“Where is Maddie?” Sterling called out, stretching his neck up to look past Tarass.
“I am here,” Maddie said and stepped out of the shadows.
“Hurry your steps, I am done here,” Sterling commanded as if he had made the decision to take his leave.
Tarass turned as the man walked off and called out. “Snow, I will speak with you now.”
Thaw started yapping madly.
Snow scooped him up and handed him to Eleanor. “Please keep him safe.”
“I will,” Eleanor promised.
Thaw didn’t like that Snow walked off without him and he refused to stop barking and struggling to free himself from Eleanor.
Willow took her sister’s arm and walked with her to Tarass.
“I will speak with Snow alone,” Tarass ordered.
“Is that really necessary?” James asked, worry deepening the lines around his eyes.
That was when Thaw broke free from Eleanor’s grasp and ran with the force of an arrow shot from a bow toward Snow. But it wasn’t Snow he was after, it was Tarass.
The pup launched himself at him, and all hell broke loose.
Chapter 24
“No!” Willow screamed when she saw Tarass raise his hand to swat the pup away.
Snow’s hand shot out seeing a small gray blur sail through the air just as Tarass’s arm went up to swat at the pup. The strength of his arm connecting with hers sent her tumbling. Tarass hurried his arms around her, the momentum of his quick action sending them tumbling together to the floor.
Slatter moved with such speed that he caught Thaw in mid-air, the pup continuing to snarl and snap and try to break free and get to Snow.
Tarass was quick to get himself and Snow to their feet, holding her arm until she was steady, though she yanked it away from him and he had to grab it again, since she had yet to remain steady.
“You and that pup are a threat to you both and to everyone else,” he accused.
“It is you who are the threat,” she argued.
Tarass stepped close to her, his face nearly plastered against hers. “Apologize.”
“Never!”
“Snow, do as Lord Tarass commands,” James chastised fearful for her.
“How can I apologize when I don’t mean it?” she asked, squinting her eyes at Tarass, wishing she could see more than just a shadowy, gray face in front of her.
“I don’t care if you don’t mean it, say it,” Tarass demanded.
Snow realized then that he didn’t care how she felt, he only cared that she obeyed him.
“Snow,” Willow said softly, hoping to calm her sister and make her see reason.
It was Thaw’s continuous snarls that made Snow stop and think. She would do anything to keep Thaw safe.
“I apologize,” she said with a huff.
“Remember that and keep that snarling, useless pup out of my sight,” he ordered and turned and walked out of the Great Hall.
Willow went to Snow and so did Thaw as soon as Slatter placed him on the ground.
Snow scooped Thaw up and hugged him to her, his small, pink tongue lavishing her face with licks. “Good pup, Thaw, good pup.”
“He’s going to be your constant protector,” Slatter said, coming up behind his wife who reached out and rested a hand on Snow’s arm.
“You need to be careful with Lord Tarass. He is a man who cares little for anything,” Willow warned.
“Willow is right,” James said, his arm going around Eleanor as she stepped close to him. “It is best you remain out of sight when he is here, and Thaw as well.”
“I’m so sorry, Snow,” Eleanor said. “I couldn’t hold Thaw. He was frantic to reach you.”
“That’s all right, Eleanor. I should have had you take him to my bedchamber. And you’re right, James, it is better if Thaw and I avoid Lord Tarass completely from now on. Besides, I simply can’t tolerate the brute. How goes things with you and this Lord Sterling?” Snow asked, having heard enough about Lord Tarass.
“I don’t know what to make of him and I don’t know how we could resemble each other so much,” Slatter said. “I am pleased, though, that I finally have an answer as to who has been causing me such strife.”
“You honestly believe Lord Sterling, a nobleman, is the man responsible for the things you have been accused of?” James asked with a doubtful shake of his head. “Why would he possibly do such a thing?”
Willow was quick to respond to that. “He said it himself… he enjoys evil pleasures. And what better way not to be made to suffer for them or disgrace your family title, then pose as someone else.”
“That certainly is possible, but how to prove it might not be possible,” James said.
“What if we don’t have to prove it?” Eleanor said and everyone waited for her to explain. “Lord Tarass called on the Slayer for help. He will know that Lord Sterling is evil and see that he is punished. All we need to do is be patient.”