Belial tsked. “Now, now, little Ariel, you know better than that. You can’t harm me when I’m in this form.” He wrinkled his nose. “You’re still mortal.”
Ariel trembled. He was getting ever stronger. Soon she’d be no match for his powers, and he’d have the strength to brew whatever evil he wanted.
What would she do then?
Ethbert returned with the promised blanket. He offered her a timid smile as he draped it over her. “Rest easy, milady. I’m sure the noise was nothing serious.”
“Thank you.” She returned his smile.
When he’d left her once more to join his brothers, she turned toward Belial. “Why are you here?”
“I wanted to find you.”
She glared at him. “Why?”
Before Belial could answer, she heard a horse approach. Dread took root in her heart.
“Nay,” she whispered, knowing the rider even without seeing him. Panic consumed her.
Valteri stormed into the clearing, scattering Ethbert and his kin.
Ariel scrambled from her pallet to rush toward the demon. “You treacherous beast!” she snarled at Belial as he drifted away from her. “How could you?”
“’Tis what I do.” He laughed.
Ariel wanted to tear him apart. If only she had her Arel powers, Belial would be in more misery than if he faced Kadar himself.
If she ever returned to her own body, she’d beat him worse than a Malachai.
Unsheathing his sword, Ethbert shouted at Valteri, “Nay, you evil bastard! You’ll never take her.”
Those words brought a whole new terror to her.
Don’t you dare!
Ariel looked back toward her husband. The Saxons were no match for his skill. He would tear them apart.
Valteri had reined to a stop. His spine rigid, he stared down at the Saxons. A sudden gust of wind caressed the blond braid he wore draped over his right shoulder and billowed his cloak out behind him.
Even from her distance, she could see the malice shining in his mismatched eyes. “Don’t make me kill you, Saxon. ’Tis my wife solely that I want. Give her over and you may leave in peace.”
She held her breath as Ethbert charged forward.
Valteri’s horse reared, dancing away from Ethbert’s sword. “I’d rather send you to hell first!”
With expert skill, Valteri brought his horse under control, then slid from his saddle and unsheathed his sword. He headed for the Saxon, his eyes filled with bloodlust.
They couldn’t fight! Not with the curse and not with her present to witness the event. ’Twould be Valteri’s death!
Valteri and Ethbert doffed their cloaks.
“Nay!” She ran toward them and placed herself between them before they could engage each other.
She grabbed Valteri’s brown woolen tunic and held tight. “Milord, please, for my sake do not do this.”
He wrapped his arm about her and held her close to his chest. “Did they take you or did you leave?”
She choked on a sob, feeling his heartbeat race beneath her fingertips. The thought of touching his chest and not feeling that steady throb…
