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She also felt far better about attempting escape when there was more distance
between herself and Raizar.
And it could not be argued that she was in need of a little time to rest. She had
had little enough in the time since Killian had first taken her!
* * * *
It took an effort to curb his rage when Killian spied the first band of dark elves.
The desire to attack them immediately and wreak vengeance for their attack upon him
was nigh overwhelming but something at the back of his mind stayed him. Instead, he
summoned a cloaking and followed them.
He realized after a very little time that this was no random scout party patrolling.
The band moved swiftly and with intent.
It took no great leap of intelligence to figure out why. The army of Bandar had
undoubtedly advanced into the valley.
He discovered when he reached an ancient, crumbling city that this was
undoubtedly the case, for there were bands of elfin warriors converging there from every
direction.
He had to fight another round with his temper when he discovered the bastard
who had attacked him and taken his woman was clearly their commander. It was not the
realization that he had not the strength to plow through the entire army and reach the
bastard that stopped him from instantly attacking, however. It was the certainty that that
was not the way to get his woman back and also that it would endanger his frail darling.
He wanted her back unharmed. He could not ensure that if he fought the army
of dark elves assembling in the heart of the city.
And there was no reason, he realized, to risk harm coming to her. The army was
VALLEY OF SHADOWS Desiree Acuna & Juliette Barrymore 56
marching to meet her men.
He was too impatient to merely wait, however. After studying the elves for a
time, he began to look about him at the ruins and climbed to a better vantage point to
watch them and to see if he could determine where they were holding his woman. It
transpired to be an excellent decision. Once he had climbed high enough to clear his
head of their foul scent, he detected just a faint, tantalizing taste of hers. His body
reacted almost before his brain had analyzed the scent, leaving no doubt in his mind that
he had found her.
Narrowing his eyes, focusing completely on tracing that lovely perfume, he
scanned the city until he at last found the direction and began to move slowly but steadily
closer. The elfin army began to move, as well, marching from the city, but he was
scarcely conscious of them once he had the scent of his woman in his nostrils and his
blood began to pound out a demand for her. It led him unerringly through the city until
he came at last to a mansion that had seen repairs and was whole whereas those around it
still leaned brokenly, threaded with vines and leaves and growing things.
He had to curb the urge to rush inside at once, but his mind was still warning him
to caution and he discovered after a few moments that it was not his imagination that he
could still smell elves.
The thieving bastard had left guards around his mansion to watch his prize!
There were only four. He might be weakened but he could manage four without
difficulty!
Were there more inside, though? They were bound to make a fuss when he slew
them and alert any that might be inside, he decided.
He decided to slip inside stealthily and make certain there was no chance that
Tyra might come to harm while he was occupied with slaying the guards. Leaping to the
roof of the mansion, he paced the circumference until he found the place where her scent
was strongest and then climbed down the wall and peered through the windows.
Tyra was pacing the room, he discovered, distress clear in her expression and in
the tension radiating from her. Anger surged through him. He saw no sign that she had
been harmed, but she was distressed! That was enough!
Curbing the urge to simply smash the window and leap inside, he grasped the
thing and wrenched it open, discovering as he did that they had been locked for they
shattered. Tyra whirled at the sound, her eyes wide, her face paling with fright.
Killian! she gasped when he discarded the cloaking that had hidden him from
the eyes of the elves and bounded inside.
She surprised him, rushing to him and throwing her arms around him as if he was
her savior, her rescuer. Disconcerted, he stared down at her bright hair for a moment and
finally grasped a handful of it and yanked her head back to see her face.
He saw welcome there that made his chest tighten. Desire rushed over him,
however, ousting all thought from his mind. Need claimed him, the need to lay claim to
his woman. He drew her closer, covered her mouth and drank her essence greedily,
exploring the soft cavern of her mouth with his tongue.
She clutched at him, kissing him back with a fervor that set his pulse to pounding
harder, that banished all thought from his mind. The scalding need to claim her
completely moved through him like flash fire and he pulled at her clothing, determined to
VALLEY OF SHADOWS Desiree Acuna & Juliette Barrymore 57
rid her of it with all possible haste and drive his cock into her sheathe.
She began to struggle. It took his fevered mind many moments to assimilate that
and when he did, rage surged through him, the certainty that her appearance of gladness
had been false.
Killian! she gasped. We need to get out of here, dearling! We can do this
later!
He drew away enough to stare down at her without comprehension.
She clasped his face between her palms. I missed you, too! But we have to
leave! Now! While they are gone!
That finally penetrated his mind. I will slay them! he growled. They took you
from me! I will have my revenge before I leave!
She made a sound of impatience. You slew half of them before! Please, Killian!
Take me away from here! I do not want you to be hurt more! You said yourself that you
were weakening!
He glared at her. I am no weakling that a handful of elves could harm me!
Please?
He swallowed a little convulsive at the pleading in her expression and in her
voice, but it dawned on him that he had used stealth to protect her. He had not wanted
her in the midst of another battle.
Nodding abruptly, he drew her up and tossed her across one shoulder, cloaking
the two of them. She gasped when he leapt onto the windowsill and went out. The
cloak will be pointless, beloved, if you are going to squeak like a little mouse!
She stiffened in his grip, but she made no other sound as he climbed back onto the
roof and then leapt to nearest wall still standing and ran along the top of it. He was too
intent on his task to spare much attention to his burden, but it began to weigh upon him
as he drew nearer to the edge of the city that she had not made a sound since he had take
her from her prison.
Dropping to the ground, he raced into the forest that encroached the city and
lowered her to her feet to examine her. She wobbled, would have fallen if he had not
caught her. You are alright, beloved? he asked, disconcerted by the weakness she
displayed.
No! My head aches from being upside down and my belly hurts from your hard
shoulder, she said testily.
He drew away from her to study her face. You are injured? he demanded.
She blew out her breath in a huff. No. And I did not squeak like a mouse!
Amusement flickered through Killian. He pulled her back to finish what he had
begun before, satisfying his hunger for her mouth before he wrenched the bodice of her
gown out of his way and began to pull greedily at her breasts. She curled her arms
around his head, holding tightly but he discovered he did not mind that. It made the
flamed inside him leap higher to feel her holding him, to hear her faint gasps of pleasure
and soon even that was not enough.
Carrying her to the ground, he flung her skirts out of his way, caught her knees
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