The Subtle Beauty Read Free Page B

uttering his name. The man covered her mouth and pressed a dagger to her throat.
    Xander growled. He tightened his hold on Idegwaed and took a step in their direction. “Let her go.”
    The man looked at him from the corners of his eyes with a baleful grin. “Uh, uh, uh, Barwn Blackthorn. Play nice now.”
    Xander began to circle them. Who was this man? Why had he come? By the looks of his furs, his cape, and the rings on his beefy knuckles, he was a man of importance. Xander continued to pace around them, frustrated that Aowyn was being kept between them like a shield.
    “Tell me where you are from,” Xander snarled, “so that I may send your head there when I cut it off.”
    The man sniggered. “Such a shame they want her dead. She’s so very beautiful.”
    Xander’s anger raged as the man pressed his tongue against Aowyn’s cheek and slowly slithered it up to her temple. Aowyn’s breath coursed and her eyes flashed. She bit hard into the man’s finger until a line of blood trickled to the floor. The man sounded like thunder, “You venomous she-devil!”
    He grabbed her and threw her over his shoulder, bolting for the door. Xander had not been mindful and left it unguarded. He charged after them. The man was lumbering down the hall. Xander could hear Maeb clucking beneath her gag, then squawking and making a ruckus as the man drew near. With a bellow and a mighty heave, Xander hurled Idegwaed after him. The falchion sang through the air and buried herself deep between the man’s shoulder blades. The man sucked in a sudden breath and paused mid-stride. He staggered toward Xander, his eyes open capaciously. Xander bolted to grab Aowyn and push the man forward. With a deafening thud, the man fell. Xander held Aowyn close. She trembled in his arms. Xander took her face with both hands and looked her in the eyes. He didn’t need to speak the words he was thinking, wondering if she was alright. She simply nodded and hugged him hard. He scooped her up, cradling her, and leaned his forehead against hers. He walked down the hall slowly, never wanting to take his eyes from Aowyn again. The world seemed to disappear. He made way to their bedroom and gently laid his wife on the bed, pressing his mouth to hers softly. He made her comfortable and dropped to one knee, weaving his fingers with hers. “Tell me what happened.”
    Aowyn winced. “It happened so fast. One moment we were enjoying dinner, the next the castle went dark. Our men started fighting. Maeb and I tried to escape, and then that man…” she shuddered, then cried, “Oh, Xander, where were you?”
    Xander kissed Aowyn’s knuckles. This was his fault. If he had been here to protect his keep, this might not have happened. “This will never happen again. I swear it.”
    “How can you promise that with assurance?”
    Xander looked at her earnestly. “Everything will be different from now on.” He leaned over the bed, placing a hand on his wife’s belly. He kissed the widest part of it and spoke quietly. “You will never have to fight for our land so long as I live.”
    His fingers tightened around Aowyn’s nightgown as the baby kicked beneath his hand. He kissed Aowyn long and deeply, then rose.
    Aowyn stirred uncomfortably. “That sword you had… I’ve never seen it before. Where did you get it?”
    Xander tensed and said nothing.
    Aowyn tried to turn his head to look at her. “I have only seen one other like it, forged by a creature from our lands. Tell me where you got that sword.”
    Xander clenched his fists.
    Aowyn choked. “Sylas Mortas. You’ve been to him, haven’t you?”
    Xander turned his back.
    “You don’t understand what you’re dealing with, Xan. I know him. He will only make things worse for us. Even the gods want no business with him! Please believe me.”
    “I love you. Goodbye.”
    “Where are you going?” Aowyn shifted in bed. “Please don’t leave me alone.”
    Xander glanced over his shoulder as he exited the room