bushes running along one side of the property at the back end of her father’s prized home. She dropped to her knees despite the pain in her bad leg and dug past the loose brush and bramble. Hope was a glimmer at the forefront of her mind and she wasn’t ready to give up yet.
Ignoring the sound of the deadly krels, she finally revealed the hole she’d spent hours digging over the last few weeks during her walks around the property. It hadn’t been easy and she’d been scared of being caught.
“What is this?”
Garik knelt beside her and didn’t look nearly as shaken or worn out as she was. With his dark hair disheveled and strained features, nothing could dismiss the lethal, raw waves of energy emanating from him. This was why she’d forged forward with her choice, this dangerous man with the ability to kill on demand was exactly what she needed.
To think she had been ready to give up and doubted the success of her plan. “This will get us through the barrier to the other side.”
His brows pinched and she didn’t need the glare of the moon to show his displeasure and doubt. Then he shook his head and leaned forward. “I’ll go first.”
His statement implied a lack of trust with having her behind him for the treacherous crawl. Saedra didn’t care. She glanced over her shoulder and nibbled her bottom lip. Someone could catch them at any moment. So far, the ego inducing madness that encouraged her father to make the back area pure green space dotted with groupings of trees was a hidden bonus. Such dense foliage worked in their favor. The guards wouldn’t know what direction they’d taken. “Fine. Hurry.”
He flattened to his belly and crawled through. Saedra waited until he was more than halfway through to follow. Going feet first, she entered the narrow passage. With every scoot, she pulled the brush back in place as much as possible.
It might throw off the guards but the krel hounds would merely be delayed and then regroup. It would have to do.
Raw, damp odors laced with a light perfume from the brown soil assaulted her sense of smell. Saedra kept going and going, dirt and grime sliding across her front. She cringed and squeezed her eyes closed as she scuttled backward.
A light breeze teased her legs and her thighs as her skirts bunched toward her waist with each twist and swivel. Right now, her bare legs would be flashing Garik. Heat seared her face but she ignored it. Embarrassment was a luxury she couldn’t afford. Saedra continued with her crablike crawl and bit off a muffled squeal from whatever clumps caught on her meager nails.
Fingers clasped her ankles in a firm grip above her flat shoes and tugged. Gasping in surprise, Saedra held in a startled yelp. Her head popped up on the other side and swiped at the hair scattered with all manner of debris. Garik squatted beside her, eyeing her strangely. He’d yet to release his grip on her legs and another flush filled her cheeks at the way he stared.
“What is it?” she asked in a hushed tone at his continued silence. Perhaps she wasn’t the reason for his intense scrutiny. Has she missed something?
He shook his head sharply and released her then rose to his significant height. From her position on the ground, it was quite intimidating. Saedra jumped to her feet quickly for fear of being left behind.
Too quickly. Her bad leg crumpled beneath her weight, tipping her sideways. She was caught at the waist, her breath a soundless exhale of relief as Garik held her. Another fall in her condition would bring on the spasms. Saedra couldn’t afford for anything else to slow her down.
Her “thank you,” was muffled against his solid chest.
Garik held her close as he righted her then ran an intent gaze over her from top to bottom. “What’s wrong? Did you injure your leg on the stairs?”
Shame coursed through her blood and Saedra leaned away from him, hands fisted at her side. The truth almost flew from her tongue, but it would reveal more of her connection to Maurin than she wanted so the words lodged in her throat. Saedra stuck with a flippant mutter, “Of a sort.”
Her leg was another issue ignored in the household. Everyone pretended they didn’t remember the fateful day her father flung her into the kitchen wall. The awkward fall had done severe damage to her leg. Per her father’s