Chapter Four #4
Two guards stood at the far side of the hallway as she entered her bedchamber. Mairead lowered a heavy wooden bar to keep everyone out of her room, including her maid. Everyone would believe she had retired for the night.
But instead, she strode to the opposite side of her bedchamber and opened a wooden chest carved by her father’s grandsire Kieran.
She gathered a small bundle of clothing and all the weapons she could find.
Then she changed out of her léine and donned a pair of trews and a man’s tunic, along with her dark cloak.
Her father had built this castle decades ago, and she’d grown up at Laochre. As a child, she had learned all of the secret passageways built within the walls as a means of escape.
Mairead ran her fingers along the wall beside her bed until she found the loose stone and pulled it out.
She opened the secret doorway and slipped into the darkness before closing it behind her, replacing the stone.
Then she made her way through the narrow wall passage that continued downward.
She walked through the darkness, keeping her hand on the wall for balance as she descended towards the souterrain passage that led outside the castle gates and into a wooded area.
The air was frigid at night underground, even though it was late summer. She clutched the edges of her cloak, even as she carried her bundle of clothing.
It was unbelievably dangerous to leave the castle grounds alone—especially now. But she walked silently to the stream within the forest and waited. When she heard a horse approaching, she froze and tried to hide herself.
‘It’s me,’ a male voice said, and she breathed easier when she recognized Balor.
Mairead stepped out of the shadows and saw him leading a horse towards her. He was hooded, and he had a bow and a quiver of arrows over one shoulder.
He seemed on edge and kept glancing around them as if he expected to be attacked. Which, she supposed, was entirely possible—especially since she hadn’t told her father of her plan.
Balor took her bundle of clothing and secured it to his saddle. Then he lifted her atop the animal and led the horse into the woods. He was careful to keep the horse at a walk, not wanting to draw any attention.
He followed the pathway of the stream, and moonlight filtered through the trees, casting a faint gleam upon the water. Sometimes he brought the horse within the stream, as if to hide their tracks. Even as the horse walked through the woods, the crunching of dry leaves and underbrush wasn’t silent.
When they cleared the forest at last, he swung up behind her.
His body pressed closely to hers, his arms around her.
The feeling of his hard, muscled body made her breathless, and Mairead swallowed, forcing the unbidden yearnings away.
Every part of him tensed as they left the forest, but she supposed that was to be expected. And then, he urged the horse faster.
Balor was an excellent rider, she realized.
His body moved naturally with the horse, and he held her waist as they turned north.
Thankfully, the moon was bright, reflecting on the surface of a small stream that cut through the land.
After a few moments, Balor switched their path east before turning northward again.
It was likely a means of deterring anyone from finding their path, and it eased her mind.
But as they rode, she grew more conscious of the powerful thighs on either side of her own. The scent of leather and pine emanated from him, and she leaned back, resting her head against him.
In his arms, she truly did feel protected.
And she was starting to realize that being alone with this man wasn’t wise at all, even if it was a short journey.
Not because Balor had threatened her—but because she was fully conscious of his body.
It kept evoking memories of his kiss, and something about this man tempted her into sin.
Her cheeks flamed and when the horse moved across a rough patch of ground, she lost her balance slightly and grabbed his knee. Balor caught her waist, keeping her pressed against him.
But it only made her aware that she wasn’t the only one affected by this ride.
His body was aroused, his length pressed against her spine.
And between her legs, she grew sensitive and wet, imagining what it would be like to lie with a man like Balor.
She bit her lip, pushing the thought away.
They would arrive at her uncle’s castle soon enough.
She could already see it in the distance, shadowed by the moonlight.
And yet…he changed their direction again, moving towards a large roundtower and chapel that stood farther in the distance.
‘What are you doing?’ she asked. ‘Rionallís is over there.’
But he ignored her and kept the horse on its path, his arm still tight upon her waist.
‘Balor,’ she insisted. ‘We have to go to Rionallís. My uncle’s men will guard us for the night.’
This time, he leaned in close to her ear. ‘We’re being followed.’