Chapter Two
‘Stop rowing, right now.’
Balor stared at the king’s daughter, fully amused by Mairead’s imperious command. Did she honestly believe he was going to let her go after all that had happened? He’d infiltrated the castle, rescued her from the Normans, and had successfully claimed her as his prisoner.
Fury blazed across her expression.
‘Is there something you want, Lady?’
‘Stop this.’ She squared her shoulders and raised her chin. ‘I refuse to become your captive. Put the oars down, and we’ll start with you answering my questions.’
He found it somewhat entertaining that she honestly believed he was going to obey her. ‘I don’t answer to you, my lady.’ He tilted his head slightly. ‘But I might listen if you ask nicely.’
Her face blushed, even as her spine stiffened. ‘Why are you kidnapping me?’ she demanded. ‘I thought you were here to rescue me.’
‘The Normans took you first,’ he pointed out. ‘I was only finishing what they couldn’t do.’
She gaped at him, her pale skin flushed with fury. ‘My father will send an army after me. If you dare to bring me to your family’s ringfort, they will tear it apart.’
Good. The idea of destroying Dunmalus was exactly what he wanted. Kidnapping the king’s daughter would bring the wrath of the MacEgan tribe upon Fergus’s head and undermine his authority. It would also allow his brother the chance to take command.
‘It was the chief’s idea to bring you to our ringfort,’ he lied. ‘My brother, Kenneth, wants to wed you.’
That part wasn’t a lie. Kenneth had visited Laochre with Fergus on a number of occasions, and his brother had spoken of his fascination with Mairead.
If Kenneth married the king’s daughter, he would gain a MacEgan alliance.
His brother was young and easily influenced.
The match was a good one, for it would bind their lands together.
And if his brother agreed to this arrangement, he would become the new chieftain with a royal bride. Best of all, Fergus would either be banished or become a MacEgan prisoner.
The only problem was gaining Mairead’s consent to the marriage. He’d expected her to be softhearted and fearful. It seemed she wasn’t at all a gentle lady like others believed.
‘Kidnapping me isn’t going to get you very far,’ she warned. ‘I won’t marry your brother. Or you,’ she warned.
‘Oh, believe me. I have no interest in marrying you.’ He rested the oars across his knees and met her gaze.
There was no denying her beauty. Mairead MacEgan’s dark braid had come undone, with loose strands framing her face.
There was a softness about her, and her green eyes and full lips demanded attention.
But beneath her sweetness, he didn’t miss the steel interior and confidence.
‘We should talk about this before you make a terrible decision,’ she said.
Her voice turned gentle, and she said, ‘You saved my life today. You saved me from being hurt by those men.’ To his shock, she reached out and rested her palm upon his hand.
The slight heat of her skin upon his was like nothing he’d ever felt before.
No one touched him. They avoided him and cursed him.
It took everything in him not to jerk his hand back. She shouldn’t lower herself to rest her hand upon his.
‘What is it you want?’ she asked quietly. ‘There may be a way I could help you.’
His mind conjured up images of those lovely fingers moving from his hands to his chest. What would it be like if she explored his body with those soft hands? The very thought sent a flare of lust within him, and he gritted his teeth.
Quickly, he jerked his hand away. ‘There’s not. You’re coming with me to Dunmalus.’
‘Or you could bring me back to the island of Ennisleigh,’ she suggested. ‘It’s not very far.’ Her voice was alluring, and he knew exactly what she was doing.
‘If you bring me home to my family, you will be rewarded,’ she continued. ‘My father, King Patrick, will gladly give you anything you desire for my safe return.’
Balor didn’t believe that for a moment. He’d built a reputation as a cold-hearted warrior, and he wasn’t about to play the hero.
Before he could pick up the oars, she took a breath. ‘My father will be hosting another gathering before Lughnasa, with men from all over Ireland. Your brother could come then, and I would consider him among the other suitors.’
He doubted she would truly consider Kenneth for a husband. But then she added, ‘If my father’s soldiers attack Dunmalus, it will be war between our tribes. Innocent blood will be spilled, and that’s not what either of us wants.’
‘I’ve spilled my share of blood,’ Balor admitted nonchalantly.
‘Would you spill mine?’ Her voice was barely a whisper. ‘I am not a woman who will go meekly into marriage. I intend to marry a man I love, someone who loves me. And I will die before letting myself be forced into an unwanted union. Believe me when I say I will fight with everything in me.’
A darkness shadowed her words, making him fully realize the threat. If he took her to Dunmalus, Fergus might indeed try to take her prisoner. If she defied the chieftain, he wouldn’t hesitate to punish her. And that was what made Balor reconsider his plans.
No matter that he wanted the MacEgans to attack Dunmalus and overthrow Fergus, Mairead was right. She would fight back, and he didn’t want her to be harmed during this battle. If he brought her to Dunmalus, Fergus would only use her for his own gain.
He let out a foul curse. She was right—his plan wasn’t a good one. If she had been weak or submissive, it might have worked. Instead, there was a warrior beneath that silken gown. Damn her for it.
Balor held her gaze for a long moment before he picked up the oars and changed their direction towards Ennisleigh. He pulled through the waves swiftly, wondering how she’d gained the upper hand. But it would be easier if she wed Kenneth willingly or if the king forced Fergus to step down.
And more importantly, she would owe him a favour.
‘Before Lughnasa then,’ he said quietly, ‘I will bring my brother, Kenneth, to Laochre.’
Her lips curved in a soft smile that would bring most men to their knees. ‘Then I will let him court me,’ she agreed, ‘and if he is a man of worth—if I believe I could love him—I will give him a chance.’
He rowed in silence until the island fortress grew visible. It was better if he didn’t take her the entire distance. The MacEgans wouldn’t believe for a moment that he’d rescued her. And Mairead might admit the truth to them—that he’d tried to kidnap her, just as the others had.
Balor slowed his pace and brought the boat slightly closer to the mainland. ‘I’m leaving you here, and I’ll swim to shore.’
She moved in closer and took his hands in hers. ‘Thank you, Balor ó Phelan. I am grateful for my life.’ Her green eyes warmed, studying him closely. Then, she leaned in and brushed her mouth against his forehead in an unexpected kiss.
It was as light as a summer breeze upon his skin and just as brief.
But Balor held her wrists captive, staring at her as the boat drifted.
Though he knew this wasn’t at all a good idea, he leaned in and stole a kiss of his own, taking her lips gently.
Mairead froze in place while he explored that gorgeous mouth, softly claiming what she’d never intended to give.
And then, tentatively, she began to kiss him back. A groan caught in his throat, but he forced himself to gentle his grip on her wrists. She moved her palms up to his chest, as if she knew how forbidden this was.
He craved more of her, wanting to take her face between his hands. But when her arms went around his neck, he grew aware of how close they were to her father’s fortress. This wasn’t meant to be.
He took her arms away from him, stared hard into those innocent green eyes and said, ‘Until I see you again, Lady.’
Then he dived off the boat and began swimming back to shore.
* * *
Late Summer
‘Are you certain you want to do this?’ her mother asked. ‘There’s no need to host an aenach to choose a husband so soon. Especially after…everything you endured. It could simply be a celebration.’
Though it had been nearly two moons since the Norman attack, Mairead had let her family believe she’d fought her way back to Ennisleigh alone. They had sent dozens of men after her, but by the time they caught up to her, she was already home.
No one knew about Balor’s intervention, and something told her to keep that a secret. Her family wouldn’t believe her if she’d told them the Demon of éireann had rescued her. After she’d talked him out of kidnapping her, that is.
And yet… Balor had listened to her in the end and brought her back. Which meant maybe he was a man worthy of redemption. And now enough time had passed that she could invite his brother among all the other suitors and keep her promise.
‘It will give me the chance to meet more suitors from all across Ireland.’ Mairead kept her tone bright, even though it was a brave face to push aside her uneasiness.
‘That’s true,’ her father agreed. ‘And King John has also sent a few of his noblemen.’ He exchanged a guarded look with Isabel, one that Mairead didn’t quite understand.
A few weeks ago, her father and his brothers had brought their forces north to greet King John.
Although Patrick had claimed they had gone north to swear fealty, she suspected it was a show of force to answer for the Norman attack—and remind the king of their alliance and their strength in numbers.
It made her wonder if part of that alliance was meant to be through her marriage. Was her father implying that she was expected to choose one of the king’s men?