L iam kept Adriana close to his side. It hadn’t taken long to find the princess and queen, given Isaac Komnenus’s desire to display them. Richard had responded by bringing the full force of his army to attack Limassol, and his war ships had moved into position, surrounding the Isle of Cyprus.
Isaac was going to lose this battle, and he knew it. The only question was whether they could rescue Princess Berengaria and Queen Joan in time.
Though Liam didn’t like bringing Adriana into a dangerous battle with him, neither could he leave her behind. She had a blade palmed in her hand, and she remained at his side. Unlike most women, she didn’t cower at the sight of blood or death. Instead, her eyes were alert, her body poised to fight if needed.
He’d never met another woman like her. She fascinated him, and when this was over, he intended to pursue her openly.
When they reached the center of the fortress, Adriana moved as close as she could to Berengaria and Joan without drawing notice. Both women stood upon the dais, but Adriana managed to find a place upon the stairs behind several of the guards. Liam remained nearby, but he still had a clear view of the emperor.
He suspected that Isaac Komnenus hadn’t known how vast Richard’s forces were. It had taken only a matter of hours to take Limassol, and now the man’s life lay in the king’s hands.
With the help of a translator, the emperor came forward to speak with Richard. “An invasion was not necessary. We could have negotiated a truce between us.”
Liam saw the king’s mouth twitch, as if Richard were struggling to hold back his temper. “And why would I seek to negotiate with a man who seized my betrothed wife and my sister, stole our treasures, and murdered my soldiers?” He gestured for two dozen of his men to come forward, surrounding the king.
“If I signal my archers, your women will die,” the emperor responded.
“If you harm them, so shall your daughter die.” Richard nodded towards the back of the fortress where several soldiers held a young girl captive. She was sobbing with fear, knowing that her life lay in the soldiers’ hands.
The emperor’s face reddened with fury. And then, when he gave a signal, Liam glanced up to see the archers poised.
“Adriana!” he warned, just as she tore the shield free of his arm. He watched in horror as she leaped onto the dais and threw herself in front of the princess and queen. Half a dozen arrows embedded within the wooden shield, and Liam followed her lead, seizing another shield to protect Berengaria and Joan.
God above, she could have been killed. Adriana hadn’t hesitated to offer her life for the princess’s, and Liam hadn’t known how it would feel to see her in such danger. The need to guard her went beyond anything he’d ever felt, and he stood beside her with his own shield, prepared to defend her. Both of them held their shields and weapons steady, guarding the women.
All around them, Richard’s men charged forward while Liam held his position beside Adriana with his sword drawn. Though he could see the fear on her face, she never lowered her shield from the women. Her bravery was undeniable, and nothing would make him leave her side.
Arrows shot through the sky, taking down the emperor’s archers while steel clashed against steel. One man dared to come too close, and Liam struck him down as the man aimed his blade. Another tried to attack Adriana, but Liam seized a spear and ended the man’s life, just as Adriana’s dagger pierced him.
“Sorry,” he muttered. “But I wasn’t going to take a chance with your life.”
Her expression held gratitude as she gave him a nod. It took only a few more moments for the king to gain the upper hand as the emperor’s men fled in defeat. Soldiers surrounded Isaac Komnenus, their weapons drawn. The emperor’s daughter remained a hostage, but to Richard’s credit, he had not harmed her.
At last, the fighting ceased within the fortress, and Richard held possession of Cyprus. The king walked closer, and Liam lowered his voice. “Don’t move,” he murmured to Adriana. “This isn’t over yet.”
She ventured an unsteady smile. “I’ll be glad when it is.”
“Your Grace,” the emperor begged, “I wish there to be peace between us. As compensation for your losses, I will offer twenty thousand gold marks. In addition, I offer my only daughter as your hostage, and I will join my men with yours to fight on Crusade.”
Soldiers gripped Isaac’s arms, and Richard moved in, towering above the man. “We will discuss the terms later.”
“Not in irons, Your Grace. I beg of you, do not place me in irons.”
A strange smile came over the king’s face when he unsheathed a dagger at his waist, slashing through the silken bonds of Berengaria and Joan. “As you will,” he agreed. And when the emperor had been taken into custody, Richard flashed a smile to his knights. “Have his chains made of silver.”
The king moved forward to free his bride, and Liam drew back with Adriana. Her body relaxed against him, and he held her close. The warmth of Adriana, the softness of her hair against his cheek felt right. And when she touched her fingertips to her own lips, he wondered if her thoughts mirrored his own.
The next day, Adriana helped the princess bathe, dressing her in a gown of blue silk embroidered in silver. She parted Berengaria’s hair in the center and pinned a transparent veil of the same length, covering it in the style of a mantilla. Upon her head rested a diadem with several bands of jewels and fleurs de lis with enough foliage to resemble a double crown. At her throat, she’d chosen to wear the ruby-encrusted cross that Richard had given. And as a gift to her future husband, she’d given him a gold belt inlaid with jewels.
“You look beautiful,” Adriana pronounced, stepping back to arrange Berengaria’s train. Soon, it was time for her to join the king.
Richard wore a satin rose tunic bound by the golden belt the princess had given him, while a striped silver tissue mantle rested about his shoulders. A silver sheath encased his sword of Damascus steel with a golden hilt, and upon his head he wore a scarlet bonnet, brocaded in gold, with figures of animals. As he dismounted, he walked forward with a truncheon in one hand to show his power over the Cypriots.
The warm air held the deep scent of jasmine from the vines growing up the stone walls. Adriana could not imagine a more beautiful place to be married. As they took their vows, she caught a glimpse of Liam watching her. His dark blond hair gleamed in the sunlight, and his gray eyes held the promise of more between them.
The cheers of the men resonated throughout the old fortress, but Adriana was spellbound by the man who had rescued her from harm. The wedding celebration began, and when Liam held out his hand, she went to him.
After hours of celebrating, the moon hung bright in the sky. Adriana walked barefoot, with Liam’s hand in hers. She carried her shoes in her other hand, reveling in the intimate feel of the silken sand against her soles.
They walked in silence for long moments, until Liam led her up the side of a hill. In the distance, he pointed to a large rock rising from the sea.
“A legend says that the goddess Aphrodite rose from the sea, near that stone.”
“The goddess of love,” she murmured quietly, sitting back against the grasses.
Liam joined her, and the look in his eyes made her shiver. “She wouldn’t compare to you.” His hand moved up to push a lock of her hair aside, and Adriana felt her blood rising like the tide of the sea.
He laid her back against the grass, his hands resting against her wrists. “The first night I saw you, I wanted to kiss you. You’re like no woman I’ve ever known before.”
She felt the same about this man and couldn’t deny that she wanted him. “Show me,” she whispered. With her back upon the ground and the stars above them, she grew restless with her own yearning.
When Liam kissed her, the first touch of his mouth was like a fire she’d never before tasted. His hungry lips plundered hers until she could no longer catch her breath. With his tongue, he tasted the softness of her mouth, inviting her to open for him. And when he invaded the softness of her mouth, her body responded with need.
His hands moved over her shoulders, down to her waist, and when his body moved atop hers, she felt the length of his desire.
“Who are you, Liam MacEgan?” she murmured against his mouth. “You’re like no one I’ve met before.”
“A man who desires you more than anything in this world.” He rolled to his side, and her legs twined with his. She didn’t care that this was improper, for there was no one to see. Liam had filled up the loneliness inside her, offering a hope she’d never expected.
She lifted her arms around his neck, holding him close. “When we reach the Holy Land, you’ll be gone from me.”
“I’ll fight for a time,” he admitted, “but I’ll not let you go. Not if you want me to stay.” He bent and took her mouth again, coaxing her to cast aside her inhibitions.
Although his kiss stole her senses, she pulled back. “You’ll go back to Ireland, when this is over,” she murmured, “and I’ll remain with Queen Berengaria.” She didn’t like to think of it, though she knew there was no other choice.
“If it is your will, I can take you with me, back to my homeland.” He rested his cheek against hers, pulling her into a tight embrace. The confidence in his voice, the assurance that the king and queen would follow his own wishes, struck her as impossible.
But then, Liam MacEgan had never behaved like the king’s servant. And the more she thought of it, Richard had never treated him as such.
“You’re not a merchant or a serf, are you?” she ventured. “You’re more than a warrior.”
“Does it matter who I am?”
“I wouldn’t care if you were a beggar,” she admitted. “I would take you for the man you are.”
“And what if I were a prince?” He raised up, touching her shoulder as his gray eyes stared into hers. “Would that bother you?”
In his face, she saw a sudden tension. It was true, she realized. This man was not a commoner, but a man of royalty . . . just as Richard was.
“It would only bother me if you left me behind,” she said softly. “I want to know the man you are.”
He sat up and brought her into his lap, holding her close to stare out at the sea. “My father is King of Laochre, a small kingdom within Ireland. Not a High King,” he admitted. “But I have responsibilities to our people. I came seeking an adventure.” He brushed a kiss against her temple. “But instead, I found you.”
She laughed softly. “If the past few weeks are any evidence, every day with you will be an adventure.” Though it intimidated her to realize that this man was the son of a king, she wouldn’t have cared if he were a beggar. Liam MacEgan had captured her heart as surely as he’d defended their queen.
“I’ll keep you safe,” he offered. “I give you my solemn promise.”
The words felt like a wedding vow, and Adriana lifted her mouth to his, giving him the answer hidden inside her. And when Liam enfolded her in his arms, she could imagine nothing but a future with him . . . the prince of her heart.