Page 139 of Destiny of a King

He turned to see his warriors and the Hunters corralled behind a high wooden enclosure at the far end of the bailey. Beyond them, their horses were confined in another, his stallion pacing angrily along the barrier.

Relief struck Dravic at seeing his men alive and unharmed.

“Stay alert!” he shouted.

The response was immediate. The shouting stopped. His men knew what was expected of them now. They would be ready.

Dravic gave them no further attention as he and Adira were taken toward the castle. He kept her close as they entered.

A warrior stepped in front of them. “The woman comes with us.”

Dravic stopped, fury gathering in his eyes as he issued a command like only a king could. “Absolutely not!”

The man’s voice lost some of its strength as he attempted to order the king again. “You go upstairs. She goes elsewhere.”

Dravic drew Adira closer. “She stays with me.”

The man shook his head, frustrated. “We have orders.”

“Aye, from your king. Now obey them.”

“Your orders are meaningless here,” another warrior said, stepping forward.

He sneered at Dravic, then motioned to two men, and they moved toward Dravic while another reached for Adira.

Dravic struck first.

His fist caught the nearest man across the jaw and dropped him where he stood. He drove his shoulder into the second, sending him stumbling backward into the stone wall before turning for Adira.

Two more warriors rushed him.

One managed to catch his arm. Dravic drove an elbow into the man’s face, but the delay was enough for another warrior to seize Adira and pull her away.

Fury exploded through him. “TAKE YOUR HANDS OFF HER!”

Adira fought just as fiercely. She twisted against the warrior’s hold and grabbed his arm with both hands, trying to shove him away.

NAY.

The word formed loud and clear in her mind and she shook her head.

The warrior suddenly stopped fighting her, his eyes turning wide. His hand fell away from her arm and he stepped back.

She stared at him, confused by his abrupt surrender, but Dravic was still fighting his way toward her. Another man went down beneath his fist before a sharp command rang through the passage.

“Enough!”

Everyone stilled.

“Take them upstairs… together.”

Dravic immediately went to Adira and tucked her firmly against his side, one arm locked around her as his furious gaze swept the warriors surrounding them.

No one attempted to separate them again.

“Move,” the warrior in charge said.

Dravic’s glare warned the man that his patience had reached its end. Then he guided Adira forward, keeping her tucked close as they were escorted up a winding staircase and through a long corridor. At the end, a heavy wooden door stood open, and they were ushered inside.