Free A Dark Guardian by Donna Grant Page A

his throat and soothe him in the long hours of the night.

    But it had taken its toll on her. Dark circles marred her beautiful face, making her blue-green eyes larger than usual. Hugh moved on silent feet to her side as she worked the kinks from her neck.

    He and his men had concluded there was more to Bernard’s ranting than he had let on, and they would get to that as soon as Mina was in her own chamber.

    “Come,” he said and took her arm.

    She tried to pull away from him. “I won’t leave my brother.” Hugh opened his mouth to speak, but Bernard’s voice, low and raspy came from the bed. “I will be fine, Mina. I couldn’t have done it without you, but you need your rest. There is a creature to kill,” he finished before his head lolled to the side.

    She stood there and stared at her brother before turning her gaze to Hugh. “I suppose he doesn’t need me anymore.”

    “He will always need you,” Hugh whispered. “I’ll walk you to your chamber.” The sun was just breaking over the horizon as they walked along the deserted hallway. The sounds of people waking from the hall below reached them.

    They reached her chamber, and he followed her inside where she immediately went to her bed and laid down. She was asleep before he took two steps toward her.
    After he removed her shoes, he covered her with a blanket and quickly walked from the chamber before he climbed into bed with her and buried his rod deep within her tight sheath.

    He lengthened his strides and hurried back to Bernard. Upon entering, he found Gabriel and Darrick helping the baron sit up in bed.

    “How do you feel?” Hugh asked as he walked toward Bernard.

    The baron laughed dryly. “Like I’ve been dragged behind a wagon being led by six wild horses.”

    Hugh chuckled and straddled the chair, leaning his chin on the back. “You’re past the worst of it, thanks to your sister.”

    “I saw her lip.” Bernard looked down at his hands. “Did I do that?”
    “By
    accident.”

    Bernard sighed loudly and raised his eyes to Hugh. “I meant what I said last night. You must get her away from the castle. Now. Before ‘tis too late.”

    “Why?” Gabriel asked.

    Bernard hesitated for a moment and looked down at his hands again. “She will be safer away from here.”

    “Everyone would,” Hugh said. “But that creature will only move on to another village if we don’t destroy it. You and Mina have already begun to mend your relationship. Everything will work out.”

    “You don’t understand,” Bernard said and slammed his hand against his thigh.

    Hugh decided it was time to stop playing around. “Then tell me. There is someone in the castle that let loose that creature, and I’ll wager that same someone has been drugging your ale. Do you know who it is?” Several tense moments slipped by before they had an answer.

    “Nay,” Bernard said with a shake of his head. “I sorely wish I did though. So much has gone amiss.”

    Hugh didn’t like this, not one bit. It was one thing to battle an evil he knew, but another to fight one blinded. His gut knew Bernard lied, but there would be no getting the truth out unless the baron wanted to admit it. It was Bernard’s tone when he spoke of getting Mina away from the castle that intrigued Hugh. Why Mina and not Theresa?

    The questions were mounting, and it did little to soothe him.

    “Darrick, keep an eye on Mina,” Hugh said as he studied Bernard. “Don’t let her see you, but make sure she stays safe.”

    “What are you thinking?” Bernard asked.

    “I just want to be sure no one else in your family is harmed. Cole, keep watch on Theresa.”

    “Don’t bother,” Bernard said. “That woman could skin the creature herself if she put her mind to it.”

    Hugh looked at Cole and Darrick pointedly and waited for them to leave the chamber. He turned to Gabriel and Bernard then. “We must keep a vigilant eye out to keep everyone safe. If something looks out of the