Page 44 of Loving Graystoke's Heir

Up on her feet. Staggering forward against forces she couldn’t see. Her gaze fixed on the man intent on murder.

That’s what it was.

Eyes gleaming like the blade in his hand, Rikard was almost to his knees.

It was impossible to tell why everything seemed so slow. Why the world around her felt like sludge and yet her mind was racing along with her heartbeat.

Donal. Oh, God. Donal.

Two steps.

Then a third.

Closer.

Closer, but would she close the distance in time?

Would anyone else notice the danger?

And then it was over.

The sound disappeared.

Her ears cleared.

And her voice began again in mid-syllable, making her warning sound like an unintelligible cry.

It wasn’t enough to warn Donal, but it was enough to turn Rikard in her direction.

She leapt and threw herself onto the other man.

She saw his shock.

Saw the gleam of fury turn to surprise as the blade in his hand sank into her belly.

It felt like fire.

White hot, blinding fire.

And for a moment she felt as if his hand had followed the blade into her body.

Her mind told her to push away.

To put any kind of distance between them.

But her heart was stronger.

More determined.

She wrapped her arms around the man’s neck.

Felt the sweat of his neck against her arms.

Felt his heartbeat frantically beat between them as her own stuttered and seized.

“Donal…”

The name fell from her lips as her arms lost their strength and fell away from the other man.

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