesses.

But, then again, he’d never really had to deal with a woman on his mind.

He didn’t feel as if he could tell Christos that, however. It was true that he and Christos were old friends, for he had known the man even longer than he’d known Cam and Brody and Galan. They had never been terribly close, but all things considered, closer than most of the professional warriors were. Titus knew that Christos would always have his back and that he would always have Christos’s.

But it was greatly humiliating to have to confess the reasons for his distraction.

Therefore, he didn’t try.

“’Tis nothing,” he finally said. “I dinna sleep well last night. I’m thinking of returning tae my cottage and trying tae sleep before tonight’s event.”

Great Bleeding Christ, now I’m making excuses to go home and see her!

As Titus realized the true reason for wanting to return to his cottage, Christos put a big hand on his shoulder.

“Go,” he said. “I hear The Bear will be fighting again. If he is, he’ll want revenge on ye.”

Titus smiled weakly, but before he could speak, he caught sight of something over near the mouth of the arena. Men were emerging from the holding area. The smile faded from his face.

“It looks as if he’s already here.”

Christos turned to see the enormous warrior known as The Bear making his way out onto the arena floor. The man was with his manager and two other men to train against, but Titus knew immediately that The Bear was there to send Titus a message. As he stood there and watched, he heard a voice behind him.

“He’s come tae intimidate ye,” Cam said, looking over Titus’ shoulder to The Bear in the distance. “Axel tried tae convince him tae leave this morning, but he wouldna. Seems he has a score tae settle with ye and he made it clear that he means tae destroy ye.”

Titus’ smile was back, a confident gesture that told everyone around him that he wasn’t worried in the least.

“I’ve beaten him before,” he said. “I shall do it again.”

They all watched as The Bear took one of his training partners out by the knees, throwing the man so violently to the ground that the man broke his arm when he fell. It was a testament to the anger in The Bear, an anger that heightened his sense of revenge. He knew The Eagle was watching.

He wanted to show the man what was in store for him.

“Be cautious tonight,” Cam muttered. “He knows yer tricks. He’ll be expecting a kick tae the head. Mind that he doesna break yer leg.”