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Authors: Eliza Knight
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to do so again.
“Taking a man’s life is no little thing, my lady. You were very brave to have done it , and you saved my life. I will be forever in your debt.”
Aliah shook her head. “I don’t want you to be in my debt forever.”
“How can I repay you?”
Any number of ideas came to mind, most of them involving a sinful kiss, which made her blush and wish they’d already reached their destination so she could seek confession for such wanton thoughts. Good thing she would seek absolution from a priest in another country, for she feared what would happen if word were to get back to Mother Superior about her less than innocent behavior. Not that any priest was allowed to share what was confessed, but they could perhaps put a bug in Mother’s ear that Aliah was not exactly what the church was looking for in a nun .
“There is no need. Simply get me to my sister and father quickly.”
“That I can promise you.”
She titled her head a little to the side, taking in his square jaw dusted with a day’s growth of beard. Her fingers itched to touch him. “There is one other thing…”
“Anything, my lady.”
“Is there anything…special that you do when you’ve taken a life? That helps you heal quickly from such a tragedy?”
He smiled and for the first time she noticed a slight dimple in his cheek when he did so. His smile was contagious and she found herself grinning despite the dark topic.
“Remembering the cause is always helpful. The man was an outlaw, intent on harming you if he got past me, which he was dead set on ending my life to do so . You saved my life and in essence saved your own. Trust me when I say he would not have been kind to you.”
Aliah nodded. “That does make me feel a little better.”
His grin deepened, taking on a roguish glint. “There is also…” He reached for the wineskin draped on his shoulder. “The drink of the angels.”
“Water?”
“No, water is the drink of the gods. The gods keep us alive and thriving. The angels keep us sane.” He took a long draw then passed it to her.
What game was he playing? She too took a long swig, only to regret it a moment later as the liquid burned a path down her throat. She spit out what was left in her mouth, the fire-filled liquid spewing from her lips—too late she realized—right at Blane.
Aliah’s mouth fell open in mortification as she stared at him, his face covered in droplets of the liquor and the front of his cloak soaking wet.
“Well, that wasn’t expected,” he said dryly, wiping his face on the sleeve of his cloak.
Heat filled her face to flaming, and all Aliah wanted to do was seep into the leaf strewn forest floor.
“Oh, my…I’m so, so sorry,” she managed to choke out.
Blane shook his head, merriment filling his eyes. Was he laughing at her? “No need to apologize, my lady. I should have warned you that ’twas a stronger drink than you might be used to.”
“Stronger is an understatement…” She glanced nervously from the ground to his sparkling eyes.
He was laughing, and soon the sound escaped him. Deep, throaty, masculine and filled with humor.
Tears of embarrassment stung her eyes, but he shook his head vehemently. “ I take it you’ve not had whisky before. Do not be upset , my lady. I but laugh at our situation. Look at me.” He held his hands in front of him gesturing toward his wet cloak. “I am soaked in my own brew.”
She nodded, not sure how she could not be upset when she’d been the one to spray the brew upon his person.
“’Tis funny. Come now, shall I do it to you?” he asked, looking quite serious.
Aliah narrowed her eyes, imagining Blane spitting whisky on her. S he said with a shocked whisper, “No, sir.”
Her response made him laugh all the harder. “Oh, Lady Aliah, I would never do such a thing. Your expression though upon hearing my question was priceless.”
Aliah huffed a breath and crossed her arms over her chest. She was not used to being
“Taking a man’s life is no little thing, my lady. You were very brave to have done it , and you saved my life. I will be forever in your debt.”
Aliah shook her head. “I don’t want you to be in my debt forever.”
“How can I repay you?”
Any number of ideas came to mind, most of them involving a sinful kiss, which made her blush and wish they’d already reached their destination so she could seek confession for such wanton thoughts. Good thing she would seek absolution from a priest in another country, for she feared what would happen if word were to get back to Mother Superior about her less than innocent behavior. Not that any priest was allowed to share what was confessed, but they could perhaps put a bug in Mother’s ear that Aliah was not exactly what the church was looking for in a nun .
“There is no need. Simply get me to my sister and father quickly.”
“That I can promise you.”
She titled her head a little to the side, taking in his square jaw dusted with a day’s growth of beard. Her fingers itched to touch him. “There is one other thing…”
“Anything, my lady.”
“Is there anything…special that you do when you’ve taken a life? That helps you heal quickly from such a tragedy?”
He smiled and for the first time she noticed a slight dimple in his cheek when he did so. His smile was contagious and she found herself grinning despite the dark topic.
“Remembering the cause is always helpful. The man was an outlaw, intent on harming you if he got past me, which he was dead set on ending my life to do so . You saved my life and in essence saved your own. Trust me when I say he would not have been kind to you.”
Aliah nodded. “That does make me feel a little better.”
His grin deepened, taking on a roguish glint. “There is also…” He reached for the wineskin draped on his shoulder. “The drink of the angels.”
“Water?”
“No, water is the drink of the gods. The gods keep us alive and thriving. The angels keep us sane.” He took a long draw then passed it to her.
What game was he playing? She too took a long swig, only to regret it a moment later as the liquid burned a path down her throat. She spit out what was left in her mouth, the fire-filled liquid spewing from her lips—too late she realized—right at Blane.
Aliah’s mouth fell open in mortification as she stared at him, his face covered in droplets of the liquor and the front of his cloak soaking wet.
“Well, that wasn’t expected,” he said dryly, wiping his face on the sleeve of his cloak.
Heat filled her face to flaming, and all Aliah wanted to do was seep into the leaf strewn forest floor.
“Oh, my…I’m so, so sorry,” she managed to choke out.
Blane shook his head, merriment filling his eyes. Was he laughing at her? “No need to apologize, my lady. I should have warned you that ’twas a stronger drink than you might be used to.”
“Stronger is an understatement…” She glanced nervously from the ground to his sparkling eyes.
He was laughing, and soon the sound escaped him. Deep, throaty, masculine and filled with humor.
Tears of embarrassment stung her eyes, but he shook his head vehemently. “ I take it you’ve not had whisky before. Do not be upset , my lady. I but laugh at our situation. Look at me.” He held his hands in front of him gesturing toward his wet cloak. “I am soaked in my own brew.”
She nodded, not sure how she could not be upset when she’d been the one to spray the brew upon his person.
“’Tis funny. Come now, shall I do it to you?” he asked, looking quite serious.
Aliah narrowed her eyes, imagining Blane spitting whisky on her. S he said with a shocked whisper, “No, sir.”
Her response made him laugh all the harder. “Oh, Lady Aliah, I would never do such a thing. Your expression though upon hearing my question was priceless.”
Aliah huffed a breath and crossed her arms over her chest. She was not used to being
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