Page 70 of The Empire and the Wolf King (Kaitlyn and the Highlander #21)

SNEAK PEEK: TORIN AND THE PRINCESS

CHAPTER 1 - TORIN’S POV

M ax looked over the windowsill and whispered, “Tis right there, Torin, we just hae tae go get it.”

“Tis easier said than done.”

He drew his sword.

I said, “How many times hae we laid our eyes upon it, yet dinna get our hands on it?”

“Too many times.”

“How many times hae we almost died in the gainin’ of it?”

“Every time, but we dinna die, and this time?—”

But I dinna let him finish, I jumped over the sill intae the room while he was still scramblin’ up tae follow me, but I was in full sprint across the chamber. I stepped on a stool, knockin’ it aside as I flung m’self through the air, graspin’ the device off the end table, I raised it in my hand, “Got it!” as I rolled tae the hearth. I jumped tae m’feet, spun, and bounded across the floor back taeward the window. Max was already scramblin’ out, “Ye dinna wait!”

“Ye are too slow!”

I hurdled the windowsill and my feet hit the garden. We were running across the wide lawn, I glanced over m’shoulder. “Och nae! They are in chase!” My breath was coming heavy, our stride was fast, but we would tire soon.

He looked back. “Twelve men! We’re almost to the trees!”

I said. “We ought tae split up!”

“Aye, we meet in Muckhart!” He yelled, “Toss it, I’ma head south! Ye go tae the north!”

I started tae toss it, but it vibrated in my hand, twas shocking.

It felt as if it had grabbed hold.

Mid-stride I tried tae shake it off, but there was the sound of roaring around me, a rumbling coming at me, as if I was caught in front of a barreling horse.

A gust of wind plowed against my back, so hard that I was knocked stumbling forward, a second gust shoved me from the side, I lost m’footin’, and then a gust struck against m’chest, picking me up?—

My body felt like it exploded in pain, I was thankful when I lost consciousness.

I dinna ken how much time had passed, twas hours, possibly, but also it seemed as if I had crashed intae a tree — right then — wind whipped and branches clawed as I plunged down through tree limbs, the only thing slowin’ m’descent was slammin’ against a branch, and another and another afore I landed on m’shoulder on the ground. My eyes fluttered open enough tae see the device right there, in front of m’eyes. I weakly said, “Still got it!” And then I said, “And yet again, we dinna die.”

I lost consciousness again.