Total pages in book: 129
Estimated words: 127722 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 639(@200wpm)___ 511(@250wpm)___ 426(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 127722 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 639(@200wpm)___ 511(@250wpm)___ 426(@300wpm)
“Or daughter.”
His gaze held on mine.
“Your mother is Queen of the Runes.”
“It’s different in Delacroix.”
“Then change it. You’d have the power to do that.”
After a long consideration, he gave a nod. “You’re right.”
“Damn right I’m right.”
He gave a slight grin. “I can’t imagine you giving up the castle for the wildlands.”
“If you build me a nice house with a fireplace and a bath, I’m happy.”
“So, you’d move with me?”
“Of course. What else would I do?”
His stare continued, piercing into my eyes with his intensity.
“You said you’d never let me out of your sight again, right?”
He nodded then rose to his full height once again. His head turned to the left, and he suddenly became very still.
“What?”
He raised his hand to silence me.
That wasn’t good.
When I strained my ears, I heard it. People were approaching.
He turned to the horse and tugged it away from the stream even though it was mid-drink. “Hurry.”
“Who is it?”
He mounted the horse then directed the beast toward me. “I said come on.” He leaned down and extended his hand.
Just when I grabbed his hand and he pulled me into the saddle in front of him, an arrow whizzed by, hitting the exact place I’d been just a moment ago.
He kicked the horse hard and tugged on the reins. “Move.”
The horse took off at a sprint, and I tried to find something to grab on to. I was always behind him, but now I was in front, shifting forward over the saddle as the horse flew across the dirt. I grasped the pommel with both hands.
Huntley hooked one arm around my waist and anchored me to him so I wouldn’t fly off the horse. With a single hand, he grasped both reins and directed us through the trees, forcing us both to duck under branches that would knock us clean off the saddle.
“Who’s chasing us?”
“Plunderers.”
“Why?”
“Why not?”
The chase ensued, but we were running so fast that I couldn’t even see who was chasing us. Even if I wanted to look, Huntley’s massive size blocked them from view.
“How do you know they’re still behind us?”
“Because I do.” He made a sharp turn around some rocks then halted behind the boulders.
The galloping grew louder, and then a moment later, they rode by, their heads covered with animal skulls. They didn’t even notice us because they were riding so hard. I released a heavy breath, relieved it was over.
“We can’t outrun them to HeartHolme. You’re going to have to help me.”
“What do you need me to do?”
“Get out your bow and shoot them down as I ride.”
“What?” I asked incredulously.
“You’re a good shot, baby.”
“But I’ve never done it on a horse.”
“You can do it.”
“I’ll miss—”
“Then don’t miss.” He kicked the horse and took off again. “I won’t let you fall, alright? Trust me.”
Fuck.
The Plunderers doubled back quickly, realizing what Huntley had done. They were on our tail once again.
“It’s either this, or I hide you and keep riding.”
“I’m not leaving you.”
“Then shoot down these fuckers.”
It took me a second to find the strength to release the pommel, my only lifeline. His grip tightened over my stomach, locking me in place so I wouldn’t tip over and fall. I fumbled for my bow and arrow then tightened it to the string. There was so much bouncing, so much veering left and right that I couldn’t hold my arrow steady.
“I know you can do it, baby.”
“Get me a shot.”
“We’ve got a guy on our left.”
I turned the other way and aimed. There were two riders, and one was equipped with a bow and arrow too. I pulled the string and released, and my arrow completely missed the mark.
“Hold your breath,” he said. “Focus.”
The other rider fit his string with an arrow and released.
It hurt Huntley right in the side.
Huntley gave no reaction—like he didn’t even feel it.
But it pissed me the fuck off. “You’re going to die, motherfucker!” I put that arrow on the string so fast and fired.
It hit the rider right in the head, and he went down, knocking off the archer behind him. The horse rode off elsewhere now that he was free.
The smile was in his voice. “That’s my girl.”
Another rider came up on our right, and I did the same, hitting him in the chest on the first try. “Bye, bitch!”
More riders came, all firing arrows at us.
I nocked several arrows to the string and fired at once, taking down more than one guy at a time.
Huntley kept me steady and kept the horse on track, letting me do the rest.
I must have killed off enough of them because they stopped coming.
“Where’d they go?” I peered around Huntley to get a look and saw them pull back. “That’s right! Go fuck yourselves! All of you!”
“Alright.” Huntley pulled me back in front of him. “Enough.”
“Cunts…”
“Take the reins.”
“What?”
He forced them into my hand. “Just take them.” His hand moved to the pommel, and he slouched over me slightly.