Hazel's Promise (The Fey Quartet Book 2) Read Online Free PDF Page B

recognize him. The cocky strut was Drewet, the black hair, but everything else . . .
    Tam raised his eyes heavenward. Whichever god is responsible for this, thank you .
    Drewet had been muscular ten years ago; now he was . . . the only word for it was fat . He had enough flesh for two men. His paunch strained against his belt as if he were pregnant.
    “Master.” The servant bobbed a curtsy. “These people wish to speak with you.”
    Drewet glanced at them, taking in the donkey and their clothing, dismissing them.
    “Drewet?” Hazel whispered.
    Drewet blinked, and looked at her more closely. “Hazel?” He tipped his head back and laughed. His paunch wobbled like suet pudding beneath the over-stretched doublet. “Well, I never. Hazel Miller. I never thought to see you again.”
    “We had a pledge .” Hazel’s voice was tight. Tam glanced at her hands. They were curled into fists.
    “My dear girl, that was years ago. Don’t tell me you’ve held to it? How amusing.” Drewet’s fleshy jowls quivered, as if he suppressed another laugh. He looked Hazel over, his eyes lingering on her breasts, her hips. “You’ve matured well.”
    Tam handed Marigold’s rope to Hazel. “Hold this.”
    Hazel didn’t take the rope. He thought she wasn’t even aware of his presence. Her face was bloodlessly pale, her jaw clenched, her eyes burning.
    “Hold it,” Tam said again, taking one of her hands and wrapping her stiff fingers around the rope. He turned to Drewet. “You and I need to talk.”
    “And who might you be?” Drewet said, arrogantly.
    Tam stepped closer, until they were nose to nose. “We’ve met,” he said, his voice a low hiss, just loud enough for Drewet to hear. “Wistan Dappleward.”
    Drewet recoiled a step. “You?”
    Yes, me . Tam punched Drewet as hard as he could.
    Drewet’s head snapped back. Blood sprayed from his nose.
    Tam hit him again. And again. Punches that had all his weight behind them. Drewet staggered back, and collapsed. Tam followed him to the ground and kneed him in the groin. Drewet screamed breathlessly. “That’s for Hazel,” Tam told him, panting, blood roaring in his ears. He kneed Drewet again, even harder. “That’s for Hazel, too.” And again. He was going to smash the man’s balls. He’d never bed a woman again.
    Drewet stopped screaming. His eyes rolled back in his head. Behind him, Tam heard the servant shrieking.
    Hard fingers clenched in Tam’s hair, yanking his head up, almost pulling his hair from his scalp. “Get up!” The voice was Hazel’s.
    Tam blinked, and focused on her face. It was as fierce as her voice.
    “Get off him.” Her fingers clenched even tighter, hauling him backwards.
    “Ow,” Tam said. “Ow!” He staggered to his feet, trying to loosen her grip on his hair. But I still have to castrate him .
    “We’re leaving,” Hazel said. “Now!”
    She towed him through Mottlethorpe’s backstreets, fast, almost running, her hand fisted in his hair. Tam was forced to bend almost double. Buildings flashed past, half-glimpsed. Marigold trotted at their heels. “You can let my hair go,” Tam said, when they reached the stinking creek outside the town. He peered awkwardly up at her. “Please.”
    Hazel halted and looked at him. He saw fury on her face, and tears in her eyes.
    The tears undid him. The last of his rage evaporated. In its place was contrition. “I’m sorry, Hazel.”
    Hazel released his hair. “What would have happened if you’d killed him? What ?” The tears spilled from her eyes. “They’d have hanged you for murder!”
    “I’m sorry,” Tam said again, straightening, rubbing his aching scalp. “When he spoke to you like that, when he looked at you like that . . .” I wanted to kill him . He pulled her into a hug, and held her close. “I’m sorry.”
    Hazel rested her head against his chest. “We have to get back to the vale. As fast as we can. If they send people after yo u— ”
    “They won’t,”