Lair of the Lion

seemed to be watching her, but that didn't account for the heavy weight of malevolence she felt. Abruptly she began to walk along a narrow path that led upward. She was uncertain why she saw no people. Did they go into their homes as the sun went down to prevent a disaster with a stray lion? A chill went down her spine again at the thought.
    She heard it then. Soft. Barely discernable. A huffing noise. A whisper of fur sliding against something solid. She began to walk faster up the path, huddling in her cloak, her heart pounding with each step. She felt its presence. Knew it was stalking her, following her scent. Moving deliberately slow to terrorize her.
    Nicolai? Would he do such a thing to teach her a lesson? Was the curse unfolding because he had lain with her? He had watched her from the battlements as she spoke with Sergio. He had even sent Sergio some missive warning him away from her. She had been certain that he had come into her room the night before. That something had visited her room. She shivered again and rubbed her arms for warmth. She had felt eyes on her in the night. She should have felt Nicolai's arms, but he had left her alone. Was he jealous enough to stalk her, hunt her down, and devour her?
    Isabella went very still, ashamed of herself. She recognized the subtle flow of power directed at her. It fed her doubts, fed her fears. If she didn't believe in Nicolai, in his strength, no other ever would. She would not think it was Nicolai. She would not give in to the curse. Nor would she allow the entity any influence over her. But she knew she was in grave danger.
    Isabella clutched at the fastening of her cloak as if she could feel the lion sinking its teeth into her throat. She heard the peculiar grunting noise the lions often made. A beast was definitely trailing her. Isabella rounded a corner, and her heart nearly stopped. For a moment she was certain she had come to a dead end. A line of buildings blocked her way.
    "Nicolai." She whispered his name. A talisman. "Nicolai," she said aloud as she raced toward two buildings that looked as if they might be homes. "Nicolai!" She called his name as loudly as she could, a sob in her voice as she rushed to the door of the nearest house and pounded on it. The lion huffed again. It was much closer. And no one was home, the door secure. Isabella felt the swell of triumph in the air. Of evil. She wasn't alone with the lion.
    The entity was there. Real. Seething with malevolence. It filled the small area between the houses with a thick cloud of venom.
    "Isabella!" She heard Nicolai's voice and went weak with relief, sinking to the steps in front of the building. "Answer me!" There was panic in Nicolai's voice.
    "Here, Nicolai, I'm here." She knew he would hear the fear and relief in her voice.
    "Hurry! There's a lion."

    She saw it then, the dark shape hidden in the shadows. Its eyes glowed a fierce red loathing of her. Isabella stared back, mesmerized by such intense hatred. The creature sank into a crouch, watching her, hating her.
    "Isabella! If anything dares to harm you, nothing, no one will be safe in this valley," he vowed. She could hear the pounding of his horse's hooves as he followed her scent through the maze of streets. There was an edge to his voice, as if he had reached out to control the beast and found it resistant.
    She strained to see the lion, but it was well in the shadows. Only the eyes were clear, glowing at her with a wicked promise. The lion was aware of Nicolai's approach, and it snarled once, revealing huge teeth that gleamed at her from the shadows. Suddenly the beast whipped around and simply disappeared between the buildings.
    Nicolai rode around the corner at a dead gallop and had to pull up his horse before it trampled her. He was out of the saddle before the animal even stopped. His face was pale, his hair wild. He dragged her into his arms and crushed her to him. "I'm going to tie you to my side." It was a vow, nothing less. His hands framed her face, forcing her head up so he could find her mouth with his. Fear welded them together.
    His hands ran over her, searching every square inch of her, needing to make certain that she was all in one piece. It had driven his breath right out of his body, that sudden knowledge among the lions that his woman was being hunted. "Isabella, this can't go on. It has to stop. You're driving me out of my mind with your heedless ways." His hands tightened on her arms, and he shook her. "You're