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warriors descended on him and she feared for his life. Suddenly, out of nowhere Bog appeared, taking one warrior down, his fangs buried in the back of the warrior’s neck. In quick succession, Paine downed two more warriors, one with his weapon and the other with the spear while the last warrior went for Bog, spear in hand. Bog was faster. He launched himself at the warrior, his mouth closing around the wrist that held the spear. The warrior delivered a hard blow to Bog’s side, but the animal refused to let go of him. Before he could deliver another stinging blow, Paine brought his axe down on the warrior.
    Paine stepped around the fallen warriors and over to the tree, resting his battle axe against the side. “Hurry and drop down,” he called up.
    Anin hurried to the lower branch and looked down.
    He held out his arms. “We have no time to waste. There could be more warriors on the way. Trust me. I will catch you.”
    Anin had no choice. She took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and stepped off the branch.
    “You can open your eyes now.”
    Anin did, his blue eyes staring back at her and his strong arms tight around her.
    “You are safe with me. I will always be there to protect you and catch you when needed.”
    A flutter settled deep inside her and without thinking she rested her hand to his chest and said, “That is truly kind of you.”
    He stared at her a moment before saying, “I am not kind. I do what the King commands.” He placed her down on the ground and hastily grabbed his battle axe. “We must go and keep a fast pace.”
    Anin had many questions on her mind, but she knew now was not the time to ask them. Besides, something else troubled her. Something she could not speak with him about. Though, she asked with concern as he hurried her away, “Is Bog well?”
    “He has suffered worse. He will be fine.”
    She looked at the wolf that had once again taken a position behind her and said, “You are a brave one.”
    His response was a low growl.
    The pace that Paine set was far faster than she expected, but then the prospect of more Drust warriors attacking them kept her going without complaint. She thought or perhaps hoped there would be no time to think, but she was wrong. She could not stop her thoughts from drifting to what she had felt when she had foolishly rested her hand to his chest.
    The emptiness was still there, only now there was a stirring of sorts. It was faint, but it was there. She had felt it. She had also felt it in herself and she feared what it might mean.

Chapter Four
    Paine watched Anin drop to the ground exhausted. She sat there for a few moments staring at the stream a few feet away. She had to be aching to drink from it. He certainly was after the difficult pace they had kept. Bog was already drinking himself full.
    He warned himself to let her be, she would make her way to the stream given time. She was stronger than she looked and stronger than what some thought of her. She might not have her mother’s height or warrior’s body, but she had strength none the less. She would have never survived the day if she had not been strong. Besides, it was not for him to worry about. His task was to deliver her safely to King Talon.
    Her soft groan sent a twist to his middle that annoyed him. He had cared nothing for those the King had sent him after. Not so this woman. When she had dropped down out of the tree into his arms, his body had stirred once again, though more strongly this time. He had wanted to let her go and yet he had not wanted to let her go. And he did not know why he had spoken the words he had to her. They seemed to have flowed from his lips of their own accord. It had been her calling him kind that had returned him to his senses.
    He watched her stumble for a few moments as she tried in vain to get to her feet. Finally, he could take no more. He walked over to her and had her up in his arms before her legs gave way beneath her again. He carried her over to the stream