A Wanton's Thief by Titania Ladley Page B

rain.
    “Salena, come home,” he roared, his voice echoing in her head as he spurred his horse closer. “You harlot! The Duke of Oxford will never marry you now. Come home, Salena…”
    She saw the sword in his hand too late. With a heinous cackle, Sheldon darted forward, his rapier aimed for Falcon’s chest. Salena looked down in horror, screaming when the blade missed its intended target and plunged into her abdomen. She gasped as the sharp pain of it pierced her, plunging through her body and exiting near her spine. Blood spewed forth. She was suddenly cold, so very cold.
    Falcon cursed. All she could see and hear was Falcon as he gripped her shoulders and kept her from falling off the horse. There was so much blood…
    “Salena.” He shook her. Slumber ebbed from her groggy mind. “Salena! You must awaken.”
    She gulped in air, certain a lung had been penetrated. “Oh, God, help me.” Her throat was dry and scratchy. She forced her eyelids open. “Falcon?”
    He came into focus, the small stable room they’d bedded down in surrounding him. Ah, thank the Lord, she’d been dreaming. Salena sighed, steadying her rapid pulse. She pressed a shaky hand to her belly, only now calming. The imagined pain inflicted by her brother now drifted back into the realm of sleep where it belonged. The frightening experience had been nothing more than a dream. Cold horror faded and she embraced the chill of the room, a space that now felt safe…like a haven from the outside world.
    “Yes, it’s your one and only brigand. Now, you must rise and get dressed. ‘Tis time to flee to safety.”
    “Get dressed? Flee to safety? B-but—”
    “Woman, there is no time for arguments. Your life depends upon your haste.” He dragged her from the bed, a blanket wrapped about her body. “Don your garments this instant!”
    Across the small distance in the room, only embers remained in the hearth. And Lance stood at the door pale-faced. His eyes bulged at the sight of her being snatched from her bed…naked.
    Embarrassment took second place to satisfying her curiosity. “What’s going on?” Her stare settled on Falcon who’d already turned to busy himself with their departure. “I demand to know this instant what has caused you to awaken me from a much-needed rest and command me to rise before I’m ready.” Neither Lance nor Falcon seemed to put forth rationalizations for this abrupt activity, therefore, she would demand them before moving even one inch—brutish rogue or not.
    “Master Sheldon has arrived. He is in a foul mood,” Lance finally offered.
    She whipped her head around to snare Lance with her hungry gaze. Her eyes flared. Hope bloomed in her chest…along with a curious undertone of disappointment she didn’t care to examine. “My brother has come for me?”
    “He may have come for you,” Falcon said as he hurriedly gathered up their belongings and shoved them into his bag. “But he’s not going to get you.” His glittering green eyes fell upon her, making her shiver with trepidation and something altogether volatile that she didn’t care to examine.
    “I’ll decide if I’d like to go home with my brother or not!”
    “Lance, leave us and ready my mount, boy.” His voice came out low, ominous. Salena shivered when he reached into the bag, drew out a silver coin and tossed it to the boy, all without taking those glaring eyes from her. “And not a word, you hear?”
    Lance snatched the coin in midair and grinned. “Aye, sir.” And he was gone.
    “Bribery. You can add that to your list of offenses to be hanged for.” She crossed her arms tight over her midriff, holding the quilt in place.
    But apparently, it was too late. He had her enthralled. The beams from his eyes zapped her so fast she didn’t even have time to blink.
    “You will get dressed now with these.” He reached into the bag and drew out one of her gardening gowns and underthings. “And quickly. Next you will don your boots and your