Empath's Angel - M J Marlow (easy readers .TXT) 📗

cut her off. He pressed her against the walland removed the sunglass that hid the bruises Zachary had inflicted on her the night before. Stephen hissed in anger as he saw them. Zachary was beating her like an animal! He was going to pay for doing this to Emilia. He kissed her gently on the sight of the bruises, meaning only to comfort her. But when she sighedand softened, he could not stop himself. He kissed herand she did not fight him. He looked down into her eyes in confusion. She was looking back up at him with equal confusion. He had to have her, his mindand body screamed. He could not let her go back to Zachary now; she was his. “He beat you,” Stephen choked as he stepped backand laid the back of hisand against her cheek, “because of me.” “Please don’t involve yourself,” Emilia cried. “It was merely a disagreement that got out of hand…” “He has marked you, little one,” Stephen broke in, his voice cold. She backed away, her fear plainand he was instantly repentant. “I do not mean to frighten you…” She moved away from himand ran. Stephen stood with his fists clenched in anger. “He is going to suffer for every last blow he inflicted on you,” he vowed as he followed her to the pool. He saw her seated beside Bridgetand went towards them. Stephen had never known such rage. The sound of guns going off dampened his emotions quite quickly. He looked at Yusef, who was over by the railingand smiled as the man nodded. Their men were coming. “Come with me.” “What’s going on?” Emilia asked as he moved in front of her. She saw the anger in his eyesand was suddenly very frightened. He clamped his hand on her elbowand led her over to where his women were waiting. “Keep her safe.” Emilia watched as the Sheikand his guards moved towards the railing. They looked overand she tried to go see what was going on. The women held her back, shaking their head at her. She heard a bolt being drawnand turned to see several armed men coming down the passageway. Their faces were hidden under hoods. The men shoved the group of women away from the pooland towards the main lounge. Emilia remained with the Sheik’s women, who seemed determined to keep her safe, as moreand more of the passengers were herded inside. Bridgetand Zachary came towards herand she backed away from them. They stood to one side, glaring at her as she allowed the women to act as a buffer for her. Stephenand his men were brought in, their wrists cuffed behind their backs, their faces bruisedand bloody. “Do not be frightened,” Roman said as he took the stageand removed his hood. “We are here for the Sheikand his people only.” He looked at Stephen coldly. “Your enemies have asked us to extend an invitation for you to visit them, lord Sheik.” He looked over at the womenand smiled as he caught sight of Emilia. “You have added a new woman to your entourage, lord Adrian,” he crooned as he yanked her to his side. His hand moved up to stroke her cheekand he saw the rage in her eyes. “She is a fiery beauty. How much will you pay me to keep her untouched?” “Take your hands off of my sister!” Zachary snarledand rushed at the man. He was struck down to his knees by one of the Kaminski boys. “You have no right!” “Your sister?” Roman looked from Zachary to Emilia to Stephen. “You are stealing other men’s women now, lord Adrian?” He laughed in delight. “How delightful! The noble champion of the downtrodden is abducting women!” He said something to his men in Polishand they cuffed Zachary. “We must see what we can do to rectify this situation. Oh no, pretty,” he laughed as Emilia tried to pull away from him. “You are going to stay right here at my side.” He took a pair of cuffs outand fastened her wrists to the long chain on his belt. “As a woman under dispute, you have only me to stand as your protector now.” He nodded to his men. “We go.” The ‘pirates’ herded Stephenand his people,and Zacharyand Bridget away. Roman remained behind a moment longer with Emilia. He saw her looking up at him, her eyes blazing in anger. A true Sobieski, he smiled. Faced with uncertainty, they showed no fear. He was quite proud of his little cousin. He grabbed her wristand pulled her out on deck where the gangplank had been lowered for their use. The crew was being guarded by more armed men. Once Emiliaand Roman were off the ship, these men joined them in the remaining boat. “You have questions, Księżna?” Roman asked his cousin as he shoved her to a seatand sank down next to her. “I’ve never heard of Polish pirates,” Emilia retortedand tried to move away. He pulled her back, his arm holding her to his side. “Pirates?” Roman laughed in delight. “Such an antiquated term for what we are!” He repeated her comment to his relativesand they laughed. “You have amused my men, Księżna. That, in itself, would earn you safety from our attentions.” He stroked her hairand her eyes flashed. “Your grandfather is going to pay us dearly to have you returned to him.” “You know my grandfather?” “The Sobieski have been enemies of my clan for centuries, Księżna,” Roman told her bluntly. “When we heard that the granddaughter of the Krol himself was going on a cruise, we saw a chance to strike back at them.” He cupped her chin in his hand and looked her over insolently. “You are an exquisitely beautiful young woman, Emilia Winslow. I can see why men fight over you.” He said something to his menand Emilia cringed as she realized what was going to happen. “The Sheik wants you, the Winslow bastard wants you. We shall make them fight for you.” “You’re vile!” Emilia hissedand tried to pull free of him again. He yanked her back roughly, twisting her wrist. “Co kontynuuje tutaj!” “Then behave yourself, Księżna,” Roman told her roughly. He was enjoying this game, he thought to himself. This cousin of his was a true delight. “You sit stilland do as you’re told,and you may see your grandfather yet.” Emilia glared at himand he laughed in delight. She turned her head awayand watched as the cruise ship grew smallerand smaller. Where was this bastard taking them, she wondered. She had tried to read his mind, but it was guarded against her talent. She saw only his delight in winning such rich prizes. Other men were thinking of the contest they would soon see between the Sheikand the bastard Winslow. They were already taking bets to see who they thought would win. She closed her eyesand tried to relax. The men had not hurt anyone yet, she told herself. She dozed offand missed the regret on the faces of the man next to her. “She is the lady Elzabet returned to us,” his brother, Krystian, whispered as he joined Roman. “Why can’t we just slit the bastard’s throat nowand lose him over the side?” “And take Stephen’s vengeance from him?” Roman shook his head. “It is brother against brother now. We stand ready to assist only if Stephen falls.” He stroked Emilia’s hairand she whimpered in her sleep, striking out in protest. Roman’s expression darkened as he saw this. “Then we slit Zachary Winslow’s throat.” * The vessels sailed into the harbor of the island as the sun was just rising up over the horizon. Roman kept Emilia at his side as he watched the other prisoners being unloaded. He felt her shiverand took off his jacketand put it around her shoulders. This deference was something she was not used to. Apparently her grandfather, though this man’s enemy, was held in some respect. This man had been calling her ‘princess’ ever since he had taken her captive. Her grandfather was no king, surely. She saw the Sheik eyeing herand she wondered again why he felt so familiar to her. His face had the same shape as Stephen’s, but his eyes were blackand his hair was night black. In his arms, she had almost felt like she had her husband back again. She was ashamed at herself for allowing a stranger to stir her. Surely she owed it to her husband’s memory to keep another man from reaching to her heart; at least for a time? “This is Pożerają Trzymają, Księżna,” Roman smiled as he led her after the prisoners. “Raven Hold. It has been our home for seven centuries.” They came up the hilland he paused so she could look at the village nestled around an immense castle keep. “Is it not awe-inspiring?” “It’s like something out of a medieval history,” Emilia said softly. “I suppose you’re going to lock me in a tower now?” “Would you prefer that, Księżna?” Roman laughed as he looked down at her. “I was going to give you the best suite of rooms in the hold.” He sobered slightly. “I should not tease you, Księżna,” he said in apology. “You are an innocent in these mattersand should be treated gently.” They entered the villageand Emilia saw several people watching the parade. Their expressions were quite waryand she could feel fear in the minds of several of them. What she saw in her mind as they walked by had her nearly in tears. These ‘pirates’ were not the hard-hearted bastards she assumed them to be. The people who inhabited their village had been rescued from lives of slaveryand given a home. Anyone brought here as a prisoner was one such as those who had enslavedand tortured them. She understood their fear. They entered the keepand Roman went to the daisand sank down on his throne, one leg over an arm in a nonchalant manner. “Welcome to Raven Hold,” he told his other prisoners. “Your stay here shall be as uncomfortable as your behavior makes it. The Księżna Emilia alone,” he pulled Emilia to his side, “is an honored guest here.” He nodded to Stephen’s women. “The lord Adrian’s women shall be her attendants; as will the Maxwell woman.” He gave these orders to his menand they took the women away. “Lord Adrian, since youand the Winslow bastard are in dispute as to the custody of the Księżna Emilia, we shall have combat at the end of the week.” He turned to his men. “Lord Adrian’s men will be put in the dungeons. Lord Adrianand Mr. Winslow shall be given quarters in opposite towers of the keepand held under guard.” “What are you going to do with the girl?” Stephen demanded coldly, in his haughtiest Sheik manner. “If you touch her, fiend…” “The Księżna Emilia is safe from me, lord Adrian,” Roman broke in, laughing. “She is to be ransomed back to her grandfather, the great Krol of the Sobieski. He will pay dearly to have his beloved grandchild back safely.” He nodded to his men. “Do ich komórek.” When they were gone, he turned to Emilia. “It is time I contacted the Sobieski, Księżna.” He nodded to two women standing nearby. “Take her to the Rose Suiteand turn her over to her women.” “Please don’t make them fight over me,” Emilia protested as he freed her from the chain, but left her wrists cuffed. “You have no intention of giving me to either of them,” she cried. “There is no point…” “It amuses me,” Roman broke in, his eyes cold. “That is the point.” He nodded to the women. “Take her.” Emilia was escorted up the massive stairs to the leftand to the wing to the left. A pair of guards stood outside of an immense door. One of the men opened itand she was freed from the cuffsand pushed inside. Emilia frowned as the door banged shut behind her. The sheik’s