Page 36 of Mated to the Alien Warlord

"We will have to stay in close contact," Gryck warned.

"We'll employ the fastest scouts and be ready to move at a moment's notice. That means we will need to travel light, no baggage train," I asserted.

Gryck didn't look convinced, but he raised his glass. "To traveling light then."

"Traveling light," we agreed, happy to finally being on the offensive.

I burned to be done with this campaign to go home and rest in the arms of my loving mate. My worst nightmare was not being with Damaris when the baby was born. I wanted to be the first to hold him.

Cryeoghpushedmesobrutally forward that I landed on my hands and knees. "That, my warlord, is an early crowning present for when you will be Khazar."

"A human kallini?" Fionbyr didn't look amused.

"Not just any human kallini, Warlord Vandor's human kallini. To be precise, his mate," Cryeogh cried triumphantly.

"What?" Fionbyr nearly jumped over the table, reaching me with a few easy strides. He pulled out his sword and placed the tip underneath my chin to force my head up. I tried to glare at him with hate, but feared I was failing because, in truth, I was deathly afraid of him. I was afraid he would run me through with his sword, killing both me and my baby.

"Well I'll be damned. That isPrincessDamaris," he laughed after spitting out my title. "Prepare to die, Princess." He raised his sword, and I closed my eyes.

"Hold!" Cryeogh demanded, staying Fionbyr's hand at the last possible moment.

"Hold? How dare you?" Fionbyr railed against his lieutenant.

"I beg your pardon, Warlord, but I assumed you wished to know that the kallini is carrying Warlord Vandor's whelp." Cryeogh sounded contrite.

Fionbyr threw his head back in laughter "It gets better and better. Well done, Cryeogh, you indeed deserve a reward. Guards!"

I dared to take a shallow breath, but otherwise remained still like a statue, lest I caught Fionbyr's attention again.

Two guards approached us.

"Take her to a guest bedroom and make sure she is as comfortable as a princess should be," Fionbyr snickered, raising goosebumps all over my flesh in a dark, foreboding feeling. "I want her to give birth to a healthy son before I send her and her brat's heads to Vandor!"

The guards each placed a hand underneath my arm and pulled me up, not rough, but not friendly either. My heart pounded heavily inside my chest. I was glad that he hadn't killed me right away but was under no illusion that he wouldn't do so soon.

And my baby.

I threw a tentative glance at Grobhan still sitting by the table, but he averted his eyes, making it clear who was in charge here. Fionbyr.

Cold fear strangled my throat, and I tried to take in as much detail of the great hall in as possible. Was there a second exit? Where did the array of doors lead to my left?

The guards pulled me forward, passing Fionbyr, who sneered at me, and up a wide, winding set of stairs leading to the second level. From there, we made our way down a hallway lit by gas torches and stopped at a door that looked like any other. Without fanfare, they pushed me into an astonishingly comfortably decorated room.

Stunned, I turned in a circle and looked around. In the left corner stood a bed with a nightstand, on the right wall was a fireplace with a couch in front of it, and straight ahead… a window. I rushed to it and found it, to my surprise, unlocked.

Dismayed, I stared down an at least fifty-foot drop, right into the stronghold's moat. Even if I survived the fall or somehow miraculously scaled the wall, I would end up drowning in quicksand.

Far ahead of me, I made out the forest, luring me with its endless freedom, and a tear made its way down my cheek. How had things gone so wrong?

Before I had time to dwell on it, the door to the room opened and I turned, expecting the worst. Maybe Fionbyr had changed his mind and came to take my head off after all?

But it was only a human serving maid.

"Lady Damaris, I'm Jynn, Warlord Fionbyr bid me to make you as comfortable as possible." She curtsied and moved to the fireplace to turn on the gas to light it.

Silently, I watched her as she moved to the bed to fluff the pillows and straighten the already perfect furs.

"Is there anything you need?"

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