Page 74 of Taming the Eagle

A chill feathered over her skin.

That look told her all she needed to know.

They continued down the causeway, and Justin led her to the lazy bend in the river where the bodies of the fallen Cruthini lay.

Fenella went cold at the sight of them: rows and rows of corpses, their limbs streaked in blue woad and blood.

Justin waited at the edge of the dead, while Fenella walked amongst them, her gaze searching every face.

There were more women than she’d expected. Aye, female warriors fought in Toutorix’s ranks, yet chieftains only sent them into battle when things were dire. Toutorix had clearly held nothing back for this battle.

Pulse beating in her ears, Fenella moved slowly up and down the rows. Part of her wanted to turn and run, for she wasn’t sure she could bear seeing her father and brother laid out there. She wasn’t close to her family these days, especially after her father had given her to Toutorix. However, blood was blood. She didn’t wish harm on any member of her family.

She recognized many faces—warriors who’d lived at Loch Tatha mainly—but when she stopped at the end of the last line, relief swept over her, causing her knees to tremble under her.

She looked up then and turned to where Justin still waited silently by the riverbank. He approached her, his expression veiled.

“None of my kin are here,” Fenella greeted him, her voice husky.

Aye, she was glad not to see her father and Eogan with cut throats, gashes to the belly, and gaping holes in their chests—yet the sight of the dead would haunt her for a long while to come.

This was a dark day for her people.

Dizziness swept over her, and Fenella closed her eyes, swaying on her feet. It was too much—the stress of the day finally caught up with her.

An instant later, Justin was at her side, his arm encircling her shoulders. “That’s enough now, Fenella,” he said, his voice both rough and gentle. Tears burning behind her closed eyelids, she leaned into his strength. “It’s time to go inside.”

Fenella sank deep into the water with a sigh.

The sweet scent of honeysuckle drifted into the bathhouse, mingling with the steam. The heat of the water and the heady perfume could almost drown out the horror of the day—almost.

In here, she could wash away the stench of blood, grime, and ash. Here, she could pretend that death didn’t surround her.

But it did.

Ducking under the water, she allowed the warmth to sink into her bones before she resurfaced.

Her gaze alighted then upon the naked man who lounged in the water at the far end of the pool. She and Justin had brought clean clothes and drying cloths in here, before undressing and lowering themselves into the steaming water.

Around them, the house was silent, the atmosphere heavy. Outdoors, dusk had long settled. Supper had come and gone: a simple meal of bread and cheese, which was all Ava had been able to manage, for her nerves were frayed.

As were Fenella’s. And whenever she recalled the fight in the courtyard, her belly twisted. She was fortunate indeed that Aedan had been with her and Kahina, and that Justin and his men arrived when they did—otherwise things would have ended badly.

Fenella met Justin’s eye now, watching as his mouth lifted at the corners. However, his gaze was shadowed. Water glistened off his broad shoulders and muscular upper arms, running in rivulets down his chest, as he braced himself against the edge of the pool.

“Enjoying the water?” he asked, his voice rumbling through the humid air.

Fenella nodded, paddling over to him. “I could stay in here forever.”

His smile widened, a little of the darkness lifting from his gaze. “You’d turn into a fish then … or perhaps a siren.”

She cocked an eyebrow. “A siren?”

“Half woman, half fish … and wickedly beautiful. They sit upon rocks and sing to sailors, luring them to their death.”

His words were said with a teasing edge, yet they made Fenella shiver despite the warm water she sat in.

How would he react, if he knew she’d planned to escape during the siege?