The Princess Protects Her Huntsman: A Nocturne Falls Universe Story

by Kira Nyte

  “Protect me. Protect this innocent. Shield us from the danger pursuing us. Let her sense nothing and no one.” Rhy dropped her head back and stared up into the dark shadows of tree branches, leaves, and sky. “I am Rhyannon Andal, daughter of Cascille and Radella Andal, princess of Andallayne and keeper of the Heart of Andallayne. Grant me your power to protect this Huntsman and protect my people.”

  A strong swell of magic exploded from within her chest. The world faded from her sight. Her body failed her and she crumpled to the cool ground, her head coming to rest beside Arrick’s. For a long moment, she counted each slow beat of her heart, each delayed breath that filled her lungs. Her vision returned, fuzzy around the edges, but enough for her to watch through the slits of the wooded cage.

  Watch, she did, as the fog rolled over the cage and surrounded them. Watched as the sorceress in her gray-white cloak of cloud and moisture tried to find her. Watched as the fog receded, taking the density of power and electricity with it.

  Rhy’s gaze lowered to Arrick’s face. The tension and pain from moments before smoothed away, just as she faded into darkness.

  Chapter Eleven

  Copper.

  Arrick’s nostrils flared as the strong scent filled his lungs and the acrid taste sat on his tongue. His jaw tightened and his mouth watered.

  Blood.

  As the ache and pain that permeated his body slowly subsided, allowing his vision to return, he stared up into a strange woven dome. He reached up and touched the warped and twisted branches, squinting when flakes of wood fell onto his face. He lifted his head slightly, a throb intensifying along the back of his skull. He was surrounded by a woven tree. But…how did he get out here? Where was he?

  He dropped his head back on the ground, trying to peel away the darkness to the moments before he lost control of himself. A new scent struck him through the scent of blood and his heart stopped.

  Slowly, he twisted his head up and back, not wanting to see what he knew lay beside him.

  Rhyannon, curled up in a ball, blood staining her arm and her shirt and streaking down her face from her nose. Dark circles shadowed her eyes and her lips were an awful shade of gray. Her skin was the same sickening pallor.

  Ignoring his protesting muscles and bones, he flipped onto his hands and knees and eased Rhyannon onto her back.

  “Princess?” he whispered, checking for a pulse. The slow tap against his fingers provided little relief. He scooped her head and shoulders off the ground and cradled her against his chest. “Rhyannon, can you hear me?”

  Rhyannon didn’t respond. Panic seeped into his gut. He twisted and dropped onto his rear, gauging the wooden cage. There was no way out. They were sealed in. He had no idea what happened, how they ended up here, and how Rhyannon was injured, but he needed to get her help, and fast.

  Flashes of light blinded him as he pulled his leg back, preparing to kick through the wood. He couldn’t hear anything, no sounds, no footsteps, but through the thin slits between the woven roots and branches, he could see shadows and beams of light—people with flashlights coming in their direction.

  “Help!” he called, and kicked at the wood. The cage didn’t budge. He tried to kick again. “Help us!”

  Within moments, Arrick couldn’t see anything past the slits. Everything turned black.

  “Help us! She’s injured!”

  No sound. No response. He might as well have been in a different dimension for all the help he received.

  Arrick had no idea how many times he kicked at the cage and bellowed for help before the wood creaked and yawned, the weave loosening and retracting. Arrick pulled Rhyannon’s limp body into his lap as the cage slowly peeled away.

  “Oh my!” Dalila gasped.

  Arrick started to press to his knees when the strong beam of a flashlight shone straight into his face, disorienting him. The weight of Rhyannon’s body left his arms. Strong hands grabbed his wrists, yanked them behind his back, and shackled him in cuffs.

  “Hey, wait!” Arrick shouted, struggling against the hold on his arms. “You don’t understand!”

  “This is getting old, Mr. Luvell.”

  Sheriff Merrow’s growly voice set him on edge. There was nothing but the promise of dire punishment in that tone. He ceased fighting and rose to his feet, allowing the officer behind him to guide him toward the house. Arrick wisely kept his gaze averted from the alpha sheriff, not needing to add any more fuel to the fire in that man. Sweet spirits, how the heck was he going to get himself out of this one?

  What the heck happened?

  He needed the answer to that question. The last things he remembered were the slicing open of his consciousness to release the wolf before his mind and the magic went to war. He had flashes of leaving the sofa, reaching a bathroom, Rhyannon’s stricken expression as he barreled down the stairs. His memory blacked out before he reached the front door.

  Arrick glanced over his shoulder. The wooden cage had completely disappeared, leaving nothing more than normal-looking trees and some bushes. Had Rhyannon used magic? Was she even capable of drawing on her native powers in the human realm?

  The officer at his back guided him into the house and to the living room, shoving him in a seat, the rough motion lacking any friendliness. Sheriff Merrow stood directly in front of him, arms crossed over a puffed out chest. His mouth was set in a tight line on the verge of a snarl. His eyes were like glinting daggers taking aim at Arrick’s head.

  Arrick cleared his throat. “Listen, you’ve got this all wrong.”

  The sheriff’s brows jumped. “Oh, really.”

  “Yes. It’s not what you think.”

  “Let me tell you what I think. I think you’re the rogue wolf that’s putting some of these residents on edge. I think you attacked Rhyannon, as the claw marks on her arm prove.” Sheriff Merrow’s nostrils flared and the corner of his mouth twitched. “I think I need to throw you in jail and let you simmer in your failed mission for a few days before the Ellinghams have their say in your fate.”

  Guilt choked him. “The cuts were an accident.”

  “They looked pretty intentional to me.”

  “They weren’t. I swear it.”

  “Don’t bother.” The sheriff turned his back on Arrick, a bold move for any wolf in the presence of a threat, even if Arrick was not a threat. Well, at least of the intentional kind. Sheriff Merrow had more confidence than Arrick gave him credit for. “Your word is worth very little to me.”

  “I want to see Rhyannon.”

  “Not happening, buddy.”

  “You don’t understand.” Arrick shot up from the chair, desperation flooding his mind. “I need to see her. Make sure—”

  “Sit,” the sheriff growled. Arrick dropped into the chair without hesitation, wary of the sheriff a few feet away. He fisted his hands behind him, the cuffs biting into his wrists. Sheriff Merrow’s officer had fastened them tighter than necessary. He didn’t blame the guy. He would just as soon chain himself to a wall.

  The sheriff turned away from the window and caught Arrick’s gaze. The glint in his eyes was as sharp as the threat in his command. For the first time since the witch triggered his dormant werewolf genes, he felt the wolf inside him submit beneath an alpha’s hard glower.

  “I thought I gave you fair warning about bringing trouble into this town,” Sheriff Merrow said, his voice gruff. There wasn’t an inch of friendliness in the guy. Arrick had his work cut out for him or he’d end up in jail with a wolf on one side of the bars and a witch tormenting him on the other side.

  What has my life come to?

  “Let’s try this a different way. Who are you?”

  Arrick sighed, lowering his gaze. “Arrick Luvell, as you already know.”

  “Okay, Mr. Luvell. What pack are you from? And why are you here?”

  “I’m not part of a pack, like I told you. The wolf was dormant. My great-grandfather was werewolf. The bloodline was diluted over the generations.”

  Sherif
f Merrow stared at him for a long, tense moment. “Why are you in Nocturne Falls? Stalking Rhyannon?”

  “I’m not…it’s not…” The sheriff’s eyes narrowed to glinting slits. Arrick squirmed. “Okay, listen. I know this is going to sound ridiculous, but it’s not what it seems. I’m trying to protect her.”

  “Protect her. From yourself.”

  “Yes!” Arrick cleared his throat. “Yes. And no. My intentions are honorable. I don’t want to see her hurt any more than you do. Perhaps even more so.”

  “Uh-huh. I find that hard to believe considering you chased her into bushes, stalked her outside her house, and you’re around whenever she’s attacked.”

  Arrick shifted to the edge of his chair. “I can’t speak of it, Sheriff. Remember when Pandora called you a few days ago and you came to the inn?”

  Sheriff Merrow looked less than impressed. He dropped his arms, hooking his thumbs on his pockets, and moved closer to Arrick. “Let me make this very easy to understand. I’m taking you into custody for assault, at the very least. You can either talk here or talk down at the station. Either way—”

  “I don’t remember anything. Not when I’m the…wolf.”

  Despite his desperation, he duly noted the lack of the witch’s presence when he mentioned himself as the wolf.

  “That’s nonsense.”

  “It’s true, Sheriff. I have no recollection of the time I’m in the wolf form. I remember nothing.” Arrick flexed his fingers, trying to release the tension building up in his muscles. He was about to press his luck with the witch. “Let me out of these cuffs and I’ll explain.”

  “Nice try.” Sheriff Merrow reached down to take his arm. Arrick pulled back. He wasn’t about to be hauled off to jail without having the chance to explain. “Don’t make this difficult.”

  “Give me a chance. All I need is pen and paper.” The desperation damn near exploded inside him. He couldn’t leave Rhyannon. He couldn’t let the witch harm her. “Please. Rhyannon is in danger. Extreme danger. I won’t let anything happen to her. I can’t.”

  “Do you have any idea how foolish you sound? You’re contradicting yourself every time you speak.” The sheriff again reached for Arrick’s arm. “Let’s go.”

  “No.” Arrick spun off the chair and backed away. He couldn’t let the sheriff book him. He couldn’t leave Rhyannon unprotected. He might be the threat, but he was also her best chance at survival.

  The darkening threat in Sheriff Merrow’s face said otherwise as he stalked toward Arrick.

  “Call Pandora. She knows,” Arrick said on a rushed breath. “She knows.”

  Sheriff Merrow came up short. “What do you mean, Pandora knows? She would’ve said something—”

  “No.” Arrick shook his head. “I begged her to keep it quiet. You don’t understand. Rhy’s life is at stake. Her entire world is at stake. I can’t let anything happen to her.”

  “Why?”

  At the sound of the softly-voiced question, Arrick spun around and found himself staring into Rhyannon’s beautiful green eyes. Sadness and hurt filled her tired expression. Shadows had formed beneath her eyes and her skin had paled a few shades. Whatever happened in the woods had taken far too much energy out of her. Energy he didn’t deserve.

  She took a step closer to him and folded her hands at her waist. “Why, Arrick? Are you not the wolf? Am I not your prey? Are you not hunting me?”

  Arrick dropped to his knees. Rhyannon’s eyes widened a fraction.

  “No.” He lowered his head. “I can’t and I won’t.”

  “But you do.”

  Arrick moistened his dry lips. “I want nothing more than to protect you. My world will shatter if anything happens to you.”

  “Why?” Rhyannon asked again, her voice a wisp of air against the pounding of his heart.

  Arrick lifted his head and met her gaze once more. He remained silent, trying to express exactly what he felt without speaking the words.

  Rhyannon sighed, breaking their gaze to look at the sheriff behind Arrick. “He did not attack me. I was protecting him. You can release him, Sheriff.”

  “He’s a menace roaming free. He’s coming to the station.”

  Sheriff Merrow’s iron hand grabbed Arrick’s biceps and lifted him to his feet. Rhyannon crossed to them and dropped a hand on the sheriff’s forearm.

  “Let him tell his side. I’ll call Pandora. If she knows anything, she’ll tell us.” Rhyannon held the sheriff’s gaze for a long moment. Sheriff Merrow finally cracked. With a disgruntled groan, he nodded. Rhyannon said, “Thank you.”

  “I’m not happy about this and I’m not leaving. Put in the call to Pandora. I have to call Ivy and let her know I’m going to be late.” Sheriff Merrow released Arrick’s arm and dug out his cell phone. To Arrick, he warned, “Don’t you try anything, understand?”

  “You have nothing to worry about.”

  Sheriff Merrow grunted and left the living room to make his call. Rhyannon cast Arrick a short glance before she turned her back on him and started toward the hallway.

  “Rhyannon, wait.” Arrick tried to reach for her. The cuffs bit into his wrists and he sighed. Damn cuffs. “I meant everything I said.”

  Rhyannon stilled. Arrick moved closer to her.

  “Everything. I never wanted to hurt you.”

  Her shoulders stiffened.

  “I want so badly to explain it to you, but I can’t.”

  “Why does she want to hurt me? My family? My home?”

  Arrick took one final step, coming within inches of Rhyannon. Spirits, what he wouldn’t give to touch her, tell her, hold her close and show her he meant every single word.

  “I don’t know,” Arrick murmured. “I wish I did. Perhaps I could stop the madness that’s tearing your world apart.”

  “What’s your payment for bringing me to her?”

  Arrick lowered his head and closed his eyes. “My freedom.”

  The scent of salt stung his nostrils, bringing his attention back to the woman in front of him. The woman who selflessly gave so much of herself to protect him. The woman who had stolen his heart the first moment their eyes met.

  “Rhyannon, please. Listen to me. I…I love you. I’ll suffer this if it protects you. I’ll fight it every which way I can, and I won’t let harm come to you.”

  Rhyannon turned. Two glistening lines of tears streaked her cheeks. Her eyes shimmered beneath a veil of tears. She lifted her chin. “How can you say that when you can’t control half of who you are? You are my greatest danger. My greatest threat. How can you say you love a person you will hurt?”

  Despair flooded him as his stomach dropped. “Rhy—”

  She threw up a hand, silencing him. “No. Nothing more.”

  Arrick stared at Rhyannon’s back as she walked away, taking his heart with her. Only when she was gone did he catch sight of the figure at the end of the hallway. Dalila, her eyes wide, hands clasped at her mouth. She appeared as helpless as he felt. She hurried to him and rested a hand on his shoulder.

  “This has been a rough night, Arrick. Let me speak with her.”

  “Thank you.” Arrick managed a sad grin. “I never asked for this life. I never asked for my freedom to be taken from me. Now, more than ever, I need my freedom. For Rhyannon.”

  “Do you truly love her?”

  “Yes. I do.”

  “Then we’ll figure everything out.”

  Once again, Arrick found himself standing alone, staring into the empty space before him. What he wouldn’t give to change the course of his life. To stay away from the clearing that fateful evening.

  To never have lost the woman he loved before he ever met her.

  * * *

  “Did you speak with Pandora?”

  Rhy hastily wiped the tears from her cheeks and tried to pull herself together. Her heart was shattering faster than she could keep the pieces in place. This emotional pain left her belly in a knot and her mind drowning in blackness. If this was love, she
never wanted to feel it again. The pain was too great. Too complete and encompassing.

  Tucking her arms around her in an attempt to ease her queasy stomach, she turned to Dalila as her friend closed the bedroom door. “She is on her way.”

  “Did she say anything about him?”

  Rhy shook her head and looked away. “She simply said she’d be right over.”

  Dalila cupped Rhy’s face in her small hands and turned her face up. Her dark eyes sparkled with worry. “Rhy, before you get upset, I think we should hear what he has to say.”

  “He hasn’t said anything. That’s the issue. Everything about him has been either a façade or a lie. He’s here to hunt me for the sorceress.”

  “Let’s wait for Pandora. Give him a chance to plead his case.” Dalila pressed a kiss to her cheek. Rhy sighed. “Don’t cast him off so quickly.”

  “Why are you defending him? You’re supposed to be protecting me.”

  “And I’ve done a miserable job of it, haven’t I.” Dalila laughed and stepped back, releasing Rhy’s face. Rhy’s brows came together. “If there is one thing I can be certain of, it’s the look of genuine love in a person’s eyes. That man down there loves you. It’s honest and thorough. He loves you, Rhyannon. Whatever the connection is between him and the sorceress, I truly don’t believe it’s something he agreed to. The pain he is suffering is as potent and real as the love he holds for you.”

  Dalila’s words clung to the small spark of hope that simmered inside the betrayal that stabbed at Rhy’s heart. Arrick may love her, but how could anything become of them if he had no control over the wolf?

  “I don’t know, Dalila. I can’t see how this will work out for us.”

  Her friend smiled. “Just…wait. Everyone deserves a second chance.”

  Rhy watched Dalila leave her room, closing the door quietly as she left. She sat on the edge of her bed, trying to sort out her thoughts and emotions.

  Chapter Twelve

  Pandora arrived within fifteen minutes of her promise to come straight to the house. In that time, Rhy managed to rein in her tears and her heartbreak, clean up the healing wound on her arm, and drink two mugs of Dalila’s herbal tea to soften the circles under her eyes and give her skin a more lively color than a deathly shade of gray. She listened to Dalila and Pandora speak in hushed tones as their footsteps preceded a knock on her bedroom door.