The Black Diamond (Black Diamond 2)

"No," she replied with apparent submission. "I don't require a closer view. You're right—I don't want to die in such a horrid manner. I'm ready to continue our walk."

"Excellent." The viscount released her, gesturing a short distance away with the barrel of the gun. "We have only to go a bit farther—to the top of this peak. The cove is around back, a carefully hidden niche in the stone."

Aurora followed his gesture, noting that their goal was indeed nearby. Flanked by two towering cliffs, the top of the peak was narrow, the space separating it from the larger peaks narrower still.

"The path is quite cramped as it rounds back," Guillford announced. "Only one of us can pass at a time. I was a bit concerned about letting you out of my sight, even for those few seconds—but my concerns were put to rest by the little talk we just had. However, heed what I said and don't do anything foolish."

"I won't."

"Good. Now move." Another hard jab of his pistol.

Raising her chin, Aurora marched onward, taking the forty or fifty paces to the top of the ridge, then flattening herself against it, easing her way around the specified curve.

For a split second she was out of Guillford's reach.

It was enough time for her miracle to occur.

A flash of movement plummeted from the cliff overhead, small stones pelting the path as a dark figure crashed down, landing precisely where Aurora had stood not an instant earlier.

She heard Lord Guillford's shout of pain and surprise, and without hesitating, she scooted back around the curve, her eyes widening as they confirmed what her heart already knew.

Julian.

Having knocked Guillford down, he was in the process of kicking aside the viscount's pistol, sending it sailing across the ground.

The Merlin had struck.

"Get the gun, Aurora," Julian yelled the instant he spied her. "Shoot him."

Reflexively Aurora complied, rushing over and scooping up the pistol, positioning herself as Julian and Guillford rolled away, pounding at each other. Jaw set, she aimed, fully intending to put a bullet straight through Guillford's heart.

The problem was, he was not only a moving target, he was entangled with the man she loved. The slightest error and she could fatally wound Julian.

She couldn't risk it. She had to wait.

The two men were a blur, a violent surge of pummeling fists and frenzied motions.

"Not this time, damn you," Guillford gasped, smashing his fist into Julian's jaw and propelling him to one side. "This time I'm going to win. This time you're going to die."

"You miserable bastard." Julian lunged for him again, slamming Guillford to his back, punching him once, twice, murder raging in his eyes. "When I think of what you intended for Aurora…" Another fervent punch.

Guillford groaned, turning his head wildly from side to side to evade the assault, then jerking upward, his forearm finding and connecting with the wound at Julian's throat.

Julian recoiled and doubled up with pain, and Guillford seized his opportunity, shoving Julian off him … sending him closer to the edge of the cliff. Then, he pounced, grabbing handfuls of Julian's shirt and dragging him toward what was obviously meant to be his death.

Aurora's warning scream froze on her lips as Julian retaliated, breaking Guillford's grip and sending him sprawling to the ground with one hard hurl.

Seeing her chance, Aurora aimed, but before she could fire, Guillford roared to life, coming to his feet and charging forward, clearly intending to thrust Julian over the edge.

Impassively Julian watched the viscount's approach, making no move to evade him—and thereby shattering whatever remained of Aurora's self-control.

"Julian!" she shrieked, terror cutting through her in rampant streaks.

It was too late. Guillford was upon him.

In a flash Julian acted, rolling directly toward Guillford, slamming the full force of his weight against the viscount's legs.

Thrown into motion, Guillford was catapulted forward. Briefly he grazed the edge of the cliff, grabbing wildly at not