Free The Sentinel Keeper (Forest Series) by Sarah Kent Page B

altar and into the earth below.
     
    She was helpless, about to die. Great hot tears ran down her face.
     
    No frikking way I will die here tonight, she thought.
     
    Her fingers moved into the loose skirt and closed on the dagger. She held it tightly as he moved closer, so close now she could feel the icy breath coming from the hole of his mouth. She watched as he lifted his arms, the stone dagger in both hands.
     
    Her hands were steady and focused as her eyes flew open. With a scream of rage she sat up and plunged the dagger straight into his chest.
     
    The Dark Lord froze and the stone dagger fell from his hand, clattering onto her legs. Beth did not wait around. Whirling she launched herself off the altar and hit out for him with a bone-shattering kick. But the little guy was faster than her and in a puff of air he moved beyond her grasp. A deafening shriek filled the cathedral. The tiny figure grew in size as the scream grew louder, filling the air with its rage. Beth shrunk back covering her ears. She knew she needed to grab a weapon, but the deathly pitch of the rising sound froze her.  It ripped into her and stripped all though from her mind, and all movement from her limbs. It was making her blood run cold. It was a deathly, dread horror of a noise, and Beth felt a warm spurt as blood ran out of her nose and down her lip.
     
    With an unholy flash of red light he launched himself at her across the room and Beth knew that she was facing the end.  She had thought she could would outwit him, but all along she had know that she may lose this fight. But in a way she had nothing to lose. Her only regret was losing Melchior and his green eyes that saw into her soul.
     
    The death she had foreseen all along was finally upon her.
     
    Beth closed her eyes.
     
    Then a hand grabbed out for her, shoving her out of the way of the charging figure.
    Melchior stood there, his hair blazing with fire and a massive sword outstretched in his arms. She watched as he stepped in front of the charging figure and with a great swing of the blade, he cut off its head.
     
    Beth staggered to her feet as he swung around to face her. God he was wild. His sheer power almost stopped her heart. His proud eyes were wild, raging green orbs that Beth could see held the knowledge of ages in them. He walked towards her, his face a riot of rage and concern as he scanned her face, then wiped the blood from her mouth with his hand.
     
    Then he dragged her into his arms.

CHAPTER 17
     
    They stood in the silence of the Cathedral holding each other when Beth sensed a presence. Standing before her was a tall austere man, his white robes floating behind him as he seemed to float a few inches off the ground. She felt Melchior tense before he turned and faced the man.
     
    “Priest,” he said.
    The man nodded.
    “Warrior Lord,” he replied. 
     
    Beth tried to inch away, but Melchior arm tightened around her, holding her close to his side.
    The Priest’s eyes moved to her.
    “Dreamwalker,” he said.
    Beth smiled at him.
    “Beth Price,” she said putting out her hand.
     
    “Beth Price,” he said, ignoring her hand but focusing his full attention on her.
     
    “You came here today to kill the Dark Lord.”
    Beth nodded.
    “It wasn’t planned or anything,” she said. “It just happened in a way. I just knew what I had to do.”
    She felt Melchior tense beside her as the Priest held her gaze. He nodded.
     
    “That is a great sacrifice.”
    Beth swallowed. “It was what I had to do,” she said.
    “A great sacrifice,” he said again.
     
    This time Beth just nodded.
    “And sacrifice must be rewarded. It is the way of the Gods,” he said.
     
    “You may return to your life and we will shield you from others like him as long as you live on this earth.”
     
    Beth stood for a moment as his words sunk in.
     
    Then before she could speak she heard the door open behind her and footsteps. Without turning she knew it was Shara and the