Prologue
Elise’s heart pounded as she ran, gripped by fear, down another alley. Her breathing was labored as she skidded over the rain-slicked cobblestone streets in the dark. Her body was screaming at her to stop, to slow down, but her fear urged her forward. She risked a glance behind her, but all was dark. She could see nothing, but it was the sheer nothing that terrified her. Her long, white cloak was flowing behind her as she ran. The icy rain forced her breath out in puffs. Her hood fell forward, obstructing her face. She turned down another alleyway between two looming brick buildings, and hurtled down it without really looking where she was going.
Count Makraim Declan was on foot. He had received an urgent message from his king, sending him on a rescue mission. He was currently making his way using the natural camouflage of night to go undetected. His plan was to stop at the inn for the night and continue on foot before the break of dawn. He picked up the sound of running footfalls. Mind racing, Makraim paused to listen. No one should have been running - or even out - this late into the night. The sound seemed to be coming from one street over. Looking up, Makraim saw the two brick lodgings and slipped into the alleyway between them. Whatever - or whomever - was running right at him. Bracing himself for a collision, Makraim made to put out his hands, but the figure collided right into him, bringing both of them tumbling into the wet alley.
The woman’s hood fell back during the collision, her hair spilling wildly around her. The count wrapped his arms around the woman’s lithe body.
“Help me.” Her breath came out as a desperate, breathy whisper.
Makraim recovered, grabbing the woman and standing. She was slumped in his arms and he sighed. Just two words, only two words spoken by this female, and he found his instincts to protect her in overdrive. He was sure he was getting himself in to trouble as he turned to carry her away.
