Prince of Passion Read Online Free PDF Page A

walked stealthily down the corridor to the stairs.   Not a sound was made below.   Keiran descended the stairs one slow step at a time, his sword at the ready.   When he reached the bottom and saw the main dining room he halted and heard Senga’s quick inhale behind him as they halted.  
    Every table and chair was torn to pieces, the floor littered with splinters of wood that had once been furniture. Senga’s hand began to shake in his for they both knew what had done this.  
    The Tnarg.  
    “Is it still here?” she whispered.  
    Keiran backed them to a wall. “I doona know. If it came in here, why no’ up to your chamber?”  
    “I’m just glad it didn’t.”  
    There was a bump from the back room. Senga tugged on his hand, trying to get his attention, but Keiran didn’t want to look away in case it was the Tnarg.  
    “Keiran,” she murmured.  
    He looked to where she pointed and found the three dead bodies. The Tnarg had never killed innocents before. At least, none that they knew of.  
    “To your chamber,” he whispered and urged her up the stairs.  
    He walked backward as he followed her, his gaze on the doorway to the back room. It wasn’t until they reached the top two stairs that one creaked. The noise in the back room stopped instantly.  
    Shite!  
    “Get inside your chamber,” Keiran told her as he spun around.  
    They raced to her chamber and shut the door behind them.  
    “The chair,” he said as he leaned against the door.  
    She hastily brought the chair that he propped against the door. It wouldn’t hold the beast, but it would give them time.  
    He gave her a gentle push to her window. “We’ll be leaving another way.”  
    “We’re on the second floor,” she said, her eyes wide.  
    He gripped her shoulders. “Trust me, Senga.”  
    Keiran released her and stalked to the window.   He lifted the iron latch holding the shutters together, then threw open the shutters that had been reinforced with iron. The ground below was packed with snow, which would break their fall. He’d prefer to go first and catch Senga, but he couldn’t chance her not getting out in time.  
    He lifted her onto the windowsill, her legs dangling outside. “The snow will catch you. Doona wait on me. Run to the stables and hide. I’ll be right behind you.”  
    “And if you’re not?”  
    He smoothed a lock of hair from her face and wished he could wipe the worry from her puckered brow. “I will be. Now go.”  
    She stared at him a moment longer before jumping. He held his breath until she rose from the snow and ran to the stable. Nothing followed her. The eerie silence of the town told him something was very wrong.  
    He couldn’t worry about that now. He had to get to Senga. Keiran put first one leg, then the other out the window. Just as he was about to jump something banged against the door hard. The fall was quick. He jumped to his feet as soon as he could and followed Senga’s tracks to the stable. Their chance to pack food for the trip was gone, and as long as the Tnarg was this close, they weren’t safe.  
    He closed the stable doors behind him and let out a breath. “Senga?”  
    “Here,” she called and rose to her feet in a stall. “I’m here, Keiran.”  
    “We doona have time to waste. There’s something wrong with the town.”  
    She walked from the stall and dusted off her hands, her brow furrowed. “I think they’re all dead.”  
    “How could we no’ have heard anything?”  
    She shrugged. “The village is usually bustling by now. There is no one about.   It’s the only explanation.”  
    “Unless they sense the creature and are keeping to their houses.”  
    “Let’s hope,” she said and looked around her. “Should we take horses?”  
    He shook his head. “They willna move any quicker in the deep snow.”  
    Keiran saw her shaking and drew her into his arms.   If only he’d recognized her as his mate last night they could’ve