A hand clamped around her waist, hauling her backward. Another hand crushed over her mouth, cutting off her scream. Her vision blurred as panic surged, her body thrashing wildly.
Fighting to scream again, she managed to bite down hard on the rough hand covering her mouth and for one brief, desperate, moment, the man’s hand slipped.
Her wild scream rent the air.
—
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CHAPTER NINETEEN
Heart pounding, crimson fury raging in his brain, Kenneth rounded the corner to see the shattered door to Selene’s chamber hanging open – and coarse, unfamiliar voices sounding from inside.
The warrior’s red mist clouded his eyes as her desperate scream rent the air. He didn’t hesitate. He barreled through the doorway, his blade cutting down the first man before the raider even turned. He engaged the second, driving him back with brutal efficiency, bringing an end to the fight with one bold slice of his sword against the man’s throat.
But the third man had Selene.
He was behind her, one arm locked around her torso, the other raising a blade toward her throat.
Kenneth moved without thinking, uttering one word, raw, primal and rage-filled.
“Selene!”
The man turned and lifted his blade to swing. Kenneth intercepted the strike, steel scraping steel, but the blade glanced across his side, cutting through leather and slicing his skin. He hardly felt it. Selene’s terrified gasp drowned everything else.
He drove his sword through the attacker before the man could strike again, ripping him away from her.
The moment the raider fell, Selene stumbled forward, and Kenneth caught her, pulling her to his chest. She trembled violently, her breath coming in short, uneven bursts.
He sucked in a breath, savoring a moment’s triumph, holding her shaking and terrified against him.
“It’s over,” he murmured, one hand steady on her back. “Ye’re safe. I have ye.”
Outside, the clash of steel died away as the remaining attackers fled. They remained stock-still while Selene’s breathing gradually calmed and her trembling hands grew steady.
Callum appeared in the doorway accompanied by several men. “Search the area,” he yelled, “Secure it and drag every surviving raider in tae be questioned.”
He swung around to Kenneth. “Aidan’s soldiers – those who were still standing – have fled. I’ve sent men after them and we’llsee what the night brings.” He darted out of the room, leaving Kenneth and Selene alone.
Kenneth didn’t let go of her until she pushed back enough to look up at him. Her eyes were still wide, shining with shock, but she was unhurt.
“Aidan isnae testing me borders anymore,” Kenneth said quietly, fury simmering beneath the words. “He meant tae kill ye or take ye.”
