All Her Men (The Queen's Men Book 1) by Brina Cary Read Free Book Online Page B

see Edinburgh before. It’s gorgeous.”
    “Aye, yer still incognito. Might as well show ye the city a bit before ye get trapped.”
    “Trapped?”
    “There will come a time when ye will be overwhelmed with people trying to see ye when yer out and about.”
    “Are you saying there will be a time when I can’t leave? When I can’t go outside?” The idea seemed absolutely atrocious. Not being able to go outside was incomprehensible. It wasn’t possible that there would be that many people that wanted to see her — wanted to meet her.
    “Queen, ye will notice that yer life will nae be the same. I am sorry fer that. ‘Tis the only way.”
    “The only way for what? To what?”
    “To save Scotland.”
     
     

 
    Chapter 12
     
    “Amelia, the goal is to get away from any attackers t’would seek to do ye harm.” By any means necessary. “Yer attackers will nae care that yer a lass. They will nae care that yer fragile. They will nae care that yer our queen. They will only care about ruining Scotland. They will do this by ruining ye.” Jacob shook his head in amazement. She stood there in dingy gray sweatpants, a black t-shirt with the sleeves torn off, her hair in a ponytail, and barefoot. If only she would participate in the exercise…
    Smiling, she teased, “Well, who would have thought you’d be worried about me, Jacob.”
    “’Tis serious.” If only Amelia knew how serious, then maybe he could teach her how to protect herself. That was the whole reason they were in the tunnels, learning to fight. The others were covering for their disappearance with the staff in the castle. It was just them… and she was joking about it.
    “Of course it is. Everything is oh-so serious,” she mimicked.
    “Aye, ‘tis. Now, pay attention. This could save yer life.” He took a fighting stance.
    “Yeah, yeah. Whatever.” She dismissed his words with a wave of her hand.
    He narrowed his eyes. “Will ye take this seriously?”
    “No.”
    “Why not?”
    “Because I know a bit more about fighting than you’re giving me credit for and you’re being an ass by judging me.”
    That’s why she wouldn’t fight? She thought he was being an ass? “Well, ye dinnae put up much of a fight when we took ye.”
    “You about killed me then. My lungs are doing just fine right now, thank you very much.”
    Jacob grinned at her snarky attitude. “Then pick up the pace. Try to attack me.”
    “No way in Hell.”
    “Will ye stop being a pest and just attack me.”
    “No.”
    “Please, Amelia,” he pleaded. He couldn’t very well show her how to defend herself if she didn’t attack him first. “If ye dinnae attack me, I will attack you.”
    “I might punch you again.”
    “Good.” He lunged forward and swung at her. She ducked underneath his arms and leaped out of the way. “Och, yer a cheeky one.”
    “I don’t want to fight.”
    “What would ye like to do?”
    “Make out.”
    “Ye should not say things ye dinnae mean.”
    “Tease.”
    “Verra well. If ye get caught by me, I shall kiss ye. If ye evade me, I shall kiss ye.”
    “Wait. How do I win?”
    “Ye should not have said what ye dinnae mean. Now, ‘tis too late. Evade or get caught, ‘tis yer choice.”
    “Fine. Remember you asked for this.”
    Before Jacob had a chance to ask what she meant he was down on the ground, wiping blood from his nose. Looking up at her, he felt a sense of wonder. It wasn’t easy for anyone to get the drop on him, but he had underestimated her. He had underestimated her badly.
    “Now, I’m not sorry that I punched you.” The grin she gave him made him crave her. She had a hidden side that was full of sarcasm and mirth. It had been coming out more and more, but now… Now he knew the extent of it. “Have I proven that I can handle myself just fine yet?”
    “Not at all. Just means we can move quicker than I thought.”
    He stood up and dusted himself off. As she adopted a fighting stance, he grinned. She was light on her