by Nina Monroe
“Yes,” Will said as he leaned in and kissed her neck. “That’s why I wanted to leave early today; the earlier we leave, the earlier we return home.” He continued to dip his hand lower until the tips of his fingers resting at the edge of her bodice. “I don’t know how I will go months without touching you?” Will continued as he leaned down and pressed more kisses against her throat. Tamzin moaned softly as her hand tangled in the curls around his neck.
“I’m just incredibly irresistible,” Tamzin breathed and moaned when his hand cupped her breast. “Soon, my love,” Tamzin said as she gently removed his hand from her bodice. She smiled as Will groaned before he placed a final kiss on her lips.
“That’s the first time you said that, you dangerous woman.” Will smiled gently as he dipped down and lifted her easily into his arms. Tamzin squealed as he swung her around and placed her on her feet. “We’re running a bit late, love.”
“Well, you shouldn’t have played handsies with me,” Tamzin teased as she watched Will open their door and a few of his men entered to grab their trunk. They smiled and nodded to Tamzin but barely addressed Will as they moved their trunk down the stairs where Isabelle was waiting. Tamzin curtsied and went to hug Isabelle, but Will stopped her. He chose to embrace his aunt first, and Tamzin smiled when she saw tears in Isabelle’s eyes.
“All indiscretions are forgotten, Aunt. When the war is over, Tamzin and I will visit again, but a personal visit,” Will said before he kissed his aunt’s cheek.
“I am very happy to hear that, Will. You, my dear,” Isabelle said as she walked towards Tamzin and took her hands. “There is no better woman to be Queen while the men are away,” Isabelle smiled as she kissed Tamzin’s cheek. “My nephew would never have done that before you. You will make him the best King possible.”
Tamzin flushed from the compliment and thanked Isabelle for her hospitality. The sun was just breaking over the horizon and the temperature continued to rise. As Will took her hand, the majestic doors opened. At the bottom of the steps were the bannermen, the carriage, along with Garrett, Kendall, and Lucy. A soldier that didn’t seem at all interested in her long lashes and buxom curves guarded Lucy, but it didn’t stop her in her attempts to flirt. Tamzin could feel the change in Will’s heartbeat when he saw Lucy, and his face flushed from either anger or the heat. He squeezed her hand as they walked down the steps together and she watched as he opened the carriage door for her.
“Maybe you should ride with me?” Tamzin said as she placed her hand on his bearded cheek. “Please?”
“Even if you weren’t riding with a virtual cesspool,” Will said as he looked to Lucy with disgust, “someone needs to ride Angus. All will be well, my love.”
“Yes, you wouldn’t want your dear prince to slum with me, Tamzin,” Lucy quipped as she glared at Will. “Wouldn’t want to sully your name further, Your Highness.”
Tamzin said nothing at their quarrel as Will helped her up the steps. Tamzin took her seat by the window with Kendall next to her and Lucy on the other side, but she chose to sit across from Kendall. She was closest to the door. Will closed the door and pushed his cape over one shoulder. The sun was finally rising as the men mounted their respective horses.
“What took so long?” Garrett asked as he let out a big yawn. “I could have slept a few more hours.”
“Tamzin knows about the Johansson situation,” Will began as he lightly kicked Angus’ side. Will knew the majority of his men were nursing hangovers so they took their time building up a trot. “She’s worried and made me wear my chain mail under all this. It’s hot enough, but she was so adamant.”
“She worries about you. Not a bad quality to have when it comes to your Queen,” Garrett commented as he listened to the horses hooves hit the small rocks on the dirt path. “Lucy was a handful. She only just came back an hour or so ago.”
“It’s not our problem. The second she’s back in Thurston Territory, she is packing and we’re sending her back to Turner Roth. That leech is not my problem. From how she spends, you’d think she was a Princess herself,” Will gritted his teeth as he clenched the reins. “Tamzin won’t say anything.”
“At least she’s agreeing with you. If it was Kendall, she would fight you to the death on the topic,” Garrett said as he cracked his neck.
“That’s what worries me. Up until last night, Lucy hadn’t committed some capital offense to occur my wrath. I really just don’t like the girl because she’s irritating. I care very little about her sexual conquests, but there is just something about her,” Will explained terribly. “I just sense something is off about the girl.”
“Well, in a few hours, she won’t be our problem anymore. And I finally got somewhere with Kendall last night. She’s going to be a devious minx in the sheets!” Garrett smirked as he looked forward to the trail. In a few short hours, the trail would be covered with snow or sleet or anything that wasn’t hot. Will couldn’t wait to see and feel his territory again.
“You would get farther if you committed yourself to wooing her. She may feel more comfortable if you made a real commitment to her,” Will suggested as he looked behind him to the carriage. He couldn’t see Tamzin but he could see Kendall. She had a deliriously happy look on her face. “She does at least look happy.”
“She never had an orgasm before last night. Do Roth girls not touch themselves?” Garrett asked as he straightened his shoulders. “I sorted that lot out real quickly, if I do say so myself.”
“While this is all extremely fascinating, Garrett, maybe you shouldn’t risk losing your mind over it?” Will grinned as he kicked Angus again. “Time to speed up, men! Our leisurely pace made the trip twice as long last time!” The bannermen groaned as they all trotted faster to keep up with Will. Though there wasn’t a lot of good in his immediate future, Will still wanted to get his party home safely for them to rest up. Thoughts about spending a night alone with Tamzin in a hot spring kept him going until a shrill yell stopped him and the men.
“A girl has to relieve herself!” Lucy yelled as she stuck her head out of the window. “I swear if you don’t stop, Prince William, I will piss right here.”
Will grumbled as he slowed Angus down to a stop as he turned him around to face the carriage. The door opened and Lucy sauntered out as the other bannermen came to a stop around her.
“Were you raised by wolves, Lucy?” Will asked irritated as he stared the blonde down with his ice blue eyes.
“You’d swear I was raised by Johanssons!” Lucy smiled as she walked towards the brush in the forest. “I won’t be long, I promise.” She called back out as Will watched her form disappear.
“I hate that bloody girl,” Will growled as he dismounted his horse. Garrett followed suit as Will handed him the reins. His neck felt kinked as he walked towards the carriage when he heard a twig snap in the brush. Immediately, his hand touched the sword at his hip. Will was halfway to the carriage when the second twig snapped had him nearly unsheathe the weapon.
“Will,” Tamzin said as she began to step down from the carriage. “I’m sorry about her. I know she’s ruining our time. But it may be a good thing. I’m sure Quincy is somewhere nearby.”
“Get back in the carriage, Tamzin,” Will said as he grabbed her arm. “You never listen to me, but listen to me now. Stay in the carriage,” he whispered furiously as he nearly shoved her back in. He slammed the door shut and locked it from the outside.
“Will?” Tamzin asked with a curious franticness as she placed her hand on the glass. “What’s happening?” Her voice was the only noise in the forest. It was too quiet. The men dismounted from their horses, with unsheathed swords, battle-axes, and their bows and arrows.
It all happened so quickly.
The first arrow hit the carriage, right next to where Will was standing. The shock of it shook him as he moved forward when one ricocheted off his arm and another would have penetrated the juncture between his shoulder and arm if it weren’t for the chainmail. Though it
didn’t penetrate, the jolt of the speed of the arrow sent Will flying into the carriage and his weight rocked it.
The screams came next. Tamzin let out a horrendous cry as she began to furiously pound her fists on the window of the carriage. He heard her cries over everything else as a flurry of arrows struck the men and their horses. Will watched as Angus roared his nay as he ran off in the opposite direction, as did most of the other horses. A few of the men took off for the horses as Will felt more arrows hit his body. With the wind knocked out of him and definitely at least one broken rib, Will felt to the ground.
On the ground, he watched as nearly all of his men fell with at least one arrow wound. Garrett had one arrow clear through his arm and one on his side as he leaned against the wheel of the carriage. His dead horse lay on the ground next to him as he pushed his sweaty hair out of his face.
Lucy emerged from the brush, followed by a man who shared so many of Will’s looks. Less than ten men, but they all carried crossbows surrounded him. Only Tamzin’s screams remained as the only sounds in the forest.
“Nephew, I always hoped I would meet you under better circumstances,” the man said as he pulled a flask from his pocket. It was silver with a carved ‘D’ in the center. “I’m Duke, your bastard uncle,” Duke said as he motioned for his two largest men to grab Will. They each grabbed an arm and hoisted Will to his feet as they dragged him to stand in front of Duke.
“Do you mean the pathetic last seed my grandfather spilt before marrying my grandmother?” Will asked before he watched Duke approach him swiftly and punched in the face.
“Tsk, tsk, not very nice, eh? I’m sure you remember my companion, her royal highness Lucy Johansson?” Duke said as he gestured to Lucy, who smiled and waved. “I really couldn’t have orchestrated this without you, doll face.” Duke continued, as he looked his nephew over. “Well, you are definitely a handsome lad. Thurston eyes, but your mother’s hair? Your dead mother, yes? Died as you passed through her cunt. I hear your wifey had the same fate with her mother. Mhmm, she is a pretty young thing.”
“If you put one hand on her, I swear…” Will began.
“What will a dead man do, Will? Please enlighten me,” Duke laughed as he walked over to the carriage. Will watched as Tamzin and Kendall nearly threw themselves away from the door. Duke opened the door slowly and gestured with a finger for Tamzin to come out. “If you don’t come out, sweet, I will cut your husband’s face off with a very dull knife. You wouldn’t want to hurt him like that, would you?”
Tamzin’s cheeks felt raw from her crying as she squinted her eyes from the sunlight as she stepped down the steps of the carriage. More than half of Will’s men were still alive with superficial wounds from the arrows. It had become apparent to Tamzin that these were extremely poorly trained soldiers. Nearly all the wounds were arm injuries, which winded the men but all of them could still run.
“Do you know who I am?” Duke asked as he eyed Tamzin up and down. He licked his lips, revealing nearly decayed teeth from years of drinking and puking. “I can see why my nephew is so smitten. If it wasn’t for this unfortunate moment, even I would have been jealous of how pretty your babies would have been.”
“You’re Will’s Uncle,” Tamzin said timidly as her eyes darted to Will. Will’s eyes were sympathetic and loving towards her, but she could see him clenching his jaw as his arms rippled from a mild struggle. His sword still hung at his side. The men didn’t even think to disarm him?
“Very good, pretty girl. Smart and pretty? You’re very undeserving, Prince William,” Duke laughed as he held out his hand to Tamzin. “Turner Roth’s daughter, her royal highness. I’m more of a Southern man; women don’t hold nearly as much value as the Northerners claim, but you are a spectacle. Daughter of the second most powerful man in the north is now married to the future King of the most powerful territory in probably the entire realm. One boy from between your legs,” Duke continued as Tamzin dry heaved at his comment, “and the Thurston Territory is untouchable. But you aren’t with child yet; that much is obvious.”
Tamzin shivered with fear as Duke’s dirty hand touched her face.
“Perfect skin. He’s probably never hit you, has he?” Duke asked as his fingers drifted up to her hair. “Answer me,” he growled as he fisted a chockfull of her hair and pulled.
“No, Will has never harmed me,” Tamzin said in a shaky but dignified voice. She wouldn’t let this animal sense her fear. “I am to be his Queen. I am his equal.” She gasped as Duke’s hand darted from her hair to her throat.
“I don’t have much need for an opinionated Queen. I’ll beat them right out of you, girl,” Duke whispered as he tossed her to the ground.
“I swear to God,” Will yelled as he struggled greatly against his captors. “You’re a dead man, Duke. I’m going to feed you your own heart.”
“Oh, you’re really going to hate me for this then,” Duke grinned as he grabbed Tamzin’s legs. “Such a pity I know you’re not a virgin. I’m sure Will plucked you as soon as he could,” Duke said as he forced Tamzin onto her back and forced her legs open. With a knife pressed to her throat, Duke continued. “If any of you lads so much as move, I’ll slit her throat.” Duke said as he looked up at Will’s disgusted face. “Still want your girl after I’ve had my taste of her? Maybe I’ll let the others have her as well. Dearie, turn over on your stomach so your lovey can see your face,” Duke said as he gripped Tamzin’s hair and threw her onto her stomach.
Her hands instantly found dirt as he tore her dress and he forced her legs open again. Tamzin let out an agonizing cry as she felt him lean back to untie his breeches. She continued to thrash her hand when it hit something very hard. Her eyes focused on the rock. She looked up at Will, who continued to struggle violently against his captors. Tamzin curled her fingers around the rock, the weight of it felt so good, and swiftly, she turned her body over and smashed the rock against Duke’s face. The velocity of the hit forced Duke off of her and the air was littered with arrows again.
Tamzin looked up to see two arrows hit Will’s captors squarely in the head, as he was suddenly free. His warm arms enveloped her as he dragged her from the ground as a group of men leaped over the dead horses.
“Quincy,” Tamzin breathed as she heard Will call out for Angus.
“Escape now, Prince William! Save the Princess!” Quincy yelled as he and his men began to force Duke’s soldiers back into the forest. Tamzin watched as Kendall helped some of the Thurston men with leg injuries into the carriage as Garrett sat at the helm of the carriage.
Angus galloped up to them as Will gripped her waist and forced her to mount Angus first. Will swooped in to sit behind her as he gripped her waist tightly. He yelled and kicked Angus, who immediately broke off into a gallop. Tamzin immediately felt sick from the swift movement as she closed her eyes.
The last thing she remembered was Will’s breath on her face as he whispered, “Don’t worry, love. I will get us home. I won’t fail you again.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
“Open the gates!” Will yelled as he took a painful deep breath. He was holding Tamzin up by her waist; she had passed out a few minutes after they had made their escape. Though Angus was galloping as fast as he could, Will could hear the other Thurston horses and the carriage not far behind him. Though he worried greatly about his men, Tamzin had been his number one concern. His side felt like it was on fire and it wasn’t an easy feat to breathe now, but the Thurston Territory gates were nearly directly in front of him.
He heard the soldiers above the gate call for the opening and the gates had just barely opened when he rode through. The soldiers on the ground stopped in front of Angus and forced the stallion to a stop. Will groaned when Tamzin’s limp body smashed against his chest and her elbow collided with his tender side. Will lost his breath again as he began to hand Tamzin off to one of the ground soldiers, as another helped him dismount.
“Will?” Gregory called out as Will got to his feet and his
arms were instantly filled with Tamzin’s body. “Will, what happened?” Gregory said as the other soldiers began riding into the compound.