Prince of Love by Donna Grant Read Free Book Online

words were spoken as she crawled beneath the covers and Sorin took up post in a corner near the window.   There was nothing left to say for the moment.    
    Somehow, despite all she had learned, she was able to find sleep knowing he was there. Yet, when she opened her eyes with the morning sun, Sorin was gone.  
    The disappointment she felt was swift and sharp.   This would be what it felt like if she refused to go with him.   If she remained, so would he.   He would never see his family again.   And they would die.
    “This isn’t fair to either of us,” Katrina said as she looked at the empty corner where he’d been during the night.
     
    * * * *
     
    Sorin waited until the streets began to fill before he moved away from his post beneath Katrina’s window. He spent the night watching her sleep, replaying their conversation over and over in his head. His body yearned to feel her beneath him again. Her soft cries of pleasure had been music to his ears, and he could easily spend the day making love to her. But she needed time, time they didn’t have.  
    And he needed her.  
    He had seen her face. The thought of leaving her family forever was not something she could do. He wished he had more time to woo her, to convince her that they were meant to be together. But time wasn’t on his side.  
    Already he could feel the countdown to the fifth moon of the harvest year. He had lied when he said he had two months before he had to return. It was less than a month, but he hadn’t wanted to worry her more than she already was.  
    All he could do now was give her a day or so to think while he hunted the Tnarg. If the Tnarg was dead and she decided to return with him to Drahcir, their way would be considerably less dangerous.  
    In the light of day, the Tnarg wouldn’t venture into the heart of the city, which is where he prayed Katrina stayed.   It would give him some peace of mind while he retrieved his sword.   He had numerous other weapons, but his sword was important to him. He and his father had made the weapon, so to lose it would be like losing a part of his father.  
    Sorin took one last look at Katrina’s window and moved off through the streets. The sky was gray with storm clouds. He prayed the storm held off until he could find the Tnarg. The rain would only send everyone indoors and make it easier for the Tnarg to attack Katrina.  
    He found another horse at the edge of the city. After a quick look around, Sorin untied the animal and vaulted onto his back. A click from him sent the animal into an easy gallop.   Sorin’s gaze searched the ground for any sign of the Tnarg’s tracks. He circled the city twice before he was sure the beast wasn’t there. Then, he turned to the grove of trees.  
    With his thoughts jumbled, he walked the horse to the grove, hoping along the way he could figure out a way to persuade Katrina to return with him. Thunder rumbled in the distance as the wind began to bend the trees and whistle over the ground. Out of the corner of his eye he saw something move. He jerked his head around, but it was too late.  
    The Tnarg was fast and stayed out of sight as much as possible. But Sorin knew the beast was there. Waiting.  
    When Sorin walked the mare to the trees, the horse refused to go in.   She sidestepped, jerking her head up and down as her eyes rolled wildly.  
    “Easy, lass,” Sorin murmured as he dismounted and patted the horse on the neck. “I doona want to be here either. Go back to your master,” he said and turned the horse toward the city.   He gave the mare a slap on her rump that sent her galloping away.  
    Then with a sigh, he looked into the trees.  
    Before he could hunt the creature, he needed his sword. He stepped into the wood and noted the absolute silence. No crickets or birds made a sound, for evil was near. He walked as silent as a ghost through the dense trees. The thick layer of pine needles and the wind quieted his steps as he moved to