Read Online Home in Your Arms by Sarah Bale - Free Book Online

again.
    “What happens if we don’t get out of the woods before dark?”
Lexi asked.
    He cursed under his breath. He’d hoped she wouldn’t notice
his anxiety but he should have known she would pick up on it. He debated on how
much to tell her. He didn’t want her to worry but she also needed to know.
    “Bad things come out of the woods at night. If we don’t make
it out, the Witches will be the least of our worries. There are animals that
kill and people who do worse things than that.”
    Drugs passed freely in the area and people would do anything
to get them, even if it meant capturing the head of the Royal Guard and using
him for ransom. In fact, catching him would serve several purposes including
letting those who hated him seek their revenge.
    The drug use had led to sex trafficking and prostitution,
which was one of the reasons he wanted to get through the area as soon as
possible. Lexi would stand out among the others, drawing attention. Without
backup, he’d be outnumbered if it came down to a fight.
    Lexi flinched. “Well, we’d better make up some lost time,
then.”
    Without saying another word, she began running. He watched
as she ran ahead of him, her bottom shaking with each step. Damn, she was so
breathtakingly sexy.
    She glanced over her shoulder and called out, “You do
realize I don’t know where I’m going, right?”
    He laughed and caught up with her. His training with the
Royal Guards included long distance running but he was surprised to see that
Lexi matched him step for step.
    “I also ran with the long distance team in college,” she
said.
    He grinned and picked up his pace. The south trail would
take them right to the palace but they’d have to go the long way around the
Enchanted Fields. He wouldn’t risk taking Lexi near the fields. It wasn’t worth
the hazard.
    As he ran, he scanned the surroundings. If Andrew had been
with him, the two would take turns leading and scanning but it was all up to
him now. He realized they were getting close to the Wooden Brothel. He slowed
down to a jog.
    “We’re about to reach an area that is semi-safe during the
day but very dangerous at night. Don’t talk to anyone. If they ask who you are,
let me answer. These people cannot be trusted.”
    He hated that the brothel was still in service. He had asked
the king many times to close it but the king wouldn’t agree. The women and men who
worked there were all criminals and drug addicts. They’d do anything to feed
their addictions. He wondered several times why the king allowed it to stay
open but couldn’t think of a reason.
    He hoped they could make it past the brothel without any
incidents but he wasn’t that naïve. If they tried to go past the brothel
without saying hello, they’d be killed.
    He slowed down and was soon strolling. Lexi did the same.
Looking at her was painful at times. It reminded him that he had failed the queen
on a mission similar to this. His team had been selected to take her from the
royal retreat to the palace.
    Not all had made it though. He and Andrew were the only ones
to escape with their lives that day. In the days that followed, he’d wished he
had died too. His entire body throbbed with pain from the memory.
    Lexi reached out and grabbed his hand. “Hey,” she said. “We’ll
be okay.”
    He looked down at her and saw sympathy in her eyes. She didn’t
know what he thought about but still she offered her comfort. He pulled her
into his arms and held her tightly. She hugged him back. She would need to know
soon though, before they got any closer.
    “I will get you to the palace,” he vowed as he let
her go.
    “I know you will,” she replied with a smile.
    * * * * *
    Lexi didn’t speak as she walked next to Ian. He was worried
even though he tried to hide it. The shadows that kept dancing across his face
gave it away. She wouldn’t press him about it, though. He would talk about it
when the time was right.
    Ahead she could see a saloon that looked