ROYCE HAD NEVER been in a wind tunnel, but she imagined that what they were experiencing was close to it. Chance had a death grip around her waist, but even though it hurt a bit, she was glad of it.
She had grabbed onto his body and clung to his tee-shirt, and she felt Trevor holding onto both of them. She couldn’t see either of them, as they were in pitch black. A human could scarcely survive the lack of oxygen …
She wanted it to end before she lost her hold on Chance. She wanted it to end because it was difficult to breathe. She felt as though they were being pulled apart from one another, and then, just as she feared, they were!
She spun and was hit by the swishing, gale-like wind. She threw out her arms, but there was no Chance, no Trevor. She screamed their names but knew they wouldn’t hear her through the force of the gale.
She was simply flung around like a rag doll in the frightening black hole, in constant motion and without relief.
She got slammed with a large rock in the gut as she was sent along her journey in the dark, cavernous wormhole, and she closed her eyes and prayed she would be reunited with Chance and Trevor.
It had begun to feel interminable, and she was glad that her Peckering was strapped to her body.
Then, just when she thought she wouldn’t be able to take much more, she felt as though she was being spat out onto a hard, cold stone floor. She looked around and saw Chance, who was taking long, hard strides to her. He took her up in his arms and whispered, “M’darlin lass … ye dinna know what I just went through worrying about ye.”
She snuggled her face against his chest, but this comfort was short lived. Trevor, who had landed hard on his back, got to his feet and immediately saw where they were and who was there.
Sword clutched in his fist, and a feral growl on his breath, Trevor was charging boldly but wildly towards Pestale!
Pestale was still in bed with the three young women. Pestale looked startled, and his women looked confused—Royce was sure they were dazed with the Lianhan sexual addiction he had instilled in them.
Trevor was in a blind rage as he called out, “Pestale, you are dead! In Lana’s name you are dead!”
Chance shouted at Trevor, “Stop, lad! Trev, no … Trev … no …”
Too late. Trevor was already in his lunge and wouldn’t have stopped if he could. Too late he realized, as Royce and Chance gasped, just how wicked Pestale would be.
Royce cried out even as it happened, helpless to stop it from happening.
Trevor’s sword was pointed forward, and even as he lunged and before he could draw back, Pestale pulled one of the young women in front of him. Trevor’s sword went deeply through her, killing her immediately!
Royce’s fist went to her lips as she stifled a scream.
Chance cursed as Trevor pulled back.
The lad’s face was aghast as he mumbled something incoherent. And then Trevor’s voice was hushed and clear and full with horror. “I’ve killed her … by Danu … forgive me. I’ve killed a human … I’ve killed an innocent …”
Royce ran to him, took his face, and made him look at her. “It was an accident. He is the murderer, not you, Trev—not you. If anything, you spared her a life of misery. She was forever ruined. You didn’t mean it, Trevor. It wasn’t you that killed her. It was Pestale … He put her in harm’s way—not you, not you!”
“Get up and fight like the warrior ye claim to be, ye bastard!” Chance’s voice was a low-throttle threat as he moved towards Pestale.
Pestale got out of the bed and smirked at him. He touched his rock-hard cock and called to Royce, “Seelie Princess, I have to leave now, but I’d like you to join me … oh, how I would like you to join me.”
Royce frowned. This was said to taunt Chance. He had witnessed Chance taking her into his arms, and she could see he was angry. He wanted to upset Chance, just for the pleasure of doing so.
It worked. Chance nearly lost control as he started to pounce towards him, but Royce held him still and turned to Pestale. “You are a coward—using that girl to shield you—nothing more than a coward!”
Pestale’s face went dark with his outrage. “You will think differently when you are ruling at my side. I only did what was necessary to survive.” He nodded towards Trevor. “Tell me, my Seelie Princess, who is the coward—me, or him? He charged me knowing I was unarmed. I saved myself with what was handy. She was only a human, not fit for much else.”
“Despicable!” Royce spat at him.
“Pick up yer sword, devil, and I’ll give ye a fair fight,” Chance said on a low, hard note.
Pestale sneered at him and blinked himself into clothes. Suddenly he was elegantly dressed in a white shirt, breeches, and boots. His clothes reminded Royce of another era, though not medieval, and she studied him for a long, thoughtful moment. He was getting ready to shift to another time.
He looked at her with desire in his dark eyes and whispered, “You and I—soon. Count on it, but for now … I do not view this situation as fair—two male warriors against one. No … not a fair fight.”
He backed up as Chance advanced towards him and said, “Me—ye only have to fight me!”