35. CHAPTER 35

CHAPTER 35

DANIELLA

Acreature the size of a Great Dane slashed across the path in front of us, running from the cover of one bush to another. It seemed to be made from broken branches and mud and had a huge rack on top of its head like a buck. Lichen hung from its body in strips, and it moved half upright and half on four legs.

“Our first mud-spriggan,” Mythorne said, urging his horse forward. The animal’s hooves tamped down a group of flowering plants, kicking back black soil.

I followed, racking my brain, trying to figure out how I was going to manage to get my hands on the bastard.

Ahead, the bushes ran out, giving way to a clearing and a tall outcrop of rocks. The creature looked right and left, and finding itself trapped, whirled, and bared its teeth at us with a growl.

I came to a halt behind Mythorne, who dismounted, sword in hand.

What the hell? It didn’t seem wise to face such a creature face to face. With luck, it would tear the Unseelie King to pieces and save me a heap of trouble.

Mythorne twirled his sword. I couldn’t see his face as his back was to me, but his smooth movements telegraphed his overconfidence.

The mud-spriggan sidestepped, drool dripping from its jaws. Its eyes were full of calculation and hatred, and something in its depths made me look closer. I gasped as the strangest thought entered my mind.

Those are not the eyes of an animal.

There was intelligence behind those large yellow orbs, and maybe… resignation, like it knew it didn’t stand a chance against his opponent.

Mythorne advanced, his movements lithe, his blade glinting in the weak rays of sunshine that managed to seep through the heavy canopy.

Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed a slight movement in the bushes to our left. My horse stomped the ground, snorting. I scanned the heavy brush, searching for the source of the sound, and noticed a second pair of yellow eyes. They met mine. Another mud-spriggan. It bared its teeth, ready to lunge at me. I shook my head and mouthed the word no.

The creature paused. It understood I meant it no harm.

I inclined my head in Mythorne’s direction, inviting it to help its friend, and for an instant, I thought I saw gratitude in its expression. Quickly, it turned his attention to the Unseelie King, who had corralled the creature against the rock wall.

The second creature lunged from the bushes, maw angled perfectly toward Mythorne’s neck. As it attacked, two things happened at once. Mythorne twirled toward the newcomer, his sword held at an angle, and my horse reared back, kicking its front legs toward the sky.

My one-handed grip on the reins slipped, and I was thrown backward off my horse, dropping the spear as I futilely attempted to hold on. With a scream, I sailed through the air and watched as Mythorne’s blade sliced the lunging mud-spriggan in half. In the same motion, he finished twirling and stabbed the other one as it cowered against the rocks. All before I thudded to the ground.

My spine and skull cracked as I crashed against rocky soil. A warm feeling slid down the back of my head. Blood. I cried out once more, baring my teeth in pain. My first instinct was to allow healing magic to course through my body, but I remembered in time that Mylendra didn’t have such powers. My second instinct was to search for Larina. Was she all right? Had I flattened her when I hit the ground? Oh, God! I was near panic when I noticed her hiding in a bush.

Mythorne walked in my direction. I watched him through narrowed eyes. Looking down at me, he stabbed his sword into the ground and scanned me without a shred of sympathy in his eyes.

“Are you all right, Lady Goren?” he asked in a half-amused tone.

I almost said yes and attempted to stand on my own. I didn’t want to give the asshole the satisfaction of seeing me suffer in any way, but then I realized this was the perfect opportunity to lure him closer.

“No, I’m not all right.” Working up some tears, I slid my hand into my hair and touched the wound. I pulled it back and looked at it, blinking to force out the tears. “I’m bleeding. By Erilena, I’m bleeding.” I sounded a little hysterical, which was exactly my goal.

Mythorne huffed, appearing aggravated. He glanced back at the fallen mud-spriggans, seeming mad that I’d ruined his game.

With a sigh of resignation, he looked down at me again. “Can you walk?”

“I… I don’t know.” I tried to push up on my elbows, then fell back again, though it wasn’t all a show. My head was spinning. Maybe I had a minor concussion. I’d knocked my head pretty good.

Grudgingly, he offered me a hand. He was wearing gloves, but I couldn’t complain. This was progress. I reached out, and he seized my wrist and yanked me up with one strong tug that threatened to dislocate my shoulder. As soon as I was on my feet, he let me go. I swayed precariously and threw my arms out in an effort to keep my balance, except I started to fall again.

I thought Mythorne would let me collapse, but in the last instant, he wrapped an arm around my waist and held me in place. I closed my eyes and pressed my forehead to his chest until the dizziness passed. Slowly, I glanced up to meet his gaze.

He was looking at me strangely, a deep frown cutting across his forehead. His gaze fell to my lips and quickly moved back up. It seemed he found Mylendra pleasing, after all.

“It seems… you’re in need of a healer.” His voice was halting for the first time.

“I do.” I sounded pathetic, to say the least, but it seemed my helplessness was bringing out his male protective instincts.

My hands inched up his arms. If I could wrap them around his neck. I licked my lips and blinked slowly.

“I feel like such a fool,” I said. “That creature came out of nowhere. I would’ve struck it with my spear if the horse hadn’t… Oh, to think it might’ve hurt you. I’m so sorry.”

“I was never in any danger. I promise you.” Now his voice was husky.

I have you now,I thought, my hands moving up with more confidence.

He inclined his head to one side, mouth parting, and leaned closer.

Oh God, he’s going to kiss me.

Bile rose up my throat, and it was all I could do to keep an inviting expression on my face. My hands raced toward his neck. If I could touch him there before his lips reached mine, the sacrifice of kissing this monster would not be necessary.

My fingers were only an inch from his neck when a deafening thunderclap resonated through the forest.