Stolen Heart - By Bennett, Sawyer Page 0,27

huge grin. “Annika? Is it really you?”

Kieran watched Annika. Her face held recognition but was filled with fear and revulsion. She immediately started struggling with the arms that were holding on to her. The man didn’t seem to understand that she wanted to be let go.

“Annika! It’s me…Mason.”

Annika continued struggling but had not spoken a word. Kieran stepped forward. “I think the lady would like you to let her go.”

The man turned his attention to Kieran, giving him a snide look, but then dismissed him just as quickly. Still not letting Annika go, he actually tried to pull her in for a hug. “I’ve missed you so much.”

Kieran’s alert went to alarm as he watched Annika really start to freak out. She started twisting from the man’s grip. Kieran reacted instantly. Drawing his fist back, he let it fly, catching the man right across his cheekbone, knocking him backwards. In the next instant, he grabbed Annika so she would not fall to the ground with her captor. He immediately wrapped his arms around Annika to soothe her. She was trembling violently, her face pressed into his chest, her hands gripping the front of his shirt. Kieran glared down at the man on the ground who was now starting to sit up, rubbing his face. Kieran was satisfied to see it was already swollen and bruised.

“How dare you strike a member of the Royal household,” the man said. “I am Mason Foss of the House of Foss and you will pay dearly for that.” Mason stood up from the ground and threw his shoulders back. He was eyeing Kieran with menace.

“It seems to me that I was rescuing a lady that was being attacked by a member of the Royal House of Foss.”

Mason started sputtering. “No one questions a member of the House of Foss. No one!!! I’ll have you brought up on charges of….”

But before he could finish, Annika pushed out of Kieran’s arms and turned on Mason. Her voice was like ice. “You may live in the House of Foss, Mason, but you do not bear the name. My father never adopted you and you are nothing more than a leech on our family.”

“Annika, surely you don’t mean that?” Mason truly sounded aggrieved.

Annika took a deep, steadying breath and let it out slowly. Kieran watched as she leveled those violet eyes on Mason. She seemed in control now but he stood close to her just in case. “Mason, if you come near me again, I will kill you. And before you ask…yes, that is a threat. Now, I am here to have a short visit with my aunt and then I will be leaving. I suggest you go about your pitiful excuse of a life and leave me alone.”

Kieran stood at the ready to lay Mason out if he so much as made a move toward Annika. He watched Mason’s eyes turn to ice. Gone was the man attempting a warm reunion with who Kieran assumed was his stepsister.

“As you wish.” His voice was cold and brittle. “But remember, there was a time you didn’t spur my hugs.” He gave her creepy grin then walked away.

Annika watched Mason leave and once he was out of sight, she visibly shuddered. Kieran noticed that her hands were shaking but she didn’t say anything. He was not really sure what just happened. He didn’t know what to say to her, seeing as how he was not her favorite person in the world. Just as he was about to reach out and offer a comforting hand on her shoulder, Annika spun away from him and lurched over to the side of the street. She bent over at the waist and vomited.

Kieran automatically stepped over to her and held her shoulders. She kept heaving and heaving, until she finally was spent and nothing else was coming up.

Straightening her spine, Annika looked at Kieran and whispered a quiet thank you. Her cheeks were red and he knew she was embarrassed over the situation.

“Don’t worry about it. That Mason looks like a real creep. Made me want to throw up too. Pompous ass.”

Kieran’s attempt at levity worked and Annika gave a small laugh. Kieran knew there was a disturbing story between those two but he would not ask. It was Annika’s place to explain if she wanted.

“Are you okay?”

Annika nodded. “Yes, let’s get going.”

Annika took off walking again and Kieran followed. Thinking back on the entire exchange, Kieran could not believe the vulnerability that Annika had