Page 72 of Return to Me Always

Through the pain, I moved my eyes around until I spotted him.

And there he was! Tyler was on this goddamn helicopter!

His eyes locked onto me. His face was white, his mouth a firm line, his jaw clenched. He looked like he might be sick any second. But his eyes never left mine.

Tyler had flown in a helicopter. For me. Because of me.

And it was then that I knew—Tyler loved me.Tylerloved me.

Chapter Twenty-One

I stared in the mirror at my reflection. The gown was beautiful. Embroidered flowers covered the top with leaves trailing down the front.

As several ladies helped tighten the corset, I smoothed my hand down my stomach, hoping no one would notice the very slight bump there. Maybe the bump was only in my imagination.But Iknew.

After my rescue, by the waterfall, it had happened. We hadn't waited for this night. We hadn't waited for this marriage. But today would be the day. And tonight would be the night I would tell him.

Walking down the aisle, the love in his eyes nearly blinded me. And I knew my love was just as strong, maybe stronger, for this man, for this warrior who had done everything to save me from the feud that had torn our clans apart, save me from the man who wanted me for himself in a way that frightened me, terrified me, and gave me nightmares.

But after tonight, he could no longer try to claim me. After tonight, I would be married, and I would belong here.

I had almost reached him, almost reached his hand that he held out to me, when it started, when my heart dropped.

A battle cry rang out. Loud. Savage. And close. Too close.

How had they made it past the guards?

It was upon us. The sound of swords clashing everywhere. Shouts. Screams. Mothers yelling. Children crying.

Someone yanked my arm, forcing me back down the aisle, and I couldn't see my warrior anymore. Then I spotted him fighting near the chapel, easily defeating his opponent. And another.

His fierce gaze captured mine. "Go!" he shouted.

Then someone else attacked him, and I stared in shock. Not at him in battle. I'd seen him fight too many times. But because the most beautiful day of my life had turned into this—carnage wrecking the wedding aisle, blood soaking the flowers. The most beautiful day of my life had turned into a bloody war.

Someone grabbed my arm again, and I turned to see it was him.Him!His sneering face from my nightmares.

Lord, help me. Please, God.

He pulled me farther and farther away from the church. I struggled against him, looking back to the chapel, hoping for help. But the battle raged on, heated, and my warrior now fought off three men at a time.

There was no one to help me, no one to save me. My captor was strong, too strong, which I knew from before. But I didn't give up. Iwouldn'tgive up. I would fight to the death, fight for my rightful husband, fight for this child growing inside me.

His grip was like iron shackles on my wrist while I struggled to walk, sometimes falling to my knees, hoping to slow him down. After we passed through the castle gate, I had my chance. Another warrior rushed over, sword drawn, and my wrist was suddenly free.

I ran. I knew where I had to go. And I dreaded it. But I couldn't think of anywhere else. Enemies were everywhere on the hillside. I had to get back into the castle and hide there. And hope our clan won.

After a quick glance around, I crept along the outer wall toward the cliff, toward the water, praying no one spotted me, praying that I could make it to the secret opening, praying that I wouldn't fall to my death on the rocks below.

Just as I reached the corner by the cliff, a shout sounded behind me. I didn't look behind me. I already knew who it was. My heart pounded. My breath was ragged. Fear overwhelmed me as I took a step onto the tiny grassy path behind the wall.

I had only been back here once to see this hidden entrance. And the path had terrified me then, a path only a foot wide with a stone wall on one side and a certain fall to death on the other.

Hurrying because a madman chased me made the path even worse. I couldn't let him see me disappear through the wall. Step after step, I struggled, trying to hold onto the stone wall for some kind of support, praying to God I could make it in time.

Five more small steps, and I would be there. I focused on the ground in front of me. One tiny step at a time. Almost there. A few more inches.

But it was too late. Just as I reached the little rock to push, he rounded the corner. Unsure what to do now, I hesitated. I couldn't open the entrance and chance him seeing it… or chance him coming through it before I could close it again.

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