Page 65 of Mattox
“It isn’t meant to be a permanent solution,” she’d explained during their trip back to the compound. “Just enough to prevent stray animals from wandering inside, including the two-legged variety. Unfortunately, the temporary structures wouldn’t be strong enough to hold back a full-scale onslaught.”
“Well, it looks like your father got his wish,” Edge dryly remarked.
The guard who would have been posted in front of the door was gone. Mattox assumed the man was being utilized at a more important location and entered the lodge. “What wish?”
“He said that all we needed now was to have an invading force come after us.”
Mattox chuckled. “That’s my dad. Always looking on the bright side.”
Pausing near the stairway, Caralas stared up at the sky. “There’s no roof. It hasn’t been covered?”
“It’s not important at the moment. It’ll be fixed eventually. Come on.”
He led them into the kitchen area and over to the large pantry. Flinging it open, he stared at the floor. “A trap door inside the pantry,” he murmured.
“What?”
He bent down and ran his hand over the wood planks, when one of them gave slightly. Lifting the edge, he saw the rope pull, grabbed it, and yanked upward. The three-by-three-foot hatch easily lifted, revealing a short ladder.
“Get in,” he ordered them.
“What about you?” Caralas grabbed his sleeve.
“We’re not going down there,” Edge stated.
Mattox straightened and glared at him. “If you won’t take the necessary precautions to protect you and the woman I love, I’m gonna do it for you.” Grabbing Edge by the front of his tunic, he dragged the man over the opening and let go. The battle lord dropped the six feet straight down. After a quick double-check to make sure the man hadn’t broken a leg, he turned to Caralas.
“Try that trick with me, and I can make married life living hell,” she promised him.
Mattox threw up his hands in surrender, then gestured toward the ladder. She bent over to kiss him. “And don’t you ever forget that,” she whispered, and climbed down.
“I’ll come get you as soon as it’s over,” he promised.
“You’d better. I love you.”
Mattox grinned. “And don’t you ever forget that.” Closing the hatch, he hurried back outside.
* * *
It was totallydark inside the room where they’d taken refuge. “There has to be a lantern or something we can light,” Caralas remarked. “Help me find it.” She reached out to search by touch. “It shouldn’t be too hard to find. It would make sense to put candles or such close to the door, wouldn’t it?”
Silence.
She could hear him breathing. Heavy breathing. The way he would sound when he’d been exerting himself…
…or when he was really, really pissed about something.
She didn’t need three guesses to figure that one out.
“Yeah, Dad. You heard right.”
“You…and that red-eyed Mutah?” There was no mistaking the mixture of anger and disbelief.
“His name is Mattox D’Jacques, Battle Prince of Alta Novis.” There was no sense in trying to argue with him. She knew from his tone of voice he’d never accept the union. “Dad, he saved my life. The least you could do is thank him for that.”
“Have you…”
“Slept with him? Yes.” She wished she could see his face. Then again, maybe it was a good thing she couldn’t. “Will I do it again? Yes.”
