Page 52 of Blood & Claw

One rush from the darkness and her blood would have filled his mouth.

He’d fought it. Gods, he’d fought it hard.

Darach forced the memory away, his breathing ragged now.

Aye, he’d won that battle. He’d hunted something else instead. But he’d also abandoned his post. Ailsa had paid for protection, and he’d left her alone at the fireside.

Unforgivable.

Until now, the beast hadn’t affected his ability to do his job. A mercenary didn’t run from danger. He faced it.

And yet, when he’d returned at dawn, expecting to find Ailsa asleep by the hearth, she’d been fighting for her life.

Facing down a second Reedohran, wielding nothing but that thin-bladed knife. Blood on her hands and black eyes burning. She’d been quite a sight.

Darach’s grip tightened on the reins. Just as well she was a scrapper.

Still, it had been far too close.

If the Reedohran had reached her moments earlier, he’d have returned to a corpse beside a smoking hearth.

A bodyguard who abandoned his charge deserved hanging.

He wouldn’t make that mistake twice.

Then there was the other problem. The assassin.

Darach’s mouth twisted. No, Ailsa had guessed right. The man hadn’t been part of the mercenary band they were chasing. And he hadn’t been here for her, but for him.

Unfortunately, the assassin hadn’t been the first. Nor would he likely be the last.

Four others had already tried; the last had been a few moons earlier. She’d tried to stick a blade in Darach in the middle of the Inverwich market.

His brother’s work.

Darach’s gut started to burn then, every muscle tightening. Gods, he hated the fucker. Just the thought of him made the creature inside Darach snap and snarl. His attention had been diverted of late, but he hadn’t forgotten the promise he’d made himself years earlier.

One problem at a time though. First, he had to find the mercenaries, get Kayla back, and deal with the beast.

But his brother’s days were numbered.

How he was going to enjoy twisting the blade.

Reaching up, he scrubbed a hand over his face.

His ribs ached when he drew breath. The change always left him feeling as if he’d been beaten with clubs. It was an effort to keep his back straight.

Two sleepless nights. A shift that had wrung the strength out of his bones while the beast still paced inside him, restless and hungry. Lately, it had been harder to keep the leash tight.

His jaw popped as he ground his teeth.

A sharp ache lanced through his gums then, and his pulse lurched.

Not now. Not in daylight.

He had to stay in control, especially with Ailsa watching him so closely.

Her stare made him sweat.