A Storm of Passion

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Authors: Terri Brisbin
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and…weel, all that goes wi’ it, if ye get my meaning?” He paused and searched for an understanding gaze. At the soft laughter, he continued, “She said nothing about herself but that her family was dead and she sought a place to live.”
    “So there is no one to ask after her if she disappears?” the red-haired lord, Dougal, asked.
    “Nay, my lord,” Gillis said, shaking his head nearly as much as his hands did.
    He waited and then asked again. He needed to be certain their plans had not been uncovered, by the stupid woman with her botched attempt or by anyone loyal to Diarmid.
    “So, none of ye knew her or talked with her before her attack?” He watched as each man, other than the randy young one, shook his head; some whispered or mumbled their answers, but none acknowledged her. Turning to the door, he pulled his hood lower and gave his orders.
    “Because we didna ken of her plans, doesna mean she kens nothing of ours. Either way, she could be dangerous to many of us. ’Twould be best, I think, if this one lost her footing on the stairs or got caught up in the frenzy of her welcome on the morrow. What say ye?”
    He gazed around the room, meeting each man’s look until all to a one had agreed. For something this simple, no specific plans were needed. No one man would be ordered to act, yet someone or other who understood his plans would, and the girl would be dead before she could be questioned by Diarmid’s ruthless guards. Better to spill no words than to spill the wrong ones, even by accident.
    “We meet in four days, after his next vision. Ye ken yer assignments,” he said quietly. “Do not fail in this now.”
    Tugging the door open just a crack, he waited for the hallway outside to empty and then began to let them out, in groups of two or three so as to not draw attention to their gathering. When he was alone, he pushed back his hood and took in a breath.
    Success was so very close now, and he tried not to laugh aloud at the thought. The Seer would be gone, and Diarmid’s alliances would shatter, leaving him defenseless against his enemies. He did grin then, for the all-powerful Diarmid had no idea of how many were his enemies and how few were friends indeed.
    Mayhap this woman was a tool to be used?
    If she survived long enough to make another strike against Connor, both would be handled with her one blow. Diarmid would never know the extent of the plans against him until his own downfall played out before him. He would wallow in the false comfort her death would create, never even thinking that there was more going on behind and around him than one stupid bitch’s botched and then successful attempts to kill his man.
    He walked out into the hall now and pulled the chamber door closed behind him. Climbing the tower steps to the next floor, he sought his place at Diarmid’s table, trying to keep the smile from his face.
    If she died in some “mishap,” he was safe.
    If she stayed alive and tried to kill the Seer again, his plans would be in place.
    No matter which, he would succeed.
    Soon, very soon, the lands and titles and esteem in Earl Magnus’s eyes that should have been his all along, would be.
    And Diarmid and his bedeviled Seer would be dead and buried.

Chapter Six
    C onnor paced the length of the high wall around the keep twice and still could catch no sight of the boat that was overdue. Pushing his hair out of his eyes, he squinted into the midday sun and searched to the edges of the bay.
    Nothing.
    The guards sent to return her to the keep could have sailed last night, for the sky had been clear of clouds and filled with the moon’s light as it waxed to its fullness. Even the seas had been calm, yet they’d clearly waited until today to bring her back.
    Dara had a hand in this delay. Soft-hearted Dara, who had taken his attacker under her wing and cared for her when the girl lay near death. His own care had been seen to by Diarmid’s healer, for only he could be trusted with

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