His Conquest by Diana Cosby

of his losing consciousness as he fell. Until he’d hit the boulder, woken, and caught himself on the bush, she’d thought he was going over.
    He would have died.
    Damn him, he’d come close. She swallowed hard, her heart still pounding at the thought. Until this moment, though drawn to him and aware that she would miss him once they’d parted company, she’d convinced herself that she would be able to wipe Seathan from her mind.
    Now, she realized she’d lied. Once they reached the Highlands and he departed, her heart would never be the same. Not that she loved him. Her feelings ran deep for Seathan because of the man he was, because of his courage and his determination to protect those he cared for. Any woman would feel the same if they came to know him.
    She could never allow anything serious to grow between them. She brushed several strands of hair from her face. Besides, he’d clearly stated he wanted no woman in his life.
    At the top of the bank, she peered through the blades of thick grass for any sign of her brother’s men. Several trees away, a raven sat on a low branch. Otherwise, the forest stood empty.
    With one last look toward Seathan, she shoved to her feet, then ran. Her pulse raced as she wove through the trees, the warmth of the sun upon her face far from erasing the chill within.
    Please God, let him hang on.
    After a brief but harried search within the cavern, she found the hemp rope. Once she’d scoured her surroundings and found no sign of knights, she bolted to the cliff.
    With her heart in her throat, Linet peered over. He still clung near the edge. Thank God. “Seathan,” she called above the rush of water.
    He glanced up, pain raw upon his face. “Wrap the rope around the trunk of a nearby tree. Then”—he paused, dragging in a deep breath—“drop the length to me, but keep enough to hold your end.”
    Was he addled? “You cannot climb up alone.”
    “It will take a bit longer, but I can do it.” He closed his eyes, reopened them. “As I come up, pull the excess rope that is wrapped around the tree back, keeping the line taut.”
    “As simple as that?” she muttered.
    “What?”
    She shook her head. Linet looked around and found a suitable tree.
    Precious time passed. Once he’d secured the rope around himself, she pulled. After several breaks to allow him time to rest, finally, his hand came into view.
    Linet sagged with relief.
    “Keep the rope taut!”
    The man never ceased to amaze her. “If you have energy to be ordering me about, use it to move.”
    He grunted.
    The hemp slackened; Linet pulled to keep it taut. “You are almost there.”
    With a grunt, Seathan crawled forward, then collapsed against the muck, gasping for breath.
    No, she refused to let him pass out, neither did she have the strength to haul him up. “I should have known a man who kisses as mundanely as you would not have the staying power,” she called down.
    Piercing green eyes flashed open. Scorched her with a wonderful heat. Muscles bunched, pain strained his face, with his eyes locked on hers, he pushed.
    Relief punched through her. “A bit more.”
    He shoved.
    His head came to the top, then his upper torso. He collapsed, his lower body still hanging over the edge of the steep incline.
    Linet stumbled forward, slid her arm beneath his shoulder, and half dragged him away from the steep slope.
    “Put your arm around my shoulder. We must reach the cave before the knights return.”
    Muscles shuddered beneath her hands as she pulled him, and with sheer determination, he pushed himself to his feet.
    Step by excruciating step, they made their way to the hideout. She cursed their slow pace, the smear of blood from his wound stating the cost of his efforts.
    Once safe inside the cave, she helped him lean against the wall. “Wait.” She hurried to get the blankets, then spread them out nearby. “Lie there.”
    Through the pain on his face, he grimaced. “You are good at giving orders.”
    “As