Prince of Love (3 page)

He quickly pushed that thought away as he shifted in the shadows hoping for a glimpse of his mate.
 
It sounded as if she’d left the house.
 
He couldn’t leave Katrina alone for a moment in case the Tnarg struck. So, when he heard her laughter, he rose from his spot across the street and cringed when he saw her mount a horse.
 

“Shite,” he cursed and recognized he would have a tough time keeping up with her without a mount of his own.
 

His gaze quickly scanned the streets until he found an unattended horse.
 
He grabbed the reins to lead it away. Once he was mounted, he spotted Katrina as she disappeared down the street. He cursed beneath his breath and urged the horse into a gallop. Thankfully her blonde hair shown in the morning sun like a beacon, leading Sorin through the streets.
 

His gaze scanned the area for the Tnarg, but there was no sign of it. He was more than pleased when they left the city and rode through the open countryside. Sorin stayed far enough back that he could keep an eye on Katrina, but close enough that he could reach her if the Tnarg attacked. He couldn’t tell who rode with her, though he thought it was the girl from the day before. It was the perfect opportunity for him to get to know Katrina a little better.
 

If his luck held, the situation could turn out better than he’d first thought. And as soon as he could, he would get Katrina back to the house and to safety. Being out in the open would only tempt the Tnarg.
 

Just as he thought he could keep an eye on the girls, they veered right and headed to a small grove of trees. Sorin leaned over the horse’s neck as the animal leapt into a run. Whatever luck he had quickly ran out as the girls disappeared into the trees before he could reach them. With the wind whistling in his ears, and the horse breathing heavily, he could hear nothing else.
 

He slowed his mount to a walk once they entered the forest and listened. Nothing. No laughter, no screams...nothing. He was about to call out when he saw movement ahead of him.
 

With a slight pressure from his knee, Sorin directed the horse to the right. The steed moved, its ears pricked forward. Sorin shifted his hand to the hilt of his sword as the hairs on the back of his neck stood on end.
 

The Tnarg was there, waiting to attack.
 

Sorin’s heart drummed in his chest at the need to defend his woman. He wanted to call out to Katrina, to tell her to run to safety. But that would only alert the Tnarg and cause it to attack before Sorin could reach her.
 

Nay, he had to act carefully. It wasn’t just Katrina’s life at stake, but every person in Drahcir.
 

The soft whinny of a horse drew his attention. He turned his mount to the left and looked through the dense growth of the forest. Suddenly, he saw the Tnarg in a tree ready to spring down atop Katrina.
 

Sorin drew the dagger from his boot as he kicked the horse into a run. Just before the Tnarg dove, Sorin threw the dagger and watched it sink into the creature’s chest.
 
There was a loud roar as the creature turned its head of mangy brown fur to him and its red eyes full of hatred pinned him.
 

“Run!” he yelled to his mate.

Katrina’s startled blue gaze jerked from the beast to him.
 
Her horse reared, and Sorin watched in horror as Katrina fell, landing hard on the ground. The Tnarg landed beside her and pulled out the dagger, holding it over Katrina while she put her hand to her head.

Sorin unsheathed his sword as his horse quickly closed the distance between them. He leapt from his mount and landed atop the Tnarg just as it was about to slash open Katrina’s chest. The beast flung Sorin off its back with ease and turned to face him.
 

“You won’t stop me,” the creature growled.
 

Sorin got to his feet and grinned while he circled the Tnarg. “You wouldna be after Katrina if my brothers hadna succeeded in reaching Drahcir. You’ve already failed twice. You’ll fail again.”
 

“I doubt it,” the beast said.
 
“The women are easy to kill.”

“If you want a real challenge, why no’ test me?” Sorin hoped the Tnarg would accept the dare and Katrina could sneak away.
 

He couldn’t chance to look at his mate to see if she was all right. One slip and the Tnarg would kill them both. Instead, he kept his gaze on the tall, hairy creature with the foul smell, sharp talons, and long fangs.
 

The pictures he’d seen resembled the beast in front of him, but the blood red eyes were more frightening face to face than on any page in a book. Its claws were longer and sharper, and it seemed to have many more razor-sharp teeth than the drawings had shown. Its face was elongated, and even with its mouth closed he could see nearly every one of the jagged teeth in its mouth.
 

And it stood a head and a half taller than Sorin.
 

He ducked as the Tnarg suddenly lashed out with its long arms, its claws narrowly missing Sorin’s head. “You move too slow, human.”
 

Sorin laughed. “You have to use magic in order to beat me. In a fair fight, you’d already be dead.”
 

The Tnarg pulled back its lips and growled. “You ought not to taunt me. I can make your death very painful.”
 

Sorin was tired of talking.
 
He couldn’t trust anything the creature said anyway.
 
He ducked and rolled, and then in one smooth motion, came to his feet and plunged his sword deep into the Tnarg. The beast roared in pain, but Sorin didn’t stop. He pushed the sword through the Tnarg and embedded the blade into the tree.
 

The beast’s eyes blazed with fury, and it slashed out with its talons, connecting with Sorin’s arm before he could get away. He bit back a growl of pain and rushed to Katrina, who stared in disbelief at the sight before her.
 

Neither of the horses were near, and Sorin knew his sword would only hold the Tnarg for so long.
 
They had to get moving.

“Are you hurt?” he asked as he helped Katrina to her feet.
 

“Nay,” she whispered and turned her wide, blue eyes to him. “What is that thing?”
 

“I’ll explain later. Right now we need to leave.”
 

Sorin took her hand and started running to the edge of the trees. He spotted the horse he had stolen earlier and whistled to it. The steed raised its head and galloped to them.
 
Sorin vaulted onto the horse’s back and held out his hand for Katrina. Once she was behind him, she wrapped her arms around his waist, her entire body shaking.
 

He nudged the horse into a flat out run as the Tnarg’s roar sounded behind them.

“Where is your friend that was with you?”
 

“I don’t know. One moment she was beside me, and the next she was not. What happened, Sorin?
 
What was that thing?”
 

“Even though you saw it, you probably willna believe me.
 
I’d hoped to kill it last night, but I couldna find the damned thing.”

“It was after me?”

“Aye,” he said through clenched teeth.
 
He covered her hands with one of his.
 
“I’m afraid it was.”
 

She said nothing more as she laid her head on his back. Sorin glanced over his shoulder, but they weren’t being followed. Yet. He had no doubt the Tnarg would try again.
 
The sooner he could get her inside her aunt’s house the better.
 

Even with the pain of his arm, the lust wouldn’t be ignored.
 
Her feminine curves were pressed tight against his body, her arms wrapped around him.
 
She was frightened, probably injured, but he didn’t want to tell her anything atop a horse as they raced away from his enemy.

It would require him to be in front of her so he could see her expressions, anticipate her responses. To make matters worse, her friend was likely dead, and since Katrina hadn’t asked about her, he wasn’t going to bring her up.
 

Nothing more was said until Sorin stopped the horse just before entering the city. He needed to explain things to Katrina without others overhearing. And he needed to check on her friend.
 
He lifted his leg over the horse’s head and slid to the ground.

When he looked up at Katrina, her face was white, her eyes glazed over as she looked down at him so trusting, so expecting, that he felt his heart catch.
 
This was his woman, his mate.
 
She’d nearly been killed, and he hadn’t even kissed her.

He wasn’t sure how he was going to keep her from the creature by himself, but he would do whatever it took.
 
Or die trying.
 

“I left Amelia.”
 

He took her hand in his and squeezed. “The beast doesna want her.”
 
When Katrina didn’t argue, he swallowed.
 
“I’ll go search for her as soon as I know you’re safe.”
 

“You’re bleeding,” Katrina said and gently touched his arm.
 
“Why didn’t you tell me you were wounded?”

“It’s just a scratch. I’ll tend to it later.”
 

“You’ll tend to it now. I won’t have you bleeding everywhere.”
 

He couldn’t help but grin. She had just encountered a magical beast and she was worried about his loss of blood.
 
“Ordering me around already, lass?” he teased.

“I am.”

To his surprise, Katrina reached under her skirts and pulled off a section of her underskirt giving him a tempting view of her calf. She slid off the horse before he could help her and began to tie the material around his arm.
 

“Get used to it.
 
Men hate it, but my father has gotten used to it.”

He inhaled as she stepped closer to him.
 
“I like a woman who knows her own mind.
 
My mother is much like you.”

“Really?” Katrina said, her blue eyes glancing up to catch his gaze as she finished tying off the makeshift bandage.
 
“I’ll clean the wounds later, but we had to stop the bleeding.”

Sorin inspected her quick handiwork.
 
The gashes had gone deep, and he’d lost a lost of blood.
 
“Fine job.”

“Tell me, please. What was that thing?”
 

She was still pale, but she had stopped shaking. The stubborn tilt of her chin told Sorin she wasn’t going anywhere until he told her what she needed to know.
 
“I need to go find Amelia.”

“You think she’s already dead or you would never have stood here to let me tend you.”

Sorin clenched his jaw, then gave a single nod of his head.
 
“We angered the beast.
 
It’ll seek retribution.”

“Poor Amelia,” Katrina said as she closed her eyes.
 
When she opened them, she blew out a long breath.
 
“Now, tell me what that was.”

“It’s a Tnarg, a magical creature sent to kill you.”
 

She blinked. “I beg your pardon? Did you say magical? You can be hung for that.”
 

“I know. I’m no’ jesting, Katrina. Do you think it was by happenstance that I was in that grove? I followed you, because I knew that creature was out there hunting you.”
 

“You’re scaring me,” she said softly and wrapped her arms around her middle.
 

“That’s no’ my intention.” He sighed. “In all honesty, you need to be scared. That thing willna stop trying to kill you.”
 

She stared into his eyes, after a few moments she shook her head and took a step back. “You’re serious.”
 

“What you saw back there wasna your imagination. My sword will only hold it for so long. I’m sure it’s already free by now. You need to stay somewhere protected at all times.”
 

“Why does it want to kill me?”
 

Sorin hesitated. He had wanted to ease into his explanation, but she wasn’t allowing him to. “You’re...special.”
 

“Special how?”
 

Shite
. “My lady, that explanation is much longer than I’d like to give right now. Or right here. Let’s get you to your aunt’s so I can go looking for Amelia.”
 

“Amelia is my maid,” she said. “She never wanders away.
 
Why didn’t I realize there was danger?”
 

“You cannot be blamed for anything when a beast such as the Tnarg is after you.”
 

Sorin took her by the arm and led her to her aunt’s. He followed her into the house. One look from the small, plump woman with blue eyes that matched Katrina’s and she had him and Katrina ushered into the solar where she could discover what happened.