Twice Upon a Time by Olivia Cunning Read Free Book Online Page B

ebony-skinned man straddling Lara's body on the bed had one had wrapped around her throat; the other held a knife poised over her chest. Both of Lara's hands were gripping his wrist to keep the blade from plunging into her heart as she tried to suck air beneath her assailant’s hand. Her arms trembled as her strength waned. The knife inched downward. Reece barely had time to register the man's serene expression before he sprang onto the bed and kicked the assassin in the side of the head. The man fel sideways and tumbled to the floor, but quickly climbed to his feet, shaking his head to clear his senses.
    Reece reached for Lara. “Are you okay?”
    “Look out!” she screamed.
    Reece moved just in time to avoid a heavy fist to the side of the head. He used the momentum to drive a punch into the other man's stomach, catching him off guard, and then took the attacker by the back of the head and drove his face downward onto his knee. The man fell to the floor unconscious. Reece bent down to take the knife from the man's hand. He was sorely tempted to shove it between his ribs, but he no longer solved his problems that way. Not since Lara had come into his life.
    Reece went to check on Lara who was sobbing uncontrol ably. She crashed into his chest as she sought comfort. He drew her near, stroking her soft hair.
    “He tried to kil me,” she gasped. “He was so strong. I couldn't stop him.”
    “You're safe now,” he said, dropping a tender kiss on her forehead. She'd almost been killed right in front of him. He hugged her. He could not al ow anything to happen to her. He wouldn't be able to live through her death more than once.
    The man on the floor groaned. Reece released Lara and kicked the man in the ribs.
    He then put his foot on the man's throat. “Who sent you to kil Farima?” Reece asked, his voice only half as cold as his heart felt at the moment. He leaned forward, putting more of his weight on his foot. The man choked. “Tell me who sent you.” There was a flash of metal, and Reece expected the knife the man had been hiding to end up through the instep of his foot, but instead the assassin stabbed himself through his open mouth and into his own brainstem. He went limp, instantly dead.
    Lara screamed. Reece stepped away from the dead man on the floor and pulled Lara from the edge of the bed, dragging her to the far side of the room. She clung to him, sobbing against his chest harder now than before. He held her against him, murmuring soothing words under his breath, until several guards entered the room.
    They took in the scene before them and one of them raced out of the room, apparently to find additional help. Two of the guards checked on the dead assassin. Another approached Reece.
    “Is the princess safe?” the man asked.
    Reece nodded. “Just frightened and maybe a little bruised.” The dark man nodded. “That man is one of the Kadins' eunuchs,” he said. “I'm certain the governor will wish to speak with his mistress.” The Kadin. The first wife of a harem. Was that who was threatening Farima? The governor better do more than speak to her or Reece would take matters in his own hands—assuming history al owed him to intervene. He knew from past experience that he couldn’t change history even if he wanted to. At least not in a way that would have an effect on the future. Reece nodded again. “I'd like to take the princess away from this room until the body is removed. Perhaps there is a different room she could use that has a bit less blood on the floor.”
    “The room next door is vacant,” the man said.
    Reece lifted Lara into his arms and carried her out to the bathing pavilion before entering the neighboring suite. This one was just as opulent as the first. Reece carried Lara to a divan and set her down. When he stood to retrieve a sheet to wrap around her nude body, she clung to his hand.
    “Don't leave me alone,” she pleaded.
    “I won't let you out of my sight,” he