Page 25 of Trapped By Vengeance

Still, I cry, “Lady Valda!” Has Little Miss Baroness really been so sheltered by her father that she doesn’t know that people die every day in situations such as these?

Mayhap Baron Schwerin rejected my ransom because he knew no man in his right mind would ask that little after taking care of his daughter foranyamount of time.

If I could, I would transform into a wolf and close the distance between us already. But I cannot return to my other form until I have slept, eaten, and drank. And that might terrify her a tad bit. Not that it’s anything she doesn’t deserve, foolish girl that she is.

Another bolt of lightning strikes so close that I have to turn away.

When I turn back, the rain is trying to douse the flaming tree next to where Valda had been standing.

“Valda!” I yell again, and this time my voice echoes over the torrential rains, cruel maelstroms, and violent thunder. Because if she’s been injured on my watch, I’ll be the most ferocious of all of the above. I’m not sure how I’ll avenge her, but I’ll find a way. Probably starting by scolding her corpse—

The flash of red reappears, giving me a moment of relief. Only, instead of fleeing, she’s barreling toward me.

I help close the distance between us and find her even paler than usual. Her hair is soaked against her face, and her gown clings all the more to her distracting figure.

“Valda!” I cry.

She halts suddenly, just before she barrels into me. Her eyes roll up into her skull. Then her knees buckle, and she collapses.

I wrap my arms around her just before she hits the ground.

I’m not sure what just happened. She doesn’t smell burned, but the tree certainly does. I also don’t smell any blood.

But I can peruse her for injuries later. First, I need to get her to shelter, or else we’re both dead.

Chapter Twelve

Konrad

Between the strength of the lycanthropy flowing through my veins and the lightness of Valda’s frail storm, she is practically weightless despite her soaked gown. I move as quickly as possible on the slick grass.

I smell a disturbance in the air and hasten to the left just as another lightning bolt slices the tree that I was just standing beside.

Gasping, I run a little faster when I see the cave. My feet slide, but I tighten my grip on Valda’s still form. I duck just as I skid into the cave.

Eloise casually moves the bark of berries to the side before I can step on it. I halt my slide right before Valda and I go crashing into the wall.

My daughter glances up from the careful division of berries she’s working on. “Is she done being difficult?”

I set Valda down, unnerved by her continued stillness. She’s barely even breathing. “I think she found a new way to cause trouble.”

Eloise wrinkles her nose. “I don’t like her.”

“Eloise!” I cry, smoothing Valda’s hair away from her face. “This is hardly the time or place.”

“She’s not injured.” Eloise rolls her eyes as I continue to sift through Valda’s hair, searching for any sign of a head injury. “She just wants your attention. Just like she doesn’t really love you, and only kissed you—”

I nearly drop Valda’s still head and give it an injury. Then I set it gently down on a pillow made of my damp coat. “Who said anything about ‘love’?” Surely Valda didn’t. There’s no way she can evenfancyherself in love with me, all things considered.

“Idid.” Eloise takes a huckleberry off the bark closest to Eloise and feeds it to Sir Pigeon, who pecks at it dramatically. “Didn’t you just hear me?”

“Yes, well, kissing does not equate to love.”

Eloise stares at me. “What do you mean?”

“I’ll explain when you’re older.”

“You always say that!”

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