Page 94

He shoved past her out into the corridor and started down the steps. “So that excuses what you did? I’m not what I once was. I could have died in the forest.”

Varlett easily kept up with his fast pace. “But you didn’t. I watched you from a distance over the years. I knew of your incredible healing abilities even as an elf.”

This entire time she knew everything. Knew him. Watched him. Gods, this was a nightmare. Thane groaned with the urge to punch himself in the face. “So, you broke my mate bond because?”

“If I didn’t Hel would have lost his mind and done something stupid. Like kill you. And I wasn’t sure if she would have been able to wake him with a spell like that bound to her.” She shoved through the front doors first. “Plus, it was satisfying to watch.”

“You two need to get over the past. Maker, it’s been thousands of years. Move on.”

A set of guards went running by and both Thane and Varlett sprinted toward the screaming. “Where is Layala?” Thane asked, frantically looking around for her.

“She’s with Hel. He’ll protect her.”

Chapter29

LAYALA

The screams rose and Layala stepped toward the ravine. “What’s going on? Can you see?” She turned to Hel, and he’d transformed into the leather-studded armor vest he wore the first time she saw him. A black cloak and thick black pants.

Without saying a word, he grabbed her by the arm, and they appeared at the base of the front steps to the castle. “You need to get inside.” He pushed her in the back toward the stairs.

Layala stumbled and caught her balance before she fell onto the steps. The quick shift wasn’t as disorientating this time around. “I don’t follow orders from you,” she snapped and charged around him.

He appeared in her path again and stuck out his arm, catching her. “Don’t make me do this the hard way. That demon prince and his hounds are here for you. Go to your room and lock the door. The wards I placed there will keep you safe.”

She tried to peer around him, and he moved in the way. “How do you know it’s the demon?” Layala faked going one way then darted the other and sprinted toward the snarls, shouts, and fighting. It could be pale ones and he didn’t want her to know.

An arm snatched her around the middle, and in one quick move he threw her over his shoulder before she could fight back. “Put me down or so help me, I will—” the world spun and went dark again, and they ended up outside her bedroom door. Except this time the corridor walls seemed to be moving and nausea fought its way up to her throat.

Hel shoved down on the handle, pushed through, and kicked the door shut with his heel. With his grip ironclad on the back of her thighs, he moved swiftly across the room and tossed her down on the bed.

Oh, he was going to suffer her wrath now. She stood up, toe to toe with him though he was at least a head taller forcing her to look up.

“I’ve lost you three times,” he said, holding up his fingers for emphasis. “I won’t allow it to happen again. Stay here.”

“Thane is out there!” Layala tossed her arm toward the window.

“And if you promise to stay, I’ll go help him. If you don’t then I have to remain here with you and babysit. The choice is yours.”

“I’m not the weak maiden you believe I am.”

“I never said you were, but I am not taking chances.”

Layala stepped around him and peered out her window. The guards circled around a huge hunched-back black dog, as big as a horse with rows of sharp teeth, bright red eyes. It snarled, snapped, and grabbed hold of a guard by the leg and tossed him into the air. “Holy Maker above,” Layala breathed. And further down there was another. This one ripped a guard in half, blood pooled on the ground beneath it. And then she spotted Thane running toward the danger. With her palm flat on the glass she said, “Help him. Helpthem. I’ll stay.”

“If you’re lying to me...”

She turned around. “I said I’ll stay. Go.”

“Don’t set foot outside this room until I come back. Promise me.”

“I promise.”

He dashed out the door, and it clicked quickly closed behind him. Layala paced back and forth in front of the window, chewing on the corner of her nail.

A quiet rustle brought Tif swinging down a green vine from her perch, and she landed on the bed. “He frightens me and for some reason also gives me tummy butterflies.” She scurried across the floor and climbed up to the windowsill. “What’s happening? I’ve been napping—holy horseballs. What is that thing?” She pressed her face against the glass, palms flat on either side of her head.

“A demon hound.”