Page 22 of Savage Is My Kingdom

He thrust the sword forward at the same time I stepped in front of her, the point slicing through my dress and into the spot between my breasts, Ember sandwiched between my back and the tree trunk. One more inch and he’d skewer us both. The male blanched and flipped the blade away, his face white, as if he couldn’t believe what he’d done.

Shadows crawled out of the darkness, darker than the night itself, filled with malevolent intent as they crept around my neck, pulsing gently.

With a metallic click, the iron collar dropped off, my throat oddly naked for the first time in days. Power roared through me like a tempest, darkening my vision, Ember’s scream ringing in my ears as I bowed beneath the onslaught.

The ruined forest disappeared in a flash of light, hurling our attacker backwards, his body breaking against a tree with a horrendous crack.

Rough hands grabbed me from behind and white-hot agony vaporized my blood, and that second male flew back, as if I’d thrown him. He grunted in pain and began crawling frantically, dragging his shattered leg behind him. Solok fell on him like an animal, driving a blade through the back of his skull.

My skin burned, my insides were jelly, magic erupting from me in uncontrollable, agonizing spurts, rage and fear and desperation tangling together as I looked around wildly to see if there was…

“Princess.”

A third warrior emerged from the shadows, his cloak shifting to reveal shining armor, his shoulders so wide he blocked out half the forest. He held his hands out in front of him, as if I were some temperamental foal to calm.

“You are safe. Nothing will happen to you, I will not allow it.” Everything inside me stilled, even the dull roar in my ears fading as his deep, commanding voice echoed through me.Trust me. I will keep you safe, Anaria.

I shook my head and the sensation faded away.

“You must come with me. Your father sent us to bring you to safety.”

His words made no sense, nor did I recognize his accent, which was rough, yet lilting, refined, yet…fierce. Solok whirled to face him, his brutish growl vibrating the air.

“That’s right, you fucking piece of shite.” The enormous warrior moved smoothly between us. “I’m taking our princess home where she belongs, then you and your demon king can wither away to nothing.”

Was he mad?

I wasn’t a princess, and my home…was back in Varitus. Behind me, Ember whimpered, her breathing choppy.

“You’ll have to go through me to get to her, creature.” Solok pulled a sword and an axe, brandishing his weapons with the practiced skill of a master. “And I’ve killed enough of your kind to know how to end you.”

“Not this time, demon. This time, it’ll be your head on the ground.”

With a slithering hiss, the warrior drew his blade, longer than any I’d seen, before throwing back his hood. Ember gasped as he revealed silver-white hair, strong, chiseled features set with green eyes, as pale as my own.

Something crossed his face as our gazes met, surprised recognition, gone so quickly I wondered if I’d imagined it. I grabbed Ember and backed away as they squared off, Solok a good head shorter and fifty pounds lighter. A faint kernel of hope sprang to life inside me. There was no way this was a fair fight.

I wanted the stranger to win.

I wanted him to leave Solok’s corpse in this forest, because every part of me knew I’d be safer with him than I’d ever be with the Axe.

“I came for my princess, and I will be leaving with her.”

“This is one of the Shadow King’s paid mercenaries, Anaria.” Solok explained before the huge male struck, his sword a silver blur. “Sent to drag you away to Solarys. The Shadow King has no children. And he does not tolerate rivals to his throne.” Solok danced away, blood trickling off his chin from the gash beneath his eye.

As I watched, the gruesome wound healed.

“All lies.” The male growled. “You are our princess and I’m here to save you.”

Metal clanged against metal and before they broke apart, blood streaked down the warrior’s face, and his wound…did not mend. Solok’s gloating chuckle was pure evil, “If you allow this creature to take you, he will tear out Ember’s throat, and force you to watch.”

Doubt raced through me, Em’s nails digging deep into my arm. “Don’t let him take us, Anaria.” She begged, tears streaming down her face. “I’ve heard your stories of the Shadow King.”

I’d told enough of them over the years to scare us both.

Yet I wanted to trust the huge warrior. He offered me more hope than any since we’d left Ravenshade Castle. Solok attacked again and that enormous sword whistled through the air, straight toward Solok’s throat, blocked at the last possible second. But blood splashed, Solok dodged away, his throat as good as new beneath the red smear.

But Solok hadn’t been the real target.

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