Devil's Daughter (Devil 2)

Sordello jerked up to his knees.

“Calm yourself, captain.”

“But why is she here?”

It was on the tip of Kamal’s tongue to tell Sordello of the earl’s treachery, but he knew well enough that the man owed his loyalty to the Earl of Clare. He would say nothing against his master; indeed, if he could, he would invent tales to protect him.

Kamal had gleaned all the truth he could. He rose gracefully to his feet. “You will not be here for much longer, captain. I thank you for speaking with me.” He nodded toward the guards who stood at the entrance of the chamber.

He stood silently, watching the captain leave between his two guards. A lively little sprite. Kamal felt his belly knot. God, what had he done?

Kamal stood over Arabella, watching Raj gently massage a white ointment into her back.

“It will heal her, highness, and draw out the pain. In two or three days she will be fine again.”

He looked at her raw back, then remembered the whip striking the front of her. “Her breasts?”

“The whip did not split her flesh.”

Kamal saw flecks of blood in her hair. He lifted the stiffened hair and began to rub out the blood.

“I will keep her drugged,” Raj said, eyeing Kamal, “at least for another day. She must keep quiet and rest, to heal.”

Kamal nodded. “Turn her over a moment, Raj.”

Raj clasped her shoulders and gently eased her up. Kamal gazed at the thin red line that cut the underside of her left breast and higher on the right. Very gently he ran his fingertip along the red slash, remembering the feel of her in his mouth, remembering how she had arched her back to bring him closer. He dropped his hand.

“I will stay with her for a while,” he said.

“As you will, highness.” Raj eased Arabella onto her stomach again, straightened, and stretched. “You do not wish Elena this evening?”

Kamal gave a short bark of laughter. “No. I have decided to arrange a marriage for her. Say nothing to her until I have all the details worked out.”

“You are generous, highness,” Raj said, but Kamal did not hear him. He picked up Arabella’s hand and simply held it.

Chapter 24

Hamil hunkered closer to the small fire and stretched his hands toward the flame. The night air was chilly, surprisingly so, Rayna thought, after the scorching day. There was a tension in Adam, a tension so palpable she wondered how he could act so very calm, so very patient while Hamil settled himself comfortably on a blanket opposite them. Adam knew as well as she that Hamil had news of Oran and Arabella. She picked up her cup of thick Turkish coffee and slowly sipped.

“What have you learned, Hamil?” Adam said finally.

Still, Hamil did not reply for a moment, wondering whether to speak the truth to the woman’s brother.

“Arabella is well, is she not?” Adam’s voice was sharper than he intended.

“Yes,” Hamil said finally. “She is well.”

But he had forgotten the sharp-eyed Rayna. “Come, Hamil,” she said. “What has happened to her?”

Hamil quirked an eyebrow at Adam, remarking as he did, “Are you certain you don’t wish to sell the girl? She is far too perceptive for a female.” He sighed deeply. Adam’s concern for his sister, so clear in his eyes, made further jests die in his throat. “Very well. Your sister was whipped.”

“What?” Adam roared.

“Beaten?” Rayna repeated blankly. “Why, Hamil?”

He shrugged. “Sit down, my lord. She will be quite all right. You told me she is proud and as wild as a sirocco, but it seems that she attacked Kamal in the harem, and in front of his guards. Instead of killing her, as he would have been expected to do, he merely had her whipped.”

“I’ll kill the bastard,” Adam said.