“ROYDEN!”
She felt the blade slash along her arm, but she didn’t release Demelza. Her head was suddenly yanked back and the dagger was at her throat.
“Let her go,” Firth ordered.
Demelza pushed at her, urging her to do as he said and when she did, Oria was yanked back.
“Release my wife now!” Royden demanded, his heart pounding wildly and his anger soaring along with fear for his wife.
Even with the knife at her throat, Oria felt safer now that her husband was there.
“Come to me, Demelza,” Trevor ordered.
“Go to him and I’ll slice your sister’s throat and I’ll have just enough time to slice your belly before your husband can reach you.”
“You’re a dead man,” Trevor warned, fighting with all his strength not to charge at the man.
“Maybe, but these two will be dead as well if anyone dares to make a move,” Firth threatened.
Royden saw the spot where the blood soaked at his wife’s chest and that her sleeve had been sliced open, blood soaking the material around it and running along her hand. He wanted to rush the man and strangle the life out of him, but Firth would slice her throat before he could reach her. He had failed Oria once, he wouldn’t fail her again.
“All will be well,” Royden said, his eyes on his wife.
“I know,” Oria said without an ounce of doubt in her response.
“Your husband lies,” Firth said, raising his voice in anger. “You both will come with me or the three of us will die right here.”
“Oh, goodness!” Demelza cried out and looked down. A pool of liquid was gathering at her feet.
“Demelza!” Trevor shouted and went to rush to her,
“Stop!” Royden warned, seeing Firth ready to slice his wife’s throat.
Trevor forced himself to heed Royden’s words.
Oria seized the opportunity to help her sister. “She’s going into labor. She’s no good to you now. Let her be. Besides, your revenge would be more satisfying taking me, since I’m the sister the Beast has yet to meet.”
Demelza let out a groan and doubled over, her arm wrapping around her stomach.
“See, she will only slow you down,” Oria said and saw the hope in Trevor’s eyes that he would leave Demelza behind.
Firth nicked her neck, a small river of blood flowing down her smooth skin. “I see you follow us, hear your horses following, spot a tracker, and I’ll slice her piece by piece. I have a sizeable troop who have eyes on the village. Follow me and I’ll know it and she’ll suffer for it. Understood?”
Royden nodded, his face pinched tight and his eyes on his wife. “Understood.”
“You want her back, then let the Beast come for her.” Firth backed slowly out of the room.
“I love you, Royden,” Oria called out just before they slipped out of the keep.
Trevor was at his wife’s side in an instant, scooping her up in his arms.
Royden looked to his da and without a word spoken, his da nodded, and Royden hurried out of the Great Hall to leave the keep through the kitchen.
“Go get Wren,” Trevor ordered.
“No!” Demelza warned. “They see him leave the keep and they’ll think he’s following after Oria.
“I’ll find a way to get her here,” Parlan said and took the same path as his son, through the kitchen.
“Put me down, Trevor, and go get Wolf. You know you have to and I know he’s close,” Demelza said.
“I’ll see you safely to our bed first,” Trevor insisted, annoyed he had to leave her yet knowing she was right. Wolf had to be told as Firth had demanded.
“No. There is no time to waste. Wren will see to me. You must help rescue Oria. I cannot lose my sister when I’ve only just found her. And I can’t bear the thought of what Firth has planned for her, a fate I would have suffered, not to mention what would have happened to our child, if not for Oria not only shielding me from Firth’s dagger, but convincing him to leave me here.” She stopped him before he could protest. “I am not some fragile flower you need to always protect. Go do what must be done and I will do the same.”
Trevor thought his heart was being ripped out of him when after he kissed her and told her he loved her, he turned and walked away from his wife. He was never so relieved to see Wren and Parlan enter the room.
“Take care with my wife,” Trevor ordered Wren.
Wren took no offense to his sharp command and soothed the fear that she knew had caused it. “Don’t worry, all will be well.”
“And while I protect your wife, you take care to help my son,” Parlan said as he passed him.
Trevor nodded and hurried out of the room.
Royden squatted down on his haunches behind a bush, separating the branches just enough to see past them. He had watched Firth shove his wife to the center of the small clearing where they’d stopped. He had given her a hard push, ordering her to sit. She had stumbled and fallen, landing on her wounded arm. He had wanted to charge at the man, snap his neck, and be done with it. But Firth remained too close to Oria and his blade could do far too much damage to her before Royden reached her.