Laurel and Baron (Descendants of Sherwood #2)

Previously in Laurel of Locksley

I’m Laurel of Locksley, Robin Hood’s daughter.

After my mother was killed by the Sheriff of Nottingham, my father trained me to ensure I would never be helpless.

By fifteen, I had become the first woman officially accepted into the Merry Men of Sherwood Forest. By nineteen, I was certain there was no danger I could not handle.

How wrong I was.

With King Richard away in the Holy Land and Prince John eager to steal the throne, rumors spread that Sheriff Blackwell of Nottingham was gathering men for John’s cause. Father sent me to discover the size of the threat, but I was recognized, captured by the sheriff’s men, and used as bait.

I’ll admit it—my arrogance was my undoing.

I was so confident that I could slip out of their camp that I underestimated the sheriff’s right hand man.

Baron was enormous, infuriating, far too observant, and unfortunately, the best tracker I had ever met.

After hauling me back from my attempted escapes, he was assigned as my guard, which meant we were chained together all winter long.

I really, genuinely intended to hate him.

I did at first, too. I mean, I did everything I could to try and escape.

I drugged men, set their tents on fire, and caused enough chaos that I should have been put to death.

If it weren’t for the sheriff needing me alive to use me as bait for my father, I likely would have been put to death.

If it weren’t for Baron, I know I would’ve been treated far worse than I was.

Baron protected me from the other men in camp, kept me fed despite orders to starve me, cared for me when I was injured, and made sure I stayed warm during the most frigid months.

I owed him my life. Somehow, amid hating him, I fell in love with his unwavering patience.

He was steady where I was reckless, cautious where I was impulsive, and stubborn enough to match me. He became the person I trusted most.

So when Father and the Merry Men attempted a rescue and were sent to prison, I asked Baron to run away with me. He was about to, but then I discovered that the sheriff was Baron’s father, and the sheriff sentenced me to death.

Baron betrayed his father by breaking me out in the dead of night and rescuing me. Together, we infiltrated the castle and broke Father and the others out of the dungeon. Baron could have returned to the sheriff’s side but instead, he came with us.

But just as we thought we could make it back to Sherwood Forest, the sheriff tracked us down and attacked.

The Merry Men and I fought back alongside my father and Baron faced his father in a duel.

Baron won but, still clinging to the loyalty only a son has for his father, offered to let him live.

The moment Baron turned his back, the sheriff came at him from behind.

It’s lucky, really, that I had my bow and arrow at the ready.

The moment Baron was in danger, I knew I had to act, and I killed Baron’s father.

Baron was finally free, but his freedom couldn’t erase the past. Prince John still wanted the throne. King Richard had not yet returned. And Baron and I still had to discover whether two people from opposite sides of a war could truly build a future together.