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He yanked on my pants until they slipped off my hips. Another hard pull, and my panties tore. Something solid and smooth slipped between my exposed cheeks, and I grit my teeth, waiting for the tearing pain.
Then it all stopped. The pressure against my ass disappeared. The hands torturing me stopped moving. Something gleamed in the moonlight against the Fae’s throat.
“Let her go.”
I knew that voice, sounding like brass bells in the sudden silence. Sagging in the drunken Fae’s grip, I didn’t expect him to drop me so suddenly. With an audible “oomph,” I hit the ground, barely missing the entrance to the cellar. The impact broke my daze, and I scooted back while pulling my pants back up, until I was clear of the men.
Bleddyn stood behind the Fae, holding a short sword against his neck. He didn’t even glance at me as he focused on controlling the would-be rapists. He whispered something in the leader’s ear I couldn’t hear. Whatever he’d said must have been quite a threat, because the man dropped his hands and fell to his knees. His friends did the same.
My travel companion stepped back and waited. The Fae on his knees said, “I am sorry, milord. I did not know she was under your protection.”
Sheathing his weapon, Bleddyn finally took his eyes off them and rushed to my side. “Are you injured?”
His hands flew over my arms and legs as if searching for wounds. I fixed my top and fastened my jeans before getting to my feet. “No, I’m fine. I never heard them coming. Oh, my God, you saved me. I’m so sorry. Bleddyn, I’m so so—”
Bleddyn didn’t let me finish. He pulled me into his arms, and I buried my face against his chest, forgetting that the drunken Fae were still on their knees.
The memory of the booze stench on the other man’s breath was replaced by the scent of cool water and fir trees in spring. It calmed me, and the shaking of my body slowly subsided while Bleddyn murmured soothing affirmations into my hair.
We stayed like this for another minute. At some stage, the ruffians got up and fled, but I ignored the heated whisperings and the footsteps moving away from us.
Then Bleddyn gently pushed me away and said, “You seem to have a death wish, human. I told you again and again that there are dangers in this world that, without cunning and knowledge, would destroy you. You were lucky tonight. Those men would have left your body for the dogs after defiling you.”
“He promised he wouldn’t,” I mumbled, keeping my eyes lowered.
That earned me an incredulous look. “Would you defend that scum?”
His voice had turned icy, and I flinched. I didn’t even know why I’d said that. Maybe to prove I wasn’t the helpless damsel in distress he clearly thought I was? What was it about Bleddyn that made me want to push him away and return to his embrace at the same time?
My head was swimming as the adrenaline drained from my body, and I swayed. He was immediately by my side and steadied me.
“Easy. I would not let you fall, Beth.”
As we walked back to the tavern, I knew he spoke the truth.
Chapter six
Asweenteredthetavern for a second time, Bleddyn kept me pressed against his side. I breathed easier, knowing no prying eyes could penetrate his protection. His cloak covered my upper body, and I could barely see where I set my feet.
Once, I stumbled, but he lifted me as if I weighed nothing, his arm tightening around me until I found my footing again.
“Your room is ready upstairs, milord. Second to the left.” The woman’s voice sounded muffled, and I was too tired to peek out from under the rough material to see her face. Frankly, I didn’t care.
Bleddyn walked slowly up the stairs, making sure I kept up. I didn’t know why I was that exhausted. Sure, getting assaulted and nearly raped could take it out of a body, but I was young and reasonably fit. The trip had been tiring, but no worse than doing a session at the gym. Yet somehow, I felt as drained as if I’d run a marathon.
“Wake up, caria— Beth. You need to take your clothes off.”
My head felt as if it were stuffed with cotton wool. How was I sitting on the edge of a large bed? Last I remembered, we’d been halfway up the stairs. Had I passed out?
Like a child, I allowed Bleddyn to lift my arms and move my legs to strip me efficiently. His hands hesitated when he saw my bra.
“Humans and their strange garments,” he muttered as he reached over my shoulder and fumbled with the clasp. The restriction loosened, and he shoved me under the cover.
“Lie down. You need rest. May the goddess guard your dreams.”
There was a musty smell wafting off the covers, but I ignored it and snuggled under the heavy blanket. Just before I was out, I could have sworn Bleddyn bent over me and kissed my forehead. I took the weirdness of the gesture into a deep, dreamless sleep.
***
