Don't Tell My Husband

's

thing save the weight of the moment. Every step I took across the shadows was a gamble; my heart thing i

he lackeys of Charles were chatting without noticing me. Playing the hapless prisoner, winning a few brief moments of mi

not fail

ears, I moved fast and silently. One guard changed, his foot dragging over the floor. I froz

k into the shadows. I battled, thrashing and clawing, u

ntarily overcome by his warmth and scent-leather, perspiration, and desp

rasp tightening before he backed off. His eyes were

looked back at him, unfl

ought not to have arr

k, my voice rising. Nathaniel, I am not a damsel

l. The guards were still blind, but we had little time.

ur

fening. "Carter in the room next d

d the

thaniel arrived at the door; his hand hung over the

I said in

smelled strongly of blood and desperation. Slumped against the wall,

ent to his knees with

. "Took you long enough," he rasped

down," but his voice

led and tried to sit

to his other side. "We have

l grew louder. I felt panic

Carter got stronger

ootfall reached the corner. My tongue tasted bitter terror, my heart

l, giving a nod toward a

nds of pursuit got quieter. At the bottom, we emerged into a poorly lit courtya

shadow moved. "We

es). His eyes gleamed with success, and his mouth open

me, his body serving as a shi

once, additional figures came out of the shadows, encir

ain cool, panic bit me. "What

ust plain. And the satisfa

o happen, Na

e let down. "Pity". I had anticip

out. Nathaniel dove, his motions lethal and exact. Every instinct scream

slanted. One grabbed me and yanked me back. Charles' face loomed o

and yelled. He closed the distance between us with appalli

t, I felt a searing agony tearing across my shoul

esperate, Nathani

er. "Choosements, Nathaniel. She

was forced to hang on. for Nathaniel. for Ca

xture of dread and wrath. "I'

t come. I last saw him battling with everyth

rring to a cloud of blackness and flickering lights. I battled to keep a

was warming as it soaked his fingers. His face was contorted in pain as the fir

a soft rasp. The effort bit back a screa

at caused my blood to stop. Quite touch

fire raging like an explosion.

ering with sadistic enjoyment. Nathaniel, you are out of

ible decision. His hands shook next to me. "Don't do this," I

ng in the low light. "Decisions, decisions." You

, his whole body taut. Al

rrible smile creeping over his

e muttered, "I won't let you die, Ava." He turned back to C

cocked the gun, aiming it directly at me. "One

aught my eye. The guards turned, confusion flickering across their faces. A shadow em

n, his grip falterin

les, the gun skidding across the ground. I tried to mo

ting in her hand-knelt beside me. "You'll live," she

I choked out, fig

ed something cold into my palm

gle a blur of fury and violence. The key bit

ime before she disappeared into the s

sciousness, to the feel of Nathaniel's presence, and to the know