Defying Destiny by Olivia Downing Page B

to go back to the village tonight.”
    “Why?” the child asked.
    “Well, I don’t have a place to stay,
    and—”
    “You can stay with Uncle Nash. Can’t
    she?” Carsha gave Nash a stern look.
    “Of course, she can.”
    “It wouldn’t be proper,” Maralee said,
    even though she really wanted to spend
    more time with him. Alone. In his cabin.
    In his bed of furs.
    “Why not?” Nash asked, his brows
    drawn together in confusion.
    “Stay, Maralee. Please! I want to play
    some more. You can be my friend.”
    “I’d like that,” Maralee said, warmth
    spreading through her chest. “I had a lot of
    fun.”
    Carsha smiled. “Me too!” she chimed
    and ran off in the direction of her house.
    She waved enthusiastically from the porch
    and went inside.
    “Had fun, did you?” Nash asked.
    Maralee smiled and nodded. “I did.”
    His answering smile had her pulse in a
    frenzy. “I’m glad,” he said. “And you’re
    staying until morning?”
    Her heart thundered in her chest. “I…
    yes, I’m staying.”
    He smiled and placed a hand on the
    small of her back to guide her back into
    his cabin.
    Once inside, Maralee rubbed her
    hands over her upper arms, trying to
    regain warmth. She hadn’t noticed how
    chilled she’d become while playing
    outside.
    “You’re cold,” Nash assessed. “I’ll
    get the fire going again.”
    She smiled gratefully. “Do you have a
    bathroom?”
    He actually blushed and avoided her
    gaze. “The forest outside.”
    She nodded. She was used to roughing
    it. Going to the bathroom outside didn’t
    bother her in the least. “I’ll be back in a
    few minutes.”
    He watched her go to the door. “I’ll
    come with you,” he said.
    “You don’t trust me?”
    “I…it’s not that. It’s getting dark.”
    “I’ll be fine,” she assured him, “and I
    promise I won’t run away. You still have
    my sword. I’m not leaving here without
    it.”
    He hesitated, but nodded finally. “I’ll
    see what I can find for supper then.”
    She smiled. “Great. I’m famished.”
    Twilight already marked the close of
    the short winter day. Maralee left the
    cabin and skirted to the back of the
    structure for privacy. She glanced around
    to ensure no one was watching and untied
    the laces at the fly of her pants. Shivering
    with cold, she wished she’d remembered
    to put on her cloak before venturing
    outside. Once she had finished relieving
    herself, she readjusted her clothing and
    headed back for the cabin, looking
    forward to the warmth of the fire. She
    found her progress hindered, however, by
    three enormous, snarling Wolves.

CHAPTER 5

    Maralee’s hand moved automatically to
    the sword hilt at her belt and found
    nothing but empty space. The center Wolf
    —a
    large,
    dark
    brown
    creature—
    advanced
    on
    her,
    baring
    sharp,
    carnivorous fangs. He growled and barked
    at her until she backed away. The cabin
    appeared against her back. Trapped and
    unarmed, she had no chance of survival.
    Her heart seized in her chest.
    “Go away,” she tried, waving her
    hands at the Wolf. “Shoo!”
    The Wolf seemed to smile at her as if
    it knew she was defenseless. It took
    another step closer and Maralee began to
    inch sideways along the wall. Another of
    the Wolves appeared next to her. It
    snapped at her ankle to stop her from
    proceeding. She emitted a squeak of
    terror. The third Wolf circled around to
    her opposite side and sank down low to
    the
    ground,
    growling
    a
    warning.
    Surrounded with no sword at her hip,
    she’d never felt more naked. The center
    Wolf, who seemed to be in charge of the
    small band, leapt forward. It hit her
    shoulders with its massive paws and
    slammed her back against the cabin.
    Holding her pinned to the wall, the Wolf
    growled in her face, its lips curled, nose
    wrinkled, breath hot and moist against her
    cheek. She was too terrified to scream or
    even draw breath.
    “Maralee, are you all right out there?
    What’s taking so long?” Nash’s