Read Online The Angel's Assassin by Samantha Holt - Free Book Online

becoming more and
more complex with this woman around. He tried to push back the thought of how
the problem of Lady Annabel would be overcome - by his hand - but it hovered in
the front of his mind and his chest tightened oddly.
    “You’re words are
fine, Nicholas, for someone so rough-mannered, but they have little meaning
behind them. You would do well to work on that.”
    His teeth ground
together in restraint, words biting their way through to be heard. Annabel
stumbled against him and his arms came around her as her diminutive figure
pressed into him. He was struck by how small she was. She felt as if she would
snap in his arms if he but squeezed slightly. He had to fight the impulse to
pull her into his embrace.
    Her body trembled
under his touch as her face tilted to his, snaring him with her eyes.
    “You are a rare
creature and too bewitching for your own good.”
    Her mouth quirked.
“Ah, so there we have some words of truth. Keep practicing, Nicholas. I shall
conjure up some feeling from you yet!”
    A village girl
danced up to the pair and snatched Annabel’s hand with a grin. Laughing,
Annabel allowed herself to be pulled away, twirling away from Nicholas as he
watched her in bewilderment. She tested him as no other person could, pushing
his carefully laid down boundaries. Her face lit as she danced with the village
ladies, bringing light into the dark night. With her yellow gown and pale hair,
she did indeed look like a rare, mythical creature. After two nights of being
in the forest, her finery was diminished but she still retained an unhindered
air of grace and light.
    He scowled as he
watched her - this was getting dangerous. They had many more days of traveling
ahead of them and he was losing his focus. His unfeeling ways were no contrived
tactic, it was just the way he had always been. It had brought him riches and
comforts and he had never questioned such an existence. So why would such an
artless woman create so much tumult inside of him?
    Annabel chatted
easily with the peasant women, showing no hint of pretention. His mouth
twitched slightly as they admired her gown and hair and it he could tell she
was brushing aside their compliments. They fingered her necklace and Annabel
made to take it off, likely intending to let them have a look. As she slipped
it into her hand, it became apparent to Nicholas that she meant to let the
women try it on.
    Cursing, he strode
over to the gathering and slapped a hand around Annabel’s wrist before she
could hand over the necklace. She stared at him with shock as the other women
backed away, intimidated by the glowering man.
    “Nicholas, what are
you doing?” she breathed.
    “Little fool,” he
hissed. He was furious, angrier than he had ever been. For some reason her
unthinking trust had wrought a dangerous fire within him.
    Annabel blinked at
him before yanking her arm from his grip. “Why do you insult me so? I shall
tell you now, Nicholas, that I shall not tolerate being treated thus.”
    His jaw twitched.
“Think you that they shall not run off with your precious jewel? You are too
trusting, my lady. Too trusting by far. Cease your naivety and look about you.
This is a dangerous world and you cannot continue on expecting everyone to live
up to your childish expectations.”
    A flush ran across
her cheeks, seeping down her neck, visible even in the golden light of the
torches. Nicholas recognised her anger and he knew that he had thoroughly
insulted her, but his anger had taken a hold of him, his tension and fear
building to a crescendo.
    Spinning wildly,
she dashed away from him, into the sinister gloom of the woods. He stalked
after her, his boots crushing hapless twigs and leaves as he went. Though she
scurried away, his long strides enabled him to keep up with her easily and the
moonlight rebounded off her flaxen hair ensuring he would not lose sight of
her.
    “My lady!” he
called as he came up behind her, not willing to have to grab her again to