Warrior's Ransom (The First Argentines #2) - Jeff Wheeler Page 0,49

fine.”

“Please, Ransom. Let me tend to you. Let me heal you.”

He looked in her eyes, saw the compassion there, and he felt inclined to let her do as she asked. The need to do so pulsed through him. But he didn’t want her to trouble herself, not when he knew it wasn’t required.

“I would accept your help, only it’s not necessary. I will be fine.”

Her brow wrinkled in concern. “Are you sure?”

“We tumbled down the stairs is all,” he said. The pain from the dagger was fierce, but he shoved it down. No blood came from the wound.

She reached out and pressed her hand to his cheek. Her thumb grazed his cheekbone. “I’ll check on you in the morning with some breakfast. Shall we share it together as we did tonight?”

He smiled through the pain.

Her look was tender. “I’m worried about you. I feel very protective right now.”

“This is far from the worst injury I’ve ever had,” he said. “Go get some rest yourself.”

She nodded and carried the torch back to her room. He leaned against the wall and began slowly moving up the stairs, one step at a time. Why hadn’t the Fountain magic warned him as it had in the past? He could still sense her, as bright as the flame she carried, but he hadn’t felt any danger on the stairwell. In her presence, he’d thought of nothing but her.

As he walked, he saw a blue light glowing from the Raven scabbard belted to his waist. It was dimmer than it had been before, the buzzing noise more muted. The sudden change alarmed him. Was it simply because his injuries were less serious, or had something muted its power?

He staggered up the rest of the steps and finally made it to his room, where he found Dearley asleep on the couch again. He slid the latch into place, securing the door, then hobbled over and flopped onto the bed. As he lay there, he tried to sense Lady Alix down below. A giddy feeling inside his heart made it impossible to fall asleep. She was no delicate demoiselle. As soon as danger had presented itself, she’d leaped into action. It was a quality he admired—in fact, it was one of the things he loved about Lady Claire.

Claire.

Thinking of her sent a ripple of guilt through him. He had feelings for both of them, although his emotions were bubbling like the contents of a kettle on a raging fire.

King Devon wanted him to marry Alix, and he’d indicated he’d never agree to a match to Claire. If he wished to wed Alix—and he did, didn’t he?—all he needed to do was keep silent about her true identity. At least until after they were wed. The thought of having her as his wife caused the burning sensation in his heart to flare even more. He lay on the bed, feeling the mixture of pain and attraction until sleep finally swept him away into another dream.

It was a dream he didn’t want to be awakened from. In it, Alix was sitting on his lap, and they were kissing each other with a ferocious need, her hands touching his face. A firm shove against his shoulder interrupted the delicious sensations, and his eyes opened at the same moment he heard Dearley’s voice.

“You normally don’t sleep this late,” his ward said in a jovial way. “But Lady Alix is at the door with a tray of food. I thought it would be rude not to wake you.”

Ransom lifted his head, seeing the sunlight spilling in through the sheer curtains. His skull throbbed with a headache, but the pain in his leg had gone. He quickly sat up, feeling himself restored to health, yet the sluggishness of sleep clung to him like heavy chains.

“Of course. Send her in. We were going to breakfast together.”

“Are you all right?” Dearley asked with a tone of concern.

“I was attacked on the stairwell last night,” he said. “One of the duke’s knights wanted vengeance.”

Dearley gaped at him. “I’m sorry, Ransom. We should have been guarding you.”

“I’m capable of defending myself, but I should have foreseen it. It will take time to win the trust of these people.”

Dearley nodded. “I’ll let her in. I imagine you would like to talk privately with her.”

“Thank you,” Ransom said. As Dearley was about to leave, he caught his arm. “We’ll be riding back to Kingfountain. Prepare the horses.”

“Will we stop by Josselin first?”

“No. We’ve been invited to Auxaunce, however, and we’ll