Knight Awakened Read Free Page B

attention. The goddess preserve her, he was well put together, much too appealing for his own good. Good thing he frightened her. Otherwise she might be tempted to talk with him awhile, to make him stay a little longer.
    She gave herself a mental slap. What was the matter with her? She didn’t have time for a man, never mind the inclination. No matter how compelling, Xavian needed to go...and go quickly.
    Bandage in hand, she wrapped his forearm, tied a knot just below his elbow and, tone brusque, instructed, “Change the bandage every day. The stitches need to remain for ten days then you can cut them out one at time. Be very careful about it. You don’t want to reopen the wound.”
    “Many thanks, Afina.”
    Her name rolled off his tongue as though he were tasting it, a predator savoring his next meal. A shiver chased dread down her spine, causing a visceral chain reaction. She’d done as he asked and tended his wound, but the idea he wasn’t finished with her grabbed hold, clanged inside her head until instinct coiled, preparing her to flee. Muscles tense, she shifted, moving away from him and toward Sabine a fraction at a time.
    “Ram?” Cristobal’s voice cut through the haze of fright, momentarily interrupting her tension. Something about his tone caused her to pause and take stock of the question embedded in the summons. The chill of Xavian’s eyes moved from her to his friend. Time slowed, altering perception as Afina watched Cristobal reach out and grasp Sabine’s small chin. With a gentle touch, he turned her daughter’s face toward Xavian and said, “The eyes.”
    A muscle jumped along Xavian’s jaw as his hand curled into a fist on the planked tabletop. “Hell.”
    “Aye,” Cristobal murmured, clearly understanding the meaning behind the expletive.
    Her gaze swiveling between the two, Afina struggled to breathe. What did they want with Sabine? The question sankdeep and panic rolled in. She exploded around the edge of the table. Something was wrong. Very, very wrong.
    She needed to reach her child...now, this instant. “Sabine, come—”
    Xavian struck, reaching out so fast she didn’t see him move. The heat of his hand shackled her wrist. A moment later, he hauled her up and back, away from Sabine. Her throat clogged and instinct surged, unleashing the ferocious need to protect her child. Xavian was talking, but she didn’t hear him, too focused on getting to Sabine as he continued to draw her toward the door. Using the momentum of his pull, she rounded on him, teeth bared, feet and fists flying. He cursed and yanked, spinning her until she landed, back to his front, shoulder blades pressed to his muscled chest.
    Sabine whimpered.
    Afina screamed and bucked his hold, heart breaking, tears pooling in her eyes. One hand wrapping both of her wrists, he cupped her throat, fingers searching.
    “No,” she said, her voice weakening as he applied pressure to a sensitive spot on the side of her neck. “Let go...let me go!”
    “Easy, Afina.”
    “Please! P-please don’t hurt her...d-don’t hurt my baby.”
    Tears streaming from the corners of her eyes, the black void of unconsciousness beckoned. Afina fought the pull, fear for Sabine anchoring her in the light. Xavian murmured, mouth close to her ear, his low tone reassuring, but she knew better. He was the angel of death, right hand to the devil.

CHAPTER THREE
    Xavian swung Afina into his arms, all the while berating himself. He’d frightened her, made her believe he would hurt her child. Not the best move, all things considered.
    Had he stuck to the plan she might have agreed. Now she would fight him every step of the way. And he couldn’t blame her. He didn’t deserve anything less. In his defense, though, the girl-child’s eyes had surprised him, making him move before he’d been ready.
    Mismatched. One green, the other blue...Bodgan’s eyes.
    Xavian had stared into a pair of identical eyes just days ago, watching their life force