Page 125 of Sweetling
It wasn’t the lone warrior that worried him—it was being outnumbered by the other two hurrying to surround him.
Away, Bellarand!
Allarion caught the knight’s sword with his own, swirling it out of the warrior’s grip and sending it flying. Bellarand broke away as the foe unicorn lunged, and the fae knight and his dread-mount went toppling into the dirt.
Triads were famed for their dedication and devotion. The swore loyalty only to the Queen and each other. They gave up worldly bonds, even eschewing a mate andazai,in order to better serve the crown. Single-minded and lethal, a triad knew only duty and death.
They galloped down the road, dust flying behind them. Bellarand’s black coat rippled as his great muscles catapulted them forward, but Allarion knew they would be pursued every step. A triad of fae knights gave no quarter and no surrender. It was success or death.
He bent low over Bellarand’s withers, flattening Molly beneath him. He could feel her heart racing through her back, and her knuckles were white where they clung to Bellarand’s mane.
Bursts of magic splattered the road around them, and Bellarand screamed in outrage, pivoting to avoid the craters left behind. Thetwo knights in pursuit closed the distance as Bellarand regained his pace, their hands reaching out to grab at Allarion’s cloak.
He unclasped the brooch holding it in place, the velvet sliding over his shoulders. With a flick of magic, he sent it billowing like a great sail into the face of one of the dread-mounts, blinding him.
When the other knight grabbed again for him, Allarion unknotted a saddlebag and threw it at the knight, catching him in the gut. The other saddlebag got left in the dust, lightening Bellarand’s load.
The wind whipped their faces as Bellarand ran, but still the knights pursued. It was miles yet to the northern border of the estate. Too many miles.
I can make it,Bellarand declared.
Allarion had faith his mount indeed could; what he couldn’t stomach was risking him and Molly both. This was Allarion’s fight, one he’d promised to take up long ago, and he wouldn’t allow that promise to threaten those dearest to him.
It hurt to do, but Allarion opened a new pathway in his bond with his mount, thrusting his magic into forging it. It was inelegant and tenuous, scraping across his mind like a blunted knife, but Molly couldn’t hear it when he told Bellarand,One rider is lighter than two.
The unicorn huffed in reluctant agreement, and Allarion could feel Bellarand’s unhappiness with his plan. That was all right; he could be unhappy, so long as he kept Molly safe. She was all that mattered.
They want me, not either of you.
You don’t know that!Bellarand argued.
But he did. With the same surety he’d known that Molly was meant for him, that he picked Bellarand out from the herd as his dread-mount, that he’d stepped onto Scarborough and felt at home, he knew it was him the triad wanted. It was him who’d defied Amaranthe, and it was him who knew where Ravenna was hidden.
Allarion had promised Maxim that he would see this through, to whatever end. And as her mate, he had a duty to ensure the safety of hisazai.
Take care of her, my friend.
You’d better live,grumbled Bellarand.She’ll be insufferable if you don’t.
I intend to.
Gathering the reins, he quickly looped them around Molly’s wrists, cinching them together in a loose knot. She could get out of it easily, but it would stop her from trying to jump off until he was clear.
“What’re you doing?” she screeched.
Allarion pressed a quick kiss into her cheek. “Run hard and don’t look back.”
“Allarion,no—!”
He vaulted from Bellarand’s back, suspended in midair as the unicorn and Molly continued down the road. She screamed his name, her distress carrying on the wind, but he made himself deaf to it.
Allarion skidded through the dirt, coming to a stop in a cloud of dust. Drawing the dagger from his belt, he ran back the way they’d come, feet pounding the road to intercept the triad.
Let them come.
Let them see what it is to threaten Allarion Meringor.
“Bellarand! Bellarand, STOP! We have to go back!”
