Fallen Hero (A New Adventure Begins - Star Elite 3)

Suddenly, a flicker of a shadow drew her attention. Elspeth stared hard at it for a moment until she was able to identify the shape of a man deep within the woods. He was standing perfectly still – watching the house, waiting for something. Elspeth jerked with alarm and began to tremble when the sudden rustling of leaves beside her warned her she was no longer alone. The shadows shifted and swirled for a moment before another man, Aaron, stepped out into the garden. Within seconds he had raced across the empty space to disappear into the gloom tucked within the darkest corner of the house’s annexe.

Elspeth watched him and memorised what he was doing because she knew it was the only way she was going to get into the house. If only she could cross the garden without anybody outside noticing, Elspeth knew she would be able to follow.

What do I do then? Elspeth worried. What do I do if I am seen?

The bite of the sharp edge of the blade was enough to make her squeak with surprise. Her hand lifted to hold it away from her delicate flesh, but she was unable to move the hard hand that threatened to kill her at any moment.

“Elspeth?”

Before she could reply, the hood of her cloak was yanked off her head.

Elspeth whirled around to face Oliver’s glowering anger. He released a blistering string of epithets that turned the air blue. Elspeth blushed.

“Oh dear,” she whispered. She had only ever heard Thomas swear like that. It was a testament to just how furious the man was with her.

To her amazement, rather than lambast her, Oliver tipped his head back and began to ma

ke owl sounds. They stopped, then started, then stopped, then began again. Suddenly, Aaron appeared at the edge of the house. Oliver made some sort of hand gesture to him, which drew Aaron back across the garden toward them.

“What in the Hell?” Aaron whispered when he saw Elspeth.

“I am not going to be left at home, Aaron,” Elspeth bit out before he could scold her.

“You are going home,” Aaron snorted flatly.

“If you should try it, I will scream and wake up the entire bloody village,” Elspeth snapped. “Do you not consider that the house is my home? I have a vested interest in what Voss says.”

“What the Hell do you think you are doing here?” Aaron demanded, ignoring her.

“I am not going to be left out of this, Aaron. What will you do if he lies to you? All you have is his word. I have a few facts, even about him, that will be enough to make sure he tells you the truth and doesn’t send you on a wild goose chase.” Elspeth watched and waited but knew from the looks on the men’s faces that she was not gaining any ground with them. If she didn’t do something drastic they were going to force her home whether she wanted to go or not.

“He will lie to you,” she added. “He won’t to me.”

“He bullies you,” Aaron snapped.

“Not anymore,” Elspeth retorted.

“What’s changed?” Aaron placed his fists on his hips to stop himself from putting them around her damned tiny neck. He had never been so disgusted with anybody in his life, but it was more with himself than her. He couldn’t believe he had been wrapped up in how safely she was tucked up in bed, and how wonderful it was that she was fine while he went to fight her demons for her, that he hadn’t noticed she was underfoot.

“God, how stupid,” he snorted.

“I am not,” Elspeth snapped in outrage.

“I didn’t mean you,” Aaron snapped.

“Well, I am going in there whether you like it or not. Someone is going to get answers out of him today. I am not going to be left out of this, Aaron. It is my brother in that graveyard. It is my financial welfare at stake here. It is my life he has been meddling with. I demand some answers and am going to get them.”

“What makes you say that?” Oliver challenged. “What makes you think he has been meddling?”

Elspeth sighed. She had no proof to support her claims but suspected that if she told the men before her they would either accept her suggestion or disprove it.

“Look at the facts. Frederick has made noises about having the house off us for years but done nothing to make it happen. He has suggested many times that I should marry him, but not pressed me. Now, both him and Voss start to harass me, and all because they know Thomas has died. Why? Why Voss? He has never made any interest in me known before now. He has never shown any interest in the house either. Why now?” Elspeth fell silent and waited. She had no idea what had come over her. She had never been so brash or daring in her entire life. It felt wonderful, releasing even, in an oddly daring sort of way. So much so, she was compelled to stand her ground, even in the face of so many stringent objectors.

“You are going home,” Aaron announced suddenly.

“No. I am not,” Elspeth snapped.

When Oliver made a move toward her, she yanked her arm out of his grasp and hurried across the lawn in just the same way Aaron had. When she appeared in front of a side door to the annexe, she lifted a hand and turned the knob on the door quietly. Thankfully, it swung inward without hindrance.