- Don't come near her or I'll slit her throat! - said the leader of the men grabbing me and lifting me up.
He put a dagger against my neck and it stopped Bruce.
- Annabel?
- Oh, yeah?
- Don't move! Don't move!
I gave my consent by taking a deep breath. The freezing rain made my body tremble, with the fear I felt for the first time while defending my life. Bruce lowered his sword and with a quick gesture pulled a dagger from his waist, shooting at my executioner. I heard the man's grunt of pain and in seconds he was on the floor, washing me with it. Bruce approached by guarding the sword.
- What's up? - He asked.
- No! - I said by banging my chin. - I'll never drink beer again in my life.
Bruce shook his head and to my surprise, smiled. Except for the cape that covered his back, he rolled me up in his arms.
- Come on! I think you need a good night's sleep. - he said, going on to the tavern.
- Is she all right?" asked Alastor worried.
- Yes, my friend! - he answered. - Just a little scared, which is very unusual for this naughty girl. Is it okay if we spend the night in the cabin?
- No problem! - Alastor answered. - Although I don't use it much, the cabin is clean and organized. I think you're gonna need some water and something to eat. I'll have Eric take it to you.
- Thank you! Thank you!
- Take good care of her and be sure to keep me posted.
Bruce nodded and frowned. What the hell kind of cabin was that? How did he know Alastor? Where did Bruce come from if I didn't see him anywhere? Those were some of the questions that I asked myself and I wanted him to answer, but I was too tired to think.
When Bruce opened the door, I held my breath in surprise. The cabin was small, but comfortable and airy. There was a fireplace in front of a bed made of hay and sheepskin. There was also a table in the center and Bruce sat me down on it starting to untie my wrists. He kept quiet while I did that and the silence bothered me.
- You're not gonna say anything? - I asked him weirdly how he didn't fight with me.
- If you want to know if I'm angry, yes, I am. - he answered without taking his eyes off what he was doing. - Still, I can't blame her after everything she's been through.
Surprise, I frowned and shivered from the cold. Bruce rubbed his hands on my arms and finished taking the rope off. He grunted when he saw that the fine mark caused by the ropes on one of my wrists...
- Those damn animals! - he yelled, carrying my wrist to his lips and kissing. The gesture made my blood circulate faster and my skin shiver. I held my breath. - I kept hoping they weren't who I thought they were, but I was wrong and it took too long to act.
- I knew you were in the tavern, I just couldn't see you. - I fired without thinking.
- I was in the opposite corner of the bar, in the dark, sitting in a chair. - he responded by leaning one hand on each side of my thighs on the table. - From there, I had the perfect vision of everything and everyone.
- All of them?
- All of them! - he whispered making me choke.
He smiled sexy. Her hair was stuck to her forehead and her face was very close to mine. The black shirt that he wore was with the ribbons at chest height, untied and that gave me a beautiful glimpse. There was a knock on the door and he went to answer it.
- Captain, my father sent this for the landlady to feed and some clothes to warm them. - said a child's voice, and I figured it was Alastor's son.
- Thank you, Eric! - He said taking the stuff and bringing it to the table. - I was coming back from the patrol when I saw her entering the tavern and I decided to go after you in case you got into trouble.
Bruce said by folding his arms and stopping in front of me. Putting one hand on his chin, Bruce looked at me for a few seconds.
- What makes you think you have an unrequited love? - he asked.
I opened my eyes and knew that my cheeks were red, because I felt a heat rising up to my face.
- Did you hear what I said?
- Yeah, and I didn't like seeing her take a chance on my account.
- You're very presumptuous, you know that? - I asked indignantly. - I wasn't risking myself because of you, I just wanted to have fun and forget that you just want me as your lover, you stupid fool!
As soon as I finished speaking and Bruce's lips covered mine in a voracious kiss that made me even more dizzy. His hands held my throat tight and I put mine around his wide wrists.
- I'm sorry! I'm sorry! - he said panting away. - That seems to be the only way to make her stop talking nonsense or stop offending me. I've been struggling with an uncontrollable desire that lights me up every time I look. That wish scared
