Eli’s eyes hardened. “This changes nothing.”
I sighed. “The farther away the king gets, the longer it will take him to return and the more time I will have to make sure I am well ahead of him. Right now, he is probably close by. If I escape and he is alerted straight away, he could be here tomorrow and I will be too easy to track and catch. I must wait until he has had the chance to cover more miles. And even that will not guarantee a successful escape. You, on the other hand, may leave any time you wish and he will never find you. If you wait with me, anything could happen and we may all die.”
“I, too, refuse to leave this place without you,” Isabella added. “You gave me my life back. Let us give you yours.”
They were making a huge mistake. What if the king was alerted immediately of the rat’s death and returned straightaway? My only hope was to believe that the death of a shape-shifter was of little consequence to him and was not worth adjusting his plans. “You must realize that if he suspects we are together, he will never stop until he finds us.”
Isabella nodded confidently, glancing over at her brother. “Then we will never stop running.”
Eli leaned into me, and laid his palms on my cheeks. “Together.”
~~~
Chapter ELEVEN
The next morning, shouts from the king’s room woke me. His steward had discovered the dead rat and someone was being dispatched immediately to inform King Mortimer. I had hoped the dead rat would go unnoticed, which would buy me time before the king was notified.
I had not expected to leave until the next evening, but now I needed to speed up my plan. The king could decide that a dead rat was not worth sacrificing the opportunity to intimidate the people of his kingdom. On the other hand, he may want to tend to the matter immediately. Waiting another day would be foolish, because he could already be back before I had a chance to leave.
Shortly after nightfall later that evening, I would retire to my room and when the castle settled, I would sneak out. By the time anyone missed me at mass the next morning, I would be long gone. I fervently hoped the king was not close enough to hear telepathically and that the rider would have great difficulty locating him. More than likely, that was not to be.
Eli, they have discovered the rat and are already on their way to find Kind Mortimer, I told him from my room. We must leave tonight.
Let me know when you are ready and we shall meet in the woods.
And do what? I still had no idea how Eli and Isabella could travel with me by ground without being tracked. My stomach knotted. I wondered how she was doing. I hoped Eli had managed to bring her enough food so she could rebuild her strength.
With no obligation to spend my day with the king, I sought out Mrs. Benton, the only werewolf I would miss when I left. From her overstuffed chair, she laid a card faceup.
I grinned. “You beat me again.”
She raised a brow, her mouth curving up. “You are in awfully good spirits about it today.”
“I want to enjoy my time with you.” I lifted a shoulder.
Her smile faded. You will be leaving soon. When I offered no reply, she rose and gathered me in an embrace. You are not one who would be easily caged. For your peace of mind, you must be free. I understand this. But I do so wish you could be content with everything the king has to offer.
If Mrs. Benton only knew of the king’s plan to kill me, she would not be so quick to urge me to stay. Unfortunately, I cannot be content as a prisoner. But I will think of you often, dear Mrs. Benton.
And I will miss you, child. I only hope you have found a way to do the impossible. Be safe. Her mouth trembled against my shoulder and I squeezed her tighter.
That evening, I retired to my chambers and sprawled out on my bed. Though I did not intend to fall asleep, I needed to rest up for my escape — which I still had not planned. How would I get past the guards and evade the traps?
I could only think to avoid other parts of the forest where werewolves might lurk. Perhaps stay out in the open where I could see what lay ahead. Other than that, I would rely on luck. I would run, finding rivers and streams to wash away my scent, until the trackers lost me. And then I would keep running.
One thing I knew for certain: if I were still here by morning, I could be trapped at the castle until the king murdered me.
Thinking of what he intended to do made me shiver as I locked the door, as well as the one adjoining the king’s chamber. I returned to my bed and checked for the dagger I had placed under my pillow.
The bed was soft and my lids grew heavy. But I would not fall asleep. I needed to be awake after the castle occupants fell into slumber.
It seemed like mere moments had passed when I bolted upright. Though I had not been fully asleep, I had relaxed enough to let my mind wander and lose sense of time.
A large shadow fell in front of the door to the king’s room and sweat beaded at my temples. My vision adjusted to the pitch-dark of night, but the shadow was gone. Assuming my tired eyes were playing tricks on me, I fell back against the pillow in relief, air whooshing from my lungs.
I blinked as I became more alert. Someone was in my room.
My heart thumped erratically as I lay there, unsure what to do. Why had he come back so soon? I did not even want to imagine why he would be in my room. I slowly stretched up to a sitting position. “Your Majesty, you startled me.”
He stalked closer until he was looming over me. “I cannot imagine why it would come as a surprise that your future husband would be in your bedroom.”
I forced my breathing to slow and my heart to beat slower, though revulsion ruled as it crawled up my spine. How could he be back so soon? And how would I escape now that the king and all his men were back? I could not allow him to see my fear, nor did I want him to think I would let him take me before the wedding.
One thing at a time. First, I needed to get him out of my room. “I am surprised because I did not expect you back so soon. In any case, you are not my husband yet. Does milord want to rush the ceremony?”
He lowered to the side of my bed and leaned over to stroke my face. “Such beauty should not be wasted one more day. Whether we marry tomorrow or in one month, you belong to me.”
I forced myself still so I would not cringe at his touch. “I thought you planned to be gone at least another week. Did something happen? Is everyone all right?”
“My party is fine. But during dinner, I received a messenger who delivered unfortunate news. Other than that, all is well.”
I swallowed, wondering what the unfortunate news was. Death of his shape-shifter prisoner perhaps? But how did he get here so fast? “During dinner? You could not have been very far away.”
“Just a few miles. I wanted to stay close.”
If only I had anticipated that, I would have left earlier. “I hope the news was not too distressing.”
He shrugged. “Yes and no. It requires me to adjust my plans.”
Altering his plans for me? This could not be good. “I must wonder, then, what news would be so terrible that you would risk your good name by coming to my bed before we are married.”
“I do not follow human rules. In any case, ’tis no risk at all since no one knows I am here.” His hand traveled up from my waist, over my breast and then moved against my throat. “I left the duke’s manor nearby without anyone knowing. I will be back before sunup, before anyone is aware I was ever gone.”
Which will give him an alibi after his future wife turns up dead.
He lowered his mouth to mine and kissed me hard, his tongue forcing my mouth open as he moved his full weight on top of me. My legs were trapped under my skirt and completely useless in aiding me in defense.
So that he would not suspect anything, I moaned to show my pleasure while my other hand stroked his back. Tears welled in my eyes as I slid my arm under my pillow to reach for the dagger.
In one swift move, I thrust the knife into his side, shoved him off me and lunged toward the window. But tha
t would not delay him for more than a moment. He was quite strong and healed too quickly. I could attempt to cut off his head, but he would kill me long before I could accomplish it.
My only choice was to run.
Pulse racing, I leaped up onto the sill, opened the window and jumped. Just as I hit the air, his hand wrapped around my ankle and I plummeted, my shoulder smashing into the castle wall.
I hung there, upside down by my ankle, my shoulder throbbing. There were no witnesses, no one roaming about the grounds. The king had only to pull me up and back into my chambers, cut off my head with my own dagger and leave. No one would know what he did. Eli would be blamed and the king would have his war.
Eli… He might already be waiting for me in the woods and wondering where I was, maybe even contemplating putting himself at risk to look for me. Or worse, he might still be working on swords by lantern and easy to find when the angry werewolves came to punish him for murdering the king’s beloved.
~~~
Chapter TWELVE
King Mortimer squeezed my ankles and I winced. Still upside-down, I clawed at the stone on the outside of the castle wall, trying to gain purchase, but to no avail. I was as helpless as Isabella had been before I had freed her.
Eli! I shouted silently to only him, since I did not want the king to know Eli had been alerted. The king is here and he knows about Isabella. You must run immediately!
Now that Eli had been warned, he and Isabella had a chance. Unlike me.
The king yanked me up by my ankles and dragged me back through the window. In that moment, I knew beyond any doubt that I was about to die.
But I would not make it easy for him.
He captured my hands, his gaze locking onto mine as he tossed me back onto the bed. In a flash, he was over me. “How did you know?”
“Know about what?” I squirmed beneath him.
“That I intended to end your life.” He sneered.
Blood stained his shirt, but the dagger was gone. Where was it? “I had no knowledge of that. I just could not bear another second of your hands on me.” I spit in his face. I was going to die anyway, right?
His fist came down on me, and my cheek cracked under the force. Tears welled in my eyes as he ripped the shoulder of my nightgown, his lips diving for my neck. He licked my skin and I shivered.
He froze. “You smell like shape-shifter. How is that possible?”
I met his eyes, glaring. “How else?”
The king glanced over his shoulder, his gaze falling on the dagger he had thrown to the foot of the bed. Pinning me down with one hand, he reached for the blade. His weight lifted just enough that I could move and I shoved my knee into his groin. He flinched and I grabbed the dagger from his hand. Lunging toward him, I kicked him in the face with all my werewolf strength. Blood splattered from his mouth as his head thrust backward.
This time, he reached out when I jumped through the window, but his fingers only brushed my heels as I plummeted toward the ground. I righted myself, my feet landing with a thud on the soft grass. I ran toward the woods to my stash of weapons.
The trees stood welcoming just a few yards away and I forced myself to run faster. Almost there…
Hands clamped onto my calves and I face-planted. The king flipped me over and straddled my waist, locking my arms over my head. He easily held my wrists with one hand while his other retrieved the dagger. “You have spirit, I grant you that. Such a shame to waste it all. You would have made a proper queen.”
“If you kill me here, someone is bound to see.” I raised my voice so anyone nearby could hear. He might succeed in killing me, but his plan to blame it on Eli would be ruined. “Like your guards at the battlement. Surely you do not think you can fool them into thinking it was someone else when they can see you now.”
His face twisted in fury. “Enough!” He pressed the blade to my throat.
“Do it!” I shouted. “I will gratefully choose death over having your hands on me ever again.”
He could not blame my death on the shifter, but I could see he no longer cared. The blade pierced my skin, burning my neck like fire. Slowly, he sliced back and forth, and I screamed inside my head as I squeezed my eyes shut against the agonizing pain. He could have already severed my neck, but his fury made him want to draw out my suffering. He had all the time in the world, because he was the king — no one would stop him.
Spots swam before my eyes and my lids shut as the king pushed on, and all feeling left my body. I lay there limp, waiting for death to find me.
An odd flapping noise sounded in the distance and an instant later, it grew loud enough to roar in my ears. Wind blew my long hair over my face and the king’s shout followed a loud thump.
Then I was floating, my body hunched over. Why was I not flat on my back like I had been moments ago?
You will never be free, the king shouted into my head. I will hunt you with my last breath, you and those lowly shifters. You will all pay for your treachery!
“Everything will be all right,” Eli shouted to be heard above the wind. “We have you.”
But I could already feel myself slipping. He was too late.
† † †
Warmth spread through my fingers, like the sun after a rain. My eyes fluttered open to see two shapes before me.
“Hannah.” Eli stroked a hand across my cheek.
“How are you feeling?” Isabella hovered over me.
“How…” My thoughts drifted. Had Eli and Isabella been found and killed, too? Was I in heaven? “Did they kill you, too?”
“You are safe, love,” Eli said softly. “No one will find us here.”
I tried to sit up, but Eli pressed a hand to my stomach. “Stay down. You need to heal.”
I blinked, memories rushing me. “I thought he killed me.”
“With just a little more time to sever your head, he may have succeeded,” Isabella replied, lifting my head and holding a tin cup to my lips. “Here, drink this.”
My lips parted and my body welcomed the cool liquid, but my throat rebelled in pain. I winced. “How did we get away?”
“We turned into eagles. Extremely large eagles.” She took the cup away and set it aside. “We dove at the king and knocked him off you, then lifted you into the air. We flew away until we could no longer see the castle, then we changed direction. We are far, far away without leaving a trail for them to follow.”
My lids drooped and their voices began to fade.
“Rest now, love. Heal.” Eli brushed a moist cloth over my forehead. “We shall talk more when you are feeling better.”
† † †
I woke on a soft bed, silk-like blankets against my skin. The sound of fabric rustling next to me beckoned me to turn my head.
“How are you feeling?” Isabella asked, rolling over on her side to face me.
I stretched, but stopped short at the ache in my neck and winced.
“Considering the damage, you are healing very well.” She laid a gentle hand on my shoulder. “But you are still weak. Once you have eaten, you will heal even faster.”
I nodded, grateful I had not died after all. “Where is Eli?” I croaked.
“Out hunting. I imagine he will be back soon.” She sat up and reached over for a bowl at her bedside. “Are you hungry? I have soup and bread.”
“Starving, thank you.” I opened and she spooned soup into my mouth. I chewed and swallowed and almost instantly felt my body tingle as it repaired itself. “Where are we?”
“In a village about fifty miles north. You have been out for a whole day.”
My eyes shot to hers. “An entire day? By now, everyone must know. The king probably has an army of guards searching for us. Fifty miles is not nearly far enough. We must go.”
“We wanted to keep moving, but if we travel with you in that condition, any humans we encounter might ask too many questions. And so we waited.”
“You should not have. You put yourselves in danger by staying with me. Very
likely, the king’s guards are already waiting in every city and port.” My pulse raced. Any moment, the werewolves would explode into this village. “You must leave without me. I will only hold you back.”
“If it were not for you, I would still be caged in the king’s chamber.” She patted my hand. “And if the king had followed through with his plan, I would soon be dead. The end of Eli’s life would quickly follow. You saved our lives, Hannah. Please allow us to save yours.”
“You already did. Your debt is paid.” I bolted from the bed, groaning at the pain shooting through my neck, and glanced around for clothing. “You must not risk your lives for me anymore than you already have. Eli was right. It is much too dangerous for us to travel together.”
“We saved one life. You saved two.” She must have heard the footfalls right outside, because she rose from her spot on the bed. “You must at least allow us to see you to safety,” she said before opening the door a few inches, swinging it open to reveal a young girl.
The girl curtsied, her arms full with what looked like a gown.
You have been asleep for a full day, Isabella told me silently. I am afraid you must appear frail or they may wonder at your miraculous recovery.
That would not be too difficult to manage since I did not have to pretend. I leaned against the wall and slouched. Wiping my brow, I gave the human a weak smile as I reached for the soup. The sooner I ate, the faster I would heal and we could leave.
“I have come to inquire about our patient,” she said, stretching her arms toward Isabella. “And to give you these.”
“I am much better, thank you,” I answered. “Well enough to travel, I should think.”
Thrown to the Wolves: The Legend of Hannah & Eli (Shapes of Autumn) Page 7
