A Dark Guardian

by Donna Grant

  His mount reared just as the creature lunged at him. Hugh fell to the ground and immediately rolled to his feet with his sword in one hand and his crossbow in the other.

  But the creature was gone.

  He stood still and listened, but there was no flap of wings or the eerie scream of the creature. He looked at his feet to see his faithful mount.

  “Nay,” he said and fell to his knees. He patted his horse’s neck. The animal had saved his life by rearing up, but in doing so had given his life. The horse was the only constant in his life, the only thing he had allowed himself to become attached to.

  “I’m going to miss you,” he said.

  He grabbed his sword and crossbow. The creature would pay for this. His horse had been a good, faithful friend to the very end.

  “Enough of this,” Hugh roared to the trees. “I know you can understand me.

  Let’s finish this, you and me!”

  Before he had finished his sentence the creature landed in front of him, a smirk on his evil, pointed face. “I thought that might get your attention, Demon Seeker,” the creature said in a hissing voice.

  “Who controls you?”

  The creature laughed evilly. “Do you think I am that dim-witted? The ones before me might not have been able to speak, but we have always been able to understand your words.”

  Hugh digested the new information and prayed Aimery could hear it. “How much do you know?”

  “Everything.”

  “Why didn’t you kill me before?”

  “I was told to leave you be. You are wanted by someone.”

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  “Me?” Hugh repeated. Who, or what, could want him?

  “And her,” the creature said as he looked over Hugh’s shoulder.

  Hugh breathed in deeply to calm his racing heart. “So your master wants both of us. Why?”

  “That is not meant for you to know.”

  “At least tell me why your master wants Mina,” he said.

  “I’ve had enough talk. You wanted a fight, and I am more than ready to give you what you want.”

  Hugh barely had a chance to duck and roll before the creature lunged at him.

  “I suppose I should tell you that your weapons won’t kill me,” the creature said as he spiraled toward the heavens then stopped and stared down at him.

  Hugh looked at the trees where he needed to lead the creature and then to his dead horse. He doubted he could make it there on foot, but he had to try. He began to run toward the trees and didn’t look back.

  He heard the flap of wings behind him an instant before he was thrown forward.

  He lost his hold on his crossbow when he landed on his shoulder. He got to his feet and continued to run, but the creature once again knocked him forward.

  His entire body hurt as did the new cuts on his back and arms. He rolled to his side and tried to get to his feet when the creature landed beside him and put a foot on him.

  “You are finished,” the creature hissed.

  “I thought you were supposed to leave me be?” Hugh asked.

  The creature laughed. “That is what one master wants.”

  Hugh stared at the forked tongue and red eyes and knew it was over. He had failed.

  “I think you would rather have me,” he heard Mina yell.

  Both he and the creature looked to where Mina stood near the trees. Hugh held onto the hope that she had enough strength to make it.

  The creature immediately flew at her, its scream echoing through the forest.

  Hugh rose up on his elbow as he reached for his sword and saw Mina take off toward the trees. He got to his feet just as she shouted to Cole and Gabriel. They released the log they had sharpened to a deadly point and hidden in the branches of the tree.

  “Duck,” he called out to Mina as the log flew out of the trees toward the creature.

  He watched as Mina rolled out of the way before the log impaled itself through the creature. The creature fell to the ground withering and crying out in pain.

  Hugh waited for it to explode as the others had done when they died, but this one continued to scream and claw at the log. It wasn’t going to die.

  He ran to Mina. “Where is your horse?”

  “There,” she pointed to the left.

  “Get on it,” he said and pushed her toward it. “Ride,” he called to his men.

  He started to run through the forest when Mina rode up beside him. “Get on,” she said.

  Hastily, he mounted behind her and kicked the horse into a run. They started yelling before they left the forest for the gate to be opened. He looked over his shoulder A DARK GUARDIAN

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  and found all the men on their horses following close.

  Then, he saw the creature fly above the trees. They would be lucky to reach the bailey before the creature struck. The horse’s hooves banged loudly as they crossed under the gatehouse and ran the horses into the stable.

  “This won’t hold it,” Mina said as she dismounted.

  “Spread out,” Hugh called. “Make your way to the castle as quick as you can.”

  He pushed Mina into an empty stall as the creature flew above the stable. After he had run to both ends of the stable and bolted the doors, he waited for the creature. He and Gabriel had spent the past two days fortifying the stable in case something like this should happen.

  Never before had he been so happy to be prepared. He walked to Mina and looked down into her frightened face. His bloodlust began to take over.

  “Find Gabriel. He’ll take you to the castle.”

  She stared at him, her face showing her confusion and determination. “I’m not leaving your side.”

  “Mina,” he warned and looked away from her. “You don’t understand.”

  She pulled his head toward her. “I’m not leaving you.”

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  Chapter Nineteen

  Hugh had to make her understand. He closed his eyes and fought the growing need for physical release that battle always brought. He opened his eyes and took her by the shoulders. “Leave now, because if you don’t, I can’t promise that I’ll keep my hands off you.”

  “I’m not leaving,” she repeated never looking away from his gaze.

  He shoved her against the wall and gazed into her blue-green gaze. There was no fear now, only…desire.

  And God help him, it sent him over the edge. He took her mouth and thrust his tongue inside to duel with hers. She wound her arms around his neck and plunged her hands into his hair. He growled and pushed his body hard against hers.

  Mina eagerly gave herself to Hugh. The strange light in his eyes should have frightened her, but it didn’t, it only added to her growing passion. The ache between her legs had only intensified since that morning, bringing a burning need she could neither deny nor ignore. She needed him as she needed air.

  His body pressed her against the wall, pinning her to his solid form. She couldn’t feel much of him through his padded jerkin, but she wasn’t about to break the kiss to remove his clothes.

  Yet.

  She groaned when he moved away from her and ended the kiss. Her eyes opened to see him braced with his hands above her head, his breathing harsh and ragged.

  “Last chance, Mina.”

  In answer, she untied her tunic and pulled it over her head. He growled and dragged her roughly against him. The padded jerkin was warm against her bare skin.

  Horses snorted and moved around the stables as the creature continued to fly overhead, screaming in anger.

  But all of that faded as she succumbed to Hugh’s luscious mouth. She moved her hands from his shoulders to her trousers where she quickly unlaced them.

  Her breath locked in her lungs as he bent down and trailed kisses from her mouth to her neck to her breasts. He fell to his knees and teased her nipples with h
is fingers and tongue. She took hold of his head to keep him just as he was, but he had other plans. He traveled to her stomach to tickle her navel with his hot tongue.

  She grabbed hold of the stable wall for support when his hands began to move her trousers down her legs. He quickly removed her boots and the trousers soon followed until she stood naked before him.

  No man had ever seen her thus, and she knew no man would again. Whatever might happen tomorrow, tonight was hers and Hugh’s.

  She let his eyes roam freely over her. His hot, passionate gaze made her giddy A DARK GUARDIAN

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  with need. She felt the moisture between her legs, the need of her sex and couldn’t stand not touching him a moment longer. She moved to him and helped him shed his clothes.

  When he stood before her without a shred of clothing to hide him from her view, she stepped back and finally got to feast her eyes on him. He was magnificent. Tall, muscled, and every bit the warrior. His legs bulged with muscles and the hard ridges of his stomach contracted when she touched him.

  She traced a scar on his shoulder and walked behind him letting her hand trail after her. Her hands ran over his sculpted back, making sure not to touch his new wounds, and down to his buttocks.

  He spun around so fast she barely had time to catch her breath.

  “I cannot take much more,” he said before he yanked her to him and captured her mouth.

  Hugh had waited as long as he could for Mina to look at him, but the feel of her soft hands against him had been his undoing. His blood swelled with need, and the very woman who had driven him mad with desire was naked before him.

  He could wait no longer.

  He told himself to be gentle, but his bloodlust was too far gone. He picked her up and wrapped her lean legs around his waist as he pushed her against the wall. She moaned and called out his name between their kisses as her sex wet him with her arousal.

  His rod could feel her hot, sleek moisture. It surged toward her sheath. He tried to tell himself to go slow, but once the head of his rod felt her tight sheath, he lost all control. Before he knew it he had slid into her.

  She cried out his name and dropped her head back as she clawed his back. He thrust into her and felt her clench tightly around him. He knew it wouldn’t be long before he came, and he didn’t want to reach it without her.

  He dipped his head and feasted on her breasts, twirling a pebble hard nipple in his mouth. She moaned in response, but it was too late for him. He gave one last thrust and held onto her as his seed spilled from his body into hers. He was surprised to feel her clenching around him in her own orgasm, and he held tight until the last tremor had left her body.

  With her head on his shoulder he pulled out of her and lowered them to the hay.

  He kissed her head as she snuggled against him with her head on his chest. In moments, her breathing evened into sleep, and he wasn’t long in following.

  * * * *

  Mina awoke with a smile on her face. Something tickled her nose, and it wasn’t until she opened her eyes that she found herself lying on Hugh’s chest. Images of the night before flashed in her mind.

  Her smiled deepened. She finally found out what it was to be a woman and by the most handsome man she had ever known.

  She looked down to find their fingers entwined and, for some reason that gave her pause. Slowly, she sat up and disengaged their hands. She missed his warmth already, but the sounds of the bailey had begun to reach her, and she needed to get inside the castle.

  When she turned around she found a pail of water and a rag. She knew John had A DARK GUARDIAN

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  left it. She would have to thank the lad later. After she had taken the pail and her clothes to another stall so as not to wake Hugh, she hurriedly washed off. The sight of her virgin’s blood did not bother her at all, and, in fact, it proved that she had not dreamed last eve.

  Once her clothes were on, she cast one last look at Hugh. Even in sleep he was gorgeous. She itched to run her hands along his warm bronzed skin and see him come to life by her hands.

  Before she did just that, she turned and walked from the stable.

  * * * *

  Hugh came awake with a start but didn’t open his eyes. He felt the rough hay beneath him, but he knew something was wrong. He opened his eye a slit and looked around. The stable.

  It was then he recalled what had happened. Or at least he thought he did until he sat up and saw his nakedness.

  “Mina,” he whispered as he looked down at the hay stained with her blood and his semen. “Mina,” he called out hoping she was still in the stable.

  But it wasn’t Mina that ran into the stall. It was John.

  “Has Lady Mina left?”

  The lad nodded and pointed to the other side of the stall. Hugh got to his feet to see what John pointed to. That is where he saw the water and rag.

  He sighed and patted John’s head. “Thank you,” he said as he made use of the water.

  Once dressed, he hurried from the stable in search of Mina. He had to talk to her.

  Only fragments of their night together could he recall, but if he had done what he thought he did, he should take a lash to himself. No woman deserved her first time that way, but especially not Mina.

  His steps faltered and stopped before he reached the castle doors. Would she hate him? Scream at him? Probably, and he deserved much more than that. He had never treated a woman like that. Usually he stayed far away from anyone, especially women, when the bloodlust came upon him.

  “There you are,” Gabriel said as he walked from the castle. “I’ve been looking for you.”

  “Why?” His face must have mirrored his misgivings because Gabriel narrowed his eyes at him.

  “I wanted to make sure you were still alive after last night. Is there something you would like to tell me?”

  Hugh ran his hand down his face. “Have you seen Mina this morning?”

  “I thought she was with you last night in the stable. That’s what I told Bernard,”

  Gabriel said, his arms now crossed over his chest. “The baron wasn’t happy to learn of that tidbit.”

  Hugh had the impression this was how Gabriel would treat one of his children.

  “She was. Now answer me.”

  “Aye,” he said. “I saw her come into the castle and head for her chamber. Did you hurt her last night?”

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  “I pray I didn’t,” he said and moved past him.

  Gabriel caught up with him. “What happened?”

  Hugh refused to answer him, but it didn’t take Gabriel long to figure it out. He cursed and put his hand out to stop him.

  “Hugh,” he started.

  “Don’t,” Hugh stopped him. “I’ll deal with it.”

  “Not right now you won’t,” said a voice Hugh could have gone all day without hearing.

  He turned and faced Aimery. “What now?”

  “You’ve been called to court.”

  “What? Why?” The only time he had been into the Fae realm was when he had first taken on the assignment of becoming a Shield.

  “You can ask the queen when we get there,” Aimery said before he disappeared and took Hugh with him.

  * * * *

  Hugh stared at the blue and white checkered floor. It was the same bright blue as the stone they hunted, he realized. The last time he had been in the Fae realm, he had begged to stay and look more at the beautiful wonders that made up their world, but there hadn’t been time.

  Now was no different.

  He and Aimery appeared inside the palace to stand in front of the throne of the king of the Fae. Hugh glanced at Aimery, but the Fae patiently waited for the king and queen to appear.

  Hugh looked around the giant room. The ceiling was so high that it looked as though it were open to the sky since it appeared to be painted blue with whi
te clouds.

  The walls of the palace were painted with pictures of the Faerie history, some terrible battles, peaceful gatherings, and the crowning of kings.

  The sound of shoes hitting the unusual floor drew his attention. He turned to find the royal couple making their way toward him.

  “It is good to see you again,” the king said cordially as he stopped in front of Hugh.

  Hugh went down on one knee and bowed his head. “Sire.”

  “Come, Hugh, we have much to discuss,” the king said and pulled him to his feet.

  Hugh stood to find Rufina before him. “My queen,” he said and raised her hand to his lips.