Page 67 of Savage Is My Kingdom

“Not unless they had help.” I grasped the mane tighter, my ass sliding all over as the snorting stallion jerked back and forth. Then something hit me from the side, ripping my hands free, and I slammed into the ground, stars dancing in my vision.

I hadn’t caught my breath when gray, boney fingers snared my waist, hauled me into the woods. I couldn’t pry them off—they were sunk in too deep. I was afraid to turn to see what caught me, but did anyway, and fear took me over completely.

The creature was grotesque, ice cold claws sunk deep into my flesh, a flat face with no features except for eyes, if you could call them that. Two flat orbs of stone that were as blank as the rest of its face. But the thing had purpose, dragging me further into the lush undergrowth, deep enough I lost sight of the path.

And Tavion.

Somewhere far away Zor shouted my name, branches crunched as they pursued us, but we moved so fast I only caught flashes of white hair, light glinting off a blade. I caught hold of a trunk with my free hand before I was brutally torn away, my palm ripping against the rough bark.

Fuck. I should access the magic.

I reached for the power, my bare feet scrabbling in the dirt as the creature dragged me through the wood, much like I had in the maze, leaving a clear path to follow back, in case I managed to get free.

But there was nothing inside.

Not even a flicker.

The creature’s fingers dug deeper and I beat my fist against its hard shell, knuckles shredding against the rough surface. The only good thing was, Tavion and the others would come. Not for me, of course, but for the money.

Because a king’s ransom wasn’t something any of them would give up without a fight.

One second, I was being carted through the woods at breakneck speed, wondering if my head would crack open on the next thick trunk we barreled past. Then…

My captor slid to a stop and dropped me to the loamy ground. My dress was blood soaked, my hair tangled across my face, but I shoved it aside in time to watch Zorander step forward and plunge a sword into the wraith’s chest in the same move.

The world around me slowed, the hissing slide of steel against stone lasting for an eternity as the point sank in deep, Zor yanking the blade out with both hands, before he pivoted and lopped off the thing’s head in one smooth, graceful swing.

“Anaria. I’m here. You’re safe.” His voice was so comfortingly strong I nodded.

Another creature lunged out of the barren trees, nothing but a blur as the thing hit Zorander, knocking him to the ground. This was a trap. Somewhere inside of me, I recognized the danger. Zor was up in a flash, but the creature was just as fast, heading straight for me. Then the tip of Zor’s blade sliced the air in front of me, cutting the thing’s head in half.

“Anaria. Anaria, look at me.” Zor’s voice was muffled, but maybe that was the shock. “Are you hurt anywhere?” Zor’s fingers flexed before he grasped my arm, lifting me to my feet. “Anything broken?”

I separated real injuries from superficial damage, shook my head. “I don’t think so.” I pulled my bloodied dress back up over my shoulder, covering my half-exposed breast. “What was that thing?”

“Stonewraith. Sent to take you away.” Zor glanced over his shoulder, my blood chilling when his mouth thinned out. “There’s more. We have to move.”

My knees buckled when I measured the impossible distance between us and safety. “It’s okay, I’ve got you, I won’t let them touch you again. Put your arms around me, Anaria.” Zor flinched, but I did as he asked, careful to only touch clothing, not skin, wondering who’d hurt him so terribly that he couldn’t stand such contact.

“Don’t let go, Anaria.” Darkness raged in his eyes, then the trees turned to shadow and my stomach lurched into my throat as Zor transported me through the forest.

I turned my face into his armored chest, breathing in his pepper-clove scent. Pressed my face tighter while the wind threatened to rip my skin from my body as he held me.

Nobody had eversavedme before. And now I was pressed up against this powerful male, his lithe, muscled body shifting and flexing against mine, so close I was hyper aware of his breathing, his emotions, his scent.

The moment only lasted for a few seconds.

But somehow, the contact left me open and raw and wanting.

My eyes stung at how quickly Zor stepped away, my heart twisting with the knowledge of how much he despised me, even if I’d done nothing to deserve it.

29

TAVION

One second, Anaria was right in front of me, clinging to the stallion like clay on the bottom of my boots. Then she was gone, the stonewraith a gray blur as he hauled her into the forest.

“Fucking wraiths. Stay with Anaria.” Zor shouted as two more attacked Raz and Tristan, knocking them from their horse. The creatures took the beast down to the ground, tore out it’s throat so quickly the poor thing didn’t have time to whinny.

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