Total pages in book: 34
Estimated words: 32259 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 161(@200wpm)___ 129(@250wpm)___ 108(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 32259 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 161(@200wpm)___ 129(@250wpm)___ 108(@300wpm)
Now it’s seven to one.
…I’ll take those odds.
A snarl drips from my lips as three of them rush me. I duck the first blow and charge into the second man, grabbing his sword by the handle and yanking it past me as I bury my blade in his chest. I yank it free with a grunt, whirling on instinct and claiming another. I can see the half-smashed door barely hanging on to its frame behind them—all that’s stopped them from getting to Una, and it’s that thought that has me snarling and hurling into them with a renewed fury.
I take another, and then another, and it’s then that Malcolm comes rushing up the stairs, breathless but jumping right in. And just like that, it’s over. The last marauder screams as I impale him against the wall, my eyes blazing as I watch the lights go out in his before I let him drop.
“For fucks sake,” Malcolm pants, shaking his head at me. “Gods are you fucking fast.”
I barely flash a grin before I turn for the door.
“Una!”
I stride right for the ruined door, full of holes and slashes, and I’m just about to reach for the knob when suddenly, I’m yanked backwards. And no sooner does Mal pull me back, then a pike spear comes jabbing through one of the holes, slicing the air where I was just standing.
I turn and give him a look.
Malcolm grins.
“You’re getting soft, my friend.”
He chuckles as I shove him away.
“Una! Una, it’s me!”
“Hamish!?”
Malcolm snorts. “Is that your wife in there with the murderous spear?”
“Indeed, it is,” I grin proudly.
“I’m coming in,” I growl.
“Try not to skewer him,” my friend chuckles.
I step over the fallen Viking and wrench the door open, just in time for my red-haired goddess to come flying into my arms. She hugs me fiercely, half-choking a sob into my chest as I hold her tight.
“It’s over, little queen,” I say quietly, burying my face in her neck. “I’ve got you, and it’s over.”
She sinks into my arms as I breathe, turning towards Mal with a frown.
“Callum?”
“He veered off before we followed you up here. There was word from some of your guardsmen that some of Tor’s men were headed for the guest quarters.” He nods at Una. “Her friends’ quarters.”
Una tenses in my arms.
“We’ll go to them now, my love,” I purr into her ear. “And I’m sure they’re—”
“Una!”
A figure come careening around the corner, and I barely have time to get out of the way before Ailith Pembrose goes crashing into my bride.
“You’re okay!”
Una hugs her fiercely before she pulls back.
“Someone rescued me.” Her eyes drag to me, and I see the wildness there in her eyes as she settles them on me.
But I just smile, shaking my head. “I think you were doing just fine yourself.” I nod at a few of the dead Vikings on the ground—two of them with obvious spear holes in them.
Una blushes, pulling away from her friend and sliding into my arms.
“You’re okay? Where’s Rhona and Cat?”
Ailith nods eagerly. “They’re fine. But Una, I’ve never been more scared in my life! They were at our door, but then Lord Bruce just swept in and dealt with the whole group of them by himself. It was all very exciting!”
I grin. Seems like Callum saved the day as well.
“And where is he now?” I frown apprehensively.
“He’s being tended to by Catriona. He was slightly hurt during the fight, but she’s practiced as a nurse. She’ll make sure he’s okay.”
Just then, there’s a horn blast from down in the courtyard, which signals that the day is ours. I sigh, glad how things have turned out, but weighing the gravity of the day. We’ve won, but not without losses.
“To a hard-won victory,” I nod at Malcolm, raising my sword.
“To fallen brothers,” he growls, his face hardened before slowly, that roguish grin of his spreads across his face as he turns to Ailith.
“How about a kiss for our victory, my little rose?”
Ailith goes red as a beet, swallowing thickly as her eyes go wide at my somewhat uncouth friend.
“Forgive him, my lady,” I growl, shooting him a look. “He forgets his manners.”
Una steps back into our quarters, surveying the damage, and I’m just about to follow when I realize Ailith and Malcolm are still glaring at each other, and I pause for a moment.
“Not even a kiss?”
“I’m still engaged, Lord McAuley,” Ailith hisses under her breath.
“And yet, why do I remember that not stopping you last time?”
I freeze, my back to them with my brows arching sharply.
…Well this just got much more interesting.
It seems I have a lot to speak to my friend about. But for now, there’s more pressing things to do. Things like tending to our dead and wounded. Things like shoring up the defenses, even if I’m almost positive Tor and his men wouldn’t be stupid enough to try a full assault on a prepared castle.