Free Brutish Lord of Thessaly (Halcyon Romance Series Book 4) by Rachael Slate Page A

you be certain I’ll arrive before him? He may have taken a Portal.”
    “I know.” She caressed his cheek, fingers stroking along his thick locks. “We have to go together. I can lead you to it.”
    “This is a most fool-headed scheme, lass.” He tossed his head.
    “Then we’d better hurry.”
    He seized her hand. “Aye, let’s—”
    “ Argh! ” Lancing pain sliced across her middle and she collapsed onto the ground. She gripped her stomach, warm liquid oozing between her fingers. Fear spiked through her. They were too late. “He’s destroying my well.”
    “Nysa, no!” Oreius’s dark eyes pleaded.
    Another slash cut across her arm and the limb melted into a puddle. She gasped as terror shot through her and clutched at Oreius’s shirt with her remaining hand. “Only you can save me now.”
    Her hand fell limp and she blinked through her tears. “I love you, Oreius.”

No! Oreius howled in helpless frustration while Nysa’s body burst into splattering spurts of water before his eyes.
    There was nothing he could do to save her.
    He shoved his fist into his mouth and bit down on the thousands of curses pouring through his mind. Tears streamed down his cheeks and he blinked through his blurry vision as Nysa’s body succumbed to one final blow, shattering into thousands of liquid crystals.
    He clawed at the grass, the dirt mingling with the water, turning to mud in his hands.
    She’s not here. He forced the words into his mind.
    That scoundrel had struck down her well. But Nysa wasn’t gone. She was a nymph, and bound to the stones which formed her well.
    There was only one way left to save her. Rebuild her well.
    Right. He clenched his hand into a fist and pounded it once into the earth. No way in hell would he stand by while another woman he loved was lost to him.
    Nysa’s destiny wasn’t finished. It was connected to his own.
    “What happened?” Agrius sprinted to his side, slowing as he took in the vanishing puddle.
    Oreius shook his head. “That bastard cut down her well. And now, I’ll do the same to him.”
    Agrius clamped a hand onto his shoulder. “Let’s go, my brother. I will get you across the Lapith border. Eione and I have been using a secret route. It should get you close to where her well is located.”
    “Thank you.” He squeezed his hand on top of Agrius’s, rose, and followed the male to the Portal.
    They traveled through the Portal to Agrius’s castle at South Glen, the closest to Nysa’s well, and then galloped toward the border.
    Agrius had indeed spoken truth. An underground tunnel lay concealed beneath a hillside. He spoke the passwords to release the wards, and the two brothers sprinted along the tunnel. As they neared the entrance into Lapith territory, Oreius slowed. “This is as far as you can come, my brother.” He inclined his head. “You have a mate and a babe. I would not endanger you.”
    Stubborn Agrius frowned, but Oreius held up a hand to halt his arguments. “I will not waiver in this. Eione would fire an arrow at me if I permitted you to come along, and we all know what a great archer she is.”
    Agrius chuckled. “Aye, very well.”
    “Care for my sons. I will return, triumphant.”
    “I have no doubt that you will. May the gods protect you both.” He slapped Oreius on the back. “You’d best hurry.”
    “Thank you.” He embraced Agrius and stole toward the opening. After listening for a minute, he detected only innocuous forest sounds. A bird cheeping. A rush of water.
    He sniffed, and a sweet scent permeated the air, similar to…
    Nysa.
    He dashed out of the tunnel, following the scent of her waters. Though his centaur state would be a risk, he was also able to sprint much faster. The rush of water grew louder and soon he came upon a cascading waterfall.
    Oreius slowed his pace, treading cautiously between the trees forming the dense forest. Senses straining, he tensed, but no one else occupied the woods.
    He passed through a cave behind