Free A Knight's Temptation by Catherine Kean

clothes. Others were delivering punches and kicks in the ongoing brawl. Surrounded by smoke, the thugs looked almost demonic. Yet she was running out of chances to escape.
    Aldwin’s footsteps quickened. No doubt he hoped to be away from the fighting as soon as possible. She had to act now .
    “Help!” Leona cried again. She grabbed handfuls of Aldwin’s cloak, scrambling to find his belt again. He wore his dagger on his right side. That meant the sack of coins was on his left.
    Aldwin grunted in warning, but she clawed her hands into his tunic. “Help me! Please.”
    “Oy!” a thug called. “You there. What ye doin’ ta that wensssch?”
    With shivers of relief and panic, she realized the man was addressing Aldwin.
    “Help me!” she cried. “He plans to kill me.”
    “Indeed,” Aldwin muttered in a voice only she could hear, “I am sorely tempted to strangle you.”
    “Put ’er down,” another man shouted, while the sounds of fist fighting quieted.
    Aldwin halted. He must have felt her hand skating across his belt, but he ignored her. Turning to face the men—which meant she couldn’t see them anymore—he said, “Put her down?” He laughed. “I paid good money for a tumble with this strumpet.”
    Several thugs muttered.
    “What?” Leona spluttered.
    “Ish that ssshhho?” another man shouted.
    “She is a feisty one,” Aldwin said. “Enjoys a bit of drama, I am told. Likes to pretend she is a lady carried off by her lusty lover.”
    More raucous laughter.
    Leona kicked her legs, heedless of the draft wafting up her skirt. “He is lying! Please! Help me.” Her fingers bumped the coin bag. She tugged it from Aldwin’s belt. “He has silver! Help me, and the money is yours.”
    Strong fingers snatched the bag from her hand. Before she could say one word, she heard the silver jingle, then the clink-clink-clink of coins landing on the dirt.
    “Drinks for all of you,” Aldwin yelled. Over hearty roars, she heard the men scrambling for the coins. No doubt Aldwin had tossed enough for drinks to render them all daft, so they’d be of no help to Twig and Sir Reginald when they searched for her.
    “My friends,” Aldwin said, “the lady and I do not wish to be disturbed.”
    “We will not interrupt ye,” one drunkard said with a rude cackle.
    “Not unlesshhh we can ’ave a go with ’er,” another yelled.
    “Nay,” Leona choked.
    “This one is all mine.” Aldwin’s tone held menace. “Remember, if anyone asks, you did not see us.”
    “Ssshee who?” another man said, to bawdy laughter.
    Leona groaned.
    Spinning around again, Aldwin continued toward the forest. Again, she fought him, trying to wriggle free of his grasp, but he didn’t lessen his grip the slightest bit.
    The smoke and firelight thinned, giving way to darkness lit by a weak moon. Unable to change her position, exhausted from her struggles, Leona stared down at the rocky dirt passing beneath Aldwin’s boots. Somehow, she had to find a way to let Twig and Sir Reginald know where to search for her. Taking hold of the end of her braid, she untied the bit of leather and dropped it to the ground.
    Dirt gave way to a verge of grass and weeds, and then ferns growing alongside trees and brush. The scents of mold and rotting leaves rose up from the damp earth. A night creature rustled in the undergrowth, an unseen hunter stalking prey.
    Leona yanked on the cloak. “Where are you taking me?”
    Fallen branches snapped beneath Aldwin’s boots. He didn’t answer, but kept walking.
    “What are you going to do?” She whacked him with her fist. “Are you listening? If you do not answer me—”
    A breathy snort sounded, followed by the metallic tinkle of a bridle. His horse was tethered in the forest shadows.
    Aldwin’s strides slowed. Oh, God. Did he mean to throw her to the ground, kill her, take the pendant, and ride away? Or—an even more unsettling thought—did he mean to shove her up onto his horse and gallop away with