Firth returned, two warriors keeping pace with him and drawing up on either side of her while the one warrior who had remained near her directed his horse to a position behind her.
“I’m going to have some fun with you this evening while your beloved husband follows in the wrong direction. Firth laughed as he positioned his horse in front of her and with a wave of his hand took off. She had no choice but to follow and keep pace, but there was something she could do that would help Royden find her. She would suffer for it, but if he didn’t find her, she would suffer anyway. She had no choice but to take the chance.
Royden joined the tracker on the ground when they came upon an area where Firth and his men had separated. Royden could clearly see for himself what had taken place.
He stood before the tracker did. “He tries to deceive us.”
The tracker nodded to the Beast. “It could be either trail.”
Royden took the reins of his horse and walked down the one trail, looking for any sign his wife might have dared to leave him. When he spotted something on the ground, he dropped down and touched the spot.
“Blood,” he said, smearing it between his fingers and walked farther down to find more. His wife’s blood. She was letting her arm drip blood so he could easily follow her. He mounted his horse and took off. He had to get to her. She was risking her life so that he could find her.
He rode fast and hard. They couldn’t be that far ahead. Firth might think he tricked them, but he doubted the man would take a chance. He had probably ordered some of his warriors to lag behind and that had him slowing his horse. The Beast was soon beside him, exactly what he had wanted.
“Firth probably left warriors along the way to deal with us and I can’t spare the time to fight them when my wife lets her wound bleed so I can track her.”
“Keep riding, my warriors will see to it, but know that I ride directly behind you,” the Beast said. “I will not lose my sister.”
“Something we both agree on,” Royden said and once again took off. This time not intending to stop until he caught up with Oria.
Several of the Beast’s warriors rode past him and it was only a short time later that he passed three dead bodies tossed aside to leave the path clear. He kept going, thinking only of getting to his wife, glancing down to make sure he followed the blood trail and with every sizeable drop of blood he saw he worried that his wife wouldn’t survive.
Royden pushed the horse harder and when they broke out of the forest into a field, he spotted them. His wife was flanked by two warriors and Firth rode in the front. The Beast’s warriors were busy taking down more of Firth’s men. He had to get to Oria. He had to reach her before Firth realized he couldn’t escape them and he made Oria suffer for it.
The Beast was suddenly beside him, two of his warriors passing them. They would dispose of the two warriors flanking his wife.
“Your choice,” the Beast shouted to him.
Royden understood. Firth or his wife. There was no choice to make. “My wife.”
The Beast gave a nod and rode past him.
Royden went straight for his wife and when he saw her body slump to the side, then pop back up again, he knew she was fighting to stay alert, stay on the horse.
Royden was grateful when the Beast’s warriors got rid of the two warriors to either side of his wife with ease. The warriors followed along behind the Beast as he went for Firth, who had taken off when he had seen his plan collapse. It left the area open for Royden to reach his wife. He saw that she was trying to slow the horse down, but he doubted she had any strength left to do so.
The horse did begin to slow some and that made it easier for him to do what he needed to do as soon as he got close enough.
Jump!
He landed behind her, his arm going around her waist to rest her back against him. “I’m here, Oria. I’ve got you.”
“Royden,” she barely whispered and her body went limp against him as if knowing she was finally safe and could rest.
He slowed the horse and brought the animal to a stop. He yanked her tunic up to grab at the hem and ripped off a piece, then wrapped it snugly around her wound, and couldn’t help but wince when she did.
Oria fought the darkness that was slowly devouring her. She had to tell him before it was too late. She couldn’t die without telling him one last time. “I love you… always.”