A Dark Guardian

by Donna Grant

  Just thinking about Hugh brought a flush to her body and a strange sensation between her legs.

  She walked into the bathing chamber and came to a sudden halt. Inside the large wooden tub sat Hugh facing her, his arms stretched out holding onto the sides while his head rested back against the tub with his eyes closed.

  If she were a proper lady she would turn and leave, but her legs wouldn’t obey her. Her eyes feasted on the expanse of muscular chest that glistened with water in the sunlight that streamed in from the window above him.

  Dark hair littered his torso, and there was no denying the taunt muscles bulging in his arms, shoulders, and chest. His hair clung to his head and water fell in ripples down the hard planes of his face as though he had just surfaced.

  Breathing became difficult as she let her eyes wander over his splendor. She had seen many men without their tunics as they toiled in the bailey, but none compared to this warrior before her. Those muscles in his arms and chest came from years of wielding a sword and battle.

  And if his arms looked that good what would the rest of him look like?

  Her face flamed at her thoughts, but the simple truth was she would do almost anything to know. She bit her lip and let her eyes roam lower, wishing she could see through the water.

  The water rippled from his movement, and her gaze jerked to his face to find his eyes open. And staring at her.

  Her heart hammered wildly inside her chest, but it was the heat from his dark brown gaze that held her immobile when she should flee. Her lips parted and the breath rushed from her lungs when he stood.

  Never was there a man that walked in this realm or another that could compare to the magnificence before her. He exuded power as if it were a second skin. She drank in her fill of him, following the water as it ran down his chiseled abdomen to follow a trail of dark hair that disappeared in the water just below his waist.

  A small moan escaped her lips when he moved toward her and she caught a glimpse of his manhood as the water moved. When his hands gripped the side of the wooden tub, she knew he was about to leave the water and come to her. His gaze caught and held hers, as if he were giving her time to flee. But she wouldn’t take flight. She wanted this.

  Wanted

  him.

  “There you are,” Darrick said as he came around the corner.

  She didn’t turn towards Darrick for her eyes were riveted on the dark warrior before her.

  “Ah, sorry,” Darrick said.

  She heard his footsteps as he left the chamber. She closed her eyes, wishing they A DARK GUARDIAN

  Donna Grant

  47

  hadn’t been interrupted. What would Hugh have done once he left the tub?

  “Forgive me,” she said and hurried from the chamber before she embarrassed herself more.

  Hugh gripped the tub painfully as he watched Mina run from the chamber. He had been thinking of her creamy skin and full lips when he had opened his eyes to find her standing in the doorway. He hadn’t known how long she had been there and hadn’t cared.

  His blood had surged to his rod as he watched her gaze roam over him and saw the desire flare in her eyes. He forgot where he was, what he was, and that she was a lady. All that mattered was having her in his arms while he molded her body against his.

  He had been about to leave the water to do just that when Darrick walked into the chamber. Although he wanted to bash Darrick’s face in, Hugh probably owed him a debt of thanks for saving him.

  “Aimery, you gutter pig. If you set this up, I will have my revenge,” Hugh muttered to the empty chamber. It was just like the Fae to meddle in affairs such as these if they thought it would ease him somewhat.

  But what Aimery didn’t realize is that having Mina would only make it so much worse. She was like Heaven, just out of reach.

  Hugh took a deep breath and stepped from the tub and began to dry himself off.

  He had to kill the creature and leave this place before it was too late.

  Though it might be too late for him anyway.

  * * * *

  Mina shut her chamber door and leaned against it, her breathing harsh and labored. Even without closing her eyes, she could picture the perfection of Hugh.

  Her body trembled with a need he had arisen within her with his heated brown eyes. Her breasts had grown heavy from wondering if he would touch her. He was a temptation she had never encountered before, and the yearning to have him overwhelmed everything around her.

  She didn’t even care about the creature anymore. She just wanted…Hugh.

  Marriage wasn’t even a necessity. All she craved was to feel his strong arms wrapped around her and make her forget the world and the evil that surrounded her.

  But it was something that wasn’t meant to be. If he would have anyone, it would be Theresa. Everyone wanted Theresa. For the first time in years, she hated her sister.

  She pushed away from the door and walked to the mirror she rarely gazed into, but she couldn’t look at herself. Nothing had changed since the last time she dared to peek, and it never would.

  She was still as ugly as she always was.

  The mirror forgotten, she turned and stripped off her gown to wipe herself down with the water from the bowl in her chamber. Once she had changed into one of her daily gowns, she plaited her hair and made her way down to the hall.

  To her surprise, Bernard sat breaking his fast with Cole and Gabriel. But where was Hugh?

  “Mina.”

  The deep sound of her name on Hugh’s lips brought a chill to her skin. She A DARK GUARDIAN

  Donna Grant

  48

  slowly turned to find Hugh standing behind her.

  “I need to speak with you for a moment,” he said softly as he glanced around her.

  She nodded and led him away from the entrance down the hallway. “What is it?”

  she asked and prayed it wasn’t about seeing him at his bath.

  “Bernard and I need to ask you to do something. We need you to act as if nothing has changed between the two of you.”

  She knew he wouldn’t ask unless it was important, and despite the fact she hated to lie, she would do it if it meant they would catch whoever released the creature. “All right. May I ask why?”

  “Because I have a thought that whoever was drugging him also let loose the creature. If that person thinks nothing has changed, there is a chance we can catch them.”

  She was impressed. “That’s a very good plan.”

  “I just wanted you to know that Bernard is going to pretend to be drunk. He won’t actually drink the ale, but to everyone else they will think he is.”

  “And you really think this person is in the castle?”

  “They have to be in order to get the ale drugged.”

  She thought about that for a moment. “If it is one of the servants, it would have to be several because all of them bring him his ale.”

  “We’ll find who it is,” he vowed.

  And she believed him. He was the type of man that carried through with his word.

  He escorted her into the hall and placed her at the dais. Bernard didn’t even look at her, and she made sure not to look over at him. His life was at stake, and she would suffer through however many days, weeks, months or years it would take to find out who would do such a thing to her brother.

  She ate in silence trying to ignore Hugh, who sat beside her, when she looked up and found Theresa walking toward her. She groaned inwardly, hoping against hope that her sister would leave her alone this morn.

  But there were men in the castle, and that meant that they were Theresa’s.

  “You are in my seat,” Theresa said as she came to a halt in front of her.

  Mina, for just a moment, wanted to tell her there were many other seats in which to choose from but decided against making a scene. Hugh had asked that she act as she normally would.

  She grabbed her bowl and goblet and moved to another table with her back to them. She
might have to hear Hugh and Theresa, but, by God, she didn’t have to look at them smiling and laughing. But the food didn’t taste as good, and her good mood vanished upon hearing Hugh’s laughter.

  “Do you mind if I sit here?”

  She looked up and spotted Darrick. “You wish to sit with me?”

  “Unless there is a ghost next to you, aye,” he said with a bright smile.

  “Please,” she said and pointed to the chair.

  Theresa laughed again. Mina closed her eyes and wished she could close her ears to it as well.

  “’Tis all a ploy,” Darrick said before he took a bite of the porridge.

  A DARK GUARDIAN

  Donna Grant

  49

  “Excuse me?” Maybe she hadn’t heard him right.

  “Hugh and your sister. He is doing it because it is what she expects.”

  “I don’t care what he does,” she lied. She glanced at him to see if he bought the lie. His wink told her he didn’t.

  “She isn’t his type of woman.”

  As much as she hated to admit it, she wanted to hear more about Hugh. “Men have a certain type they like?”

  “Indeed, we do.” Darrick said it with a wide smile and raised eyebrows.

  “And what is your type?” she had to ask. His teasing brought a smile to her lips.

  “Any woman who would want me.”

  She

  chuckled.

  “’Tis the truth,” he said. “I’m not as fair as Roderick, I don’t command a room full of people like Hugh, and I don’t make the ladies swoon like Cole does. Though with Gabriel the ladies swoon because he frightens them so.”

  She began to laugh in earnest. “Stop,” she begged. “You’re making my cheeks hurt.”

  When she stopped laughing she looked up to find him staring oddly at her.

  “When is the last time you laughed like that?”

  She thought for a moment. “I’m not sure. Why?”

  “Look around the hall.”

  She did as he asked and found everyone watching her. “Why are they staring at me?”

  “Because when you laugh, you outshine the sun.”

  She grinned, thinking he teased her again, but when her gaze returned to him she found he was utterly serious. “Thank you,” she whispered, unsure of what she should say.

  He suddenly rose and held out his hand for her. “They are waiting for us.”

  “Who?” she asked as she took his hand but found her answer when he led her toward the solar.

  Hugh, Gabriel, Cole, and Bernard watched her as she walked with Darrick toward them. And true to what Hugh had warned, Bernard did look and act as if he had drunk all night. He swayed as he stood beside Hugh and garbled his words when he spoke to Gabriel.

  “Why must she be here?” Bernard bellowed his slurred words so that the entire castle could hear him.

  Even though she had been cautioned that her brother would do this, it still hurt.

  More than she liked to admit. She flinched at his words and walked past him into the solar. Her gaze fell on a seat beneath the window, and she hastened toward it.

  No sooner had she taken her seat and the door closed behind the men than Bernard rushed towards her. He fell to his knees and took her hands.

  “Mina, you know I didn’t mean it, don’t you?” he asked and ran a hand down the side of her face. “Hugh said he would speak with you.”

  She smiled and touched Bernard’s hand. He was sober. Relief washed through her. “Aye, Hugh spoke with me. I acted as I always do.”

  A DARK GUARDIAN

  Donna Grant

  50

  Bernard’s head fell to her knees. “I won’t ever be able to thank you enough for what you did last night.”

  “There is no need of thanks. I did what any sister would do.”

  He snorted and rose to his feet. “Really? And where was our dear sister?

  Theresa was in her chamber with whatever knight she could entice into her bed.”

  She waited until Bernard took the seat beside her before she allowed her eyes to drift to the one person in the solar who could make her tremble.

  Hugh clenched his teeth together as Mina’s gaze rose to him. He had secretly watched her all morn as she dined with Darrick and laughed at his jokes. When her laughter had quieted the entire hall, he had seen why. She was beautiful, and when she laughed a light inside her shone even brighter.

  He understood why Theresa became enraged and left the hall. No one could compare to the loveliness of Mina, and, despite what Mina thought, everyone else knew she was stunning.

  Now, as Mina sat watching him so innocently, all he could think of was getting her to his chamber and ripping off her gown so he could feel her delectably soft skin next to his, to see her head thrown back as her body convulsed around him.

  Why did it have to happen now? Hadn’t he suffered enough? Couldn’t he do his assignment without having her close, but just out of reach? Was he being punished for something he did before the Fae came to him?

  He shook away those thoughts and took a deep breath before he began speaking.

  “We were unprepared last night. We cannot be again. We must be equipped to fight the creature before the sun begins its descent.”

  “I’ll make sure everyone is inside the castle,” Bernard said. “Odd that the creature didn’t try to smash through the castle doors.”

  “That is odd,” Hugh said. “’Tis strong enough to bring the castle crumbling around us. There must be a reason he stayed away.”

  “It doesn’t matter as long as everyone is safely inside,” Bernard stated.

  “It does matter,” Gabriel said, “if it isn’t coming for the castle because the one that controls it is inside.”

  Hugh propped his foot on a chair and leaned on the bent knee. “True, Gabriel.

  And if that’s the case then we must lure it.”

  “Lure it?” Bernard repeated. “How?”

  “Bait,” Darrick said and rubbed his hands together. “Do I get the honors, Hugh?”

  Hugh laughed. “Not this time. ‘Tis my turn.”

  Chapter Eight

  “Nay!”

  Hugh’s gaze jerked to Mina. She had risen to her feet, her eyes wide. “What?”

  he asked.

  “You…you will be needed to kill the creature. You need someone who can move fast enough to keep out of its clutches.”

  A DARK GUARDIAN

  Donna Grant

  51

  He knew what she would say before she said it.

  “You need me.”

  “Nay,” Bernard and Darrick said in unison.

  Gabriel stepped forward. “She doesn’t have the training.”

  Hugh stared at her, hating that she might just be right. He had seen her agility.

  She might not have the training, but she was quick and lighter than he or any of his men.

  “I don’t wish to put you in danger. In fact, I wanted you in the castle this night.”

  “You won’t be able to keep me inside unless you lock me in the dungeon.”

  “Don’t,” Bernard said as he walked toward him. “Hugh, don’t. Let her have a weapon if she must have one, but I cannot allow her to stand defenseless while that creature chases her.”

  Hugh moved his eyes from Mina to Bernard at the same time that Mina walked to them.

  “I have faced it twice before,” Mina told her brother. “It had the chance to kill me last night but didn’t. It told me I was to be last.”

  “What?” Hugh said as he grabbed her shoulders and turned her toward him. “It spoke to you? Is that all it said?”

  She nodded.

  “By the gods,” Gabriel said and raked a hand through his auburn hair.

  “Aimery,” Hugh called. He needed answers, and he was going to make sure he got them. Now. “Aimery!”

  “You

  called?”

  Hugh spun around to find the Fae commander standing beside Gabrie
l. “Did you know?” Hugh demanded. “Did you intentionally keep it from me?”

  “No.”

  Hugh waited. “Just nay? No explanation?”

  “Who is this and where did he come from?” Bernard asked, bewilderment scrunching his face. “I’m beginning to think I’m seeing things because that man just appeared inside this chamber.”

  “He’s Fae,” Hugh answered.