Read Online Seducing the Knight by Gerri Russell - Free Book Online
Authors: Gerri Russell
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staying in town. We must head for the wilderness.”
The conde had followed her. Her chest tightened. His presence threatened everything—Alan’s quest for the ark and their fulfillment of the prophecy. If Alan hadn’t been there to protect her…She shuddered.
But he had been. He was part of the prophecy as well. She frowned. Had the seeress known that? Was Jessamine’s relationship with Alan directed by fate? Her heart sped up. Was the conde part of the puzzle as well, or was his interference something the seeress had not counted on?
No matter, the conde presented an urgent problem. Somehow, they had to get rid of him before the man ruined everything.
When they reached the outskirts of town, Alan slowed the horse. “Who was that man, Jessamine? And this time, I want nothing but the truth.”
Jessamine gazed at Alan. “He’s the Conde Salazar Mendoza, and the reason I ran onto the battlefield. He wants to force me to marry him.”
A tic started in his jaw. “He followed you to Jerusalem. Why would he do that?”
She was tempted to turn around, to shield herself from his searching gaze, but she met his eyes. “I want to follow the prophecy, not bind myself to a man who has no right to me.”
His gaze narrowed. A flash of anger darkened his eyes. “You will tell me all you aren’t saying when we bed down for the night, so prepare yourself.”
Jessamine nodded stiffly. They fell silent as Jessamine grappled with what she would say to him when the time came. Her fear slowly receded as she listened to the sound of Alan’s breathing against her ear. She found the sound comforting despite the fact he was angry with her. She couldn’t blame him. He’d come here on a quest and he’d ended up with trouble.
Despite it all, a sense of exhilaration moved through Jessamine because she was finally doing something with her life, not just meekly accepting her fate. She was taking a stand, reaching out for what she wanted—to followwhere the prophecy led her, for better or worse. For a short while, she would have her freedom.
Idly, she traced the threads of her new gown. She liked the simple garment. She especially liked the way it made her look. Ordinary. Until three days ago, she would never have dared to try leading an ordinary life. Having left the court, the palace, and all the responsibilities of being a princess behind her, she was filled not with fear, but joy.
She realized that for the past nineteen years she’d been a prisoner. Her uncle loved her, but since she wasn’t his child, and her parents no longer lived, she was often ignored, and isolated.
Out here, in the desert, she was free from the demands of court, the king, and all his expectations. Out here, she was simply Jessamine. She could blend into a crowd. She could do whatever she wanted for the first time in her life. A shiver coursed through her as both exhilaration and fear tightened her chest.
Alan wanted answers. She’d tell the knight at least some of the truth. But nothing would make her admit to being a princess.
She glanced up at the darkening sky. The sun was setting quickly.
As if in response to her thoughts, Alan said, “The darkness will offer us protection, fear not.”
“With you, I’m not afraid,” she admitted, gazing back into his face.
His eyebrows drew together. “You shouldn’t say such things to me.”
“Perhaps not, but it’s the truth, and that’s what you asked me to give you.”
“So I did.” Regret tinged his voice.
Jessamine drew a long, shaky breath. “I’ll tell you what you want to know now.” She felt his muscles tenseagainst her back. “The truth is,” she said softly, “when you found me on the battlefield—”
“You could have died,” he interrupted.
“For a moment I wanted to. That outcome seemed preferable to sacrificing myself on the altar of marriage.”
“He is your bridegroom?” Alan inquired in a harsh voice.
Jessamine shook her head. “No. Never. He wants to marry me
The conde had followed her. Her chest tightened. His presence threatened everything—Alan’s quest for the ark and their fulfillment of the prophecy. If Alan hadn’t been there to protect her…She shuddered.
But he had been. He was part of the prophecy as well. She frowned. Had the seeress known that? Was Jessamine’s relationship with Alan directed by fate? Her heart sped up. Was the conde part of the puzzle as well, or was his interference something the seeress had not counted on?
No matter, the conde presented an urgent problem. Somehow, they had to get rid of him before the man ruined everything.
When they reached the outskirts of town, Alan slowed the horse. “Who was that man, Jessamine? And this time, I want nothing but the truth.”
Jessamine gazed at Alan. “He’s the Conde Salazar Mendoza, and the reason I ran onto the battlefield. He wants to force me to marry him.”
A tic started in his jaw. “He followed you to Jerusalem. Why would he do that?”
She was tempted to turn around, to shield herself from his searching gaze, but she met his eyes. “I want to follow the prophecy, not bind myself to a man who has no right to me.”
His gaze narrowed. A flash of anger darkened his eyes. “You will tell me all you aren’t saying when we bed down for the night, so prepare yourself.”
Jessamine nodded stiffly. They fell silent as Jessamine grappled with what she would say to him when the time came. Her fear slowly receded as she listened to the sound of Alan’s breathing against her ear. She found the sound comforting despite the fact he was angry with her. She couldn’t blame him. He’d come here on a quest and he’d ended up with trouble.
Despite it all, a sense of exhilaration moved through Jessamine because she was finally doing something with her life, not just meekly accepting her fate. She was taking a stand, reaching out for what she wanted—to followwhere the prophecy led her, for better or worse. For a short while, she would have her freedom.
Idly, she traced the threads of her new gown. She liked the simple garment. She especially liked the way it made her look. Ordinary. Until three days ago, she would never have dared to try leading an ordinary life. Having left the court, the palace, and all the responsibilities of being a princess behind her, she was filled not with fear, but joy.
She realized that for the past nineteen years she’d been a prisoner. Her uncle loved her, but since she wasn’t his child, and her parents no longer lived, she was often ignored, and isolated.
Out here, in the desert, she was free from the demands of court, the king, and all his expectations. Out here, she was simply Jessamine. She could blend into a crowd. She could do whatever she wanted for the first time in her life. A shiver coursed through her as both exhilaration and fear tightened her chest.
Alan wanted answers. She’d tell the knight at least some of the truth. But nothing would make her admit to being a princess.
She glanced up at the darkening sky. The sun was setting quickly.
As if in response to her thoughts, Alan said, “The darkness will offer us protection, fear not.”
“With you, I’m not afraid,” she admitted, gazing back into his face.
His eyebrows drew together. “You shouldn’t say such things to me.”
“Perhaps not, but it’s the truth, and that’s what you asked me to give you.”
“So I did.” Regret tinged his voice.
Jessamine drew a long, shaky breath. “I’ll tell you what you want to know now.” She felt his muscles tenseagainst her back. “The truth is,” she said softly, “when you found me on the battlefield—”
“You could have died,” he interrupted.
“For a moment I wanted to. That outcome seemed preferable to sacrificing myself on the altar of marriage.”
“He is your bridegroom?” Alan inquired in a harsh voice.
Jessamine shook her head. “No. Never. He wants to marry me
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