fully.”
Egan abruptly ceased pacing to stare accusingly at Oriana. “I hate Kieran all the more for that.”
Touched by the depth of his anguish, Oriana again extended her hand. “Come. Sit down with me,” she invited.
“I am now the king!” Egan shouted back at her.
Clearly he was so angry that he longed for a fight with anyone who’d respond, but Oriana was far too wise to fall into that unfortunate trap. “Yes, I understand, and even if I am not among the Dál Cais, I am in your home where you won’t do anyone else’s bidding. But please, sit down with me, and let’s consider what you’ve learned.”
Bewildered by her sensible request, Egan reluctantly slid his hand into hers and sat beside her at the foot of his bed. “Ula tells nothing but lies, so we’ll never know what really happened.”
That he had included her in his anguished reply gave Oriana a moment’s pause, but she grasped his hand fondly in both of hers. She closed her eyes and breathed deeply to clear her mind. The suspicion Egan’s father had been poisoned grew strong, but she knew if she spoke that fear aloud, Egan might well respond with a murderous rage that would leave both Ula and Kieran dead. Killing his remaining family was no way for any king to begin his reign, and the consequences among the Dál Cais would surely be dire.
Though the need to protect him surprised her, she did not doubt its value. “You may hate me, Egan,” Oriana began slowly, “but I would like to remain here with you for a few days.”
Egan was feeling too hurt and guilty to think clearly. He had sought her out when he should have been home to care for his father, and her presence cut him as sharply as any knife. Filled with revulsion, he hesitated, but then haunted by the strange voice only he had heard, he thought better of sending her away.
“First swear you aren’t responsible for the voices I heard,” he ordered.
“You have my word on it. I’ve never thought you a fool,” Oriana replied thoughtfully. There was a whole string of uncomplimentary names she still thought applied, but fool was certainly not among them.
“If I’m to remain, however, I’ll need my own chamber,” she added.
“No,” Egan replied, much too swiftly. “It will be better for us both if everyone believes you are my mistress.”
Deeply insulted, Oriana drew back slightly. “It matters not at all what others may assume, but I’ll never be your mistress, Egan. I absolutely refuse that high honor.”
Egan yanked his hand from hers and rose to his feet. A disdainful sneer tugged at the corner of his mouth. “With my father’s body barely cold, do you actually believe I’d seek to lose myself in you?”
He looked thoroughly disgusted with her, but Orianarose gracefully to face him. “Perhaps not tonight nor on the morrow, but the time may soon come when the prospect will hold more appeal, and then I’ll have to take my leave. You must agree to that condition now.”
Egan’s scowl deepened. “And must I again remind you not to give me orders? You’re the one who can see the future, but to crave your affection I would have to forget that I was off chasing you while my father lay dying. That day will never arrive, but perhaps you would rather I pay you now than wait for me to be overcome with lust?”
Oriana was as offended by the reference to pay as she was to that of lust, and shook her head. “I didn’t ask to be paid for my help, Egan. I asked only that you slay Duncan.”
Egan waved her off. “Do not speak his name again. Now come to bed.”
Oriana’s eyes widened as he reached for his belt. “Surely you do not intend to sleep nude.”
“We’re no longer traveling, Oriana. We’re home, and the king may sleep in whatever manner he chooses. Sleep in your gown if you must. Tomorrow I’ll have Ula’s seamstresses begin fashioning your new wardrobe. The king’s mistress ought to own far finer garments than you possess. Your worn and patched
Egan abruptly ceased pacing to stare accusingly at Oriana. “I hate Kieran all the more for that.”
Touched by the depth of his anguish, Oriana again extended her hand. “Come. Sit down with me,” she invited.
“I am now the king!” Egan shouted back at her.
Clearly he was so angry that he longed for a fight with anyone who’d respond, but Oriana was far too wise to fall into that unfortunate trap. “Yes, I understand, and even if I am not among the Dál Cais, I am in your home where you won’t do anyone else’s bidding. But please, sit down with me, and let’s consider what you’ve learned.”
Bewildered by her sensible request, Egan reluctantly slid his hand into hers and sat beside her at the foot of his bed. “Ula tells nothing but lies, so we’ll never know what really happened.”
That he had included her in his anguished reply gave Oriana a moment’s pause, but she grasped his hand fondly in both of hers. She closed her eyes and breathed deeply to clear her mind. The suspicion Egan’s father had been poisoned grew strong, but she knew if she spoke that fear aloud, Egan might well respond with a murderous rage that would leave both Ula and Kieran dead. Killing his remaining family was no way for any king to begin his reign, and the consequences among the Dál Cais would surely be dire.
Though the need to protect him surprised her, she did not doubt its value. “You may hate me, Egan,” Oriana began slowly, “but I would like to remain here with you for a few days.”
Egan was feeling too hurt and guilty to think clearly. He had sought her out when he should have been home to care for his father, and her presence cut him as sharply as any knife. Filled with revulsion, he hesitated, but then haunted by the strange voice only he had heard, he thought better of sending her away.
“First swear you aren’t responsible for the voices I heard,” he ordered.
“You have my word on it. I’ve never thought you a fool,” Oriana replied thoughtfully. There was a whole string of uncomplimentary names she still thought applied, but fool was certainly not among them.
“If I’m to remain, however, I’ll need my own chamber,” she added.
“No,” Egan replied, much too swiftly. “It will be better for us both if everyone believes you are my mistress.”
Deeply insulted, Oriana drew back slightly. “It matters not at all what others may assume, but I’ll never be your mistress, Egan. I absolutely refuse that high honor.”
Egan yanked his hand from hers and rose to his feet. A disdainful sneer tugged at the corner of his mouth. “With my father’s body barely cold, do you actually believe I’d seek to lose myself in you?”
He looked thoroughly disgusted with her, but Orianarose gracefully to face him. “Perhaps not tonight nor on the morrow, but the time may soon come when the prospect will hold more appeal, and then I’ll have to take my leave. You must agree to that condition now.”
Egan’s scowl deepened. “And must I again remind you not to give me orders? You’re the one who can see the future, but to crave your affection I would have to forget that I was off chasing you while my father lay dying. That day will never arrive, but perhaps you would rather I pay you now than wait for me to be overcome with lust?”
Oriana was as offended by the reference to pay as she was to that of lust, and shook her head. “I didn’t ask to be paid for my help, Egan. I asked only that you slay Duncan.”
Egan waved her off. “Do not speak his name again. Now come to bed.”
Oriana’s eyes widened as he reached for his belt. “Surely you do not intend to sleep nude.”
“We’re no longer traveling, Oriana. We’re home, and the king may sleep in whatever manner he chooses. Sleep in your gown if you must. Tomorrow I’ll have Ula’s seamstresses begin fashioning your new wardrobe. The king’s mistress ought to own far finer garments than you possess. Your worn and patched
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