The compliment gave her the encouragement she needed. Lucan and Fallon took turns attacking her. The faster she became, the quicker they moved. They helped her find her weak spots and correct them.
“Your advantage is your quickness,” Lucan said. “Use it to your benefit. If you find yourself fighting a Warrior, he will try to overpower you. Keep out of his reach and attack as often as you can.”
“Bloody him,” Fallon added. “Continue to bloody him for as long as you can.”
Cara nodded. “What of your powers?”
Lucan shrugged. “I could prepare you for what we have, but each Warrior is different. Still, I suppose it could help you learn what to expect.”
Her arms had begun to ache from keeping them lifted and moving in ways she never had before. But it felt good to be included in something, to have people take an interest in her.
“Aren’t you going to . . . change?” she asked.
Lucan shook his head, his wavy obsidian locks lifting from his neck in the breeze. “Not yet.”
“You think it’ll frighten me.”
“I know it will.”
She was scared of what he would become, but she also knew he wouldn’t hurt her. All three of the brothers had had ample time to harm her. Yet they were teaching her to protect herself against their kind.
Nay, Lucan wouldn’t hurt her.
“I need to learn,” she argued.
“You are.”
Before she could react, he charged her. Cara tried to pivot away, but he grabbed her around the waist. The contact of his body against hers made her forget about defending herself. Then she looked into his sea green eyes and became lost.
Her breath locked in her lungs, her heart raced in her chest. The desire that drowned out everything was too much. She tried to step away and only succeeded in pushing the point of her dagger into his arm.
“By the saints,” she gasped.
Lucan’s strong arms held her immobile, her skirts tangling in his legs. “It’s all right, Cara.”
She shook her head and dropped her weapons, but it didn’t stop the blood from welling up and rolling down his arm. “I’ve hurt you.”
“I’ll be all right.”
“Nay.” She tripped over his feet as she made to move away, sending both of them to the ground.
Cara screeched, but before she could land on the ground Lucan had turned her so that he braced her fall. As soon as they landed, he rolled her onto her back.
“Are you hurt?” His beautiful eyes searched her face, concern furrowing his brow.
Cara saw his lips move, knew he was talking to her, but she couldn’t hear anything other than the blood rushing in her ears at having him atop her. She had never known the weight of a man could be so . . . thrilling. Her hands had gripped his shoulders as she began to fall. Unable to help herself, she threaded her fingers in the silky thickness of his hair.
Her desire must have been written on her face, because his eyes darkened and his gaze fastened on her lips.
His head lowered, his lips grazing her chin. Just as he was about to claim her lips, a voice interrupted them.
“Lucan, is she all right?” Fallon asked.
Cara met Lucan’s gaze.
“Are you hurt?” Lucan asked.
She shook her head, unable to form a coherent thought, much less speak. Her body wasn’t her own whenever Lucan touched her. She wanted things, desired things she couldn’t put a name to. She knew Lucan could ease the building torment inside her. His kisses, his touch . . . his heat.
“She’s fine,” Lucan said, his gaze never leaving hers. After another heartbeat he rose to his feet and helped her to stand.
Her fingers went to the wound she had given him. The blood was still there, but through the hole in his tunic she saw the skin had already mended.
“I told you we heal fast,” he said with a lopsided smile.
Her stomach flipped when she saw the desire in his eyes. He had been about to kiss her. What would have happened if they weren’t interrupted?
More important, was she brave enough to find out?
She knew she was. The feelings she had for Lucan were intense and overwhelming. For most of her life she had hidden herself away from everyone and everything, but with Lucan she wanted to experience it all. And God help her, she was ever so grateful she hadn’t taken the vows of a nun yet. The idea of being a nun was laughable now that she had experienced such passion.
“It’s past noon,” Fallon said. “Let’s go inside and eat. I’m sure Cara could use the rest.”
She didn’t think she could eat, not when her body throbbed with such alluring torment. And all because Lucan had lain atop her.
“Cara?” Lucan whispered as they made their way into the castle. “Did I hurt you?”
She smiled into his eyes. “Not in the least.”
His hand rested on her lower back, guiding her into the great hall. His touch was comforting, and growing more so by the hour. In such a short time he had filled her senses so completely that all she could think about was Lucan.
He glanced at her, his expression unreadable. She preferred it when his desire was evident. Did he regret it now? He was immortal after all. His life could go on forever while her life would be gone in a blink. It would have been enough a week ago to send her running to hide, but not now. Mayhap not ever again.
Once more when they sat to eat, Lucan took the place beside her. She didn’t miss the exchange of looks between Fallon and Lucan or the undercurrent of hostility from Quinn.
Despite the charged atmosphere, she was content beside Lucan. Without him, she wouldn’t have dared to eat with Quinn and Fallon. She had hoped changing out of Elspeth’s gown would help Quinn, but it only seemed to make him more livid.
As for Fallon, she wasn’t sure why he kept staring at Lucan, his eyes narrowed and his jaw clenched. And the angrier he became, the more he drank.
“Cold roasted fowl again?” Fallon grimaced.
Quinn shrugged and plopped into his seat. “You should have eaten it all yesterday if you wanted something else today.”
“It wasna that great yesterday.”
“Then you should cook instead of holding on to the damned bottle of wine,” Quinn snapped before he sank his teeth into the meat.
Cara watched the exchange with interest. “Who hunts?” she asked.
“Quinn,” Lucan answered.
It seemed each of the brothers had a chore to do, though she wasn’t quite sure what Fallon’s was. “I can cook. I’m only passing fair, though,” she offered.
Lucan grinned at her while Quinn gave a jerk of his head. “Fine with me,” Quinn answered.
“You don’t have to,” Lucan said.
She shrugged and pulled a bite of meat apart. “I need to do something.”
Fallon set his bottle on the table after a long drink. “Anything is better than Quinn’s cooking.”
“At least I don’t see two of everything,” Quinn snarled.
Cara focused on her meal. Only moments later Quinn rose from the table and strode from the great hall without a word to anyone.
She chanced to raise her eyes and found Fallon staring at her. Anger no longer creased his eyes and hardened his lips. Before the killing of his clan, Fallon had been about to be married. He had lost his home, his family, his clan, and his future wife all in one day.
“Did you love her?” Cara asked before she could think better of it.
