Zosia is the last of her line. The other part of the legend is that if Auralia’s line falls, so will the country she founded. It’s kind of important that we find her.
So annoying how so many of the legends omit that part about the sisters, not that it’s my biggest concern at the moment.
My biggest problem right now is getting away from that monster and the fuck out of this hellscape. The instant the leaves stop quivering, I bolt in the opposite direction, moving as quietly as I can.
Never thought runningtowardswar would be the better option. Yet here I am. Running towards danger. Again.
We can afford to lose me. I’m the descendent of a lesser goddess. I have two younger sisters, a multitude of cousins, and aunts galore. Unlike Zosia, I’m not essential. Still, I’d rather not be lost. I’m looking forward to being coronated eventually. I’ve had a couple of years of fun, but I’ve been ready to settle down for a while. Lorcan, however, refused my marriage proposal, and then war broke out, and now—
A hand encircles my waist at the same moment as its partner clamps over my mouth. My back hits a warm, solid wall before I make a sound.
“Quiet,” a man said, in English.
My heart pounds in my ears.Fuck, fuck, fuck.Captured by one of the pirates? Shit, no. I’ve seen what they do to women. I'm not going out that way.
He drags me backwards several feet. There’s a rush of movement in the trees. A second large animal is moving through the undergrowth.
The instant it’s gone, I bite down hard on my captor’s hand. I only manage to latch onto a scrap of the fleshy part, so I make it count.
He grunts and tightens his hold around my waist. Fortunately, Lorcan taught me how to fight hard and dirty—and I’ve had plenty of practice over the last several weeks.Turn your weaknesses into strengths.He’s not the biggest guy in the world, and he has a lot of experience with winning when he’s outmatched.
I pray he’s alive, and channel his ferocity.
I slam my elbow into my attacker’s ribs. He’s ready for that move, but not for the way I stomp on his foot and throw my head back, hitting his chin with the back of my head. Double elbows to the ribs, a grunt, and I’m free.
I make it all of five steps.
My assailant takes a flying leap and tackles me to the ground. I roll and knee him in the stomach. He gets ahold of my wrists andflipsover me, rolling softly on his back, out of reach of my legs, still gripping my forearms.
That’s not a pirate move. They’re strong, but generally untrained in hand-to-hand combat.
“You fucking bastard,” I hiss, twisting to look at him.
Our eyes meet. I blink. He’s beautiful. Wide, dark eyes fringed with the longest lashes I’ve ever seen. Full lips and a sloped nose. Black hair cropped close around his head and smooth, umber skin.
I blink again, then torque upward trying to kick him in that gorgeous face.
He releases me, so I wind up rolling up to standing instead. The world spins slightly as I regain my balance. Too late.
The pirate gets ahold of my arm and yanks it high up behind my back. I hook his ankle and fall, ignoring the pain in my shoulder and taking him down with me. After a scuffle, I get on top of him, pinning him to the dirt with all my body weight. Getting an opponent on the floor is the best way for a smaller opponent to subdue a larger one. How many times have I practiced this with Lorcan—
—except my friend never got a boner when we were sparring.
This guy’s dick is definitely hard, prodding me in a sensitive spot.
“Are you fucking kidding me?” I demand in Auralian, panting hard. “You're turned on by this?”
I’m surprisingly turned on, myself. Must be the sweaty fight.
“It’s not every day I get my ass handed to me by a gorgeous stranger,” he says in my language. “Marry me?”
What the fuck?
I pull back my arm and try to deck him. He catches my fist in one hand and holds it. His hands are a lot bigger than mine. His bicep pops. There’s a bright blue leather strap tied above it. His eyes are alight with mirth. I’m straddling his hips, with his erection beneath my butt, my knee on his free arm, holding him down with all my weight and willpower.
Again—a hold I’ve used on Lorcan a hundred times without similar results. I chalked it up to his being a gentleman. But the truth is, he wasn’t attracted to me. He’d already found his true love. Zosia.
Reila above, I hope they’re okay.
