Claimed By A Charmer (The Pith Trilogy) by Kara Griffin Read Free Book Online Page A

waiting for Candace to
get on her horse.
    “That’s if I ever make it home,”
Candace said.
    “You’ll be fine.” Isabel hugged her
then pushed her toward her horse.
    “Candace, come. You’ll make it
home, I promise.” Douglas said, to ward off her hesitancy.
    “I’m coming, Douglas.” Candace mounted
her horse and looked distressed.
    Douglas waved to the Gordons then
he looked at Isabel. She waved goodbye to Candace and walked to the gate. Even
as Douglas rode away, Isabel smiled at the thought of seeing him again.

Chapter Six
     
     
    Raven’s Hill Castle
    Nottinghamshire, England
    May 1221
     
    The corridor’s flickering torches
barely provided enough light to see by, but Isabel knew the way. She could hear
Nigel’s footsteps on the cobbles behind her. He laughed harshly and called to
her.
    “Isabel, Isabel.”
    If she could only make it to her
chamber and lock the door before he caught her.
    “Isabel, come, can you not tell how
much you excite me?”
    She gasped, hearing him close in on
her. Her heart pounded hard in her chest and she couldn’t breathe from running
so fast. Almost there, she thought, just a few more steps.
    “I feel your fear, Isabel, aye it
makes me want ye. Cease running.”
    She ran faster, but he was on her
heels. Her door was only a step away, but she tripped on a cobble, landing on
her knees. The pain of her scraped knees was forgotten when she glanced behind
her, and saw his form outlined in darkness. Nigel laughed snidely when he
reached her. Isabel kicked out at him, striking his thigh. He pulled her by her
neck with both hands fastened around her throat.
    She grabbed his arms, trying to remove
his hands from her neck, but she wasn’t strong enough to gain her release.
Nigel lifted her and her feet dangled. A prayer crossed her mind, knowing she
would die.
    “Hold still, I won’t choke ye. If you
don’t cease resisting me, I won’t hesitate to kill you.”
    She cried out when he released her,
letting her fall to the stones. Isabel sucked in air, barely able to draw
breath.
    He grasped her hair, pulling her to
stand. “I just want a little entertainment, Isabel. I won’t hurt ye.”
     “Pray, Nigel, please release me.” She
kicked him again, her knee striking his abdomen, causing him to fall against
the wall. He dropped her to the floor. Isabel tried to crawl away, but he
clutched her foot, dragging her back.
    “You dare strike me? I’ll be lord
one day, and you will learn to do my will,” Nigel shouted.
    She lay on the floor tucked into a
defensive position, hoping to ward off his attack. He threw himself on top of
her body—nothing would stop him now. Nigel struck her jaw, knocking her
senseless. Isabel lay unmoving, barely conscious. Her ears rang and her eyes
couldn’t focus. Pain shot through her jaw and she couldn’t move her mouth.
Darkness came and Isabel escaped the terror.
    “Come now, I didn’t kill ye with
that light tap.”
    He picked her body off the floor,
and carried her to his chamber door. “I planned this for so long, and finally,
I will have ye.” He rubbed his hands together in anticipation, laughing while
running his hands over her arm.
    She lay unmoving.
    “What are you doing, Nigel? What
the hell! You cur.”
    Isabel could hear voices, but she
daren’t open her eyes. She was fearful of what she would see. Her eyes began
tearing, so much so everything became blurry when she peeked. She knew her
younger brother was inside the room now. All she could think of was warning
Nathaniel to leave lest he be hurt too. Her chest racked with shutters from
crying, and she couldn’t for the life of her speak.
    “Get out, Nate, leave us.”
    “You’ll not use her like that.” Nathaniel
turned and yelled into the corridor. “Father, come quickly. Father!”
    Nate walked to Nigel and grabbed
his arm. He flung him off the bed, onto the floor.
    Her father entered the room a
minute later, she heard his voice.
    “What’s the matter, Nathaniel?