“If you’ll follow me.” Tasia beckoned with her hand.
The thugs started forward, the group straightening out in a line. That gave her a more solid idea. Right before she turned around to lead them on, she saw a furry blur take down the last man in the line. Mitch flew at the scary thug from the side and clamped his jaws around the man’s throat. The others were still grumbling and didn’t react to any out-of-place noise behind them. Though as far as Tasia could tell, the take-down was silent.
Grateful that she had a moment to control her face, she spoke over her shoulder, “The closest house is just through these trees.”
Facing forward again, Tasia moved through a congested section of trees. She fit without trouble, but the bigger men had to slow their pace and shuffle sideways in a few places. They reached a clearing, and on the far side, a house loomed out of the darkness. Fear strangled her heart when she saw that there were lights burning inside. She fervently hoped that Mitch had enough time to pick off the thugs before they got to the front door. The house that she led them to was supposed to be empty!
At the gate, Tasia turned around to check on the thugs. Only one man remained standing behind her. In the growing dusk, she could make out a few lumps spread out in a line toward thetrees. It was hard to tell if they were moved or not. Mitch was stalking the final thug.
She laid a hand against her cheek, then pointed and said, “Oh dear.”
The idiot turned around to see what she referred to and received a throat full of wolf for his troubles.
Tasia looked away while Mitch ensured that the men were all down. Perhaps she should have felt bad about it, but their delight in killing people hardened her heart against them. The heart-hardening was accompanied by a trickle of disappointment about not using her frying pan on them.
“Tasia.” Mitch’s voice was soft and warm. So was the hand he touched to her cheek.
She opened her eyes to find her protector safe, whole, and human. Without another thought, she threw her arms around him. He returned her embrace for a moment, squeezing tightly.
“I am both proud of you andsoangry.” He paused to control his breathing. “I have never been more terrified in my life.”
“Sorry,” she squeaked as he somehow tightened his hug. “It just felt like the right thing to do.”
“I suppose it was.Thistime.” Too soon, he pulled back and said, “We need to get moving before these guys can follow us.”
“They’re alive?”
Mitch grabbed her hand and began walking at a swift pace that she could maintain, too. “I damaged their windpipes, then went back and broke at least one, if not both, hands on as many as I could.” He glanced back, but the trees had swallowed the violent aftermath.
“What about the people in the house?” Tasia asked.
“There is nobody in that house,” he said.
She tugged at his arm. “How do you know?”
“That’s Barone’s second home. He likes to flaunt his wealth by leaving faery lights glowing at all times. No fire risk, just a waste of magic.”
“Oh.”
“I happen to know he is attending the dance.” Mitch scoffed. “I have orders to stand at his side as soon as it starts.”
“You’re going to be late!” At once, Tasia heard how silly that was. “I know. Never mind.”
The faint sound of instruments warming up tinkled through the dark when the wind shifted. She wondered if Pagona had gotten to try the famous cider yet. The insight flashed across her brain so suddenly that she skidded to a stop on the path, cracking the frying pan against the fresh bruise and jerking her hand out of Mitch’s.
“I know how they’re going to do it!” she gasped. “Oh, sorry.” Grabbing his hand again, she hurried forward. They were within sight of the main town well and the street lights around it.
“Do what?”
“They’re going to— Who are you?”
Again, they lurched to a stop. A stranger who was too tall to be a villager stood at the edge of the lights. He wore a uniform in colors that Tasia felt she should recognize, but didn’t.
The man walked toward them. He eyed her red cloak, then dipped his head. “Miss Stone?”
“Yes? Oh! Did Prince Frank send you?”
The soldier narrowed his eyes at the title. Oops. Maybe he didn’t know that he was working with royalty.
