Beloved in His Eyes (Angel's Assassin #2)(8)

She rode the new mare Lady Aurora had given them. She cast a glance at Adam who was delighted to ride with the captain. Justina wondered how long it would be until Gawyn couldn’t take it anymore and made Adam ride with her. She looked down and smiled secretly. Served him right. He was so confident they would accept Lord Damien’s request to dine with them.

He had been right. Still, Justina couldn’t stop the apprehension that grew inside of her the closer they got to Acquitaine. She couldn’t get the image of that face, those cold eyes, out of her mind. What could she do about her father’s killer? What if she saw him again? She would plunge her dagger into his heart for killing her father! She would make sure she didn’t miss her opportunity this time. As they moved, she placed her hand over the dagger strapped to her thigh. She had planned and visualized the moment for a long time. She knew what she had to do.

“I’m glad you changed your mind.”

Startled, Justina lifted her gaze. Gawyn was riding next to her; Adam on the same horse sitting behind him, his gaze on the two knights ahead of them. “About what?” she wondered.

“Lord Damien’s invitation.”

“I’m glad, too,” Adam agreed.

“I had little choice. I would have ended up in the dungeon if I didn’t personally make the trip to thank Lady Aurora.”

Gawyn grinned gently.

Justina gaped, realizing how her statement sounded. “I meant no offense to Lady Aurora! I meant Uncle Bruce would have –”

Gawyn shook his head. “You have nothing to apologize for. I took no offense and Lady Aurora would not have, either. She really cares for her people and was very upset she had not been informed of the raid.”

Justina nodded. She felt a wave of embarrassment wash through her nonetheless. “Thank you for relaying the message.” Gawyn stared at her so intently that a blush rose in her cheeks.

“How could I do anything else?”

Justina lowered her gaze and suddenly found herself staring at Adam. His brow was furrowed in confusion as he stared at her. She quickly averted her gaze to the reins of the horse she clutched in her hand.

“How many guards are at the castle?” Adam asked.

Thank the Lord for Adam, Justina thought.

“Will I get to meet all of them?”



They made it to Acquitaine as the sun was beginning to set. The two soldiers rode in the front, Gawyn and Adam behind Justina. They emerged from the forest to a breathtaking sight. Justina couldn’t help but gasp in awe. The setting sun bathed the wall of the city in a beautiful, rosy glow. Even though Justina had visited Acquitaine a few days ago, she would never get used to the grand sight.

A wide, green valley stretched before them with a road snaking through it. Like little ants, people walked down the dirt road away from the city. A moat surrounded the city and led to the river running beside it. A drawbridge extended over the moat and wagons, knights, and people moved in and out of the large, welcoming wooden gates of the city.

Between the merlons of the city wall, Justina could make out the knights on patrol. Over the wall, she saw rows of thatched houses lining the streets. Acquitaine was a huge, bustling city. Shops, homes, and guilds all resided inside these walls. This was where the square was where Justina and Adam had first seen the Lady Aurora. Yes, it was exciting, but it held darker things. The city was where Justina saw the monster who had killed her father.

Inside the city, was the grandest castle Justina had ever seen, not that she had seen many, but this one was beautiful. Another moat surrounded the castle, wider than the one around the city. Another higher stone wall surrounded the castle.

Beyond the inner wall was the castle itself. Above the wall, Castle Acquitaine rose like a sleeping giant, monumental and shining in the fading sunlight. Towers of stone lifted to the sky and tiny flags flapped in the wind on top of the stone turrets. Four tall, elegant towers rose into the sky, bordered by merlons. One tower was taller than the rest in the back near the river. Justina remembered hearing that this was where Lady Aurora’s father had leapt from and died. She remembered how sad she had been for Lady Aurora.

The gate to the castle was open, the drawbridge extending across the moat.

Gawyn started forward, moving down the road toward the gates to the city. As they neared the walls, Adam turned his head from one side to the other, taking everything in. He pointed at a colorful wagon before them, then his finger shifted to a knight on horseback galloping from the city.

The knight nodded to Gawyn.

They passed through the large iron-bound wooden gates into the city. The roads were crowded with people, all heading out of the city. Justina turned to look at the setting sun. It was getting late and she knew the people were heading to their homes. Some would remain in the city, but most had homes outside the gates.

As they moved into the city, shop keepers called out their wares to the passing crowd. “Don’t forget your warm blanket! Perfect for a cold night!” “Don’t leave without trying Tom’s sweet ale!”

Justina lifted her gaze to the castle before them. It was huge. Castle Acquitaine soared in the distance like a grand mountain. Square towers loomed into the sky on each end of the castle. She twisted to look behind her. Guards walked the battlements at the top of the city walls. The line of people leaving the city seemed unending. She turned forward again. Two days ago, when she and Adam had come into the city, it was to catch a glimpse of his princess. She had been in charge. She knew when they were leaving, how they would go. Now, unease gripped her. She didn’t know what to expect. Her gaze moved up the towering castle to the sky above. She felt insignificant.