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The shout of surprise erupted too close behind her and she leaned forward, urging Hickory as they raced for their freedo proxio!" she cried into the ain

’Twas of no use One of thealloped up next to her and with a swift jerk, pulled her from her saddle across his own She landed on her storound race by at a dizzying speed She’d failed

"Bitch!" Michael’s voice was tight with fury as he slowed his horse to a walk "Foolish woman!"

Victor barreled up to theht to enjoy what little tiled as she was shoved over to the younger man’s ave her a hard slap to the face, stunning her, as Victor’s ar to do?" she de in her tehed harshly "You see, my dear, that I should hate to disappoint you and have you forego your wedding night" One of his hands slipped to close over her breast as he pushed his arousal into her bottom "I would expect that to occupy us for some time, and then…well, oods to your bridegrooers pinched cruelly at her breast, closing over her nipple so that she could not suppress a soft gasp of pain "And I have no use for daood for et a child upon asped from pain as much as shock

"What, Father, you did not tell her that we are blood?" Victor asked, his hand hly

Michael looked at Maris "Your at umont and birthed you"

"You are ers faded in light of this revelation "Nay"

"Oh, I assure you, ’tis true"

"But…I was to ed "I did not know you were hter at that time I didn’t learn of it until your stupid mother told me as we set out for Breakston to save you In truth, it didn’t matter to me or to Victor…but your papa--Merle--ed his mind over the betrothal" A cold smile of such evil spread his features that Maris felt nauseated "I could not accept that decision"

The nausea turned to cold anger "You killed my father," she whispered

"Oh, nay, he did not," said Victor, leaning forward to thrust a tongue ith slime into her ear He murmured, "Nay, ’twas I who loosed the arrow into his back"

Maris jerked away from his cold mouth and was just as harshly jolted back onto a solid chest "Nay, lady, you’ll not escapehave I waited for the opportunity to break your arrogance and iers into theher head backward at an ile, and kissed her forcefully

Just then, the sound of galloping reached their ears All three turned to see a single h the trees

Maris’s heart leapt until the nized him Bon de Savrille How could he be involved in this mess?

"Halt!" Bon cried as Michael and Victor started to wheel their horses about, ready to make their escape "Unhand her!" Bon did not slow, and his ht hilittered in the afternoon light and she took the opportunity to pull loose of Victor’s hands

With a quick elbow into his abdomen, Maris launched herself off the saddle, stuh the woods as fast as she could There were shouts of anger behind her, and she heard a screa

There was no sound of horse’s hooves following her, but she knew in her numb mind that when they finished their battle--whoever was left--would chase her down

Sing back nausea, Dirick leaned forward over Nick’s neck His head still pounded and his entire body throbbed with pain…but his intent was single: to find Maris

He refused to allow hioing through, as he led the party of h the forest Fortunately, several people had spotted Michael and Victor with Maris and Dirick had had to waste little ti their trail The odd part, he reflected, happy to focus on soo crazy orry, was the third le" style="display:block" data-ad-client="ca-pub-7451196230453695" data-ad-slot="9930101810" data-ad-format="auto" data-full-width-responsive="true"></ins>