Black Falcon's Lady (Celtic Rogues Book 1) Read Online Free Page B

the hostile, unknown land, had only fed her need for freedom. As the battered gray turrets faded far behind her, the savage pace of the mare flying across the Donegal hills pulsed through Maryssa's own body, primal and wild. She rejoiced in it. Rejoiced even as she feared it. Until . . .
    She yanked at the reins awkwardly, attempting to turn the thundering mare down a wide path branching to the right, the other jagged-carved trail seeming sinister, dangerous even bathed in moonlight. A shudder of foreboding shot through her as she glanced at the huge boulders slicing the ground to her left. The massive chunks of stone seemed almost alive, staring at her, blank and terrifying as a madwoman's eyes.
    She felt the mare veer toward the path that promised safety, and the tension that had gripped her eased, when suddenly a mass of fangs, fur, and eyes glowing red charged from the tangle of underbrush. The horse shied, her terror-sound streaking horror through Maryssa as the night beast lunged toward them.
    Maryssa didn’t know how she stayed on the mare's back in that terrible instant, knew only that she clung wildly with her hands, her legs, and every morsel of her strength. The reins flew from her grasp as the sorrel wheeled, bolting to the one path left them, crashing down the hillside at breakneck speed.
    She clutched at hanks of the blooded mare's mane, terror deeper than her innate fear of horses cutting through her. What tiny fragment of control she had held on to shattered in the face of the mare's fright as she bolted wildly downward. She was going to die.
    The coarse mane bit deep into Maryssa’s sweat-slick palms as the horse lunged to the left, plunging down yet another steep slope. Jagged stones pierced the tree-studded drop like gaping jaws eager to snap the sorrel's slender legs and send them both catapulting into the dusk-shrouded valley below,
    "No!" She cried as thorny branches raked gashes in her arms and cheeks, the valley suddenly falling off as though gouged by a giant's hand. The sorrel dove downward, bunching its haunches, head thrown back.
    The hard ridge of the horse's neck slammed into Maryssa's chin. She shut her eyes against the stinging pain, feeling the horse lose control, hoof skidding on rock, muscles straining and fighting. With a horrible shriek, the mare plummeted to the base of the valley. The crack of front hooves striking the earth jarred through Maryssa's whole body. Then suddenly the mare slammed to a halt, then reared wildly.
    The coarse mane whipped through Maryssa's raw palms. Saddle leather tore free of Maryssa’s thighs as the mare threw her and bolted for the hills. Maryssa screamed as she hurtled through the air. But it was not the rocky earth she struck. Something closed over her, cutting off breath, dragging her under.
    Water. She choked, flailing as panic engulfed her, the weight of her soaked skirts and quilted petticoats pulling her down. Oh, God, she couldn't swim.
    She fought to break the surface, kicking and clawing as the water filled her eyes and mouth. She couldn't breathe, couldn't move, the heavy cloth tangling like tentacles about her legs. Water rushed into her nose, a burning pain that seared her lungs. A sob choked deep in her throat.
    Then suddenly something solid was against her, binding her, holding her. She kicked and clawed it, a muffled sound like an animal snarl reaching her even through the now-roiling water as the heel of her shoe connected solidly with whatever or whoever held her captive. The grip on her tightened, and Maryssa felt herself yanked upward with force that made her head spin. Wind struck her wet face, air bursting into her lungs in an agonizing, glorious rush. Her nails dug deep into something smooth, warm. Alive.
    "Ow! Pull in your claws you little hellcat, or by Bridget's cross I'll throw you back in! You all but unmanned me!"
    "Can't swim. Don't!" Maryssa clung to his neck frantically. Gulps of air shot pain through her chest, sharp objects