Free A Dark Guardian by Donna Grant

think we should leave this place,” Mina said as she rose from her chair.

    “That thing won’t stop with just your village,” Cole said. “He has his own mission.”

    “Cole,” Hugh said to stop him, but it was too late.

    Mina took a step toward the door where Cole stood. “What mission?”

    “They are out to kill every person they encounter,” Cole answered her.

    Hugh found Mina’s gaze turned to him. “Is it true?” she asked.

    He nodded solemnly.

    “But you know of a way to stop it.”

    He sighed, hating these questions. “With every creature we hunt ‘tis different.
    We have never encountered the same creature twice.”

    “In other words, you have no idea how to kill this one.” _Damn, she was perceptive. _ “That’s correct.” She paced the chamber while he watched Gabriel mix more herbs in water for Bernard. Hugh wanted to tell her they could kill it tomorrow, but only a fool would make a promise such as that.

    “Hugh,” Gabriel called. “Help me lift Bernard so I can get this mixture down him.”

    Hugh pushed off the wall and walked to the bed and lifted Bernard. Sweat covered Bernard’s body, and he shook so badly the goblet kept knocking against his teeth. Hugh began to wonder if the baron would survive the addiction.

    In the next instant, the goblet went crashing to the floor as Bernard shoved Gabriel aside. “Ale,” Bernard called. “I need ale. Now!”

    “By the gods, he has strength,” Gabriel said as he immediately began to mix more herbs. “We must get the water down him.”

    “Mina, grab his legs,” Hugh called out as he grabbed one of Bernard’s arms.

    Cole quickly captured Bernard’s other arm before he was able to hit Gabriel while Darrick helped Mina hold Bernard’s legs.

    Even with all four of them practically on top of Bernard, he still fought the water Gabriel tried to give him.

    “What is in the water?” Mina asked.

    “It will aid him past the addiction,” Gabriel explained. “The sooner we get it down him the sooner he will get past it.”

    “Ale,” Bernard murmured.

    Mina bit her lip as Hugh physically opened Bernard’s mouth and Gabriel poured the water down his throat. For a moment, she thought Bernard might choke, but they got him to swallow somehow.

    “I’m not strong enough,” Bernard said as he opened his eyes and looked at Mina.

    She smiled and climbed off his legs. “You were strong enough to begin this, and you will be strong enough to finish it.”

    “You don’t understand, Mina. So many lies,” he said and trembled.

    She pulled the covers around him, thinking he was finally calm.

    “Nay,” he said and swiftly took hold of her arms. He looked over her head to Hugh. “Get her out of here. She needs to be safe. She will die if she stays!”

    “She will be safe,” Hugh’s deep voice said behind her.

    “You don’t understand,” Bernard said, the frustration evident by the lines in his young face. “None of you understand. She can’t stay here any longer.” Before she could say anything, Bernard fell back onto the bed seemingly asleep.
    She rose on shaky legs and turned to face Hugh.

    “I don’t know what he means. This is where I was born and raised. I cannot leave.”

    “Mayhap he just wants to see you safely away from the creature,” Darrick said.

    She looked at her brother, so vulnerable and young on the bed. It would not be too long before he would take a wife. Where would she be then? His new wife wouldn’t allow her to stay for long, and she wasn’t naïve enough to believe she would ever find a husband. But the convent was not for her.

    With her future clouded in unanswered questions, she took Bernard’s hand and resumed her seat by his bed. She would not leave him this night. Not even the creature that still circled the castle could move her.

Chapter Seven
    Hugh watched Mina slowly wake. She had not moved from Bernard’s side all night. She had stayed to help get the healing water down