Little Saint Bride [Death and the Maiden, #1]

Chapter Four: How Not to Seduce a Bounty Hunter

And I rush at him, jerking the blade before me as I strike for his heart. The stranger drops Mercer, managing to step aside my attack. Growling deep from my throat in exertion, my blade slashes at him, reaching only the leather of his jacket enough to rip lines through it. He continues to move away, defending only with his knife when necessary. I've cut through so much of his jacket within minutes of my rapid attacks when he suddenly steps forwards, and I misjudge the distance between us. His cool blue eyes are coming towards me, staring down at me, as my blade misses.

He captures my arm, pulling me into his grip, but I drop immediately, lashing out with my fists and elbows. I hear him grunt in pain, and the pressure on my arm disappears. I roll, agile, before rising into my stance once more with my sword.

The man looks really irritated now. His eyebrow quirks, and he smiles sardonically. I don't need to hear him speak to know what he's trying to say.

Done? Good. It's my turn, he tells me.

He draws another knife from his belt, and moves so quickly I lose sight of him. Instead, I sense— rather than see— him reach behind me, and I strike towards the sensation. I see the surprise glint in his eyes as I catch his arm, drawing blood. But then his grin returns, and he's closer again.

'Who are you?' I hear him say. The words aren't angry anymore. He sounds...intrigued.

I feel the knife coming towards my throat. I dodge, and slam into him with as much force as I can muster. We both fall, crashing into the dirt. His knife clatters from his hand, but as I reach to get it, he pulls my hair, and I scream, going down. The man tries to pin me, but I jab towards his throat, and he gasps for breath as I shove him down.

'I am innocent!' I hiss at him, my nails biting into his windpipe. 'You attacked us!'

I hear him coughing, struggling against my hands. 'You technically attacked me, miss.'

'Stop going easy on me just because I'm in my underwear! You were all ready to kill me earlier!' I sit on my heels, straddling him.

Those cool blue eyes open and fix upon my face. His hands grab my wrists and break my hold. 'That was before you took off your dress—'

I raise my hand again to hit him, but he frantically shakes his head. 'No, no, the dress was filthy— I didn't realise until I saw your underwear...it's white. You're a bride.'

I halt in my attack, glancing down at the bodice I'm wearing. It really is a sparklingly clean white, protected from the dust by the dress. There's now a couple of spots of blood from the man's wound, but really, it's quite perfect. Something about my attire has relaxed him.

But him knowing my identity doesn't mean we're safe; for all we know, he might have killed the Ferryman. I press a knee to his chest, still poised to attack. Hearing a shuffle, I glance up to find Mercer has retrieved my cutlass, lost in the fall. He brings it to me, and I brandish it towards the man's face.

'You don't get to ask the questions!'

'It wasn't a question,' he replies smoothly.

'...Answer my questions! Who are you and what happened to the Ferryman?'

The man still stares at me, his eyes never leaving my face. I'm conscious that I'm bright red, huffing in effort, and probably sweating. I can feel it on my chest, and it's grim.

But I'm grateful that I can see sweat on his brow, and his heartbeat is thudding beneath me.

'I'm a bounty hunter,' he says at last, 'And you're Death's bride.'