Elora froze, dread draining the heat from her body.
The torchlight flicked over Osmont, casting him in flaming hues of red and orange. His stare swept from Julian to Elora and back. His jaw clenched. His eyes hardened. “Get away from my cousin!” He put his hands on Julian’s chest and shoved him.
Elora reached out to stop him, and he seized her arm, yanking her forward away from Julian. Propelled to the floor, her head smacked the rounded stone wall.
Julian lunged for her, but Osmont caught him around the shoulders, pushing him back. He swung his fist into Julian’s cheek, landing with a dull thunk.
Sarah stood in the curved arch entranceway, her fingers covering her mouth, her eyes wide.
“No!” Elora climbed to her feet, holding out her hand in a plea for them to stop. For Osmont to stop.
Julian recovered quickly and ducked Osmont’s next swing.
The tight spiral stairway didn’t leave much room for a fight, but Osmont was determined. “No one here to protect you now,” Osmont threatened, his hands in tight fists.
Julian’s gaze met Elora’s over Osmont’s shoulder, his forehead wrinkled with concern. Then his expression transformed into dangerous rage. He gritted his teeth, and his eyes widened with fury. “I don’t need anyone to protect me from you.” He lunged after Osmont, blocking the next blow with his forearm. Then, he delivered a punch to Osmont’s chin, throwing him up a step into the spiral stairway wall.
Elora quickly moved up the stairs as the fight came toward her. Fear for Julian’s safety shot through her. “Stop!” she cried. “Julian! Osmont!”
When Julian came up a stair, Osmont pushed Julian into the opposite wall. Julian rebounded, grabbing Osmont’s tunic and shoving him against the stone wall. Gripping Julian’s tunic in curved fists, Osmont spun him up the stairs.
Elora gasped, and backed away, moving up the stairs until she was almost to the first floor.
Julian rammed Osmont hard into the stone wall. He pushed him tightly against the wall, snarling at him. Osmont tried to surge forward, but Julian braced himself.
Elora seized Julian’s arm. “Stop!” She shoved her face near his, desperate to get him to stop fighting. “The guards are coming. We have to go. Release him!”
As Osmont struggled to free himself, Julian shoved him hard against the wall, immobilizing him.
“Julian,” Elora begged, knowing they had to escape before the guards arrived.
Grimacing with snarled hatred, Julian stepped away and released Osmont. Julian’s chest expanded with each intake of deep and jagged breaths.
Elora positioned herself between them. “Enough, Osmont.”
Osmont straightened from the wall, his narrowed gaze focused on Julian. He pointed a finger at him. “Stay away from my family.”
Julian’s lip curled with disdain.
Osmont looked at Elora, rage burning in his eyes, his fists clenched tight. “What will Edward think?” He spat on the ground and took a step down the stairs. “He is a lowly knight. You can do better. Youwilldo better.”
Julian jerked toward him, but Elora caught his arm.
Osmont chuckled and stalked out of the curved entranceway and into the corridor.
Elora glanced at Julian. “Are you all right?”
Sarah rushed into the stairway, catching Elora’s hand in hers. “We have to get back to your room.”
Julian nodded, wiping a sleeve across his mouth. “Too many people will come. I’m sure Osmont is telling others what happened.”
“Your brother will find out,” Sarah affirmed.
“That can’t be stopped now,” Elora said. Even though her outward appearance seemed calm, her legs trembled with the aftershock of the fight.
“Elora,” Julian said in anguish. “I’m sorry. I didn’t—”
“It’s not your fault.” She touched the side of his face tenderly, noticing the red welt beginning on his cheek. “You couldn’t have known Osmont would be here.” She shook her head. “He should have been with Edward.”
