Mysty McPartland Read Online Free PDF Page A

gruesome sight, she watched the Black Warlock as he again withdrew his bloody sword from the man he just killed and in horror now realized why he was so aptly named. The expression on his face was frightening and as black as a thundercloud. She was about to turn away from the violence, when she noticed a man sneak up behind the Black Warlock who was busy fighting another opponent and was unaware of the man approaching with his sword already raised in the air.
    Q uickly, she leant down and whispered in Zana’s ear, swiftly the dog raced off and when her pet was close enough, flew through the air and seized the enemy. Zana caught the man’s arm between her jaws and gripped it tightly. Trista heard the his cries of anguish as he tried to free his upper limb, she could not watch such atrocities a second longer and turning away from the horrendous bloody sight, sank to her knees, covered her ears and sobbed.
    It was a bloody battle and when it had nearly ended…Rieph could already feel the victory. As he felled another opponent, he was about to go and help Gabe, but was stopped by the sound of agonizing cries and the growling of a dog coming from behind him. He spun around and knew instantly that Trista must have sent her pet to protect him from an attack at his back.
    While surprised by her action, his chest tightened with some unknown emotion. He was about to move when he felt a searing pain in his thigh. Quickly, he raised his sword and struck down the man who injured him. Suddenly, the fight was over and what remained of the clan McGovern swiftly fled for safety, with their leader who was being helped to leave.
    Glancing around, he grunted relieved to find all his men still sitting their mounts and only a few of them suffered minor injuries. He gazed down at his wound and sighed. He was losing a fair amount of blood, but he would see to it as soon as he fetched his betrothed.
    He swung o ff his horse and went to collect her. He found her kneeling in the dirt, her face covered with her small hands as she sobbed out her torment. Squatting down beside her, he gritted his teeth from the pain in his thigh and placed his arms around her. “Hush, lass, everything is fine. Ye must stop ye weeping, for we must be on our way.” He was at a complete loss, he had never dealt with an emotional woman before and he didn’t know quite what to do with her.
    Long minutes past before she raised her teary face and stared up at the Black Warlock, the man who would soon be her husband. “Take me home. Please, please take me home to my father. I cannot bear to live with such violence.” She did not care about the tears coursing down her face, or how her voice shook. All she wanted was to return to the safety and protection of her home.
    A feeling of remorse sweeping over him, he raised his hand and gently wiped the tears from her cheeks. “Aye, love, I ken how frightened ye were. But ye were very brave and ye saved me life. And because of that my wee lassie I cannae ever let ye go.” He watched her shoulders slump in defeat and his stomach twisted in guilt.
    Nonetheless, no matter how remorseful he was feeling he would never let her go now, not after saving his life. He stood up and brought her with him, so now she stood in the circle of his arms, he leaned down and kissed her brow. “Come little one we must go.”
    She did not move just slowly shook her head. “I cannot go back there. So much blood…so much violence.” Her voice was a whisper of horror and she shuddered at the thought of all the bloody bodies scattered on the ground.
    Even though he could understand her abhorrence he let out a sigh of impatience, he dropped his arms from around her. “Stay here and I will be back shortly.” He strode off and fetched his horse, a few moments later he returned to where she stood. “All right, let me help ye up.” Reaching out for her, he was startled by her shriek. “What is it? What has ye so frightened now?”
    Still shaken but