Free Moon Craving by Lucy Monroe Page A

not to recognize. Talorc gave his soldier a quelling glare—with little appreciable effect.

    "Your sister and my own would have it no other way," Talorc said.

    There was definitely more to it than he was saying, but Abigail was caught by one truth above all others. "And you listened to them?" she asked in true shock.

    Her stepfather never admitted to taking the advice of a woman, even Sybil's.

    "It was a good alliance to make."

    "Aye, it was." Niall inclined his head toward Abigail. "Your bride is so tired, she can barely stand."

    "She needs to eat."

    "Let her eat in the tent, where she can sleep after."

    "You think to advise me how to treat my bride?" Talorc asked, looking dangerous.

    "Why not?" Abigail asked. "He is your second-in-command, isn't he? Surely he is allowed to have an opinion." She wasn't trying to be rude but realized after speaking that her questions could be taken that way. She simply wanted to understand the Highlander's way of things.

    Niall's smile might be considered frightening by some, but Abigail saw the honest amusement lurking in his gray eyes. "Your wife is feistier than I thought."

    "She is."

    "She does not flinch from me." He appeared both pleased and astounded by that fact.

    "I noticed you held her arm."

    "She would have fallen otherwise." Niall's head bowed in apology.

    "She is right here." Abigail frowned at both big men.

    Really. She was accustomed to being ignored by her family, but this was getting out of hand.

    For good or ill, Talorc gave her his full regard. "Niall is not my second-in-command. His brother holds that place."

    "But . . ." She did not understand. "Which one is his brother?" She looked at the other warriors, not seeing any that looked like they could get away with ordering Niall about.

    "Barr has command of the clan while I am away," Talorc replied.

    "I see. So, Niall is your second-in-command at present." She nodded, satisfied by her ability to reason that out in her current state of exhaustion.

    Talorc did not reply. No doubt because he did not wish to admit she was right.

    "I will look forward to meeting him, then."

    "Why?"

    "Because he is your second, and I like his brother. I am bound to like him."

    "You like Niall?" Talorc asked.

    "You needn't be so incredulous. I do not hate the Scottish as you do the English."

    "Most in our clan find Niall intimidating."

    "Then they must find you positively terrifying."

    That had Talorc looking pleased and Niall laughing, which from the shocked expressions of the other soldiers, must not happen often.

    Abigail decided she had had enough of the discussion and attempting to be awake when all she wanted was to sleep. So, she curtsied and excused herself before ducking into the tent. Bright moonlight filtered between the edges of the plaids draped to make the walls of the tent and soon her eyes adjusted.

    She had barely removed her shoes so she could settle on the furs when Talorc joined her, making the already small quarters feel overwhelmingly crowded. She scooted to the very edge of the tent to make room for him.

    He handed her an apple. "Eat."

    She thought of arguing, saying she just wanted to sleep. Only it would probably take more effort to convince the big warrior than to eat.

    She accepted the apple and took a bite. Crisp and juicy, the fruit's flavor exploded over her taste buds, reminding her body how long it had been since she'd last fed her stomach. When she finished with the apple, he handed her a skin of water to drink from.
    She drank and then found herself presented with a hunk of yellow cheese and a hard roll.
    She ate the cheese.

    However, after one bite of the hard roll and chewing it for what seemed forever, she placed it aside. "I'll just save this for the morning."

    "I will provide you with food to break your morning fast." He looked downright growly.

    "I'm full."

    He narrowed his eyes. "Are you sure?"

    "I'm not a warrior. I don't need that much."

    "I'll not have you wasting