Read Online King of the Isles by Debbie Mazzuca - Free Book Online
Authors: Debbie Mazzuca
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said, a warning in the low rumble of his voice. “Ye’ll frighten the lass.”
Lachlan’s eyes roamed her face, coming to rest on her mouth. Under the intensity of his gaze, she self-consciously ran the tip of her tongue over her upper lip. Muttering an oath under his breath, he jerked away from her.
“Your brother does not frighten me in the least,” she assured Aidan, her voice deceptively cool considering the heated thrum Lachlan had aroused in her.
“Then ’tis ye who are the fool, lass,” Lachlan said silkily from where he leaned on the mantel just inches from where she stood.
She refused to look at him—refused to give him the satisfaction of seeing even a smidgen of her discomposure. She needn’t have worried. He swaggered to stand behind the settee without so much as a glance in her direction.
Syrena looked from Evangeline to Lachlan with interest. Oh, no, Evangeline groaned. Sickeningly in love with her husband, Syrena had developed the annoying habit of matchmaking. It wasn’t the first time she’d looked at Evangeline and Lachlan with that particular gleam in her eyes. Love truly played havoc with one’s mind if Syrena, knowing them as she did, could entertain such a ludicrous thought.
“Evangeline’s right, Lachlan. You are not invincible. Magnus is not an enemy to be taken lightly. I should know. I’ve fought him before.” Syrena ignored her husband, who along with Lachlan glowered at her. She patted her distended belly. “And if not for this one, I’d be going with you,” she added as she attempted to heave herself off the settee.
“Nay, ye wouldna be,” her husband said, pushing off the wall to help Syrena to her feet.
“Aidan, I don’t think you understand how frustrating it is for me not to be able to help. Perhaps I should go to the Enchanted Isles and—”
“Syrena, doona try my patience.”
“But I—”
“I need a word with my wife. If ye’ll excuse us.” Aidan swept a protesting Syrena into his arms and out of the room.
“Daft. Ye’re all daft,” Lachlan muttered, glaring at Fallyn and Evangeline.
They stared him down and he threw up his hands in disgust. “Fine. The four of ye will accompany us. And ye,” he narrowed his gaze on Evangeline, stabbing a finger in her direction, “will do as I say. Ye willna argue with me. Ye willna tell me how ye think I should be doin’ things. Ye will see to Aurora and nothin’ more.”
At the unrelenting look in his eyes, she swallowed the heated protest brewing inside her. Wasn’t this what she’d wanted all along? For Lachlan to show some sign of emotion? A sign he cared for the Fae? She just hadn’t thought that by doing so he would relegate her to such a subservient role. She lowered her gaze from his and smoothed her palms over her robes. She’d allow him his small victory—for now.
Fallyn rolled her eyes then left the room, leaving Evangeline alone with Lachlan. He raised a brow, waiting for her to acquiesce to his demands. “All right, but do you think it’s a good idea to bring Aurora with us? She’s only a child.”
“If she doesna come, neither do ye. Ye’re the only one I trust to see to her care.”
“Oh, I ...” Stunned by his admission, Evangeline couldn’t think of anything to say. She eyed Lachlan’s retreating back warily.
What did he mean he trusted her?
Except for Rohan and Syrena, no one trusted her, and to have Lachlan offer his was ... disconcerting.
It had to be a ruse.
Chapter 5
At the top of the stairs, Lachlan glanced back to see Evangeline standing where he’d left her, a puzzled look upon her face. He blew out an impatient breath. “Quit yer wool-gatherin’. We havena the time to waste.”
She blinked, then narrowed those bonny eyes of hers on him as she strode from Syrena’s solar. “I’m wasting time? If not for your misguided attempt to leave your women warriors and me behind, you would have your rescue party and battle plans in place.”
“They are.” He
Lachlan’s eyes roamed her face, coming to rest on her mouth. Under the intensity of his gaze, she self-consciously ran the tip of her tongue over her upper lip. Muttering an oath under his breath, he jerked away from her.
“Your brother does not frighten me in the least,” she assured Aidan, her voice deceptively cool considering the heated thrum Lachlan had aroused in her.
“Then ’tis ye who are the fool, lass,” Lachlan said silkily from where he leaned on the mantel just inches from where she stood.
She refused to look at him—refused to give him the satisfaction of seeing even a smidgen of her discomposure. She needn’t have worried. He swaggered to stand behind the settee without so much as a glance in her direction.
Syrena looked from Evangeline to Lachlan with interest. Oh, no, Evangeline groaned. Sickeningly in love with her husband, Syrena had developed the annoying habit of matchmaking. It wasn’t the first time she’d looked at Evangeline and Lachlan with that particular gleam in her eyes. Love truly played havoc with one’s mind if Syrena, knowing them as she did, could entertain such a ludicrous thought.
“Evangeline’s right, Lachlan. You are not invincible. Magnus is not an enemy to be taken lightly. I should know. I’ve fought him before.” Syrena ignored her husband, who along with Lachlan glowered at her. She patted her distended belly. “And if not for this one, I’d be going with you,” she added as she attempted to heave herself off the settee.
“Nay, ye wouldna be,” her husband said, pushing off the wall to help Syrena to her feet.
“Aidan, I don’t think you understand how frustrating it is for me not to be able to help. Perhaps I should go to the Enchanted Isles and—”
“Syrena, doona try my patience.”
“But I—”
“I need a word with my wife. If ye’ll excuse us.” Aidan swept a protesting Syrena into his arms and out of the room.
“Daft. Ye’re all daft,” Lachlan muttered, glaring at Fallyn and Evangeline.
They stared him down and he threw up his hands in disgust. “Fine. The four of ye will accompany us. And ye,” he narrowed his gaze on Evangeline, stabbing a finger in her direction, “will do as I say. Ye willna argue with me. Ye willna tell me how ye think I should be doin’ things. Ye will see to Aurora and nothin’ more.”
At the unrelenting look in his eyes, she swallowed the heated protest brewing inside her. Wasn’t this what she’d wanted all along? For Lachlan to show some sign of emotion? A sign he cared for the Fae? She just hadn’t thought that by doing so he would relegate her to such a subservient role. She lowered her gaze from his and smoothed her palms over her robes. She’d allow him his small victory—for now.
Fallyn rolled her eyes then left the room, leaving Evangeline alone with Lachlan. He raised a brow, waiting for her to acquiesce to his demands. “All right, but do you think it’s a good idea to bring Aurora with us? She’s only a child.”
“If she doesna come, neither do ye. Ye’re the only one I trust to see to her care.”
“Oh, I ...” Stunned by his admission, Evangeline couldn’t think of anything to say. She eyed Lachlan’s retreating back warily.
What did he mean he trusted her?
Except for Rohan and Syrena, no one trusted her, and to have Lachlan offer his was ... disconcerting.
It had to be a ruse.
Chapter 5
At the top of the stairs, Lachlan glanced back to see Evangeline standing where he’d left her, a puzzled look upon her face. He blew out an impatient breath. “Quit yer wool-gatherin’. We havena the time to waste.”
She blinked, then narrowed those bonny eyes of hers on him as she strode from Syrena’s solar. “I’m wasting time? If not for your misguided attempt to leave your women warriors and me behind, you would have your rescue party and battle plans in place.”
“They are.” He
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