cleavage seemed even more noticeable, somehow, as if she’d suddenly become aware of every place it touched.
An awful sense of entrapment squeezed in upon her. Was this how a deer felt when it faced the hunter about to bring it to its knees?
Aldwin made no move, yet she sensed him preparing his trap to close in on her.
“How did you get free?” His voice sounded deceptively soft. Almost admiring.
“I rubbed the rope against a stone.”
He nodded and his eyes narrowed a fraction. Somehow, she knew he was relieved by her answer. Had he thought someone else had cut her loose?
As though following her thoughts, he said, “These are hazardous woods, Lady L. I did not mention before, but there are poachers’ traps—”
“And knaves who kidnap ladies,” she cut in. “Those are the most dangerous of all.”
He smiled. “Come back with me now.”
“Nay.”
“ Nay? ” His voice reminded her of the growl of thunder. “We both know I am in command here.”
Aldwin had spoken to her in the same manner years ago, while Ward was tying her to the tree. What he’d wanted was all that had mattered. And look what had happened then.
Familiar rage and anguish whipped through Leona. She hated for Aldwin to see her trembling—to see her weak—but she couldn’t control the tremors. The thought of being tied, helpless, with him deciding what happened to her, made her want to scream. “I am not going back with you.”
He eased away from the tree. “Lady L, start walking toward the river.” He pointed. “That way.”
Leona shook her head.
His fingers flexed on the crossbow. “Let us be sensible and make this easy on both of us.”
“Easiest,” she said, “for you.”
“Agreed. Yet we both know you cannot escape me.”
She took a step back. A deliberate taunt. “You will not shoot me.”
“We discussed this earlier.” His smile hardened. “I warn you. Do not tempt me.”
“If you shoot me—injure me—you will have to care for my wound. The inconvenience will delay your return to Branton Keep. If the injury becomes corrupt, I might die. You will not risk it.”
She took another backward step, her boots crushing dry leaves.
Aldwin matched her retreat with a forward step. “I have cared for wounds before. The inconvenience will not stop me.”
Would he really shoot her? The uncompromising set of his jaw warned he would, indeed, fire the weapon.
“Do not tempt me, Lady L,” he said again, very quietly. “I have given you ample warning.”
He had. However, she must escape, and not only because she wanted her freedom. Aldwin had spoken before of responsibilities; the good folk of Pryerston Keep needed her help, now more than ever. Her sire couldn’t rid the castle of Veronique and the baron on his own.
Leona took another step away from Aldwin and shivered inside as his mouth tightened. She’d almost reached the trees. He might be an expert shot, but if she dodged and wove, as in the game she and Ward had played in the woods, she might outwit Aldwin. At some point, he’d run out of bolts.
Aldwin edged nearer. He moved as though his body were tightly coiled, waiting for the precise moment to lunge.
Just as he raised the crossbow, his right boot sank into the earth.
“What—” he muttered.
Leona spun, her cloak whirling at her ankles, and dashed into the trees.
Aldwin roared an oath.
Her breath scorching her lungs, she darted from side to side, behind bushes, trees, and low branches. The forest became a muddied blur of light and murky shadows.
Run, Leona!
Footfalls crashed behind her. Too close behind.
The toe of her boot slammed into a buried branch, causing her to pitch forward. She gasped, regained her balance, and rushed on.
The footsteps behind her quieted.
Panic rushed through her. Pausing the barest moment, she glanced back, raising her hand to sweep hair out of her eyes.
The forest behind her was empty.
Silent.
Wrong!
Oh, God! Run!
As Leona spurred herself forward, she
An awful sense of entrapment squeezed in upon her. Was this how a deer felt when it faced the hunter about to bring it to its knees?
Aldwin made no move, yet she sensed him preparing his trap to close in on her.
“How did you get free?” His voice sounded deceptively soft. Almost admiring.
“I rubbed the rope against a stone.”
He nodded and his eyes narrowed a fraction. Somehow, she knew he was relieved by her answer. Had he thought someone else had cut her loose?
As though following her thoughts, he said, “These are hazardous woods, Lady L. I did not mention before, but there are poachers’ traps—”
“And knaves who kidnap ladies,” she cut in. “Those are the most dangerous of all.”
He smiled. “Come back with me now.”
“Nay.”
“ Nay? ” His voice reminded her of the growl of thunder. “We both know I am in command here.”
Aldwin had spoken to her in the same manner years ago, while Ward was tying her to the tree. What he’d wanted was all that had mattered. And look what had happened then.
Familiar rage and anguish whipped through Leona. She hated for Aldwin to see her trembling—to see her weak—but she couldn’t control the tremors. The thought of being tied, helpless, with him deciding what happened to her, made her want to scream. “I am not going back with you.”
He eased away from the tree. “Lady L, start walking toward the river.” He pointed. “That way.”
Leona shook her head.
His fingers flexed on the crossbow. “Let us be sensible and make this easy on both of us.”
“Easiest,” she said, “for you.”
“Agreed. Yet we both know you cannot escape me.”
She took a step back. A deliberate taunt. “You will not shoot me.”
“We discussed this earlier.” His smile hardened. “I warn you. Do not tempt me.”
“If you shoot me—injure me—you will have to care for my wound. The inconvenience will delay your return to Branton Keep. If the injury becomes corrupt, I might die. You will not risk it.”
She took another backward step, her boots crushing dry leaves.
Aldwin matched her retreat with a forward step. “I have cared for wounds before. The inconvenience will not stop me.”
Would he really shoot her? The uncompromising set of his jaw warned he would, indeed, fire the weapon.
“Do not tempt me, Lady L,” he said again, very quietly. “I have given you ample warning.”
He had. However, she must escape, and not only because she wanted her freedom. Aldwin had spoken before of responsibilities; the good folk of Pryerston Keep needed her help, now more than ever. Her sire couldn’t rid the castle of Veronique and the baron on his own.
Leona took another step away from Aldwin and shivered inside as his mouth tightened. She’d almost reached the trees. He might be an expert shot, but if she dodged and wove, as in the game she and Ward had played in the woods, she might outwit Aldwin. At some point, he’d run out of bolts.
Aldwin edged nearer. He moved as though his body were tightly coiled, waiting for the precise moment to lunge.
Just as he raised the crossbow, his right boot sank into the earth.
“What—” he muttered.
Leona spun, her cloak whirling at her ankles, and dashed into the trees.
Aldwin roared an oath.
Her breath scorching her lungs, she darted from side to side, behind bushes, trees, and low branches. The forest became a muddied blur of light and murky shadows.
Run, Leona!
Footfalls crashed behind her. Too close behind.
The toe of her boot slammed into a buried branch, causing her to pitch forward. She gasped, regained her balance, and rushed on.
The footsteps behind her quieted.
Panic rushed through her. Pausing the barest moment, she glanced back, raising her hand to sweep hair out of her eyes.
The forest behind her was empty.
Silent.
Wrong!
Oh, God! Run!
As Leona spurred herself forward, she
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