Prince of Love (9 page)

She giggled. “And I like the sound of that.”
 

“I’m going to enjoy having you as my mate.”
 

“Is that so?” It was then she realized she had no idea what was expected of her. “I’m really going to be a princess?”
 

He kissed her nose and smiled. “Aye, with all the privileges that goes with it. Be prepared though. You’ll be Princess Katrina in Drahcir.”
 

She bit her lip at his words. “Princess. It’s still difficult to believe that you are a prince and I’ll be a princess. I thought royalty was only allowed to marry royalty.”
 

“If our mates were royalty, then that’s who we would marry,” he said with a shrug. “Our kingdom doesna care that you are no’ royalty. What matters is that you’re the best woman for me. There is a bond between us that can only be broken with death. Nothing and no one can come between us.”
 

She took a deep breath and smiled. “I like hearing that. I imagine most women would like that kind of assurance with the men they marry.”
 

“Now, that’s no’ to say we willna have our share of arguments,” he cautioned. “I can be a bit obstinate at times.”
 

“A bit?” she asked with a laugh. “At times?
 
That’s putting it mildly. But I may as well tell you that I have a bit of a temper myself.”
 

They shared a laugh and linked hands. Katrina couldn’t wait to meet her new family. Every day on their journey to Drahcir, she and Sorin had exchanged stories of their families and childhoods.
 

She knew secrets about him he hadn’t even shared with his brothers. She had been an only child, so she was anxious to meet Sorin’s brothers and their wives. She prayed they got along well.
 

“Doona be nervous,” Sorin said as if reading her thoughts. “Everyone will welcome you.”
 

“How can you be sure?”
 

“Because I love you.”
 

Her gaze jerked to his as she pulled on the reins to stop her mare. “What?”
 

“Is it such a surprise, wife? I’d have thought you knew how I felt already.”
 

“I...I had no idea,” she mumbled. “I knew you cared for me, but I just assumed our love would grow over the years.”
 

“Not mine.” His gaze refused to let hers go.
 

And she finally admitted to what she knew had been growing in her heart since the first day she met him. “I love you.”
 

“I know,” he said with a wickedly charming grin. “I’ve just been waiting for you to realize it.”
 

“Oh, you’re impossible,” she said and turned her head away. “What’s that?” she asked and pointed ahead of them.
 

Sorin blew out a loud breath. They had finally reached the pass. “It’s the pass to Drahcir. Sheer snow and ice walls line each side. It’s narrow. You’ll have to ride in front of me.”
 

“In front?” she echoed.
 

He nodded. “I doona want you behind me where I can no’ protect you.”
 

“It’s a perfect place for an attack, isn’t it?”
 

He hadn’t wanted to tell her, but he should have known she’d see it. She was smart and intuitive.
 
“Aye,” he admitted reluctantly.
 

“Then let’s go. I’m tired of fearing for my life.”
 

He grinned at his little warrior wife. Every moment he was with her he loved her more, if that were possible. “Here,” he said and handed her a dagger from his boot.
 

She looked at the weapon then back up at him.
 

“I’d rather know you have a weapon to defend yourself with. Please, Katrina.”
 

She took it from him and stuffed it into her boot. “We’re not going to need it,” she said confidently. “It’s left us alone. It’ll continue to do so.”
 

He let her lie to herself, but couldn’t help but hold out the same hope as she did. They were so close to Drahcir, so close to fulfilling the curse.
 
A few moments later they were traveling through the pass. Sorin kept his gaze above him, looking for any signs the Tnarg was following them. But he saw nothing.
 

Yet, he couldn’t shake the feeling it was near. Very near.
 

As they moved slowly through the pass, it seemed much longer than it ever had. Part of him wanted to kick the horses into a gallop, but the snow was too deep for them to do anything more than walk.
 

Then he saw it – the end of the pass. Excitement rushed through him. He was so close to home he wanted to shout. He looked over his shoulder once more but saw nothing. When they neared the end of the pass, he let out a breath. If the Tnarg had thought of attacking, it would have already done it.
 

Once they reached the end, he nudged his horse beside Katrina’s and smiled at the large gate to their left. “We’re here.”
 

Just as expected, the gates swung open, welcoming them into Drahcir. Sorin saw his parents and Elric and Lucian with their mates. He had made it, he was home.
 

His family’s smiles faltered as they began to shout. Sorin’s heart dropped to his feet, for he knew of only one thing that would make his family react so. Elric and Lucian both drew their swords, but Sorin knew they wouldn’t be allowed to leave Drahcir to help him.
 

“Katrina, listen to me,” he said calmly. “Get off the horse and run as fast as you can to the gates. Doona stop, and whatever you do, doona look back.”
 

“Sorin, nay,” she said. Her hands shook as she gripped her reins.
 

“Remember, I love you,” he said and spun his horse around to find the Tnarg behind them. “Run, Katrina!” he yelled and unsheathed his sword for an attack.
 

The Tnarg’s long claws ripped open the horse’s chest. The horse screamed in pain, and Sorin leapt from it just before the mount collapsed into the snow. He got to his feet and tried to push thoughts of Katrina and their future from his mind.
 

Sorin knew he couldn’t win against the Tnarg. Nor did he think he could make it to the gates in time. He didn’t relish his family seeing him slaughtered either.
 

He had precious few choices.
 

“You should’ve just let me have her,” the Tnarg said. “You could have saved your family seeing you sliced into little pieces.”
 

“Just get on with it,” Sorin said.
 

He had just begun to recover from his other wounds, so he knew he wouldn’t move as quickly as he normally did. But he did have his sword back.
 

Unlike before, he waited for the beast to attack. As soon as it did, Sorin went down on one knee and slashed with his sword. The Tnarg howled and gripped its arm as blood dripped into the snow. Sorin grinned and rose to his feet.
 

“As I said, get on with it,” he taunted.
 

He knew he wouldn’t get away with that move twice, but he also knew it was essential that he continue to wound the creature without letting it get him. That in itself would be a miracle.
 

Sorin waited. The Tnarg bared its teeth and growled, its red eyes glowing. It was angry now. It flew at Sorin, knocking him to the ground and straddling him. His sword flew from his hand just out of reach. The Tnarg wasted no time in using its claws.
 

The Tnarg held up a claw and lengthened its talons before slowly raking them down Sorin’s chest. He clenched his jaw, determined not to cry out.
 

Surely, Katrina had made it safely to the gates by now. At least Sorin prayed she had. He knew he wouldn’t last long without a weapon.
 
He turned his head and saw his sword just out of his reach. He stretched his hand for it and a cry of pain escaped his lips as the Tnarg pushed its claws into Sorin’s side.
 

Sorin could feel his hot, sticky blood pool from his sides into the thick snow. His life drained from him just as quickly as his blood did.
 

Katrina
.
 

Suddenly, the Tnarg’s claws vanished from his side as the creature threw back his head and bellowed in pain. Sorin opened his eyes to find Katrina behind the beast.
 

The Tnarg clawed at something in its back as it fell off him. And then Katrina’s arms wrapped around him.
 

“We have to get into the gates, Sorin,” she said.
 

He stumbled to his feet and leaned against her. The gate was so far away that Sorin knew they wouldn’t make it.
 

“You should’ve gone to my family.”
 

“You’re being stubborn. I’m not going to stand by and watch you die. Now, move those feet,” she demanded.
 

Sorin grinned and moved faster. He looked over his shoulder to see the Tnarg had managed to pull the dagger from its back.
 

“We’ve got to hurry,” Sorin whispered.
 

He gritted his teeth and pushed aside the pain as he grabbed Katrina’s hand and sprinted to the gates. His family stood at the entrance yelling at them to run faster. Sorin didn’t need to look behind him to know the Tnarg was gaining on them. They were nearly to the gates, just a few more steps and they’d be safe.
 

And then Sorin landed on his face in the snow only to be pulled out of Katrina’s arms.
 

“Nay!” she screamed and started after him.
 

“You’re mine!” the Tnarg bellowed as it raised its claw to slash open Sorin’s chest.
 

Instead, Katrina kicked it in the face. Sorin jumped to his feet raced to the gate with his wife. As soon as they were over the Drahcir threshold, they collapsed on the ground in each other’s arms.
 

“Well,” Katrina said. “That was eventful. I don’t think I want to do that again.”
 

Laughter sounded around them and Sorin raised his head to see his family surrounding him. He leaned down and kissed Katrina, and despite his injuries, despite the crowd around him, all he wanted to do was bury himself inside of her. And he would, too. Just as soon as they got to the palace.
 

“We made it,” he whispered.
 

“Aye,” she said and cupped his face. “We did, you stubborn man.”
 

Chapter Nine

The first thing Katrina noticed about Drahcir was the warmth. She was helped to her feet by a beautiful woman with auburn hair and hazel eyes who took her cloak from her.
 

“You won’t be needing that,” she said. “By the way, I’m Marin, and this is Isabella.”
 

Katrina turned to the dark headed woman with the striking blue eyes next to Marin and smiled. “It’s a pleasure.”
 
She glanced over at Sorin to find two men kneeling beside him stripping him of his tunic and jerkin and quickly bandaging him to stop the flow of blood.

“I’m fine,” Sorin said and grinned up at her.

“Nay, you are no’,” said the man with black hair and eyes.
 
He finished tying off the bandage and looked up at her.
 
“Welcome to the family, Katrina. I’m Lucian. The idiot on the other side of Sorin is Elric.”
 

Elric with his dark brown hair and green eyes punched Lucian in the arm before helping Sorin sit up. “Forgive him,” Elric said. “He has no idea how foolish he is.”
 

“You’ve done enough for now.
 
Stand me up so I can introduce my mate to our parents,” Sorin demanded of his brothers.

Katrina was relieved to see the blood flow stemmed, and especially comforted when Sorin’s strong arms wrapped around her, giving her more pleasure from his simple touch than she thought possible. “You’re injured. Again.”
 

He chuckled. “Now, let me introduce you to my parents. Urises and Morag.”
 

Katrina started to curtsy when the queen took her arm. “No need, dear,” she said with kind brown eyes. “We’re so blessed and grateful to have you in the family.”
 

“Thank you,” Katrina said. Her mother had died when she was but a small child and her father had never remarried, so the thought of having a mother again brought tears to her eyes.
 

“Welcome, daughter,” King Urises said as he took her hand. “You were very brave to help Sorin the way you did. We were unable to do so. You’ve shown your worth as only a mate of Drahcir can. It is a privilege to have you in our family.”
 

“Come,” Queen Morag said. “We need to clean up Sorin before he falls on his face.
 
He’s putting on a brave face, but we all saw his injuries.”