Read Online The Alpha's Willing Captive (Historical Paranormal Werebear Steamy Romance) by Nikki Wild - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Nikki Wild
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When they returned from their visit, Delia thought, perhaps she would offer her a higher position on her staff. Ginny was certainly capable enough to be trusted with more responsibility.
Smiling to herself, she spurred her mare on, covering the miles at a brisk trot. The sun was high overhead now, pouring down on the wide, curving road. But up ahead, the she could see that it led straight into the thick trees of the Highwater Forest. She wiped her brow and nudged her horse to a canter.
Exhilarated with speed, Delia drew up just before the road wound into the pines. "Shall we break for tea?"
Ginny cantered up to her side, wiping the sweat from her freckled brow. "My lady, might we find some shade first?"
Delia considered. The Highwater Forest was notorious for harboring bloodthirsty highwaymen, though a large part of her was fairly convinced that was all rumors meant to drive up the prices of the professional escorts that served the area. It seemed too convenient that the reports of attacks had only gone up since the escorts began their pricey enterprise.
Then again, it was quite hot. The sun beat down on her pale skin, feeling less like a lover's caress now, and more like an oppressive hand pushing her down. Her hair was drooping with perspiration and Ginny was almost panting.
"Very well," she nodded, guiding her horse into the trees.
The minute the horses stepped into the woods, everything changed. The dense trees filtered the sunlight so thoroughly that by the time it reached the forest floor it was nothing more that a twilight gloom. The raucous birdsong quieted, and the only sound became the soft clop of the horses' hooves on the packed road. The way through was broken with fallen rocks and tree roots, and the horses had to move very slowly so as not to stumble on the tricky ground. The heat became oppressive with no wind to cool their skin and Delia was instantly uneasy.
"Let's try to find someplace more open," she said briskly, trying to mask the fear in her voice. It pained her to think that the stories of Highwater Forest might have been correct. She tried to dismiss her unease as silly superstition, but there was no calming her heart.
Ginny followed her closely. Delia could hear the girl's rapid, panicked breath in the oppressive silence and knew that Ginny was feeling the same way she was. Something wasn't right.
Up ahead, the road opened out somewhat, weak light filtering down through a gap in the trees and exposing a small patch of blue sky. There was a huge, boulder jutting over the road, creating a natural archway that they would be forced to ride under. Delia pulled her horse up short.
"Let us tether the horses and eat there," she instructed Ginny. "It seems like the best place to pause for a moment." What she didn't say was that she did not like the look of that archway. It seemed...unnatural. Like something out of a children's tale, rather than something that belonged in the English countryside.
Ginny lowered herself down and led her the two horses over to a low hanging branch. The horses whickered softly to one another, seemingly ill at ease as well. When Ginny helped Delia down from her horse, the two women both froze.
"Did you hear that, my lady?" Ginny whispered, her strained voice barely audible.
Delia shook her head. "I'm not sure what I heard," she mouthed back. It had been a low noise, more a vibration than an actual sound. She had felt it through the soles of her riding boots, vibrating up her road-weary legs. But she couldn't place it for the life of her.
The two women looked around. The woods had become even quieter, which set the small hairs at Delia's neck on end. It wasn't right. The forest should be fairly bursting with birdsong on a hot summer's day. There should be the sounds of small creatures in the underbrush, the sigh of wind through the boughs. It shouldn't be so...silent.
"I heard it again," Ginny moaned
Smiling to herself, she spurred her mare on, covering the miles at a brisk trot. The sun was high overhead now, pouring down on the wide, curving road. But up ahead, the she could see that it led straight into the thick trees of the Highwater Forest. She wiped her brow and nudged her horse to a canter.
Exhilarated with speed, Delia drew up just before the road wound into the pines. "Shall we break for tea?"
Ginny cantered up to her side, wiping the sweat from her freckled brow. "My lady, might we find some shade first?"
Delia considered. The Highwater Forest was notorious for harboring bloodthirsty highwaymen, though a large part of her was fairly convinced that was all rumors meant to drive up the prices of the professional escorts that served the area. It seemed too convenient that the reports of attacks had only gone up since the escorts began their pricey enterprise.
Then again, it was quite hot. The sun beat down on her pale skin, feeling less like a lover's caress now, and more like an oppressive hand pushing her down. Her hair was drooping with perspiration and Ginny was almost panting.
"Very well," she nodded, guiding her horse into the trees.
The minute the horses stepped into the woods, everything changed. The dense trees filtered the sunlight so thoroughly that by the time it reached the forest floor it was nothing more that a twilight gloom. The raucous birdsong quieted, and the only sound became the soft clop of the horses' hooves on the packed road. The way through was broken with fallen rocks and tree roots, and the horses had to move very slowly so as not to stumble on the tricky ground. The heat became oppressive with no wind to cool their skin and Delia was instantly uneasy.
"Let's try to find someplace more open," she said briskly, trying to mask the fear in her voice. It pained her to think that the stories of Highwater Forest might have been correct. She tried to dismiss her unease as silly superstition, but there was no calming her heart.
Ginny followed her closely. Delia could hear the girl's rapid, panicked breath in the oppressive silence and knew that Ginny was feeling the same way she was. Something wasn't right.
Up ahead, the road opened out somewhat, weak light filtering down through a gap in the trees and exposing a small patch of blue sky. There was a huge, boulder jutting over the road, creating a natural archway that they would be forced to ride under. Delia pulled her horse up short.
"Let us tether the horses and eat there," she instructed Ginny. "It seems like the best place to pause for a moment." What she didn't say was that she did not like the look of that archway. It seemed...unnatural. Like something out of a children's tale, rather than something that belonged in the English countryside.
Ginny lowered herself down and led her the two horses over to a low hanging branch. The horses whickered softly to one another, seemingly ill at ease as well. When Ginny helped Delia down from her horse, the two women both froze.
"Did you hear that, my lady?" Ginny whispered, her strained voice barely audible.
Delia shook her head. "I'm not sure what I heard," she mouthed back. It had been a low noise, more a vibration than an actual sound. She had felt it through the soles of her riding boots, vibrating up her road-weary legs. But she couldn't place it for the life of her.
The two women looked around. The woods had become even quieter, which set the small hairs at Delia's neck on end. It wasn't right. The forest should be fairly bursting with birdsong on a hot summer's day. There should be the sounds of small creatures in the underbrush, the sigh of wind through the boughs. It shouldn't be so...silent.
"I heard it again," Ginny moaned
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