Page 46 of Mated to the Alien Warlord

Only one thought drove me: I would finally be safe. Our baby would finally be safe. It had been so long since I had felt safe that I disregarded anything else. All my mind was focused on was Vandor. I needed to feel his arms around me. He was so close, and I finally lost all the composure I had held on to for so long.

I had barely enough sense to watch where I was going. I was already more stumbling down the hill than running while my arms windmilled, and I kept screaming Vandor's name. Vandor, my beacon of safety.

Finally, he seemed to take notice of me and turned his horse. But when he rode toward me screaming,Damaris, get down!It took my jumbled brain a moment to make sense of his words.

An instinct made me turn, and I froze as I recognized Fionbyr galloping at me, set to end me and my baby just as he had promised.

No! I thought,nonono, that couldn't happen, not now when I'm so close to Vandor.

Finally, I realized what Vandor was yelling at me and threw myself to the ground, mindful of my extended belly and the baby within. I protectively curled over my stomach and waited with bated breath for the impact of sharpened hooves against my back.

When nothing happened, I dared to open my eyes and stared at Vandor and Fionbyr engaged in a battle of life and death so fierce, it took my breath away.

I had watched Vandor fight before but this spectacle compared nothing to the first time he saved my life. The hate between the opponents was palpable and the unrestrained maleness of the two combatants undeniable.

My fist rose to my mouth, and I bit into it as emotions ran wild inside me. Vandor was finally so much closer to me than the last time I had seen him through my window. Yet he was in mortal danger and there was nothing I could do but sit there and witness it.

Because of the cold, he was wearing a shirt underneath his fur coat, but it was tight enough to see his bulging biceps as he swung his sword, hitting Fionbyr's with so much force a piece of Fionbyr's sword flew off and through the air.

"Dani, what were you thinking?" Despite the danger, Lynette and Syseann had followed me down the hill. Extending their hands, they tried to get me off the nearly frozen ground.

"Vandor," I managed.

"You know him?" Lynette asked, giving Vandor a quick glance before focusing on me and helping me back to my feet.

"Come, it's not safe for her," Syseann added, and together they began pulling me away from the fighting men.

"That's a warlord, love. He won't care for the likes of us," Lynette implored. She must have thought I had lost my mind or was delirious with fright.

"No," I fought their hands off. Whatever happened, I needed to stay. I needed to watch Vandor win, and if he didn't…

"Think of the baby," Lynette's words rose me from my stupor. She was right. I needed to think of my baby, Vandor would want us to be safe.

Just then, Vandor's blade moved out into a wide arch. Fionbyr lifted his sword arm to ward off the blow, but it was too strong, and his blade flew from his hand. Vandor mercilessly followed through with another strike, this one aimed straight for Fionbyr's black heart. Fionbyr's scream of surprise and pain was cut short when his heart stopped pumping and he slid from his horse.

Vandor, however, didn't even give him a second glance. Instead, his head swiveled until his eyes found mine. "Damaris!"

He kicked his horse toward us, and I heard Lynette gasp while Syseann said a quick prayer.

Their hands fell off me when Vandor stopped Mordakay right in front of us so hard, Mordakay reared up. Vandor jumped off the saddle while Mordakay's front legs were still in the air, and he crossed the distance between us in two quick steps.

I flung myself forward, right into his outstretched arms. "Vandor!" I sobbed.

"Damaris," his voice was filled with confusion over his lack of understanding what I was doing here, as well as the same relief I felt for being safe in his arms.

"What are you doing here?" he finally asked.

"It's a long story." I shook my head at him, sure my eyes were haunted from all that had happened and that he didn't know about.

"Vandor, when you're done flirting wi—" a familiar voice rose up, and we turned to face our khazar. "I'll be damned. Lady Damaris?"

I tried to curtsy, but Vandor's arms didn't let go of me. Lynette and Syseann gasped and managed to fall into a deep bow.

Gryck rallied from his shock and returned to battle commander mode. "We need to be quick. Kendryx has Grobhan trapped by the river and Fionbyr is—"

"Dead," Vandor pressed out.

Gryck nodded, satisfied. "Good, keep your lady safe. I will help Kendryx."

---