Raziel blasted Belial back with a power-bolt, his face contorted by rage. “This isn’t Valteri’s time to die, demon.You’ddo well to remember we are not to interfere! Nor are you to harm a hair on the head of Jaden’s son.”
Ariel almost dropped her sword as relief tore through her.
This isn’t Valteri’s time. That single phrase lightened her heart as she repeated it over and over, reveling in its sweet sound.
Her brethren would help her protect him.
Yet even so, Ethbert rushed toward Valteri and caught him about his waist. Valteri tossed his own sword aside and the two fought with their fists.
She stepped back and let them get their rage out.
Belial flew to her side. He started to reach for her, but one swipe of the sword and he knew better than to try. Withthisweapon, shecouldkill him.
“Don’t smile yet, Arel. You might have him tonight, but come tomorrow…”
She glared at him. “Really, Belial? Must you be such a cliché? Just once, can’t you be something more than what Kadar bred you for?”
He bared his fangs at her before he vanished.
The fistfight continued on for a few minutes more until Valteri knocked Ethbert to the ground.
Retrieving his sword, he held it to Ethbert’s throat. “Leave off this fight, Saxon,” he said, his breathing labored.
Ethbert leaned back against his elbows and glared up at Valteri, his gaze harsh and damning.
His sword never wavering, Valteri looked to her. “Ariel?”
She handed the sword back to Raziel. “Thank you.”
He inclined his head to her. “Be careful.”
“Always.” And with that, Raziel reunited her with her mortal body.
She gasped as the cold seeped into her flesh.
Arthur released her just as Hubert returned to the clearing. Rebellion glowed in both their eyes, but Valteri pressed his sword tip closer to Ethbert’s throat. “Don’t,” he warned them, his tone most lethal. Hubert dropped his sword and moved to stand beside Arthur.
Relieved that the fight was over, she went to her husband.
Valteri wrapped a protective arm about her, then removed his sword from Ethbert’s throat and sheathed it. “I suggest you be on your way, Saxon. Neither you nor your brothers are welcome on my lands ever again.”
Gently, Valteri set her up on his horse, then mounted behind her.
Ethbert didn’t move from his place on the ground, but his glare was such that she almost expected him to rise and again attack Valteri.
Valteri ignored his hatred. Kicking his horse forward, her husband held her close as they left the Saxon camp.
In spite of the fact that he said nothing, Ariel sensed the pain inside him and she longed to soothe it.
Leagues flew by before Ariel found the courage to speak. “I had to leave.”
“I know.”
“Then why did you come for me?”
Anger mixed with tenderness in his eyes and his arms tightened about her waist. “I will always come for you, Ariel. I can’t live without you.”
Though his words brought a painful, warm rush to her heart, frustration claimed her and she wanted to shout at him to see reason.
