Kyros' Secret (Greek Myth Series Book 1) by Elizabeth Rose Page B

going that truly counts.”
    She liked that answer for some reason. Instead of being angered that he was being so secretive, she saw him as a deep thinker. One who could change the world with his thoughts and probably his dreams as well.
    “Well, Kyros from nowhere, where are you going then?”
    Before he could answer, a war-like cry came from behind the bushes and the sound of trampling hooves across the earth brought to their attention that they were under attack by a small group of centaurs. Thera screamed and dropped the saddlebag she carried. Kyros pulled his sword from the scabbard and held it up in the air.
    “Get on the horse, Thera. Ride out of here as fast as you can.”
    She was moving before he’d stopped talking. Her boot was in the stirrup, but the horse was large and it was awkward mounting with her bulging stomach. An arrow whizzed by her head. She’d felt it coming and moved out of the way just in time, losing her balance and falling to the ground.
    “Damn,” she heard Kyros grind out.
    He grabbed her arm and hauled her to her feet. The centaurs were closing in on them but Kyros did nothing to defend them.
    “Do something!” she screamed and tried once again to mount the spooked horse but with little luck. She did all she could just to hold on to the reins to keep it from running. “Kill them!”
    How easily the words came from her mouth now. Kill. It was almost natural to her, now that she was a killer herself. She hated the way it felt, but fear was consuming her and she only wanted this all to end.
    He flashed her a glance that said a thousand words. He seemed shocked and appalled that she’d ordered him to kill them. It was almost as if it had never even entered his mind. Here a group of angry centaurs were shooting arrows all around them, and he seemed to dodge the damned things instead of defending her. Sure, he was outnumbered six to one but he was a warrior and should fight no matter what the odds. What good was that huge sword if he didn’t know how to wield the thing? If she’d had her bow and arrows right now she’d show him how to handle the situation. But instead, she’d been so eager to leave the scene of her crime that she’d jumped on the horse and left her weapon behind.
    He replaced his sword in the scabbard and she felt her heart sink. He wasn’t going to fight for her. He wasn’t going to protect her after all. He stepped in front of her and pulled himself into the saddle. Doom overcame her as she realized he was running and she’d be left to face the centaurs by herself.
    “You coward! You don’t deserve that sword if you can’t even use it.”
    He turned his skittish horse in a full circle and his muscled arm came down toward her. He was going to hit her, she thought, and now regretted calling him a coward.  At the same time, she heard the hooves right behind her from one of the centaurs. He was so close she could smell the gamy aroma and feel the anger that pumped through its veins. She knew who it was and jumped away just as he approached. Fire licked his eyes and he reached his hand out to grab her. It was the rugged centaur who was supposed to mate with her. The one who had made the deal with her father.
    She closed her eyes for a mere second, the huge arm grabbing her around her waist and lifting her up high. But when she opened her eyes, she realized it was Kyros who was lifting her in the air, not the centaur. Kyros pulled her up into the saddle in front of him and shielded her in the warmth of his arms.
    “Hold on to me,” he commanded.
    She gripped his arm that cradled her unborn child. His other arm held tight to the horse’s reins. He urged the horse forward, dodging the flying arrows and maneuvering his way skillfully through the attacking centaurs. He tried to outrun them, but it was too late. They were too close and there was nothing they could do to escape.
    An outburst from the forest brought her attention to an old centaur leading a group of about