“There are people waiting for me up ahead. They’ll be looking for me any moment. Please. Just let me go. I won’t say a word about you to anybody.”
Good girl. I breathed out a long exhalation of relief. But their not knowing she was the Princess of Estana didn’t change the essential problem. She was still alone, she was still vulnerable, and she still had a sweet, tight little pussy. She was still in big fucking trouble.
And I was fucking helpless to her where I was.
Desperate, I looked around and finally saw an opening. If I could position myself among the thick thorns on the other side of the clearing, I’d have a clear shot at the big one. All I’d need would be an opportunity and I’d be able to take him out.
Then we might have a fighting chance.
Hold on, little girl, I thought as I backed away. I’m coming for you.
“Let me see those titties.” I heard the big one’s voice as I started to circle their position, sticking to the shifting dappled light created by the canopy of trees.
Maybe I’d string that one up by the tongue and by the balls.
There was a rasping sound of fabric being cut, then a laugh and the small one’s voice. “And those are some fucking gorgeous little tits. Not much to them, mind, but a fine delicacy nevertheless.”
I glanced to the side, wishing I hadn’t as everything in the universe narrowed down to that single image. Her pure flesh and those foul fingers. They were touching her in the place that only I was meant to touch her. And there was not a fucking chance I was going to let them touch her anywhere else.
In that moment, my rage disappeared, and was replaced with a total, fucking surreal level of otherworldly calm. First, nobody—fucking nobody—was going to harm my sister. That was what the law said she was, and family protects family. But above all that, nobody was going to damage the one good thing in my world. These motherfuckers were going to feel my wrath. Right fucking now.
My heartbeat slowed; my focus returned. I filled my lungs with the first full breath I’d had since my horse reared up. I rose from my crouch, up behind the thorns. Silent and stealthy, I pulled my dagger from its sheath, palmed the hilt, and aimed at the knife-holder’s bulging, greasy jugular.
And waited for my chance to get the perfect shot.
CHAPTER 5
Anika
When I saw the thin blade, I was terrified.
But now I was angry.
So angry. Who did these oily, foul-smelling perverts think they were, attacking me in the forest? Ripping my shirt off? Touching me?
As the one in front of me groped my breast, I gathered a mouthful of spit. When he leaned in toward me, I launched it right in his face, a direct hit into his open eyes. He drew back instantly, wiping his face.
“You little whore!” he snarled, his face and cheeks all splattered with my saliva. “I should make you lick that off yourself.”
“And I might just bite your face off, you disgusting piece of—”
“Shut the fuck up,” said the big one behind me, pressing the blade harder against my neck, cutting my words off as I held my breath.
Fear welled up inside me, and I hated that I was so afraid. I was annoyed with myself for not being bigger, stronger, and more able to defend myself. I’d spotted them waiting for me before they attacked, and the first one had fallen to a crossbow bolt before they had me surrounded. As they pulled me from Rosie’s saddle, I’d managed to get my knife into the second, and hoped his scream might send them running, but alas, no such luck. Against the two remaining men, with me on my own, it was only a matter of time before they overpowered me.
As a hunter, I knew a lot about the behavior of prey, but I had never thought of myself as anybody’s prey. Not until that moment. As the little one in front of me resumed his groping, I knew I had two options. Like a cornered animal, I could use my desperation to my advantage; fight tooth and claw and make things as difficult for everyone as possible. Or I could give in. I could stop fighting.
The one in front of me started to undo his pants.
Oh hell no.
There was no way in the world I was letting these fools take my virginity. Giving in was not an option. Which left me only one choice…
Fight back, with everything I had.
With a ferocious jerk of my neck, I did a reverse head butt, slamming my skull into the big one’s nose. I felt the satisfying crunch of bone and smelled the mineral scent of blood. The blade dipped a few precious inches away from my throat, giving me just enough room to suck in a desperately-needed breath.