by Leslie Chase
Sniffing, she hauled herself up, at once grateful for his help and scared by it. She let him guide her, bleakly thinking that she didn’t really have a room - she was sharing one with Maxwell, and that couldn’t last past whenever the Councils were going to cast their spell. At least this time she had a bag of her own things, packed at home.
She debated asking her guide for a new room, but couldn’t face it. Instead, when he opened the door for her, she simply went inside and threw herself face down on the bed. It seemed like too much effort to do anything else, and surely they’d come and get her when they needed her.
“Miss Kimble?” the man asked, concern in his voice. “Is there anything I can do for you?”
“No,” she told him, answer muffled by the blanket. “’m fine.”
“As you say, Miss.” He didn’t sound convinced, but was far too polite to press the matter. Lenore was grateful for that, at least. “I shall let you rest, then. May I check on you in a few hours?”
She nodded, then made a noise she hoped he’d take as an affirmative. As long as he left her alone now.
The door closed with a quiet click, and she was alone. Alone to cry into her pillow, and weeping and wondering why she’d thought it could be different. Girls like her never got the guy, especially not when the guy was as perfect as Maxwell.
How long she lay there wrapped in her misery she didn’t know, though it felt like a lifetime. Maybe she slept for some of it, it was hard to tell. However long it took, she was eventually disturbed by the sound of the door opening again, and quiet footsteps approaching. She sniffled, trying to hide how much hurt she was in long enough to convince the man to leave her alone.
“I’m fine,” she said, making an effort to sound it. “Thank you, but I’m fine.”
“You can’t fool me,” Maxwell’s voice said, sad and quiet. Lenore gasped and rolled over, clutching the blanket to herself as though she could hide her pain under it.
“What do you want?” Her voice was shrill, angry and hurt, and she saw him wince at the sound of it. Good. She wanted him to feel some of the pain he’d caused her. “Are you looking for one last fuck before they tear us apart forever?!”
He winced again, but didn’t turn away, meeting her gaze firmly. “Never. Lenore, hurting you is the most painful thing I’ve ever done. Please trust that I had no choice.”
Another step into the room, and he towered over her on the bed. His intensity was frightening, and Lenore found herself huddling against the headboard, as far from him as she could be. She didn’t let that get in the way of her anger though. “No choice? No choice?! You didn’t even try to argue!”
“If I’d argued, they’d have forced things, and there are enough Masters here to do that. As it is, they think I’m going along with them.” He sat beside her, carefully not touching her, but close enough to whisper. “Lenore, I could never leave you. I would never let them perform that rite. I love you, Lenore Kimble, and I will not be parted from you by any hand but yours.”
Her head snapped up, looking at the sincerity, the will in his eyes. She blinked, shocked, her heart flip-flopping in her chest at his words. The emotional whiplash left her speechless, mouth opening and closing, but she reached out to grab his hand, gripping it tight.
He lifted her hand to his lips, kissing it firmly. “I am so sorry I hurt you, and I promise I will make it up to you, but that will have to wait until we’ve gotten out of here.
“Right now, we’ve got a castle to escape from.”
End of Part Three
Read the final part, Tiger’s Heart, out now.
About the Author
Leslie Chase
I love writing, and especially enjoy writing sexy paranormal romance. It lets my imagination run free and my ideas come to life! When I’m not writing, I’m busy thinking about what to write next or researching it – yes, damn it, looking at castles and swords counts as research.
If you enjoy my books, please let me know with a review. Reviews are really important and I appreciate every one. If you’d like to be kept up to date on my new releases, you can sign up for my email newsletter by following this link.
My website can be found at here
Follow me on Twitter
My Facebook page is here
Email me at [email protected]
My books:
Tiger’s Sword
A four-part paranormal romance serial:
Book One: Tiger’s Hunt
Book Two: Tiger’s Den
Book Three: Tiger’s Claws
Book Four: Tiger’s Heart
