Prince of Love Page 2

  Sorin stayed far enough back that he could keep an eye on Katrina, but close enough that he could reach her if the Tnarg attacked. He couldn't tell who rode with her though he thought it was the girl from the day before. It was the perfect opportunity for him to get to know Katrina a little better.

  If his luck held, the situation could turn out much better than he'd first thought. And as soon as he could, he would get Katrina back to the house and to safety. Being out in the open would only tempt the Tnarg.

  Just as he thought he could keep an eye on the girls, they veered right and headed to a small grove of trees. Sorin cursed and leaned over the horse's neck as the animal leapt into a run.

  But whatever luck he had quickly ran out as Katrina and the other girl disappeared into the trees before he could reach them. With the wind whistling in his ears and the horse breathing heavily, he could hear nothing else.

  He slowed his mount to a walk once they entered the forest and listened. Nothing. No laughter, no screams ... nothing. He was about to call out to Katrina when he saw movement ahead of him.

  With a slight pressure from his knee, Sorin directed the horse to the right. The steed moved, its ears pricked forward. Sorin shifted his hand to the hilt of his sword as the hairs on the back of his neck stood on end.

  The Tnarg was there, waiting to attack Katrina.

  Sorin's heart drummed in his chest. He wanted to call out to Katrina, to tell her to run to safety. But that would only alert the Tnarg and cause it to attack before Sorin could reach her.

  Nay, he had to act carefully. It wasn't just Katrina's life at stake, but every person in Drahcir.

  The soft whinny of a horse drew his attention. He turned his mount to the left and looked through the trees. Suddenly, he saw the Tnarg in the tree ready to spring down atop Katrina.

  Sorin drew the dagger from his boot as he kicked the horse into a run. Just before the Tnarg leapt, Sorin threw the dagger and watched it sink into the creature's chest.

  Katrina's startled blue gaze jerked to him.

  "Run,” he yelled.

  He had hoped the dagger would slow the Tnarg, but it only managed to anger the beast. It let out a loud howl surprising Katrina's mount.

  Sorin watched in shock as her horse reared and she fell backwards, landing hard on the ground. The Tnarg jumped from the tree to land beside her. Sorin pulled his sword free as he closed the distance between them. He leapt from his mount and landed atop the Tnarg just as it was about to slash open Katrina's chest.

  The beast flung Sorin off its back with ease and turned to face him. “You won't stop me,” the creature growled.

  He grinned and circled the Tnarg. “You wouldn't be after Katrina if my brother's hadn't succeeded in reaching Drahcir. You've already failed twice. You'll fail again."

  "I doubt it,” the beast said.

  "If you want a real challenge, why not test me?” Sorin hoped the Tnarg would accept the dare and Katrina could sneak away.

  He couldn't chance to look at his mate to see if she was all right. One slip and the Tnarg would kill them both. Instead, he kept his gaze on the tall, hairy creature.

  The pictures he'd seen resembled the beast in front of him, but the blood red eyes were more frightening face to face than on any page in a book. Its claws were longer and sharper, and it seemed to have many more razor-sharp teeth than the drawings had shown. Its face was elongated, and even with its mouth closed he could see nearly every one of the jagged teeth in its mouth.

  And it stood a head and a half taller than Sorin.

  He ducked as the Tnarg suddenly lashed out with its long arms, its claws narrowly missing Sorin's head.

  "You move too slow, human."

  Sorin shrugged. “You have to use magic in order to beat me. In a fair fight, you'd already be dead."

  The Tnarg pulled back its lips and growled. “You ought not to taunt me. I can make your death very painful."

  Sorin was tired of talking. He ducked and rolled. As he rose up on his feet, he plunged his sword deep into the Tnarg. The beast roared in pain, but Sorin didn't stop. He pushed the sword through the Tnarg and embedded the blade into the tree.

  Before he could turn away, the beast's claws slashed his left arm. Sorin bit back a growl of pain and rushed to Katrina who stared in disbelief at the sight before her.

  Neither of the horses was near, and Sorin knew his sword would only hold the Tnarg for so long.

  "Are you hurt?” he asked as he helped Katrina to her feet.

  "Nay,” she whispered and turned her wide, blue eyes to him. “What is that thing?"

  "I'll explain later. Right now we need to leave."

  Sorin took her hand and started running to the edge of the trees. He spotted the horse he had stolen earlier and whistled to it. The steed raised its head and turned towards them. Quickly, he jumped atop it and held out his hand for Katrina. Once she was behind him, she wrapped her arms around his waist, her entire body shaking.

  "Where is your friend that was with you?” he asked her as the horse began to gallop away from the grove.

  "I don't know. One moment she was with me and the next she was not. What happened, Sorin?"

  He sighed. “Even though you saw it, you probably won't believe me."

  She said nothing more as she laid her head on his back. Sorin glanced over his shoulder, but they weren't being followed. Yet. He had no doubt the Tnarg would try again.

  He tried to ignore the yearning her nearness caused him. Every time she shifted her hips and rubbed her soft bottom on his cock, he fought the raging desire to take her. He knew she was upset, and though he needed to calm her, he didn't know what to say. Her friend was likely dead, and since Katrina hadn't asked about her, he wasn't going to bring her up.

  Nothing more was said until Sorin stopped the horse just before entering the city. He needed to explain things to Katrina without others overhearing. And he needed to check on her friend.

  "I left Amelia."

  "The beast doesn't want her,” he lied. “I'll go search for her as soon as I know you're safe."

  "You're bleeding,” Katrina said and gently touched his arm.

  He shrugged. “It's just a scratch. I'll tend to it later."

  "You'll tend to it now. I won't have you bleeding everywhere."

  He couldn't help but smile. She had just encountered a magical beast and she was worried about his loss of blood. Sorin swung his leg over the horse's neck and dismounted.

  To his surprise, Katrina reached under her skirts and pulled off a section of her underskirt giving him a tempting view of her calf. She slid off the horse before he could help her and began to tie the material around his arm.

  The cuts would have to be cleaned later, but she was right. The bleeding had to be stopped. She finished tying off the makeshift bandage then took a step back.

  "Tell me, please. What was that thing?"

  She was still pale, but she had stopped shaking. The stubborn tilt of her chin told Sorin she wasn't going anywhere until he told her what she needed to know.

  "It's a Tnarg, a magical creature sent to kill you."

  She blinked. “I beg your pardon? Did you say magical? You can be hung for that."

  "I know,” he admitted. “I'm not jesting, Katrina. Do you think it was by happenstance that I was in that grove? I followed you because I knew that creature was out there hunting you."

  "You're scaring me,” she said softly.

  "That's not my intention.” He sighed. “In all honesty, you need to be scared. That thing won't stop trying to kill you."

  She stared into his eyes, after a few moments she shook her head and took a step back. “You're serious."

  "I am. This isn't a jest. What you saw back there wasn't your imagination. My sword will only hold it for so long. I'm sure it's already free by now. You need to stay somewhere protected at all times."

  "Why does it want to kill me?"

  Sorin hesitated. He had wanted to ease into his explanation, b
ut she wasn't allowing him to. “You are ... special."

  "Special how?"

  Shite. “My lady, that explanation is much longer than I'd like to give right now. Or right here. Let's get you to your aunt's so I can go looking for your friend."

  "Amelia is my maid,” she said. “I shouldn't have forgotten her?"

  "You cannot be blamed for that when a beast such as the Tnarg is after you."

  Sorin took her by the arm and led her to her aunt's. He followed her into the house. One look from her aunt had him and Katrina ushered into the solar where she could discover what happened.

  "I need to go look for Amelia,” Sorin said as he turned to leave.

  "Sit,” Beatrice ordered.

  Sorin's brows went up at the aunt's tone. She reminded him of his mother. “Someone must look for Amelia."

  "And they will,” Beatrice said. “I'll send one of the stable lads. You are wounded and need to be cared for. Now sit,” she said and motioned to the chair near Katrina.

  Sorin reluctantly took the seat while Beatrice had someone sent for the maid. His gaze turned to Katrina to see her staring at the floor.

  "We cannot thank you enough,” Beatrice said as she unwrapped the bandage Katrina had tied. “Had you not been there, there's no telling what might have happened to our Katrina. My brother would never have forgiven me if something had happened to her. She's all he has left."

  Sorin nodded. By the time Aunt Beatrice finished cleaning his wound, food and wine had been brought in. Colour was slowly returning to Katrina's face, though Beatrice's had gone white as Katrina told her of the attack.

  He had been surprised when Katrina left out the Tnarg, instead recounting the attack as a couple of men bent on raping and stealing.

  "My poor darling,” Aunt Beatrice said as she wrapped an arm around Katrina. Her sharp gaze caught Sorin's. “You must stay for dinner tonight. I know Katrina invited you already, but this will be a family affair. After what you've done, it's the least we can do."

  After that announcement, Beatrice rose and left the solar. Sorin smiled after the plump woman, missing his mother more than ever.

  "You're very fortunate to have her,” he told Katrina.

  "I know,” she said with a small smile. “My family is wonderful. We're very close."

  Sorin knew in that instant that convincing Katrina to leave her family and never see them again would be near impossible. Just when he thought he had conquered one hurdle, another jumped in front of him. Yet his lust burned too brightly to ignore his destiny. His cock hungered to feel her hot, wet sex envelope him, and short of death, nothing could stop him from fulfilling what he had come to do.

  "She'll leave us alone for awhile as she sees to things,” Katrina said. “It would be a good time to hear your explanation."

  Sorin sighed and leaned back in the chair, trying to ignore his aching rod. “I don't know if now is a good time, but, regardless, you need to know. It's all going to sound so far fetched."

  She shrugged. “Tell me."

  "A very, very long time ago, one of my ancestors did the unthinkable. He angered a Fae princess."

  "Fae?” she questioned, her brows furrowed in disbelief. “They don't exist."

  "And neither do magical monsters sent to kill you."

  She blew out a breath and nodded. “So, how did your ancestor anger this princess?"

  "The Fae are extremely beautiful creatures. My ancestor wanted to see if he could make the princess fall in love with him. Unfortunately for everyone, he did. The only problem was, he didn't love her."

  "Oh, dear."

  "Exactly,” Sorin agreed. “The princess then cursed our family."

  "What is the curse?"

  "Each generation, the princes and princesses of Drahcir must leave our kingdom to search for their mates and return with them to the kingdom."

  "Drahcir? I've never heard of it."

  "You wouldn't have,” he said. “The kingdom is hidden deep in the Ben Nevis Mountains."

  "Those mountains are treacherous."

  Sorin ran a hand down his face. He didn't know if she believed him or not. “Drahcir is veiled. The Fae took pity on us because of what the princess did. They keep Drahcir hidden."

  "I see.” She slowly rose to her feet and began to pace the solar. “Your tale is most ... unusual."

  "'Tis the truth."

  Katrina looked at Sorin. His dark brown eyes begged her to believe him, and she wanted to yet she found it hard to do. The Fae, a Tnarg and a hidden kingdom all in one day? It was too much for her to take in.

  She didn't doubt what her eyes had seen in the grove though. That beast would haunt her dreams for years to come. And to know it was still out there waiting to kill her made her sick to her stomach.

  Suddenly, she stopped pacing and turned to Sorin. “Why is the Tnarg trying to kill me?"

  "We leave Drahcir to search for our mates. The Tnarg's mission is to make sure we don't accomplish that."

  Her heart skidded to a halt at his words. “Are you ... are you saying...."

  "That you're my mate?” He nodded slowly. “Aye."

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  Chapter Four

  Katrina released the breath inside of her.

  Finally, he stood. “This is no jest."

  She leaned against the chair before her as his words penetrated her mind. “I don't understand how you can think I'm your mate. We only just met."

  "I know it's difficult,” he said as he came towards her. “I've been searching for you for over a year, moving from village to village. It was your laugh that drew me. You have the most amazing laugh."

  Katrina found herself pulled into Sorin's gaze. He was breathtakingly handsome, and each time she looked at him, her knees went weak. She didn't know if it was his chiselled features or the power he exuded, but he certainly had her attention. And he had saved her from certain death. How could she not be attracted to him? But his story was so fantastic and unbelievable.

  "Have any of your ancestors ever picked the wrong woman?"

  He shook his head, a dark blond lock falling into his eye. “Never. That is something else the Fae gave us. We have the ability to sense our mates."

  "So you take them to Drahcir?"

  He smiled then, one side of his mouth lifting to tempt her. “Aye. Though you must come willingly."

  "So I don't need to worry about you kidnapping me?” she asked with a grin.

  She had seen her nightmares come to life that afternoon, but with Sorin she felt safe ... protected. Almost as if it hadn't happened.

  He chuckled and shook his head. “No kidnappings, my lady."

  Her smile vanished as she looked out the window. “'Tis still out there waiting, isn't it?"

  "It is. It won't stop until you are dead, or we arrive in Drahcir."

  "My father wants me to marry. He says ‘tis well past the time, but none of my suitors seemed ... well, right for me. How do I know you aren't daft and making all this up?"

  He shifted on his feet causing her to turn her gaze back to him. He then sank into the chair and crossed his bulging arms over his thick chest. His long legs stretched out in front of him, stopping just short of touching her skirts as he crossed his ankles. She knew first hand how wonderful it was to be held in his arms.

  And then to be told she was his mate? As upset and frightened as she should be, all she felt was ... protected. Until his dark gaze captured hers and made her yearn for his kisses, to have his hands caress her body.

  "I'm not daft. There's nothing I can say to convince you otherwise. You'll just have to trust me."

  "Ah, trust,” she murmured and jerked her lusting thoughts back to the present. “'Tis difficult not to trust a man who has just saved my life."

  He rose to his feet, and Katrina found herself inches from Sorin. She could feel his heat, and the strange yearnings in her body only fuelled her curiosity. His thumb caressed her jaw as he leaned towards her.

  Katrina fou
nd it impossible to breathe as she waited for him to kiss her. His mouth stopped just short of touching hers.

  A slow, seductive smile pulled at his lips as he rose. “I'm glad to hear it, lass."

  * * * *

  A stomach full of good, hot food definitely improved Sorin's temperament. He and Katrina hadn't been left alone since that morn, but he had learned much about her and the lust that lurked in her eyes. How he had stopped himself from kissing her, he would never know. But he had seen the disappointment before he had turned away.

  Good. Let her experience the same level of hunger and frustration he had. To know she was his but unable to take her yet was maddening to say the least.

  It was just after the noon meal when the men had returned with the maid, bruised and slightly wounded, but alive. Sorin wanted to hunt the Tnarg, but he couldn't bring himself to leave Katrina, not to mention his sword was still in the forest. At least he hoped it was. Though he had other weapons, he wanted his sword returned.

  Now, with supper finished, he found himself alone with his mate again. “Which window is your chamber?"

  Her blue gaze jerked to his. “Excuse me?"

  "Katrina, I don't want to frighten you more than you already are, but the Tnarg won't give up just because you're in your aunt's home."

  She studied him a moment. “My life has turned upside down. What do you plan to do, sleep under my window?"

  "Nay. I plan on climbing through your window and sleeping on your floor."

  "You are daft,” she whispered. “I cannot allow you into my chamber."

  "And I won't allow you to be killed when I could have protected you."

  She wrapped her arms around her waist and shivered. She was putting on a brave front, but Sorin knew she was terrified. The Tnarg had nearly gotten to her that morn.

  "My window is the third from the left corner on the second floor."

  Sorin nodded. How he was going to get up to that window, he wasn't sure. Yet.

  * * * *

  Katrina sat in the middle of her bed, her legs drawn up to her chest. Every creak and moan in the house made her jump. When Sorin had said he was coming to her chamber, she had thought him a fool. After all, she should be safe in her aunt's home.