Nicole Locke - The Knight's Scarred Maiden

A maiden for the mercenary

Mercenary knight Rhain is living on borrowed time. With a vengeful warlord pursuing him, he has accepted his fate—though first he must get his men to safety.

When he rescues mysterious and deeply scarred Helissent from her attackers, Rhain soon wishes he wasn’t marked for death. He can never be the man she deserves—his scandalous lineage alone dictates that—but Rhain can’t resist the temptation to show this innocent maiden how beautiful she truly is...

An unearthly growl resounded as a man leapt out of the darkness.

‘Let her go!’

His cold voice raised the hairs on the back of her neck. Terror gripped her even harder and the two men tightened their grips. Through her watering eyes she saw a supplicant expression now masked Rudd’s face. She knew that unctuous curve of his lips when he wanted to appease a customer.

‘Here, now, this is none of your concern,’ Rudd said. ‘We only want a bit of privacy.’

‘You harm a woman, you’ll get no privacy except in death.’

The words were menacingly calm.

There was a whoosh of breath and the sharp thump of one captor’s body, as if someone had kicked him down.

She watched Rudd’s smug face draw white with fear as he ran towards the trees and disappeared.

The man crouched near her, his elbows resting on his legs, his hands hanging between them. Empty hands. His scabbard was bare and there was no sword at his feet.

‘You’re safe now. They’re gone.’

NICOLE LOCKEdiscovered her first romance novels in her grandmother’s closet, where they were secretly hidden. Convinced that books that were hidden must be better than those that weren’t, Nicole greedily read them. It was only natural for her to start writing them—but now not so secretly.

Books by Nicole Locke

Mills & Boon Historical Romance

Lovers and Legends

The Knight’s Broken Promise

Her Enemy Highlander

The Highland Laird’s Bride

In Debt to the Enemy Lord

The Knight’s Scarred Maiden

Visit the Author Profile page at at millsandboon.co.ukfor more titles.

The Knight’s Scarred Maiden

Nicole Locke

www.millsandboon.co.uk

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Ode to a house right next door. So handy to pop over for nibbles, a chat, copious amounts of champagne.

Ode to a stairwell landing propped with pillows and treats. For my kids, made comforting like a warm hug, adventurous like a magic carpet.

Ode to David and Cydonie. This book wouldn’t have been written but for you and those chats and that champagne.

I treasure our friendship more than the longest of hugs and the grandest of adventures. More than all the bubbles in every raised fluted glass that ever was…or will be.

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text A maiden for the mercenary Mercenary knight Rhain is living on borrowed time. With a vengeful warlord pursuing him, he has accepted his fate—though first he must get his men to safety. When he rescues mysterious and deeply scarred Helissent from her attackers, Rhain soon wishes he wasn’t marked for death. He can never be the man she deserves—his scandalous lineage alone dictates that—but Rhain can’t resist the temptation to show this innocent maiden how beautiful she truly is...

Introduction An unearthly growl resounded as a man leapt out of the darkness. ‘Let her go!’ His cold voice raised the hairs on the back of her neck. Terror gripped her even harder and the two men tightened their grips. Through her watering eyes she saw a supplicant expression now masked Rudd’s face. She knew that unctuous curve of his lips when he wanted to appease a customer. ‘Here, now, this is none of your concern,’ Rudd said. ‘We only want a bit of privacy.’ ‘You harm a woman, you’ll get no privacy except in death.’ The words were menacingly calm. There was a whoosh of breath and the sharp thump of one captor’s body, as if someone had kicked him down. She watched Rudd’s smug face draw white with fear as he ran towards the trees and disappeared. The man crouched near her, his elbows resting on his legs, his hands hanging between them. Empty hands. His scabbard was bare and there was no sword at his feet. ‘You’re safe now. They’re gone.’

About the Author NICOLE LOCKE discovered her first romance novels in her grandmother’s closet, where they were secretly hidden. Convinced that books that were hidden must be better than those that weren’t, Nicole greedily read them. It was only natural for her to start writing them—but now not so secretly. Books by Nicole Locke Mills & Boon Historical Romance Lovers and Legends The Knight’s Broken Promise Her Enemy Highlander The Highland Laird’s Bride In Debt to the Enemy Lord The Knight’s Scarred Maiden Visit the Author Profile page at at millsandboon.co.uk for more titles.

Title Page The Knight’s Scarred Maiden Nicole Locke www.millsandboon.co.uk

Dedication Ode to a house right next door. So handy to pop over for nibbles, a chat, copious amounts of champagne. Ode to a stairwell landing propped with pillows and treats. For my kids, made comforting like a warm hug, adventurous like a magic carpet. Ode to David and Cydonie. This book wouldn’t have been written but for you and those chats and that champagne. I treasure our friendship more than the longest of hugs and the grandest of adventures. More than all the bubbles in every raised fluted glass that ever was…or will be.

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty-One

Chapter Twenty-Two

Extract

Copyright

Chapter One

He was here.

Helissent let out a breath and rearranged the flagons on the tray. Again. This was the second night he’d come in, which wasn’t the only reason she’d noticed him.

‘Hurry up, girl, customers are thirsty.’

Helissent didn’t glance at Rudd. She never glanced at the innkeeper’s son, now owner. She tried not to notice him at all, but it didn’t help. His eyes grew more calculating every day as if she was in a trap and he was merely fattening her up.

‘If you stand there much longer,’ he said, snapping a towel in the air, ‘I’ll add another flagon to that tray and make you carry it over your head.’

If he put one more flagon on the tray, she’d make sure to dump it on his head.

Then where would she be? Out in the streets.

Pasting a smile that only deepened her scars’ appearance, she gave him her most guileless look. ‘I’m simply ensuring that everything is in its place, so the customers have what they need.’