To Tempt a Knight by Gerri Russell

him,” William interrupted. “He needs your father to find the Spear.”
    The thought did little to comfort her.
    “We’ll leave at first light.” William stood, grimacing as he did.
    Siobhan stood as well, noting the lines of tension around William’s mouth and eyes. When had she become so familiar with the expressions on his face? “Are you well enough to travel?”
    “We must get to the Spear before de la Roche does. So, aye, I am well enough. Besides, I’ve no wish to see the monks here endangered by de la Roche.” William reached down and curled the scroll up. He placed it in its case, then handed it back to Siobhan. “We leave in the morning.”
    Simon stayed seated along with the older monk. “You two find your beds. We will make certain you have all the provisions you need by morning.”
    William nodded. He offered Siobhan his arm. “Come, milady.” He guided her out the door and down the long hallway.
    Siobhan glanced at the man beside her. “Do you really think we have a chance of finding the treasure in the Cairngorms?”
    “We’ll find it.”
    “How can you be so sure?”
    “Because I have to find it.”
    “To save my father.”
    He didn’t answer.
    She stopped walking and turned toward him. “Why are you helping me? The real reason.”
    His features hardened. He looked off in the distance, refusing to meet her gaze. “I’ve pledged to you my sword and my life until your father is safe.”
    The look on his face told her she would get no further explanation. She didn’t understand why, but the realization hurt her. When she’d first accepted his help, she had done so because she’d had no other choice. She still had little choice but to accept what he offered.
    But somehow she had hoped for more.
    “I accept your sword, but I will never ask you to give your life for mine. The wounds you suffered today will be your last on my account.”
    She strode off alone to her monk’s cell. Inside the room, she dropped down onto the simple cot, setting the scroll between herself and the wall, then stared at the ceiling.
    A soft knock sounded on her door.
    “Siobhan?” William called softly through the wooden barrier.
    “Go away,” she groaned, not wanting to continue any conversation with him whereby she would end up with even more doubts.
    The door opened. William stepped inside. His gaze traveled from her tousled hair to the flowing linen of her plain, homespun gown to her half boots. Instead of irritation in his sherry-colored eyes, she saw a fleetingmoment of heat. She was suddenly acutely aware of the confined space. How alone they were.
    She sat up, smoothing her skirts down over her legs. “I’d like to be alone.”
    “You’re not responsible for my injuries or my pain,” he said in a soft voice. He came forward, then sat on the bed beside her. “That is no burden I wish you to carry.”
    She closed her eyes, trying to shut out not the pain of his injuries, but her own loss. It had been easy to forget about the fire and her father while she’d been worried about William. Now that he was safe, her pain returned tenfold. “So much has happened,” she admitted, opening her eyes. His hand rested by her leg.
    “Aye.” As though sensing her gaze upon him, he laced his fingers through hers, his grip strong, warm, excruciatingly intimate.
    “Why did they burn the house?” she asked. “They had already taken my father.”
    “I—don’t know.”
    “They wanted me to know they could hurt me, too—take everything away from me unless they got what they wanted.”
    His hand tightened on hers. “No one can take away the things that are truly important, Siobhan.”
    He understood. She could see it in his expression, feel it in his touch. He knew what it was like to lose everything.
    “Tomorrow we head for the Cairngorms. And we will find the Spear.”
    She swallowed, feeling fragile, vulnerable. “Everything is happening so fast.”
    “Change usually does.” The pain they’d