She had come for him.
She had read his thoughts; she knew what he had come to do. The need to maintain her dominance and control was important enough to force her to flee her evil domain and brave the harsh elements.
Leo swallowed down the hard lump as she approached the tavern. His hands were shaking; his racing heart caused him to feel dizzy, a little dazed and disorientated. Perhaps he had underestimated his opponent. Perhaps he would be the one to lose his life tonight.
The Marquess of Hartford defeated by a woman?
Never!
Taking deep breaths to calm his agitated spirit, he focused on the importance of his mission. He would avenge his friends, no matter what the cost.
Shrugging into his coat, followed by the leather back harness, he tightened the straps on his shoulders and sheathed his sword before hiding the evidence beneath a full-length cloak.
When she didn't find him sipping his ale would she be bold enough to come up to his room? Then again—
All thoughts suddenly abandoned him. The golden-haired demon walked past the door and continued along the road.
Was it a trap? Was it her intention to lure him away, out into the night? Would she draw him to the graveyard or to another deserted place where she could bare her teeth and control him with her mind?
Either way, he refused to hide in the shadows.
Leo listened for the sensual voice that had once dragged him from the warmth and security of the tavern, the voice that had promised a wealth of pleasure yet delivered nothing but pain. All he could hear was the maid's soft breathing, the muffled din of the rowdy crowd below.
"I'm coming for you," he whispered.
Making his way downstairs, Leo turned his back on the raucous laughter, boisterous antics, and drunken singing. Sneaking out through the back door, he raised the hood of his cloak as he navigated the dark alley. He almost tripped on the stuffed sack until the mound kicked out and delivered a slurred curse.
Slipping out onto the street, he narrowed his gaze, blinking away the droplets of rain clinging to his
lashes. He could see her walking ahead. Her strides were quick and purposeful. It took every ounce of restraint he possessed not to charge up to her and take her head clean off her shoulders.
He should have been ashamed to think of harming a woman, let alone in such a callous, vicious way. But the golden temptress was a devil in disguise — not human; she had no heart, no feelings.
When she stopped and rapped on the door of a house, Leo plastered his back against the wall for fear of her spotting him. He waited until she had gone inside before rushing to peer through the tiny gap in the shutters.
Leo didn't know what he expected to find. Perhaps she had woven her mind magic and held some other unsuspecting peer prisoner, her slave to command. Perhaps she was the thirteenth member of a coven and now sat amongst twelve other witches deciding who would be their next victim.
As he gazed through the diamond-shaped hole in the shutter, he almost stumbled back in shock.
Two things disturbed him deeply.
The devil woman had removed her cape. With her hair no longer hidden, the golden tresses hung in glorious waves down her back. She sat in the chair by the fire as a group of children gathered round. One jumped up onto her lap and hugged her tightly.
"And how did you get that bruise?" she said to a boy who pushed to the front to show her his knee.
Leo strained to hear the conversation.
"Frederick pushed me over."
She turned to another boy. "Is this true, Frederick?"
The boy looked at the floor and nodded.
"Then you must be a gentleman. You must hold your head up and say sorry," she replied firmly.
At her command, the boy straightened and delivered his apology with genuine sentiment.
"And what of you, Edwin?" she said. "What must you say to Frederick?"