“What did you see?” Kaelan demanded.
Fiora pointed frantically toward the trees. “Men. More than twenty. Maybe more. They are spreading out.”
A curse erupted from one of the Hunters.
Another immediately barked orders.
The Hunters moved with practiced efficiency, steel flashing free of their scabbards.
The forest suddenly seemed far too quiet, and Kaelan felt the familiar warning ripple through him.
Danger and it was close.
The forest exploded with movement.
Men poured from the trees.
“Protect the old woman!” a Hunter shouted just before the road erupted into chaos.
Steel clashed against steel. Men shouted warnings that were quickly swallowed by the violence.
Kaelan never moved far from Bria. He struck down every warrior that came his way. One man fell and then another. A third barely raised his weapon before Kaelan cut him down.
“Stay close,” he shouted to Bria behind him.
Bria had no intention of doing otherwise.
Nearby, Hunters engaged the attackers while Wynn was hurried toward safety.
It did not take long to know the Hunters would not prevail. There were too many warrior mercenaries from the look of them. They had been paid to see the mission done. They would see every person there dead, except for Wynn and Bria.
Kalean did not intend to let that happen. No one would take Bria from him or harm Wynn.
He took three more men down and then he spotted him… Braden.
A Northlander of the Thornek Tribe just like him fought among the attackers.
For a moment, Kaelan could hardly believe it. No Thornek would dare kill another. It went against their beliefs.
Braden met his gaze, a slight smile appearing on his face as if letting Kelan know he proved wiser than him.
There was no mistaking the truth now. This had been planned.
Rage surged through Kaelan that he would dare go against his own kind but worse, that he would dare separate a Thornek husband and wife, knowing the tremendous pain it would cause both.
His roar carried over the battle. “Braden!”
Braden hesitated, but only briefly. Then he turned away and a warning exploded through Kaelan… too late.
Several attackers rushed him at once and he cut down one after the other, losing count of how many.
The delay lasted what seemed like forever, but it was only moments. But moments were enough.
“Kaelan!”
Bria’s cry ripped through him and he spun.
A warrior had Bria by the arm, and he had already put distance between them. And he continued to do so, dragging her even further away as she fought like a wildcat. She elbowed him, kicked at him, twisted her arm in an effort to break free of his grip, refusing to surrender.
