Page 25

“ M istress?” Flynn poked his head into the library as he called out, his eyes darting from one side of the room to the other.

“Over here, Flynn.” Adira sighed and put aside the book she’d been trying to read. It wasn’t holding her attention anyway. “I see you finally decided to return.”

The man’s jaw clenched, but he kept his tone respectful when he spoke. “I had a chance last evening to mull over the events of our escape from the desert and I have a concern. I felt I should bring it to your attention immediately, my lady.”

He’d do well to have many concerns, as poorly as he’d performed recently. Letting Destiny escape after they’d only just managed to capture the woman was the tip of the iceberg.

It was his fault that she’d been forced to put her plans on hold last night when the local authorities had arrived. If Flynn had been here as he should have been, he would have been the one to deal with them. It would have been him out at the pub until early this morning instead of Dermond.

Even now, thinking of the inconveniences Flynn had caused her, irritation sparked anew like kindling in a fire. She considered sending him away, ignoring him and his concerns, letting him stew in his incompetent misery a while longer. And yet, there was something smug in his demeanor today that didn’t seem to belong. Something there, as if he actually did have knowledge that would benefit her.

As annoying as Flynn could be, he did possess an uncanny ability to dig up the most useful information, a trait that had continued to ensure his value. And his life, although she’d had second thoughts on that after the debacle last night.

Another sigh, this one designed to visibly express her irritation. “What? Out with it, Flynn. What is it?”

“May I sit, my lady?”

Sit? Oh, this had better be good.

She swept her hand out in an artfully careless invitation to join her on her sofa before turning to fix a stare on him.

His eyes, always so haughty, fluttered away from hers for a moment and she felt his unease. She understood his need to please her. Good. That was as it should be.

“Well? I’m waiting. Thanks to your incompetence, I’ve a busy day ahead of me.”

“The woman, Destiny, is obviously working with someone to locate her sister. Someone who proved a formidable obstacle in the desert.”

“And?” she snapped. She was quite aware of the existence of new players in their little game. “I fail to see why this is of any importance to me right now.”

Flynn arched an eyebrow in a smug expression she detested. It reminded her of too many men in her past. Too many who’d thought themselves so much better than she.

“As I sat alone last evening, mulling over the situation, it occurred to me that you had spoken of our destination in front of the woman. What’s to stop them from coming here?”

His breath played across her face, setting the loose tendrils of hair brushing against her cheek as his words slammed into her like a physical assault.

She had never even considered the possibility, had barely remembered the conversation with Dermond about coming to the castle. It had meant nothing more to her at the time than soothing words intended to placate her distressed lover.

How stupid of her to have missed such an important slipup. How careless. Already they had been here long enough that those working for Ms. Noble could be on their way to this very spot. Could be closing in at this very moment.

“It shouldn’t prove much of a challenge to find our location. There can’t be too many places in the world named Fleenasmore.” Flynn put words to her own fears as he edged closer, the heat of his skin burning against her arm.

Damn the Fates. She needed to come up with an alternative—and quickly—or she risked losing everything.

Too late, she realized her panic must have been reflected on her face. Flynn had moved closer still, leaning in toward her, his hand resting over hers on the sofa.

“Can we travel in the same way we did from the desert? We could build a circle of stones here.” This time Flynn’s gaze didn’t falter or move away.

Though she didn’t like to share any more information than necessary with Flynn, this might be one of those necessary times.

“No. A circle won’t work here.” It wasn’t stones, it was the energy lines she needed, and she didn’t know of any travel points near this castle. It would take time to do more research to find other such locations. The only one she could remember offhand, other than through the stone circle on Lewis, was at Avebury.

The ancient text she’d found in Reynard’s library would certainly be useful now. Unfortunately she’d left it with her other possessions at the estate in France when she’d traveled to the States.

With no readily available options of her own, this might be a good time to test Flynn’s resourcefulness.

“Do you have any ideas, Flynn?”

“Perhaps. There is a company Reynard used in Scotland once before. Helicopter transport. It’s the fastest route to get away from here. Shall I arrange to have one sent to pick us up?”

That would have to do. Get them safely away from here and far enough south to send for a car. Then they could drive to Avebury. From there she’d figure out how to get home to France.

She nodded her agreement, reaching out to run one finger down the side of Flynn’s face. She’d seriously underestimated the man. Perhaps she should be making better use of his intelligence than she had up to this point. Better use of him.

“And when we reach our new destination, Flynn”—she trailed her hand down his chest to his leg, allowing her fingertips to tighten against the inside of his thigh as she leaned in closer—“would you join me in my bedchamber?”

A smile played about the corners of his lips, and from the calculating gleam in his eyes, she knew he’d accept her offer.

“Of course.” He paused, holding her gaze. “Whatever you ask, my queen.”

Adira watched Flynn’s sure stride from the room, too pleased with his long-overdue acceptance of her rightful position to waste time chafing over this minor setback. She’d dropped her guard and gotten sloppy, but she was nothing if not a quick learner. She would be more careful in the future.

For now, she’d find a way to get the girl back to her estate in France. Once there, they’d be safe and she could continue with her plans.

One day soon, everything would be hers to command.