Free Lycan Warrior by Anastasia Maltezos Page A

horse.
    “Remember, my friend, scout the area,” Prince Vasilis said. “Do not engage in battle. This caravan is no match for Balkathan’s army of monsters.”
    Malek looked down at the prince. “Aye, Your Highness.” Malek was well aware of the plan, and he refrained from reminding the prince they had gone over it twenty times because he knew Vasilis was worried.
    He glanced at the castle doors and gritted his teeth as he watched Katya walk onto the grounds. Even at this distance, he could see her beauty. A thread of tension ran up his spine as he ran his gaze over her body dressed in tight, black warrior garb. He couldn’t explain it, but since he first laid eyes on her last week, every time he looked upon her, his heart thudded. He gritted his teeth and turned his head away from her as he tightened his grip on his reins.
    “What is it?” Vasilis asked.
    Malek motioned his head toward Katya. “You know how I feel about the wench coming along with us.”
    “You need her on this scouting mission. She will show you where Balkathan’s lair is.”
    Malek’s inner wolf was telling him otherwise. “She will be a distraction. My men can’t take their eyes off her.”
    Vasilis raised a dark brow. “Are you talking about that same woman who escaped from Balkathan’s prison last month? Have you seen her in weapons practice, my friend? She felled not one, but all the guards in training yesterday afternoon. They can’t take their eyes off her because they admire her, not lust after her.”
    Malek’s thoughts went to last night when he’d heard about her combat skills. He had been having ale with Vasilis and his men in the Great Hall. The guards had been praising her prowess with the sword, but when the conversation had taken a turn to her beauty, Malek had risen abruptly and had retired to his chambers. For some reason, he had been disturbed when the guards’ conversation had taken a turn to her sexy curves.
    Grim-faced, he pushed his unsettling train of thoughts to the back of his mind. “I have better things to do than watch her wield a sword.”
    “Well, if you had watched her, you would agree with me when I say she will be more asset than a burden to you on this assignment.”
    “She could draw us a map.”
    “Aye, she can, but as we have already discussed, the lair is camouflaged and the naked eye will miss it. Malek, we wage war on Balkathan in one month. This assignment must be successful. We need to know the terrain before we attack.”
    Malek nodded. Like it or not, the wench was coming.
    “I won’t let you down, Your Highness.”
    Vasilis nodded and Malek watched him stride to the castle entrance to join his royal family where they waited to send the caravan off.
    “Which horse do I ride?”
    Katya’s cool tone snapped his gaze down to her. She was staring up at him with a challenging glint in her dark eyes. Her sweet scent rose up to him and he grimaced, trying to stave the rush of heat invading his loins.
    He gestured to the black steed next to his. “This one.”
    Tossing him an indifferent look, Katya marched to her horse and lifted herself in the saddle. His glance dropped to her backside and the aroused heat invading his loins mounted. Grimacing, he flicked his rein and the caravan of twenty guards followed him off the royal grounds.
    Malek couldn’t acknowledge the friendly waves and cheers of the villagers lining the road because he was too tense with his awareness of Katya riding stiffly beside him. Her feminine scent wafted around him and his loins tightened. Dammit, he’d been without a female for too long.
    How else could he explain this inexplicable rush of attraction he had for someone he thought was a threat to the castle?
     
    * * * *
     
    Damn him!
    She slid an indiscreet look to her left and saw him gripping his reins so tightly, his knuckles showed white. A rise of self pity almost choked her and she bit back on a sob.
    Damn him!
    As far as first impressions went, Malek had