A Dark Guardian

by Donna Grant

  “Then were is he?” Gabriel asked.

  “Mourning. He agrees with the villagers.”

  Mina couldn’t believe her ears. “Surely you jest. Regardless if he agrees or not, he should get them inside before nightfall just in case.”

  “I concur,” Hugh said, “but your brother does not.”

  “Then I’ll talk to him.” She turned to go find him when Hugh’s hand snaked out to halt her.

  “He won’t see you. The knight’s death has upset him greatly. He almost wouldn’t see me.”

  She sighed and looked at the castle to see Theresa standing in her window looking down at them. Her sister wore an evil sneer. “Did anyone search her chamber for the stone?”

  Hugh stood beside her and raised his gaze. “The entire castle has been searched, including Theresa’s chamber. Why?”

  “I think she has something to do with it.”

  “But she was attacked,” Cole pointed out.

  “True,” Mina agreed as she turned to them. “But she could have staged it.”

  Gabriel shook his head. “If it had been a man, aye, I would agree with you, but I cannot see a woman doing it.”

  “Why?” Hugh asked. “Do you forget so easily how I was deceived before by a woman?”

  Mina’s stomach rolled at his words. He had been duped by a woman. “D…did this woman control the creature?”

  His eyes came to light on her. “Aye.”

  She put her hand on her stomach as it became queasy. So much made sense now.

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  Why he couldn’t take her word of innocence and why he trusted his instincts.

  Her lungs refused to give her air. He would never believe her, she realized suddenly. She had foolishly thought he would come to understand that she couldn’t possibly control the creature because she didn’t have the stone.

  Yet, they hadn’t found the stone to prove her innocent.

  “Mina?”

  She raised her eyes to him. “You still think I’m guilty. All this time, I thought you believed I was innocent, regardless of what the evidence proved. I foolishly assumed that you were allowing me to look for the stone with you so I could prove my innocence.”

  Her feet took a step away from him as the truth dawned on her.

  “You kept me with you to keep an eye on me. That if I was with you, I couldn’t control the creature.”

  The tears came quickly, and she didn’t bother wiping them away as they coursed down her face. “You used me.”

  Hugh stood silent as Mina pieced everything together. He yearned to tell her that she was wrong, but in truth she was very much correct.

  He didn’t stop her when she turned and ran into the castle. Part of him wanted to run after her and comfort her, but the logical part of him knew it was for the best. He needed to distance himself from her, and it was the perfect time to begin.

  “Did I ever tell you what a fool you were,” Cole said furiously.

  He looked at his friend. “Every instinct I have says ‘tis her. Should I ignore that?”

  Cole walked stiffly away. Hugh turned his gaze to Gabriel.

  “You didn’t have to use her,” Gabriel said.

  “I didn’t,” Hugh said softly as Gabriel too walked from him.

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  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  It was useless, Hugh realized several hours later. The sun had begun to set and the villagers had not heeded their words. No matter how hard he, Gabriel, and Cole coaxed, begged or ordered, the people continued to celebrate and drink to the now dead creature.

  “They’ll

  be

  slaughtered,” Cole said tersely.

  “There’s nothing we can do other than help them into the castle once the creature comes,” Gabriel said.

  Hugh grunted. “If they’re not too drunk to run.”

  “Good point,” Gabriel said.

  Cole looked at them. “Now what?”

  “We make sure the castle is ready. We have only an hour at the most.”

  But no one in the castle would listen without Bernard there to give the order. The food, wine, and ale flowed freely, and it hadn’t taken anyone long to become drunk.

  “By the gods,” Gabriel hissed.

  Hugh sighed and sat at one of the empty tables. “It was all in vain then. We’ve done nothing to prevent them from dying.”

  “There’s nothing we can do,” Cole said as he sat. “Not unless we pick them up and bring them inside, but they do outnumber us, and I don’t think they would stay here unless we chained them.”

  Hugh put his head in his hands. “What did we fail to notice? There must have been something we missed today. We could have killed it.”

  “If we had found it,” Gabriel said. “It isn’t your fault the creature wasn’t found.

  We didn’t have much to go on.”

  “For all we know, it could have flown past the forest,” Cole said. “We’ve had tough assignments before, Hugh.”

  “True,” he agreed. “But not one such as this. Those creatures had been able to be killed.”

  His men were silent after his words.

  “I sure wish Val and Roderick were here with us,” Cole murmured.

  And Hugh couldn’t agree more. “We could use the extra hands.”

  His eyes went to the stairs hoping to find Mina, but he hadn’t seen her since she had run from him in the bailey. Maybe he should go and check on her.

  “There you are,” Theresa said as she slid into the seat next to him. “I’ve been looking for you everywhere.”

  He stifled a groan. “What can I do for you, my lady?”

  Her blue eyes, identical to Bernard’s, twinkled. “I was hoping you would ask A DARK GUARDIAN

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  that,” she said and ran her hand up his arm.

  He had once loved blue eyes, but now he yearned for blue-green ones. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Cole and Gabriel watching them. He moved his arm so she was no longer touching him and turned to face her.

  “Lady Theresa, the night is coming and that means the creature as well.

  Shouldn’t you be gathering your people into the castle?”

  She laughed and ran a long fingernail across his cheek, down his neck and chest, and stopped at his waist. “I do not worry about the creature.”

  It was the confidence in her voice that pricked his ears. “And why do you say that?”

  “You saw what it did last night. It left without killing us. ‘Tis done with us.”

  “I’m afraid you’re wrong.”

  She smiled seductively. “We can debate this more in my chamber.

  “As appealing as that offer might sound, I must decline.” He hoped she got the point so he wouldn’t have to be rude, but he had a feeling he was expecting too much.

  She lowered her blue eyes for a moment, but not before he saw the spark of anger flash in them. When her gaze returned to his she was smiling. “Not many men turn me away.”

  “I’m sure they do not. You are a beautiful woman.” Though not as stunning as Mina, he thought to himself.

  “Are you sure there isn’t a way to change your mind?”

  He rose to his feet. “I’m afraid not. Now, if you will excuse me there is much I need to do.”

  It was amazing. He had gotten away without her detaining him any longer. He smiled inwardly and waited for Gabriel and Cole to catch up with him.

  “I cannot believe she gave up so easily,” Cole said. “You should see her. Once she sets her eyes on someone she doesn’t let anything stand in her way.”

  Gabriel snorted. “It’s good you got away in time. Now, let us hope you didn’t anger her.”

  “Me, too,” Hugh agreed.

  The words had just left his mouth when he was swung around. Before he could utter a word, Theresa stood on her tiptoes and planted
her lips on his. He was too stunned to do anything other than stand there.

  She pulled back and laid her head on his chest and giggled. “I’ve wanted to do that for a long time.”

  He kept from spitting at the cold taste of her kiss but just barely. It wasn’t until she ran her hands down his chest and looked over her shoulder that apprehension snaked through his belly.

  His gaze scanned the hall until they landed on Mina at the base of the stairs. His gut twisted at the pain flooding her eyes. He tried to go to her, but Theresa held him.

  “Get away, wench, you’ve done enough,” he said. When he shoved her away from him he looked up to find Mina gone.

  “That should do it,” Theresa said and moved to walk away, but Hugh grabbed hold of her arm.

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  “Why?”

  he

  demanded.

  “Because I’m prettier than she is, and I shouldn’t be jealous of her.”

  He shook from his anger and the realization of what Theresa had done.

  “Hugh,” Cole said next to him. “She’s not worth it.”

  He turned his head toward Cole to find Gabriel there as well. With a snarl, he released Theresa and stormed from the castle and didn’t stop until he reached the gatehouse. He turned and looked at the bailey and the castle.

  “Are you all right?” Gabriel asked as he and Cole strode toward him.

  Hugh shook his head. “Do you realize what Theresa has done?”

  “Aye,” Cole said sadly. “She has put Mina out of your reach now.”

  Hugh nodded and looked at the sky. “Maybe ‘tis for the best. I have become too attached to her.”

  “Looks like you got the distance you wanted,” Gabriel said. “Between using Mina and having Theresa in your arms, you’ve lost her for good.”

  Hugh swallowed and found his mouth dry. His gaze went to Mina’s window, but she did not stand there looking down at him.

  “Dusk is coming,” Cole said.

  “Take your places,” Hugh told them as he shoved aside thoughts of Mina. “We’ll do what we can.”

  He was grateful to have his mind taken off of Mina and the pain on her face that broke his heart. His hand flexed and reached for his crossbow. It had been made by the Fae and was near indestructible.

  His hand fit perfectly in the groove as though it was a part of him, and in truth it was. He breathed in deeply and closed his eyes as he smelled the sweet fragrance of summer. He opened his eyes and gazed at the dark clouds rolling toward them and heard the distant rumble of thunder.

  “Perfect hunting weather,” he murmured as he strode to the stable.

  * * * *

  Mina sat on her bed and tried to breathe. The last thing she had expected to see was Theresa in Hugh’s arms, though it shouldn’t have been a surprise. Hugh was a gorgeous man and Theresa a beautiful woman. It was only right that the two of them be together.

  At least that is what she kept telling herself.

  The tears she had shed all day continued to come. Would her pain never cease?

  To find out he had used her and then to find Theresa in his arms drove a wedge straight into what was left of her heart. Although it would still be painful, she would much rather have seen him in anyone else’s arms but Theresa’s.

  She wiped her wet cheeks and took a deep breathe. She had expected to be hurt, just not in the way she had. At any rate, she now knew why Hugh wanted her with him all the time. It wasn’t because he yearned for her or had come to care for her.

  Her heart hardened against him then. She was wiser now and would protect her precious heart that had been shattered. But never again. She had been hurt for the last time.

  Hunger roused her, but she had no desire to sit in the great hall and watch Theresa A DARK GUARDIAN

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  and Hugh. She would sneak down later and find some food once everyone was asleep.

  It was the scream of pure terror that bolted her to her feet. She rushed to her window and looked out to find the creature flying towards the castle. A glance at the bailey showed the villagers hadn’t taken the threat seriously as they screamed and rushed to get inside the castle.

  Mina ran from her chamber to the great hall to help whoever she could. Many of the villagers had gone into the dungeons, but there were many more that had been trampled and injured. She helped get many of them to the stairs of the dungeon where others brought them below.

  She looked around for Bernard but didn’t find him anywhere. And neither did she see Hugh or his men. Just where were they when they were needed so desperately?

  “My boys,” a woman cried as she tried to rush from the dungeon. “My babies!”

  Mina spun around and raced from the castle without thought to her safety. She needed to find those boys. She stood aside as more villagers entered the castle while the creature circled the bailey.

  It wasn’t until she was in the bailey that she saw the carnage around her. Dead bodies littered the bailey and blood was everywhere. She began to shake with fear until she spotted the two boys running toward the castle.

  “Here,” she called and motioned for them to hurry. Her eyes scanned the skies for the creature, but it had gone out of her sight. “Hurry,” she whispered.

  Then the dreadful sound of the beating of wings sounded behind her. She slowly turned, and her stomach fell to her feet when she caught sight of the creature on the steps to the castle blocking her retreat. Its beady red eyes glared at her then slid to the boys approaching.

  She turned and ran to the boys. “Stay behind me,” she told them. “No matter what, stay behind me.”

  They nodded at her through their terror. She gave them a smile and turned to the creature.

  * * * *

  “Ah. Hugh, do you see what I see?” Cole asked.

  Hugh looked up from notching his crossbow to find Mina facing the creature.

  “By the saints,” he hissed. “What is she doing?”

  “Saving those two lads, I would think.”

  Hugh whistled to gain Gabriel’s attention and motioned for him to distract the creature. Yet, as Gabriel fired arrow after arrow, the creature did not look away from Mina.

  “It isn’t working,” Cole said.

  “I know that,” Hugh snapped. “Have you a better idea?”

  “I don’t think it matters now.”

  Hugh bellowed Mina’s name as the creature clamped its claws around her and flew away.

  “Naaayyyyyyy!”

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  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Mina opened her eyes to find the ground rushing far beneath her. She tried to scream, but nothing came out as her chest was squeezed painfully. Her gaze looked above her to see the creature holding her as it flew high in the sky.

  To her amazement, it flew straight to the monastery and landed on the roof. She fell to the ground with a thud as it released her. Her entire body pulsed with aches and pains. She took stock of herself and found the only thing that might be injured was her ribs from where the creature had grabbed her.

  She turned her head and found the creature staring at her. She refused to die huddled and scared. She would meet her death standing tall and scared.

  “Why didn’t you kill me at the castle,” she said defiantly as she gained her feet.

  The creature laughed harshly. “I only do as I am commanded.”

  “What?” she asked, not sure she understood.

  “He brought you because I told him to.”

  She whirled around to find Bernard behind her.

  * * * *

  Hugh and Gabriel had managed to get the villagers that were still alive inside the castle and in the dungeon. The night sky was quiet and still as he searched it, straining his eyes to catch a glimpse of the creature and maybe one of Mina.

  “There isn’t anything you could have
done,” Gabriel said and placed a comforting hand on Hugh’s shoulder.

  Hugh knew Gabriel was right, but it didn’t make him feel any better. If only he had done something to help Mina, she might still be alive. He should have run down to her. He should have done more.

  “The lads have been returned to their mother,” Cole said as he joined them.

  The oddest thing happened then. Hugh felt moisture in his eyes, and he hastily blinked. “She died saving their lives.”