Blood Price (Noble of Blood Book 1) Read Online Free PDF Page B

never before.  If he was to lose her then he needed to imprint her upon his memory, his body and his soul.
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    They lay on the blanket enjoying the night breeze and the sounds of small animals and wildlife all around them.  He held his hand on her stomach, feeling now the warmth of the life inside.  He couldn't help but love that life completely.  For a brief time he wanted to hate it.  But that didn't last long.  That life was a part of him and a part of his Josee.  And he could never dislike any part of her.
    The far off horizon began to lighten with the first rays of sunlight.  Their kind could stand the sun, but their senses were diminished and they became tired and sluggish.  Which is why they chose to be nocturnal.
    Standing and stretching they both began to dress.  As Josee sat and laced her boots back up, Dartein whistled for the horses.  Their mounts trotted over.  They were very well trained and fleet of foot.  Bred for carrying passengers quickly over long distances.  Dartein preferred them over the heavy cavalry horses as they were perfect for the woods.
    The animals seemed nervous as they approached and he immediately opened his senses to their surroundings.  Something lurked in the dark of the woods north of them.  He tried to find any trace of warmth but found nothing.  The smell that came to him though, was rotten and reminded him of the mulches and composts the humans tended their gardens with.
    "Josaleene.  Make haste my love, I believe there are some ugly creatures in the woods tracking us."  He grabbed her outstretched hand and brought her up from the blanket.  He grabbed her by the waist and lifted her to her horses back, refastened the bridle and handed her the reins.
    "Is there something bad out there, Dartein?  Maybe we should go and see.  We may need to make sure it does not advance on the village."  She did not sound scared.  She was never scared.  She was determined to find out what was out there spooking their mounts so badly.
    "Josee I do not believe that is a good idea.  Close your eyes and take in a deep breath.  Clear your mind and then tell me what you smell."  His eyes scanned the darkness of the woods.
    She did as he asked.  He was trying to get her to open up her innate senses.  She had never really used them, so he did not expect she would find much.  He looked back at her as she gasped.
    "Rotten!  What a horrible odor.  Like scraps for the pigs, Dartein."  He was surprised she could smell it so clearly.  "I think it's coming from that way” She pointed just slightly west of south and reigned her horse around to point in that direction.
    A bit shocked she could pinpoint a smell so accurately he barely registered that she had started moving towards the woods.
    "Wait!  Josee, wait!  It could be very dangerous and I cannot abide the thought of you hurt."
    "Dartein, we will be OK.  Let us scout real quick then head back for the guards."  She slipped her horse into the trees, forcing Dartein to follow.
    He mounted and kicked his horse into a trot to catch up so he would not lose her in the forest.  The trees could become very dense very quickly.  He came up behind her horse just as the forest became thick. He could not see past her.
    She halted her horse quite suddenly, and dismounted.  She looked back at Dartein and whispered to him "Tie off the horses my love, we can't risk them running off now."
    Cursing under his breath he tied their reins to a low branch and moved to follow her.  They came upon a small clearing where a fire had recently been put out.
    "Brigands most like, the guards can take care of them easily."  Dartein wanted her out of here desperately.
    "No that smell is the strongest in this area.  There is something here that we have never seen before."
    He watched as she stood very still with her eyes closed, breathing in the air around them.  She turned to a pile of wood off to the side of the still warm bed of coals and