Suddenly, he found himself returned to the forest. He reached behind his back and touched his aching spine. When he pulled his hand away, he saw the blood.
You bastard.He’d always hated Grim.
Sadistic bitch.
Groaning, Belial stretched out on the ground, needing time to regain his strength.
Fine. New plan.
And this one was going to be so easy.…
CHAPTER24
Just as dawn broke, Valteri and Ariel entered the bailey.
Honestly, Ariel was happy to be back, even though she knew she should still be running.
Valteri slid to the ground with her in his arms. Embarrassed by his continued embrace, she tried to squirm from his hold, but he tightened his grip.
“I can walk, milord.”
“Aye, and run as well.”
She stopped moving and gave him a chiding grimace.
His gaze blank, he said nothing more as he carried her inside. The people were just waking and they paused in their morning routines to stare at them.
Ariel averted her gaze, embarrassed by the speculative gleam in their eyes. Heat crept up her cheeks, and despite the need to insist Valteri release her, she kept her silence.
At last Valteri entered their chambers and deposited her on the bed. “I should chain you,” he said, his voice as empty as his eyes.
She swallowed, her heartbeat slowing in guilt. He would never do such to her, and she knew it. ’Twas only his pain that made him threaten it.
“I didn’t mean to hurt you.”
His gaze seared her. “Damn, Ariel, if you did this much harm to me unintentionally, then I’d hate to see what you could do if you actually applied yourself.”
His sarcasm cut deeper than any sword stroke.
He had a right to be angry.
When he spoke again, his voice was barely more than a whisper in the quiet room. “You told me you wouldn’t leave.”
“That was before a chandelier had almost killed you.” Why couldn’t he be reasonable? “I was trying to find a way to break the curse, but when the chandelier fell, I realized I was tempting fate by staying here. I only wanted to protect you.”
Valteri braced his hands against the back of the chair in front of him. Still facing the wall so that she couldn’t see his expression, he sighed. “I don’t want your protection. I only want you.”
She closed her eyes against the warmth his words brought to her heart.
Don’t let him weaken your resolve.
Whatever she did, she must keep her mind unclouded by those tender emotions. “Please, Valteri, understand that I cannot stay here and be responsible for your death. I just can’t.”
She crossed the room and placed a hand on his rigid shoulder. His muscles bunched beneath her fingertips, but he made no move to pull away. “How can you ask this of me?”
He turned about and held her by her arms. His pleading gaze searched hers. And beneath his rage, pain flickered in the odd-colored depths, stealing her breath, her will. Ariel swallowed, her chest tightening in fear and apprehension.
“I don’t want you to die,” she begged.
