The Key (#1 of Anna Kippling Series) Paranormal romance by A.D. Duling Read Online Free PDF Page B

from above her. She quickly jumped up to her feet and looked
up; she could see him dangling from one of the bird’s talons,
trying to wiggle free.
    She looked around for the horse, but the
animal was nowhere in sight. She then remembered her dagger and
pulled it out. The loud screech came again; the Falcon had already
circled around. As it neared she could see that both talons were
now empty.
    “Hayden!” She screamed and quickly looked
around for him, but he she couldn’t find him! The bird screeched
again and dived.
    Without any hesitation she charged towards
the bird with her dagger raised and leapt into the air. She
screamed and the birds grab her. A faint cry came from behind her,
but she never heard it!
    The bird’s claws clenched tightly around her
midsection, her side burned from where its nails cut into it. She
stabbed the dagger into its leg and the bird shrilled in pain;
slightly releasing its hold on her. She quickly grabbed onto its
leg and climbed up it; pulling her dagger out as she did. She
grabbed a fist full of its feathers and climbed up to its front.
She thrust the dagger deep into the breast of the bird and the
creature screeched again! Then both hurtled back down towards the
ground.
    Before they slammed into the surface, she
leapt off and tucked herself into a roll. She tumbled away from it
and rolled to her side. She sat up and looked over at the bird; it
lay a few yards away, apparent of no life. She slowly got to her
feet and walked over to it.
    Hayden rode up behind her and dismounted the
horse. He walked over and stood next to her; looking at the
bird.
    “Are you alright?” he asked calmly. She
nodded. He grabbed her shoulders and turned her towards him. “Where
did that come from?” He asked amazed!
    She said nothing and reached down and pulled
the dagger from the animal’s chest. She grabbed the corner of her
dress and wiped it off.
    He silently watched her put it away; she
looked back up at him. “Are you alright Anna?” he asked her
again.
    She at first nodded, but then shook her
head. “I thought you were dead…” she whimpered.
    He wrapped his arms around her and pulled
her close to him. The adrenaline had worn off and reality was now
sinking in; she started to tremble and sobs quickly followed. He
gently rubbed her back as she cried; to comfort her.

Chapter 6
     
    H ayden guided the horse along and searched for a secluded area
to make camp for the night. Just beyond, he spotted a grove of
trees and directed them towards it. He climbed down and grabbed the
reign and tied it to a nearby tree branch. Anna climbed down and
untied the blanket. She carried it over to a tree and laid it out.
She sat down and leaned back against the tree.
    Hayden dug inside the saddle bag and pulled
out a jug of water and a satchel. He then walked over and joined
her on the blanket. He untied the satchel and pulled out a few
slices of bread and some jerky for them.
    She grabbed the jug and pulled out the cork;
she took a big gulp of it and handed it over to him.
    “ Wait until we get to my
home, the food is definitely better than this!” He took a drink
from it.
    She nodded and took another bite from her
bread. A light breeze mussed her hair, blowing a strand of it into
her face. She reached up and softly brushed it away.
    “Anna, what made you go after that Falcon
like that?” he asked her.
    She shrugged her shoulders, “I don’t know. I
guess when it came back and I didn’t see you and thought you were
dead.” She looked over at him, “I wanted to kill it!” She looked
down at her dress and wiped the crumbs off it, “I wasn’t even
afraid; I don’t even know how I did what I did!”
    He leaned over and lifted her chin with his
fingers, tears were in her eyes. “No one really knows their true
potential, until it is challenged. Anna this is just a glimpse of
what you are capable of!”
    “ I only came here because
of my grandmother’s journals…I only wanted to ask a few questions!
I