A Dark Guardian (9 page)

“Mina.”

The deep sound of her name on Hugh’s lips brought a chill to her skin. She slowly turned to find Hugh standing behind her.

“I need to speak with you for a moment,” he said softly as he glanced around her.

She nodded and led him away from the entrance down the hallway. “What is it?” she asked and prayed it wasn’t about seeing him at his bath.

“Bernard and I need to ask you to do something. We need you to act as if nothing has changed between the two of you.”

She knew he wouldn’t ask unless it was important, and despite the fact she hated to lie, she would do it if it meant they would catch whoever released the creature. “All right. May I ask why?”

“Because I have a thought that whoever was drugging him also let loose the creature. If that person thinks nothing has changed, there is a chance we can catch them.” She was impressed. “That’s a very good plan.”

“I just wanted you to know that Bernard is going to pretend to be drunk. He won’t actually drink the ale, but to everyone else they will think he is.”

“And you really think this person is in the castle?”

“They have to be in order to get the ale drugged.” She thought about that for a moment. “If it is one of the servants, it would have to be several because all of them bring him his ale.”

“We’ll find who it is,” he vowed.

And she believed him. He was the type of man that carried through with his word.

He escorted her into the hall and placed her at the dais. Bernard didn’t even look at her, and she made sure not to look over at him. His life was at stake, and she would suffer through however many days, weeks, months or years it would take to find out who would do such a thing to her brother.

She ate in silence trying to ignore Hugh, who sat beside her, when she looked up and found Theresa walking toward her. She groaned inwardly, hoping against hope that her sister would leave her alone this morn.

But there were men in the castle, and that meant that they were Theresa’s.

“You are in my seat,” Theresa said as she came to a halt in front of her.

Mina, for just a moment, wanted to tell her there were many other seats in which to choose from but decided against making a scene. Hugh had asked that she act as she normally would.

She grabbed her bowl and goblet and moved to another table with her back to them. She might have to hear Hugh and Theresa, but, by God, she didn’t have to look at them smiling and laughing. But the food didn’t taste as good, and her good mood vanished upon hearing Hugh’s laughter.

“Do you mind if I sit here?”

She looked up and spotted Darrick. “You wish to sit with me?”

“Unless there is a ghost next to you, aye,” he said with a bright smile.

“Please,” she said and pointed to the chair.

Theresa laughed again. Mina closed her eyes and wished she could close her ears to it as well.

“’Tis all a ploy,” Darrick said before he took a bite of the porridge.

“Excuse me?” Maybe she hadn’t heard him right.

“Hugh and your sister. He is doing it because it is what she expects.”

“I don’t care what he does,” she lied. She glanced at him to see if he bought the lie. His wink told her he didn’t.

“She isn’t his type of woman.”

As much as she hated to admit it, she wanted to hear more about Hugh. “Men have a certain type they like?”

“Indeed, we do.” Darrick said it with a wide smile and raised eyebrows.

“And what is your type?” she had to ask. His teasing brought a smile to her lips.

“Any woman who would want me.”

She

chuckled.

“’Tis the truth,” he said. “I’m not as fair as Roderick, I don’t command a room full of people like Hugh, and I don’t make the ladies swoon like Cole does. Though with Gabriel the ladies swoon because he frightens them so.” She began to laugh in earnest. “Stop,” she begged. “You’re making my cheeks hurt.”

When she stopped laughing she looked up to find him staring oddly at her.

“When is the last time you laughed like that?” She thought for a moment. “I’m not sure. Why?”

“Look around the hall.”

She did as he asked and found everyone watching her. “Why are they staring at me?”

“Because when you laugh, you outshine the sun.” She grinned, thinking he teased her again, but when her gaze returned to him she found he was utterly serious. “Thank you,” she whispered, unsure of what she should say.

He suddenly rose and held out his hand for her. “They are waiting for us.”

“Who?” she asked as she took his hand but found her answer when he led her toward the solar.

Hugh, Gabriel, Cole, and Bernard watched her as she walked with Darrick toward them. And true to what Hugh had warned, Bernard did look and act as if he had drunk all night. He swayed as he stood beside Hugh and garbled his words when he spoke to Gabriel.

“Why must she be here?” Bernard bellowed his slurred words so that the entire castle could hear him.

Even though she had been cautioned that her brother would do this, it still hurt.

More than she liked to admit. She flinched at his words and walked past him into the solar. Her gaze fell on a seat beneath the window, and she hastened toward it.

No sooner had she taken her seat and the door closed behind the men than Bernard rushed towards her. He fell to his knees and took her hands.

“Mina, you know I didn’t mean it, don’t you?” he asked and ran a hand down the side of her face. “Hugh said he would speak with you.” She smiled and touched Bernard’s hand. He was sober. Relief washed through her. “Aye, Hugh spoke with me. I acted as I always do.”

Bernard’s head fell to her knees. “I won’t ever be able to thank you enough for what you did last night.”

“There is no need of thanks. I did what any sister would do.” He snorted and rose to his feet. “Really? And where was our dear sister?

Theresa was in her chamber with whatever knight she could entice into her bed.” She waited until Bernard took the seat beside her before she allowed her eyes to drift to the one person in the solar who could make her tremble.

Hugh clenched his teeth together as Mina’s gaze rose to him. He had secretly watched her all morn as she dined with Darrick and laughed at his jokes. When her laughter had quieted the entire hall, he had seen why. She was beautiful, and when she laughed a light inside her shone even brighter.

He understood why Theresa became enraged and left the hall. No one could compare to the loveliness of Mina, and, despite what Mina thought, everyone else knew she was stunning.

Now, as Mina sat watching him so innocently, all he could think of was getting her to his chamber and ripping off her gown so he could feel her delectably soft skin next to his, to see her head thrown back as her body convulsed around him.

Why did it have to happen now? Hadn’t he suffered enough? Couldn’t he do his assignment without having her close, but just out of reach? Was he being punished for something he did before the Fae came to him?

He shook away those thoughts and took a deep breath before he began speaking.

“We were unprepared last night. We cannot be again. We must be equipped to fight the creature before the sun begins its descent.”

“I’ll make sure everyone is inside the castle,” Bernard said. “Odd that the creature didn’t try to smash through the castle doors.”

“That is odd,” Hugh said. “’Tis strong enough to bring the castle crumbling around us. There must be a reason he stayed away.”

“It doesn’t matter as long as everyone is safely inside,” Bernard stated.

“It does matter,” Gabriel said, “if it isn’t coming for the castle because the one that controls it is inside.”

Hugh propped his foot on a chair and leaned on the bent knee. “True, Gabriel.

And if that’s the case then we must lure it.”

“Lure it?” Bernard repeated. “How?”

“Bait,” Darrick said and rubbed his hands together. “Do I get the honors, Hugh?” Hugh laughed. “Not this time. ‘Tis my turn.” Chapter Eight

“Nay!”

Hugh’s gaze jerked to Mina. She had risen to her feet, her eyes wide. “What?” he asked.

“You…you will be needed to kill the creature. You need someone who can move fast enough to keep out of its clutches.”

He knew what she would say before she said it.

“You need me.”

“Nay,” Bernard and Darrick said in unison.

Gabriel stepped forward. “She doesn’t have the training.” Hugh stared at her, hating that she might just be right. He had seen her agility.

She might not have the training, but she was quick and lighter than he or any of his men.

“I don’t wish to put you in danger. In fact, I wanted you in the castle this night.”

“You won’t be able to keep me inside unless you lock me in the dungeon.”

“Don’t,” Bernard said as he walked toward him. “Hugh, don’t. Let her have a weapon if she must have one, but I cannot allow her to stand defenseless while that creature chases her.”

Hugh moved his eyes from Mina to Bernard at the same time that Mina walked to them.

“I have faced it twice before,” Mina told her brother. “It had the chance to kill me last night but didn’t. It told me I was to be last.”

“What?” Hugh said as he grabbed her shoulders and turned her toward him. “It spoke to you? Is that all it said?”

She nodded.

“By the gods,” Gabriel said and raked a hand through his auburn hair.

“Aimery,” Hugh called. He needed answers, and he was going to make sure he got them. Now. “Aimery!”

“You

called?”

Hugh spun around to find the Fae commander standing beside Gabriel. “Did you know?” Hugh demanded. “Did you intentionally keep it from me?”

“No.”

Hugh waited. “Just nay? No explanation?”

“Who is this and where did he come from?” Bernard asked, bewilderment scrunching his face. “I’m beginning to think I’m seeing things because that man just appeared inside this chamber.”

“He’s Fae,” Hugh answered.

Bernard laughed. “Fae doesn’t exist.”

“Really?” Aimery asked. “Who do you think used to rule this world? Who do you think keeps it in balance with the other realms?” The baron’s face went ashen, and he promptly sat down. Hugh turned to Aimery.

“Enough of the games. I need to know what we are dealing with.”

“I learned about the creature speaking the moment you did and not an instant sooner.”

Hugh sighed and closed his eyes. “Tell me I didn’t send Val and Roderick to their deaths facing something like this alone?”

“Val and Roderick will be fine. Worry about this creature,” the Fae warned.

And before Hugh could say another word Aimery vanished. “Damn.” He paced the solar for a moment. “Mina, you will be the bait, but only because I’m short two men and need every weapon I can get. Bernard, are you good with a bow and arrow?” The baron nodded slowly, his eyes still focused on the spot where Aimery had stood.

“Then you and Gabriel will be on the battlements. Cole, you and Darrick will be stationed on either side of the bailey with swords and crossbows.”

“Where will you be?” Mina asked.

He turned to her. “Close to you.”

“We could use some spears and battle axes,” Cole said.

“The armory will have everything you need,” Bernard said and rose to his feet.

Hugh dragged his gaze from Mina. “Arm every knight and man you can. We’ll station them in the bailey, on the towers and battlements.”

“There aren’t many knights here anymore,” Bernard said. “Most left a month ago. We might have six left.”

Gabriel shook his head. “Might?”

“I haven’t exactly noticed much lately,” Bernard said in self-defense.

Hugh waited as they filed after Bernard to the armory. When he and Mina were left alone he fisted his hands and said, “I beg your forgiveness if I frightened you this morn in the bathing chamber.”

She bit her lip and twisted her hands as she glanced away. “’Tis I who should beg your forgiveness,” she quickly interrupted him. “I should not have stayed.” They stared at each other as the silence grew in the small solar. There was so much Hugh wanted to say to her, but he couldn’t find the words. And it was better that way. He needed to keep himself apart from her.

She walked past him, and he wanted to reach out and touch her strawberry-blonde hair. He forced himself not to move, not to even breathe. But his hunger grew anyway.

He would have to be most careful and stay clear of Mina for she was a siren that called to him.

Mina left the solar on shaky legs. There must be something wrong with her to make her act so strangely around Hugh. He must think her addled.

She strolled through the hall and smiled to a few of the tenants. But it was the others; the ones that had ignored her as Theresa and Bernard had that offered her a smile.

At first, her smiles were hesitant, but by the time she reached the armory she knew her smile spread across her entire face. She raced to Bernard and said, “The villagers and servants smiled at me.”

Her brother smiled kindly. “They always have, Mina, you just never looked up to see it. Theresa and I did that to you,” he said, his forehead creased with angst.

“Nay,” she said. “No more bad thoughts. You are back as you should be, and with Hugh and The Shields here, the creature will be destroyed. Fate has smiled on us.” He laughed and touched her cheek. “You just might be right.”

“I am right. The Fae wouldn’t have sent The Shields if they couldn’t kill the creature.”

“She has much faith in you,” Bernard said, staring over her shoulder.

She slowly turned to find Hugh watching her closely. “Because he is a man of his word,” she said. “He will do what he has promised, and we, in turn, will do everything to help him.”

With her stomach feeling as though it was about to take flight, she spun around and acted as though she was examining the weapons when in truth she listened for Hugh.

He never commented on her statement, and, after a few moments, she realized he had better things to do.

Even though she was aware there wasn’t a weapon that she knew how to use, it made her feel safer if she could have one. She had lost the dagger she had used on the creature, and she mourned its loss. It had fit her hand nicely, as if it had been made for a women or a lad.