How to Tame a Beast in Seven Days (The Embraced #1)

He lunged for her and grasped her by the shoulders. “You promised you would run away with me. You love me!”


“No!” She struggled to get away, but he pushed her against a wall. Pinning her there with one hand, he gripped her chin with the other.

“Listen to me. No one gets between your legs but me. You’re mine!” He rammed his mouth against hers.

With a strangled cry, she shook her head. No, no! This couldn’t be her first kiss! She shoved with her hands, kicked with her feet, then suddenly he was wrenched off her and flying into a wall.

She gasped. The redheaded man was here! And he’d thrown the captain like he weighed nothing.

“What the hell?” Alberto scrambled to his feet. “How dare you come in here? Guards!”

“They no longer answer to you.” The redheaded man flexed his gloved hands as he glared at the captain. “I informed them that you’ve been dismissed from your post.”

“What?” Alberto eyed him with disdain. “You have no authority over me. And no right to attack me! I should kill you.” He fumbled for his sword, but in only a second the redheaded man whisked a dagger from his boot and pointed it at Captain Bougaire’s neck.

Alberto gulped.

“You truly wish to kill me?” the man said softly. “I’ll give you the chance. Meet me in the courtyard at dawn. Your choice of weapons.”

Luciana’s breath caught. A duel?

“Fine.” Alberto sneered. “I’m the best swordsman in the keep. When I win, I’ll demand my position back. And I’ll claim Tatiana as mine.”

With a hint of a smile, the redheaded man lowered his dagger. “You will not win her.”

Luciana stiffened. “Excuse me? I object to—”

“Don’t worry,” Alberto interrupted, slanting a wary glance in her direction. “I’ll be sure to win you.”

“Nobody is winning me,” Luciana declared. “I object to being a prize at a tourney.”

The redheaded man turned his head to give her a curious look.

His eyes are a beautiful green. Like new leaves in spring. Or a meadow at dawn— She pushed those thoughts away. “I appreciate you rescuing me from the captain’s unwanted attention, but—”

“What?” Alberto huffed.

“I don’t see why either of you should suddenly feel a need to kill each other,” she finished.

“He insulted me!” Alberto pointed at the redheaded man.

“You insulted my woman,” he replied.

Luciana scoffed. “I am not yours. I don’t even know who you are. And both of you had better leave before my betrothed…” A niggling suspicion crept into her pores. Her eyes widened as she stared at the redheaded man.

One side of his mouth tilted up as if he found the situation amusing.

He couldn’t be. This man had arrived with the army, and her betrothed had been delayed. Besides, this man was far too handsome to ever be called a Beast. His dark-red hair gleamed in the sunlight that poured through the windows. His square jaw and sharp jawline were shaded with whiskers a little darker than his hair. And his eyes, that beautiful shade of green, were focused entirely on her.

He arched a brow as if he were asking if she’d figured it out.

She shook her head. He couldn’t be. If he was, then he’d lied. He’d been here all along. Tricking her.

“What’s going on?” Alberto looked back and forth between her and the other man. “Who the hell are you?”

He slipped his dagger back into his boot. “I am Leofric of Benwick, Lord Protector of the Realm.” He slowly smiled at Luciana. “And your future husband.”

Her heart lurched. She didn’t know whether to rejoice or crawl into a hole to die from embarrassment. He was the man of her dreams, but he’d played her like a fool. All the time that he’d spent watching her, taking her confession, sneaking into the tower, he’d always known who she was.

But he’d kept his identity a secret. So even though he’d made her heart flutter, he’d also caused her heart to ache, for she had believed she would be forced to marry someone else.

Had he found it all amusing?

Tears stung her eyes. “I should have clobbered you when I had the chance.”





Chapter Fourteen

Leo’s smile faded. This was not the reaction he had expected. Had he been wrong in believing their attraction was mutual? Was he so starved for affection that he’d misinterpreted every glance she’d aimed his direction?

“What?” Captain Bougaire regarded him in horror as he stumbled back a few steps. “You’re the Be—Lord Protector?”

The bastard had come close to calling him the Beast. Leo cut him an annoyed look. “Leave us.”

“Y-you should have warned us,” the captain whined. “You should have told us who you are.”

“Exactly,” Tatiana ground out, her beautiful blue eyes glaring at him.

She was agreeing with the bastard? And how could she threaten to clobber her future husband? Leo stepped toward her. “Are you … angry with me?”

Her eyebrows lifted. “You’re clever. I like that.”

What the hell? She was using his own words against him. And there was no mistaking her sarcastic tone. No one dared talk to him like that. Only the general, Nevis, and Brody could get away with it, and only in private. Why, he could make hardened soldiers piss their pants with just a look—a sudden realization struck him.

She was standing up to him.

Since the age of five, he’d seen how people reacted when they learned he was a monster. They recoiled from him, cowered in fear, and refused to look him in the eye. But not Tatiana.

He moved closer and rested a gloved hand against the wall on one side of her head. Her eyes widened, but she didn’t flinch or turn away. “You’re bold. I like that.”

Her eyes remained fixed on his, and his heart pounded in his chest. She was breathing quickly, the lovely upper curves of her breasts straining against the bodice of her gown. By the Light, he wanted to touch her. He wanted it with a fierceness that made his heart ache.