Beloved in His Eyes (Angel's Assassin #2)(6)

“Adam!” At Uncle Bruce’s name, panic flared inside her. She reached across the table to grab Adam’s arm. “You can’t tell Uncle Bruce about this.”

Adam’s brow furrowed. “Why not?”

“I don’t want Uncle Bruce to be alarmed. He has enough on his mind. He doesn’t need to know about this.”

“If the captain of the guard came to arrest him --”

Justina knew Adam would keep asking about the captain of the guard, like a gnat festering a wound, until he received an answer. She had no choice. “He didn’t come to arrest anyone!”

“Maybe Uncle Bruce is in trouble. Maybe --”

She had to tell him. She sighed heavily. “He asked us to dine at the castle.”

Silence. It was almost worse than the constant questions. Adam’s eyes widened. Bigger. Brighter. Filled with excitement. “We’re going to dine at the castle?”

“No.”

“No?”

“I told him no.”

His shoulders slouched in disappointment. “Why? Why would you do that?”

“Adam,” Justina said quietly, with as much patience as she could muster. “We were gone for two days. We can’t do that to Uncle Bruce again. It’s too much work for him. He’s getting old. He needs us.” She sipped the porridge from her bowl again. “We had our time to visit the city and to see your princess. It was kind of Uncle Bruce to allow us to go. But it is our responsibility to help him on the farm.”

“You didn’t even ask him if it was okay.”

“Adam, I said no. I don’t want to leave Uncle Bruce alone. Not with the raids on the farms so close. I’m worried about the Hungars coming to harm him.”

Adam sat back in his chair, crossing his arms over his chest. His lower lip pouted.

“I’m sorry, Adam. It’s just not a good idea.” She would never tell him the real reason she didn’t want to go. Their father’s killer was a friend of the captain of the guard. She never wanted to see that monster again. And she never wanted Adam to be near him. Never.



Later that day, as the sun was coming down in the sky, Justina was working in the garden, picking the fresh peas, and placing the pods in the basket.

A thundering noise started low from down the road and grew louder. Justina looked up. Over the trees a large cloud of dust rose. For a moment, she thought it was fire, but couldn’t understand what the loud rumble was. She glanced back at the field where Adam was feeding the ox. He had stopped working and was turned in the direction of the road.

Uncle Bruce emerged from the house, a stalwart man, wearing a cotton brown tunic and breeches. His wheat hat waved in the breeze and he had to hold it on as he gazed down the road. He straightened and shouted, “Inside!” He raced back toward the cruck.

Justina dropped the basket and ran toward the house. Hungars. Chills peppered the nape of her neck as she raced toward the cruck. Could it be the Hungars raiding their farm? She met Adam halfway to the house and they exchanged concerned glances while running. Uncle Bruce raced toward them until he caught up. He took up a protective pace behind them, urging them forward with quick waves of his hands.

A large group of horses emerged on the road, thundering toward them. The lead one held a banner and on it was a white dove. The heraldry for Acquitaine.

They slowed their run and when they realized there was no threat they turned in unison toward the group of mounted men. As the men closed the distance, Justina saw they wore tunics with the Acquitaine heraldry on them. Soldiers.

Uncle Bruce stepped before Justina and Adam to greet the men.

As they reined up before them, Justina’s eyebrows rose in shock as she recognized the leader. The captain of the guard. What was his name? Gawyn.

He was an imposing figure atop the horse. Black boots were in the stirrups. He wore a chest plate of armor, but no other armor. His thick, shoulder-length brown hair waved in the breeze. He grinned at her, his brown eyes twinkling, before turning his resolute gaze to Uncle Bruce.

A strange quickening fluttered deep in Justina’s chest in response to his perfect smile.

“We’ve received word that the Hungars have been raiding farms along the Acquitaine border.” He glanced at Justina and then back at Bruce. “Has your farm been attacked?”

“No, Sir,” Bruce stuttered. “But the farm east of us has had problems.”

Gawyn signaled a man with a wave of his hand. The man rode up to him. Gawyn looked at Bruce. “The farmer’s name?”

“Montague,” Bruce answered.

“Take half the men and secure the Montague farm.”

“Aye, Captain.” The man signaled some men and they rode off down the road.

Gawyn swung his leg over the horse and dismounted. He stopped before Justina and nodded to her. “Good to see you again, Justina.”

Shocked, Justina’s mouth dropped open, too stunned to reply. How did he know her name?

He smiled at her. “Lady Aurora and Lord Damien send their regards.” He leaned in close to her. “Sometimes it’s worth it to take the two-day trip into the city.”

Justina watched, startled, as he moved passed her to her uncle. He had listened to her!

“A word about your borders and your livestock,” Gawyn said. Uncle Bruce nodded and led the way into the cruck, but not before he locked gazes with Justina. There was relief and happiness in his eyes.