Free The Lethal Flame (Flame Series) by Angie Arms Page A

raised his sword to plunge it into him she did not hesitate but drove her own into the man’s back.  Surprised gray-green eyes looked up at her as Damien lunged to his feet, grabbing up a sword. 
    Back to back they fought.  She felt in sync with the man as he pivoted, she pivoted, always keeping their backs nearly touching, the enemy never having a chance to take out one before the other turned on them.  It seemed as if they fought that way for hours.  Keri’s arms grew heavy, her will to stay on her feet faltered.  “Stand together,” the voice broke through the noise.  It was out of breath, nearly weak from the exertion but still filled with the authority of a leader. 
    She found more strength in it and doubled her efforts.  “Together!” shouted the gravelly voice of Cyrille and she saw him on top his black horse crashing into the enemy as they fell under the mighty war horse’s hooves.  Up to their side, the man’s sword doing as much damage as the horse.  A vise closed around her, bringing her attention back to the man who lunged toward her, sword raised but it was the sword that came from over her shoulder, slicing through the air beside her ear that met him and drove him onto his knees and to death.
    The heavy arms didn’t leave her but wrapped around her more, the tip of Damien’s bloody sword rested in the dirt.  The battle was over and Damien and his men were the victors.  She turned in his arms and he allowed her, but did not release his grip on her.  She stood against him, his strength holding her up his arms wrapped around her naked body.  Someone brought a cloak and draped it around her but still Damien did not release her.  He leaned on her heavily, his head against hers and she heard the pain filled pants as they wheezed from inside his helm.
    “Cyrille!  Cyrille!” she yelled as Damien’s body grew heavier.   Suddenly the other man was there, yanking his brother’s helmet from his head.  His hair was caked to his head by the sweat and it rolled down his face.  It was the paleness of it that made unexplainable fear twist her gut.
    Rough hands shoved her away as Cyrille grabbed hold of his brother and kept him from crumbling to the ground.  “She has a sword,” Edwin said yanking it from her hands. 
    “Take her to the dungeon,” Cyrille’s angry voice cut through all the other noises as he lifted his brother’s body and toted him in a different direction.
    It was Roland who stepped forward to follow Cyrille’s order.  When she tried to shrink away he yanked her up by her chains and her feet barely touched the ground as he dragged her away.  She screamed and fought, unmindful now that she had not a stitch of clothing on she was only filled with the fear they thought she had fought Damien.  Roland shoved her so hard into the wall of the dungeon she saw stars.  When her head cleared it was to find her hands chained above her head as she sat in the dirt.  “Damien should have burned you with the rest of the rebels at Langley,” he hissed before turning and leaving her there in the dark.
    This prison was far different than Langley’s.  Rarely did those get used but here was the stench of death, rotting corpses and the yells of those still being held.  She sat quietly, her body shaking as much from the fear as the cold dampness.  Would they burn the walls down around her?  This wasn’t a wooden fortress like Staward, it was stone as Langley was.  The fires would be hot to bring the stone down but still it probably would not burn here.  The hole would most likely remain intact and be buried beneath the rubble.  Would the smoke kill her, the heat, or her own fear that built within her each time she drew breath?

Chapter 4
    Cyrille half carried Damien as his brother’s weak legs struggled to help.  Up the stone stairs Bryce led the way, his sword at the ready should anyone try to attack their little group.  Cyrille’s gravelly voice cut through the fear that