Magnus chuckled, but complied. “One of the mercenaries was actually a French spy. He had traveled with us, eaten with us, and even fought at our side. He had everyone fooled.”

“Except you,” she guessed. “You must have read his mind and realized his intent.”

“I did,” he acknowledged.

Her eyes widened. “Oh, my God. You knew and didn’t say anything. You just bided your time and waited until he made his attempt and then stepped in to save the king at the last minute.”

Magnus grinned. “You know me so well already.”

Allie shook her head at the claim. “And I imagine the king was so grateful he granted you land.”

“And a title and even coin,” he assured her. “He was most grateful.”

“Oh, my God, Magnus,” she said on a laugh. “I can’t decide if that was incredibly brilliant or somewhat evil.”

“What was evil about it?” he asked, looking offended. “I did save his life. I earned that land. Certainly more than if I had just controlled Henry and made him give me the land and title of baron. And if I had not been there, the assassin probably would have succeeded. Everyone liked the man. No one suspected him of a thing. Even me until I read his thoughts.”

“All right, it wasn’t evil. Just a brilliant use of the situation,” Allie decided.

Magnus grunted, but still looked out of sorts about the evil bit. In fact, he reminded her of Liam when the boy got sulky.

Biting her lip to keep from laughing, she quickly put the remaining food back on the tray, set it on the dresser, and then climbed back on the bed and crawled to sit sideways in his lap.

“So,” she said, smiling at his startled expression as she snaked one hand around his waist and allowed the other to play over his chest. “You’re a baron with his own castle.”

“That turns you on, does it?” he murmured, running a hand up her outer leg.

Allie shook her head. “Your cleverness does. Castles are drafty old buildings. Besides, it’s probably a pile of rubble now.”

“Our castle is not a pile of rubble,” he assured her as his hand drifted up under his shirt to skim its way up her side.

Allie pulled back to peer at him with surprise. “Our castle?”

“We are life mates,” he said solemnly. “What’s mine is yours . . . Baroness,” he added with a grin.

She stared at him for a moment, enthralled at the idea of having a title, but then frowned and said, “But I have nothing to offer you in return.”