Though she accepted that he didn’t love her as she loved him, she knew well enough that his need torescueher would override his good sense. She’d seen it happen before.
Waiting, as usual, was hideously difficult, made more so this time by Brie’s concern that Hall would arrive at any moment, waving the scrolls at her like some demented creature, determined to capture the enemy she wanted dead.
Though it would take the Sword of the Ancients to kill the Beast, the body belonged to a man, and she intended to bring down that body with a bow. Once he was disabled, it should be easy enough to deal with Fenrir. After all, the blade had barely touched Hall and he’d nearly died.
Though it had no effect at all on her.
She’d begun to suspect that the sword had chosen her because of the ancient markings she wore. Orabilis had warned her of something like that, Magic being drawn to Magic. Perhaps this was exactly the situation that Orabilis had envisioned when she warned that Brie might regret her sacrifice in the end.
Her stomach churned as she considered what was to come, making her regret the few bits of food she had managed to force down hours before.
If only the damned Beast would hurry up and show himself! According to Hall’s claim about the jewels, Fenrir should have burst out of the gates by now in a mad dash to claim his Magic.
Unless Hall was wrong. Unless the jewels had absolutely no effect on the Beast’s Magic, and he was completely unaware of their presence. Or worse yet, maybe he was very much aware of their presence and was sitting safely inside the castle walls, laughing at them.
Just as she’d almost managed to convince herself their plan was a complete failure, she heard the noise she’d been waiting for: the grating screech of the iron portcullis rising.
Her muscles tensed in anticipation as she caught sight of her quarry. He moved as if carried by the wind, his blond hair streaming out behind him as the huge animal he rode galloped away at an ever-increasing speed.
Bridget scanned both sides of the castle, looking for any sign of the men who were to join her in the chase. Not a leaf or branch shifted out of place. Wherewerethey?
Already, Torquil was disappearing into the distance. They would lose him if she waited, no matter what the plan had originally been.
With a switch of her reins and a kick of her feet, she was off.
HE WAS TOOlate!
Damn the stubborn woman for not sticking to the plan. Damn his eyes for not finding the scrolls sooner. Damn the Norns for thwarting his every effort.
Hall wheeled his horse onto the trail to pursue Bridget, who was already shrinking in the distance. Leaning low over his horse’s neck, he charged along, gaining speed and slowly reducing the distance between them. Behind him, he picked up the sounds of the others joining in the chase.
Northwest they rode, eating up the miles as they followed the Beast on a sure course toward the jagged cliffs overlooking the North Sea.
He hardly felt the sting of the mist turning to rain as it bit into his face. Hardly heard the distant rumble of thunder and the crackle of lightning. His whole focus and concentration was on reaching Bridget before she reached the Beast.
Ahead of them loomed the great cliffs where walls of jagged rock plunged straight down into the churning sea. One way or another, their wild flight would be ending soon.
Though he’d closed the distance that separated him and Bridget considerably, she had also closed the distance between her and Fenrir.
Hall skirted out to the side, hoping to cut her off. Barring that, there was a chance he could insert himself between Bridget and Fenrir. He’d settle for any small favors he could get, but it appeared there were no favors in his future.
There was no way for him to get to her quickly enough.
Bridget charged across the last bit of open ground like a maddened Valkyrie, her hair billowing out around her as her arrows flew, swift and sure, toward her target. She rode without fear, without reservation, holding nothing back.
In that moment, Hall knew he must have her for his own—forever. She was his kindred spirit, his untamed warrior, the one woman who could ride at his side into eternity.
When this was over, somehow he would convince her to take him, no matter that his life was not his own. No matter that he was destined to spend his years protecting Mankind. He would do it without complaint, if he could have her at his side.
If she’d have him.
If they survived this battle.
BRIDGET STEELED HERsenses and let loose her arrow, her only thought its intended trajectory. He was prey, like any other. Her arrow would find its target and bring his frenzied escape to a halt.
A second time she pulled back the heavy string and let go, knowing even as she did that she’d missed.
Think like the rabbit,her father had taught her.Anticipate where the rabbit will turn.
