Midnight's Warrior by Donna Grant Read Free Book Online Page B

since Tara had run away, but he’d never gotten close enough to her. They were only about forty miles away from Dunnoth Tower. That was on the fringes of where the spell could reach, but it was worth a try.
    Anticipation grew as the spell reached out its fingers and searched for the one he sought. He poured more of his black magic into the spell, urging it to search harder, farther.
    And then he smiled as it found her.
    “Tara,” he whispered.
    *   *   *
    “Tara.”
    Tara bolted upright in the bed as Declan’s voice echoed in her mind. Her heart pounded in her ears as her stomach fell to her feet.
    She had heard him, as clearly as if he had been standing beside her. Tara, still fully dressed, looked around her room. She must have fallen asleep because the light was still on, and it proved she was alone.
    At least in her room.
    She swallowed, trying to wet her now-dry mouth as she ran her hands up and down her arms. Declan was close, possibly at the castle somewhere. There was no more time to waste. Tara had to leave.
    A glance outside told her she wouldn’t be leaving in her car. There was no way she would make it on the road, much less out of the castle’s drive.
    “Damn,” she muttered as she jumped from the bed.
    Tara opened her window, thankful she was on the bottom floor. She gasped as the frigid air slammed into her. Her teeth chattered, but her coat and scarf were in the entryway. And she wasn’t about to brave the dark corners of the castle to try and reach it if Declan was there.
    With her shoulders set, Tara sat on the windowsill and swung her legs over. She slid off the sill and sank into snow that now reached almost to her hips. It took some effort, but she was finally able to close the window.
    She was soon shivering as she looked around. The clouds hid the moon, which would thankfully hide her, but it also meant there was no light to help her find her way to the road.
    Tara shuddered as the thick snow continued to fall. It clung to her hair and eyelashes, making it even more difficult to see. But she wasn’t going to give up. Declan might be hunting her, but she wouldn’t ever stop running.
    The snow quickly penetrated her jeans, and she wasn’t even twenty steps away from the castle. Desperation kicked in. Tara used extra effort to try and walk through the dense, hip-high snow.
    She worked her way around the castle to the driveway where the snow shouldn’t be nearly as thick. It was a huge chance, because if Declan was there, he might see her. But if she didn’t get away from the castle, he’d catch her soon enough.
    Tara could see the driveway, but no matter how desperately she wanted to reach it, her body was exhausted. Her knees buckled and she fell face-first in the snow.
    As much as she wanted to lie there and catch her breath, Tara pushed herself up and started forward. She heard what sounded like a crunch of a shoe on the snow, so she halted and listened.
    For several moments she didn’t move. There was no other sound, and even though she looked around she didn’t see anything. But she knew something was out there.
    Tara continued on until she reached the edge of the castle. Across the drive was Ramsey’s cottage. She could go to him, ask him for help, but as soon as the thought entered her mind she dismissed it.
    She checked to make sure there were no lights on in the cottage before she made a dash to the driveway. She had taken just two steps when a large form stepped in front of her.
    A scream lodged in her throat, and a hand quickly covered her mouth.
    “Tara,” Ramsey whispered in her ear as he pulled her against him. “It’s me.”
    She nodded her head as she found herself clinging to him.
    “Shite, you’re shivering.”
    The adrenaline spike as well as the cold air had her body shaking uncontrollably.
    Without asking her permission, he lifted her in his arms and stalked to his cottage.
    “Fool of a woman running around in such weather without a coat. Are you trying