I glare at him, yanking at the bonds. He laughs softly. "Oh princess, you're so delicate. Do not struggle, we wouldn't want you to break, would we?" He whispers. I snarl at him but he's right, I'm sick and weak at the moment and the cold rain isn't...
"Leathan," Aster barged into my room, "We have news. The King's Men finally stopped for the night, and Arabella is with them. She seems fine."
I let out the breath I hadn't even known I was holding, "Where are they located?"
"Just outside of Grannis," Aster informed.
"Then, I go tonight and retrieve her. In the morning before they even, wake we attack, ridding the King of his best, and taking the kingdom before supper," I smile at the last part thinking about my dreams, and Aster lets out an easy chuckle.
"I'm glad to see you in such high spirits, Leathan. You had me worried at the meeting this morning," he voiced.
"That was this morning, my friend, this is now. So much has changed since those times," I announced, jumping out of bed with renewed energy and spirit. I'm coming for you, Arabella! Aster left me, as I got dressed, and placed my sword in my holster. I joined the men in the mess tent and padded the backs Aiden, Davison, and even Thomas. Giving them the go-ahead on the plan, before walking over to Fergus, and readying him for the ride to Arabella. The thought alone had me smiling again, like a fool.
"I'm coming with you," Aiden announced, standing from the table and walking towards me.
"You can't. You must stay here, and ready the men. They need one of your great speeches, Aiden. You know I was never one for the theatrics of battle. No one can make a man feel braver than you."
"Ha, I beg to differ. There is one that is getting a lone man to feel powerful enough to take on twenty of the strongest men in the Kingdom."
"I won't wake them," I reasoned. "In and out. That's all."
"Right, and if it doesn't go to plan like you expect?" He questions, crossing his arms and staring me down.
"Fine, dammit! Come, but stay back. Llayla will skin me alive if anything happens to you."
"I might lose a leg just to witness that," he chuckles loudly.
"You're a sick man, Aiden," I comment, shaking my head at him.
"Yeah maybe," he says with a quick shrug of his shoulders. We began our journey, "Leathan, I've got something I want to tell you before everything." I give him my undivided attention, for he never starts conversations sounding so nervous. "Llayla's pregnant."
"How do you know? Surely, you can't find out that quickly."
"I'm very very sure of it, Lea," Aiden winked at me. Great!
"That's just what I want to think about. You and Llayla," I reply in disgust.
"I want you to look out for my family if anything were to happen to me during this," he says solemnly.
"Nothing is going to happen to you," I state, firmly.
"I know, but I need to hear you will."
"Of course, I will, but I will never have to because you will, so--" I begin, but the sound of a scream cuts me off. "What was that?"
"An animal?" Aiden suggests, but the sound was wrong somehow, as though whoever screamed had never been so terrified in her life. It was a woman, I'm most certain, but who in their right mind would be out here, so far from town, and at the pitch of dark.
"No. It can't be," I stutter, "It can't be," I continue, and soon Fergus is taking me in the direction of the horrible sound.
"Help!" I hear again, and this time, I know for certain. "Help!" She screams again, and again, each time, her voice getting closer to us. I break through the trees and see her!
Arabella is laying on the ground her dress is pushed up, and a man is leaning over her. "Help!"
"Shut up, bitch, no one is coming for you!" The man screams into her face. I jump off Fergus, and run full steam at the man, and throw him off her body. He lands on the ground with a hard thud, I'm on top of him, and begin punching him as fast and as hard as I can. Over and over again. I don't know what came over me, but for some reason, I can't stop. Even though his face is covering my fists with blood.
I feel a soft hand on my shoulder. "Leathan, you did it. He's dead," Arabella says. Her eyes try to smile, but none comes. I look down at the mess and see nothing, but red. I look at the man's face. It's Lucas! The tax collector that whipped me till I was barely breathing. His face beat, and swollen, but I would know it anywhere. He's dead. I killed him. "Leathan, come on. Take me to camp." My eyes meet the emerald ones that have been on my mind, but they are different. The fire is out. They are stained and wet from crying. Her sweet face has a rather large gash on it, which I know will scar. Her neck has handprints on it from being strangled and held down. Her once beautiful dress that she loved and adored, is cut and torn.
I nodded softly. I hold my hand out to her, afraid of scaring her, after all, she has been through. After a moment, her gentle hand slips into mine, and I give it a firm squeeze, as I've done before. "I'm here, Mo Misneach," I whisper, and she breaks. Her body falls towards me, as tears begin to flow down her cheeks.
"I fought. I fought."
"I know you did," I tell her, picking her small frame into my arms, and carrying her to where Aiden sits atop his horse frozen by the scene. Seconds later Arabella passes out, her mind needing a break from processing the traumatic experience. I carefully hand her to Aiden to hold, as I mount Fergus. He hands her back to me and takes my reigns. Together we leave the forest and the scene behind us.
Tomorrow, Aiden will ride with the men to take care of the King's Men, Aster will invade the castle, Davison will shoot arrows from the sky, and Arabella will be Queen, but tonight the world is spinning backward. My love is physically and emotionally injured and requires some mending. I fear for what she went through, and the mindset it will put her in, but I will do everything in my power to ensure Arabella does not lose herself to the darkness, as I did before she saved me.
Hey, fellow bookworms! What happened in the dark forest?! All will be revealed next chapter! So, I really hope you liked the chapter. There are not much more left! Feel free to comment below, I love hearing from you, and if you liked the chapter, be sure to vote! Thank you so much for all of your love and support! I update every Tuesday and Thursday!
Also, my latest full-length book is in the works! It's called Define Evil. It's a Paranormal book, my very first! It would mean so much to me if you guys would check it out, and let me know what you think. Thank you in advance! Below is the cover!
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
