Chapter Two

CHAPTER TWO

H e saw her coming.

Cassian was standing with his father, brother, Christopher and his brother, David, reliving that moment when the battering ram broke through great wooden gates of Rhayder's gatehouse and a thousand angry English poured in through the breach, including Cassian. It had been quite exhilarating reliving that moment, as they had over and over again since it happened a few days ago. Now, Rhayder was back in the hands of Jax's commander and the repairs had begun.

Some of the allies had retreated to Lioncross Abbey for rest and replenishment, and that included Jax himself. He'd left about half of his army at Rhayder to help with the rebuild while he took the rest of his men to Lioncross. De Winter and de Lara had already headed home, as had de Nerra and Pembroke, but Canterbury, Savernake, and de Velt had all returned to Lioncross. During dark times such as these, with John's mercenary forces sweeping the country and the Welsh stirring things up a bit, reaffirming bonds with allies was necessary for the souls of the men who controlled England.

Cassian didn't control England, but he had a hand in it. He did what he was told by the Earl of Hereford and Worcester, a man who most definitely controlled England. Cassian hoped that, someday, he'd be in command of his own castle. But for the moment, he was glad to learn and grow as a warrior. The burden of command was quite heavy these days, but it was something he aspired to, someday.

There was something else he aspired to, as well.

Brielle was smiling at him from the entry to the great hall. He could see her from across the room. Leaving the group of men he'd been standing with, he made his way over to her as she stood with her sister.

But all Cassian could see was Brielle.

"Good eve, my lady," he said rather formally, when he mostly called her Brie. "It is agreeable to see you this evening."

"Agreeable?" Christin snorted. "God's Bones, Cass, you'd better tell her she looks incredibly beautiful or there will be hell to pay. Do you think she usually dresses this way?"

Cassian was trying not to laugh. He genuinely liked Christin, who was much like her mother in that she was bold and unafraid to speak her mind. She was also a trained assassin who had worked in William Marshal's spy ranks, along with her husband, until motherhood forced her to retire.

Cassian still wouldn't tangle with her, though.

"Nay, she does not usually dress that way," he said, noting how lovely Brielle looked. Then, he feigned sudden outrage. " Who is she trying to impress? Tell me his name immediately and I shall slit his throat."

Christin chuckled and rolled her eyes. "You are hopeless," she said. "I'm going to leave you to explain your ignorance to my sister. I must find my mother and see if she requires any assistance."

With that, she wandered off in search of her mother, Dustin de Lohr, as Cassian and Brielle faced one another.

They were both smiling.

"Well?" Brielle said. "Explain yourself."

He lifted a dark eyebrow. "I will explain myself when you tell me who you have dressed so carefully for."

Brielle was stubborn. She looked around. "I do not see him," she said. "He was here earlier."

Cassian frowned. "He is right in front of your face."

She gave him a head-to-toe look that suggested he wasn't who she was looking for at all. Then she looked around again. "He must have gone outside," she said. "But I suppose you will do."

Cassian shook his head slowly. "You are a cruel, beastly woman and I do not know why I put up with you."

She fought off a grin, dimples in her cheeks. "Because you are mad for me. Admit it."

He sighed sharply. "Unfortunately for me, I am," he said. His manner softened. "You are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen. You know that, don't you?"

Brielle's smile broke through. "If you tell me enough, I may come to believe you."

"I hope you do."

"I am very happy to see that you have come back from Rhayder unscathed."

He sighed again, this time more wearily. "It was a stupid venture by the Welsh," he said. "But it was also a stupid move by de Gault's knight, the one who caused the entire incident."

"The one who loved the Welsh girl?"

"Exactly."

"I take it he cannot marry her?"

He looked at her as if she'd just said something ridiculous. "After all that?" he said, incredulous. "Most assuredly not. That romance is ended."

She cocked her head. "Sometimes, it is not that simple," she said. "If he still has feelings for her, and she for him, even a war may not end what they feel for one another. Sometimes, love is not meant to be ended, no matter what the circumstances."

He eyed her as he scratched his dark, curly head. "Then you are telling me that I may end up back at Rhayder at some point because he and the girl have run off and her father wants to burn the castle to the ground?"

She shrugged. "Possibly," she said. "But who can say what the future holds?"

"Not me."

Brielle smiled at him, taking a step closer to look him over once more. "You seem weary," she said, more gently. "Are you sure you are well?"

He looked at her. "Seeing you cures any ills I may have," he said. "You are food for my soul."

She gazed into his eyes, feeling the warmth and adoration radiating from them. He had the de Velt trait of having eyes that were two distinct colors, which could be off putting to some people. But not to her. While his father had a pronounced version of the dual-toned eyes– his left eye was brown but his right eye, while mostly brown, had a splash of bright green in it– Cassian had brown eyes with the right one having a much less pronounced spot of green in it. They were beautiful eyes as far as Brielle was concerned.

He was beautiful.

"And you are the life blood of mine," she said softly. "Shall we go for a walk outside where there are not so many people?"

Cassian snorted. "With your father and my father nearby?" he said. "Your father would string me up and my father would help him. How dare you expose me to such danger from your protective father."

Brielle laughed softly. "Forgive me," she said. "Shall I greet your father, then?"

He nodded, holding out an elbow to her. "Come along," he said. "Tell him you are happy to see him and then, mayhap, we can find a quiet corner somewhere, just the two of us."

"But inside and within their line of sight."

"Exactly."

She chuckled, shaking her head at a man who greatly feared Christopher. But, as she knew, it wasn't an unreasonable fear. Still… she wished he had the courage to be bolder when speaking to him about marriage, even if it was only for Christopher to tell them they were too young.

Brielle took his elbow with both hands, squeezing his arm as they approached Christopher and Jax, in deep conversation with David and Dashiell du Reims, who was also a cousin to the house of de Lohr. Dashiell was the commander of the Duke of Savernake's army, a powerful war machine from Wiltshire. It was Dashiell, in fact, who saw Cassian and Brielle coming, turning his attention away from the men. When they saw that he was distracted, they turned also.

"My lady," Jax greeted the lovely young woman his son was so fond of. "I was hoping you would come to greet me, although I understand your priorities lay elsewhere."

He meant Cassian. Brielle blushed. "Unfortunately, he'll cry if I do not greet him first," she said. "You understand, of course. You raised him."

Jax nodded fervently. "Aye, I did," he said. Then he eyed his son, his eyes glimmering with mirth. "He was always a bit of a crier. An ugly baby, too. I wanted to sell him to the Northmen, but his mother thought there was something redeemable in him."

Everyone laughed at Cassian's expense, who simply looked at his father and shook his head. "I have often wished you'd sold me," he said. "Then mayhap I would not have a jackass for a father."

Jax broke into a grin and put his arm around Cassian's neck, pulling his son against him and kissing his temple. "Jackass, am I?" he chuckled. "I've been called worse. But I will confess that I would have missed you had I sold you, so it's a good thing I did not."

"I will agree with that," Christopher said, smiling at the pair. "Cass has become such a part of Lioncross that I do not know what we would do without him. You're never getting him back, you know."

Jax continued to hug his son. "Someday, he will come home," he said. "Hopefully, it will not be for my funeral, but sometime before that so I can simply visit with him."

Cassian frowned at him. "Don't be so grim," he said. "Your funeral will not be for many years yet. Mama would not allow it."

Jax nodded in resignation. "That is very true," he said. "One cannot do anything at Pelinom without your mother's permission, so I am safe for now. But I would still like you to come home when you have had your fill of de Lohr."

He didn't specify which de Lohr and Cassian didn't dare look at Brielle, who was still attached to his arm. "I still like it here," he assured him. "How long do you think it will take to repair Rhayder's gatehouse?"

He was obviously changing the subject, not missed by Jax or Chris or even David, who all began to chuckle. But they indulged the dodgy young knight, unwilling to admit to, or refer to, anything to do with the young lady by his side.

"The damage wasn't too terrible," Jax said. "Chris and I inspected everything in the gatehouse and the outer ward and it didn't seem to be too terribly damaged."

"That is because the Welsh wanted to keep it," David said. The Earl of Canterbury was Christopher's younger brother, almost as much of a legend as his older brother was. "But I will say it looked and smelled like a stable in the gatehouse. It will take years to get rid of that stench."

Jax and Christopher nodded in agreement, drinking the fine wine that Christopher had provided on this night. But Brielle was still thinking about that enormous castle to the northeast.

"And the de Gault family?" she asked. "Are they well?"

Jax nodded. "They are," he said. "The younger children were hardly troubled by it, but the older children seemed to be concerned."

"I know Livia de Gault," Brielle said. "She is a sweet and sensitive girl. I hope she wasn't too frightened."

Jax shrugged. "If she was, then she will overcome it," he said. "Her father is a garrison commander of a military fortress. If she is not used to danger by now, then she has been living under a misconception."

Brielle didn't quite like what she thought was a rather condescending attitude. "Not everyone is able to endure the dangers of military life, my lord," she said. "It does not make her foolish, just sensitive. Livia is a very talented girl with a head for mathematics and writing. She is well educated. Some people are better left to more gentle pursuits."

If Jax sensed a rebuke, he didn't let on. He was surrounded by opinionated women, so it didn't bother him. In fact, he liked that Brielle was the type of woman who would think of others. That showed compassion.

"That is quite true, my lady," he said. Then, he turned to his son. "Now, when do you intend to come home and visit your mother? She has instructed me to ask you."

Cassian had to admit that he was rather glad Brielle and his father hadn't gotten into a verbal tussle. Brielle could be quite bold and he had been a bit apprehensive that his father's comment, and her comment, might have escalated. He breathed a sigh of relief that it had not.

"I am not certain," he said. "Soon, I hope. Mayhap in the spring."

"Your mother's day of birth is in the spring."

"Then mayhap I will surprise her."

Christopher cleared his throat softly. "I do not mean to put a halt to this family reunion, but I would suggest waiting to see what the king is going to do before making any travel plans," he said. "As you know, Peter and Sherry are with the rebel army near Nottingham, which is where John's mercenary army is dug in. More mercenaries are coming ashore by the day, so I'm sure you will understand when I say I'd rather keep Cassian here for now. Unless you'd prefer to take him back with you when your army retreats north again. If that is truly the case, then we should discuss it."

The reminder of the king's mercenary army, fighting against his very own warlords, gave the conversation a dose of reality. It was something they'd not really touched on since before the reclamation of Rhayder, but Christopher's words rang true.

They were all quite aware that England was a dangerous place at the moment.

"Half of my army is in the midlands with the rebels," David said. "The men I brought with me were only a quarter of my usual army. I had to leave some back at Canterbury."

"The same for Savernake, my lord," Dashiell said. "We only have half strength, as the rest is with the rebel army."

Jax knew that. "And you all have my deepest appreciation for answering my call," he said. "I realize it was a great sacrifice for all of you to come to my aid and it will not be forgotten. And, nay, I do not intend to take Cassian home with me, Chris. I know you need him here. But you also know that if you need me, I will come and bring everything I can."

Christopher looked at him seriously. "I do appreciate that," he said. "But you may need us more than we need you. John's army is rumored to be moving north into York after the new year and more than likely into Scotland, so it is quite possible that you may need our help sooner rather than later."

Jax's seat of Pelinom Castle sat right on the Scottish border, so if John's army wanted to get into Scotland, they would have to either bypass Pelinom or attack her to gain control. That wasn't something Jax really wanted to entertain, but that was the truth of the matter.

He nodded faintly.

"I realize that," he said. "But we have a very strong alliance in the north. There is me, Alastor de Bourne of Keld Castle, de Vesci of Alnwick, Teviot of Northwood Castle, and don't forget that my son, Cole, is the commander of Berwick. There are several large armies that can and will rally should John come north. I am confident we can stop him."

"What we need to do is chase those mercenary bastards home," David muttered.

No one disagreed with him but, unfortunately, all of England was in turmoil and it was all the rebel warlords could do to keep the king's hired soldiers from overrunning everything.

Somehow, a Welsh siege of Rhayder didn't seem serious at all by comparison.

"Well," Jax said after a moment, laying an enormous hand on Cassian's shoulder. "At least I got to see my youngest son. That makes this journey well worth the effort, even if it was to beat back some foolish Welshmen."

The mood of the conversation became more relaxed again, but that was a deliberate move on Jax's part. In truth, he was concerned about John's plans for the north and he knew that if the king came, he would be heavily entrenched in fighting his paid armies.

But he didn't want to discuss that now.

Instead, he held up an empty cup as a signal for more wine, and he and Christopher and David headed over to the table where copious amounts of food had been laid out. That left Cassian and Brielle with Dashiell.

He was closer to their age than their fathers were, a seasoned knight who had married some years before. Dashiell was one of the most skilled men in England but also one of the most congenial. Cassian had always felt very comfortable with the man they called Dash.

"Are you going north, too?" Cassian asked. "I cannot imagine you would remain out of the fighting now that England is fighting for her very life."

Dashiell nodded. "Eventually," he said. "We sent half the army north, but I remained behind because of mercenary movements to Winchester, which is close to our home of Ramsbury Castle. Fortunately, they bypassed us."

Cassian grunted. "I would be grateful for small mercies, indeed."

"And you?" Dashiell asked. "Peter and Sherry are in Nottingham. Why not you?"

Cassian smiled thinly. "Because Lord Christopher wanted at least one seasoned knight left behind at Lioncross. I was selected."

"And you do not agree?"

Cassian glanced at Brielle, who was watching him closely. "I do not dis agree," he said. "But I am a knight. I want to go where the fighting is."

Dashiell smiled weakly, realizing Cassian was trying to walk a fine line in his reply by not insulting Brielle in the process. He also suspected that she was the reason Cassian wasn't so entirely distraught about being left behind while everyone else was sent off to fight.

He turned his attention to Brielle.

"I hope you can meet my wife sometime soon," he said. "I should like for you to. You remind me a lot of her."

"She is unruly and bossy?" Cassian said.

As Dashiell laughed, Brielle wasn't so amused. "If she is, then he is most fortunate," she said, releasing his elbow. "And Dash was wise enough to marry her before someone else did."

With that, she turned her nose up at him and walked away. Cassian wriggled his eyebrows at Dashiell.

"I have made an enemy," he said. "Excuse me while I try to repair this alliance."

Still grinning, Dashiell waved him off. "Of course," he said. "But remember– groveling is quite acceptable in these cases. Take it from a married man with an unruly and bossy wife."

Cassian pursed his lips in resignation and followed Brielle as she headed over to the table with the food on it. He caught up to her, walking in stride beside her.

"Dash was very wise to marry his unruly and bossy wife," he said. "I applaud the man, for he is most fortunate. And I shall be, too, someday."

Brielle came to a halt and faced him. "Is that true?" she asked, studying him. "Is that truly want you want, Cass?"

He frowned gently. "Of course it is, you silly wench," he said. "Why do you think I've stayed at Lioncross so long?"

She softened, a reluctant smile creeping to her lips. "I was hoping you would say that," she said. "But… well, neither one of us are very old."

His brow flickered as if both concerned and confused by her statement. Then he looked around as if searching out someone or something. After a moment, he took her hand and tucked it into the crook of his elbow.

"Come with me," he said quietly.

Brielle did. She followed him through the hall, around the food table, then through a crowd of men before taking her out of the servants' entrance. That took them out through the kitchens and into the kitchen yard, which was fairly deserted at this time of night. But he took her further still– through the kitchen yard and into the stable yard, but he went behind the stables, which were free-standing, and into one of the towers that were part of the enormous outer wall of Lioncross Abbey.

But this tower was different.

It was a two-storied armory, but the door to the wall walk had been bricked up long ago. Therefore, it was really only a tower with one entry on the bottom– a door– and then stairs to a loft above with no exit and only an arrow slit for a window. Once inside, Cassian bolted the door.

"Up," he whispered, pointing to the stairs.

Brielle was already on the stone steps, scurrying up the flight until she came to the floor above. There was a small lamp, a pillow, and a pallet, but little else, but that didn't matter to either one of them.

This was their secret place.

Too many times they'd snuck up there to be alone, this lonely armory that was long-forgotten and never used. It would take a great detective to find them back here and with their fathers busy in the great hall, Cassian had lost his sense of caution. He hadn't been alone with Brielle in several weeks, ever since he'd left for Rhayder, and the truth was that he was desperate to see her.

To touch her.

Brielle was of the same mindset. As soon as he followed her up the stairs, she pressed her body against his, her arms around his neck and her soft mouth on his.

"Make love to me, Cass," she rasped, her hot breath sending bolts of passion through his big body. "It has been far too long. I must feel you again."

Cassian responded to her kisses, heatedly. "I suppose this is foolish," he said between kisses. "My father is here, your father is here. If they catch us…"

"They will not."

"Do not be so certain."

"Then if you did not want to touch me, why did you bring me here?"

The truth is that he did want to touch her.

Badly.

Throwing caution to the wind, his mouth fixed to hers and he was instantly lost. He was always lost where she was concerned. He pulled her down onto the pallet and, immediately, the pale blue silk began to loosen. His hands were big and rough, even at his young age, but they were also quite deft. He loosened the ties on the dress and pulled it over her head as she went to work on his tunic and mail.

All of it coming off.

Then they were nude.

Cassian's big hands lost themselves in the silken web of her hair, gripping it so tightly that she couldn't move. He had her trapped and he wanted her to remain that way. Brielle gasped in response to his onslaught, fierce and powerful as he lay her on her back. Trapped beneath his big body, she groaned with desire as his tongue invaded the honeyed recesses of her mouth.

But his mouth eventually left her lips, moving to the rosy-tipped breasts he had always taken such delight in, for this wasn't the first time they'd indulged in pleasures of the flesh. They had done it before, many times, and their love came to fruition, or so she thought. Brielle thought she had conceived last year and after five weeks of terror, her monthly cycle had returned as if nothing was amiss. As oddly disappointed as they had been about the false alarm, they had also viewed it as a warning from God.

After that, they had been much more careful.

But it hadn't stopped them.

Firm and full and delightfully soft, Cassian lost himself in her breasts as Brielle cradled his head, encouraging him to suckle harder. She even rubbed her nipples to harden them for his pleasure and he licked both her finger and her nipple, driving her mad with desire. He suckled and licked until the spark between her legs finally became a raging fire and she parted her legs for him, grasping his manhood in an attempt to direct him into her wet heat. But he pulled away from her, gently, as his mouth moved to her naked belly, trailing to the curve of her torso as he suckled her in delight.

Brielle groaned when he rolled her onto her stomach, his mouth moving across her delectable backside. She could feel his teeth on the swell of her buttocks, grazing her, as he moved down the back of her long thighs as he worshipped every inch of tasty flesh. Just when she was sure she could stand no more of his attentions, anxious to feel his manhood fill her, he grasped her hips and pulled her to her knees. Pulling her legs apart slightly, he thrust from behind, driving his full, hard length until he was fully sheathed within her tight body.

In the grip of passion, Brielle cried out softly, biting off her screams as his pulsing shaft began to thrust into her. She began to work with him, her buttocks against his pelvis, grunting with pleasure each time their bodies collided.

These were the moments they lived for.

Already, Cassian could feel the tiny muscles of her sheath fluttering in preparation for her pleasure. He released her hips, running his hands up the front of her torso until he came to her beautiful breasts. Grabbing hold, he pulled her into an upright position against him and continued to thrust.

"Let me feel your love, sweetheart," he whispered into her ear. "Show me how much you have missed me."

Brielle knew what he wanted. Reaching between her legs and feeling where their bodies were joined, she began to stroke herself, bringing about her release far sooner than she had anticipated. As she burst forth with a climax that shook her to the bone, Cassian could feel her muscles contract around his engorged member. It was all he needed to coax forth his own release.

He came quickly, pulling out when he was already halfway spilled. But he spent the remainder of his climax on her lower back, wondering why he'd even bothered to withdraw since he hadn't been fast enough to catch it completely. He supposed it didn't matter now. As their tremors died away, they collapsed on their sides, Brielle spooning against him as he clutched her tightly against his chest.

"Every day that you were away was like torture," she whispered, her hands over his as he gently caressed her left breast with his right hand. "Not knowing if you would return to me. It was all I could do to keep from riding to Rhayder to find you."

His face was pressed into the back of her head. "You would have found me irritated and wet and muddy," he said. "I was never in any danger, my love. You must have faith in my abilities."

"I do," she said quickly. "But I am allowed to worry."

"I would be sad if you did not. A man should have a woman worry for him."

She thought on that a moment, rolling onto her back so she could look at him.

"Like a wife?" she asked softly.

He smiled faintly. "Like a wife."

Brielle sighed faintly, indicating her hesitance. "You know that I have never demanded that you ask for my hand in marriage," she said. "But I assumed you would one day."

"I will, indeed." He peered at her closely. "What brought this up?"

She shrugged. "I don't know, really," she said. "The fact that you went to battle and I was left to worry. The fact that we are older now. We are both of age. I have left it entirely up to you, but I would like to ask… when do you plan to ask to ask for my hand?"

Cassian propped himself up on one elbow, gazing down into her lovely face. "When would you like me to?"

"When would you like to?"

He smirked. "I asked you first."

She smiled, reaching up to stroke his face. "I will never love another," she said softly. "I love you now as I will in a year or two or five, but it would be nice not to have to sneak around like this. To be able to sleep in your bed and bear your children without the fear of what my father will do to you if I become pregnant– again."

He grunted softly. "Agreed," he said. "Would you like me to ask him now?"

"Is that what you want?"

"I want what you want."

"Do you want to call me your wife?"

A smile spread across his lips and he leaned down, kissing her. "You already are in my heart and soul," he said. "But I suppose your father must make it official. If you wish, I will ask him tonight, while my father is here, and they can discuss the details. I am not entirely sure when we will have another opportunity like this with both of our fathers in the same place, so this may be the perfect time."

Brielle bit her lip as a smile spread across her face. "My thoughts exactly."

He kissed her again, then on the nose, and then pushed himself up. "Then I should get dressed and find your father in the hall," he said. "Can I mention that I have already been bedding you for the past two years? Do you think that would make him more favorable to our cause?"

Brielle shrieked softly, throwing his tunic at him and hitting him in the face. "I think you will be running for your life if you say such things."

"I can run faster than he can."

"Are you willing to test that theory?"

He wasn't. Grinning, Cassian picked up his tunic and began to dress.

He had a man to see.