When the door closed Affina blew out a breath. "My father may be the king but I've not seen him act like this in years. It surprises me that he is requesting a guard."
Raze stayed silent for a moment and then looked at her. "The wolves aren't here to guard your father. They're here to guard Wolf River."
A knot grew in Affina's stomach. Low voices spoke in Russian down the short hallway. Affina sniffed the air and was bombarded by several scents she recognized and many she didn't. Her saber whined knowing that many of her clan were alive and near.
Affina's legs carried her forward without thinking. She had to see her father. She strode quickly down the hallway to the open doors and practically rushed inside.
"Fina, wait," Razor growled. But she didn't slow. She needed to see him. To see all of them.
"Father?"
The large room looked like a basketball court, filled with bodies. She sniffed the air. sabers. They turned as she entered. One saber limped forward.
"Incus." Affina ran to him and pulled him into a hug. He winced at her touch and didn't hug her in return. Affina stepped away, suddenly self-conscious. "I'm sorry, Incus. I didn't mean to invade your space."
He gave her a weak smile and a split on his lip opened and wept blood. "Think nothing of it, Princess," he said in their native tongue.
She looked around the room. "Where's my father?"
Incus' gaze traveled to the other sabers. Affina looked at the other faces realizing that she didn't recognize them. This wasn't her clan.
Razor rushed to her side and pulled her away.
"Where is the king?" Razor demanded.
"I'm right here." The sabers parted revealing a large saber sitting in an oversized chair. His rust colored beard and shaggy hair were long and unkempt.
Anger surged through Affina as recognition struck her hard.
"You! You killed my mother!" She rushed forward but Razor caught her around the waist.
"Fina, don't," he whispered.
"And your father." The man stood from the chair making it groan.
Affina lunged at him, but Razor held her fast. "Murderer!" she yelled.
"I prefer king. It was your father that was the murderer." He stopped directly in front of her and grabbed Affina by the arm.
Razor lashed out and shoved him in the chest, stepping in front of her, fangs bared. "Touch her again and you'll lose a hand."
The other sabers rushed forward but the king raised his hand to stop them.
He sniffed Razor and then sniffed again. "It's been a long time since someone has dared to threaten me and lived, boy."
"It's been a long time since I've been given the opportunity to practice. However I'm more than happy to back it up if necessary. I meant what I said. Don't touch her."
Affina put her hand on Razor's shoulder. Something wasn't right. The way the supposed king looked at Razor sent a chill up her spine.
The king chuckled. "What is your name?"
"Why do you care?" Affina blurted. "Do you want the name of every saber before you kill them?"
"Fina, let me handle this," Razor said.
"This piece of shit killed my family. I won't allow him to harm you or the others as well."
The king's gaze fell hard on Affina but she squared her shoulders and stared right back at him. She refused to allow the monster to cower her and if need be, she would fight to the death for both Razor and the others.
"My name is Razor's Edge. I was a guard in the Saber Mountain clan."
Whispers traveled around the group and the king looked Razor up and down.
"Who were your parents?"
"My father was a traitor, like you. He sought power and tried to overthrow Princess Affina's father. My mother suffered his fate as well for having gone along with his plan."
Affina placed her palm on Razor's back, lending him her strength. He never spoke of his parents. It would have been easy for him to simply say their names, but to truly believe that they were traitors had to run deeper than she even knew.
"Is that what you were told, boy?" asked the king. "Is that the bull this girl and her father fed you to keep you complacent?"
"We fed him nothing. I saw his parents come with my own eyes. I watched his father challenge mine for the throne."
The saber's eyes steeled against her. "I am Mandrake Silveredge, King of the Silver Edge clan." His gaze traveled to Razor. "I am your grandfather."
Affina blinked replaying the words in her head.
"My... grandfather?" asked Razor.
"Your mother Sheenar was my daughter. She mated Gregor your father. His family was the rightful heirs to the Saber Mountain clan."
"That's a lie," Affina spat.
Mandrake's icy gaze fell on her heavily. "Is it? Your grandfather Affrid overthrew Gregor's grandfather for the throne. He took control of the Saber Mountain clan, putting your father on the throne after him. But the rightful heir of the Saber Mountain pack is not you, girl. It is my grandson, Razor. It's why we came for you that night."
A chill ran down Affina's back. He had been looking for someone the night he'd shown up.
"Where is the kin that was taken?" she whispered.
Razor turned to look at her.
Her gaze stayed on Mandrake. "That's what you said. The night you attacked and took my mother hostage. You asked my father 'where is the kin that was taken'?" She looked at Razor. He was the one Mandrake had been looking for. The one her mother had died protecting the identity of. Her father had known all along that Razor wasn't a slave. He was royalty.
"Aye," replied Mandrake. "We'd been told the boy had been killed with his parents originally and I was ready to wipe out your clan just for that offense alone, but we didn't have the numbers you did. So I waited and I joined forces with other clans. Then the day came that news reached me of a teen who looked just like Gregor. A slave in the Saber Mountain clan. A slave named Razor's Edge. You. My grandson. So I came for you, but when we arrived, you weren't there. Again I thought you dead until that one finally broke." Mandrake pointed to Incus.
Affina turned and looked at the captain of her father's guard. Gone was the strong, imposing saber that he'd once been. Left was a shell of a saber, broken and beaten by who knew how many tortures.
"So you see," said Mandrake. "I have come to deliver you from them once and for all. To bring you home to the place where you were born to be. The throne of the Saber Mountain clan. All hail, Razor's Edge, King of the Saber Mountain clan."
"All hail, King Razor," the sabers intoned.
A sick brew churned in Affina's stomach and she stepped away from Razor. He was the rightful heir. Murderers were kings. Slaves were Alphas. Captains were liars. And she... was nothing.
* * *
Razor's mind tried to catch up with what was happening. Mandrake brought Incus forward along with Boramus, Medajon, and Satia. The last of the Saber Mountain clan.
Their clothes were dirty and ragged. Blood stained their faces and arms. Each of the three, including Affina's handmaiden Satia were beaten and broken from their torment.
"Kneel before your king," Mandrake ordered.
The three sabers looked between each other and then to Affina.
Mandrake's men kicked them to their knees. Satia crumpled to the ground and Affina rushed forward and punched a saber in the chest, sending him flying backward.
"Enough!" Affina shouted. "How dare you treat them so poorly. They've done nothing to you."
"Nothing but support my daughter's murderer," said Mandrake.
Affina jumped to her feet and stood nose to nose with him. "And what about you? You call my father murderer and yet you did the same thing."
"To kill a traitor is not murder."
"Then neither was my father. Your daughter and her mate were traitors to my family just as you claim my father was to yours."
Mandrake's fists clenched tight and his jaw worked hard for a moment. "When we return home you will learn respect girl. You will lear
n what it is truly like to be a slave at my feet and in my bed."
Affina spit in Mandrake's face. "I'll die before you take me anywhere."
Mandrake raised his hand to strike Affina but Razor's saber roared to life. He jumped in front of her and grabbed Mandrake's arm.
"Remember what I said about that hand? That hasn't changed. Grandfather or not, you'll not lay a claw on her."
Mandrake yanked away from him and his skin rippled with anger. "We came for both of you. To bring you home and to make her suffer as my daughter suffered. She must pay the debt that was done to you and our family."
"I don't know yet if I believe what you say. I know not you, nor your men. But for the sake of argument, I will say I believe you. And if what you say is true, if I am king of Saber Mountain, then you have no say over my people or my clan."
"Incus, Boramus, Medajon, Satia, rise and join me." Affina helped Satia to her feet and the group huddled behind Razor.
"You obviously don't know how these things work, boy. My clan demands a tribute as payment for reinstating you to your position as king of Saber Mountain," said Mandrake. "We demand the life of Affina Tigra."
Razor's fangs lengthened as anger surged through him. "And you obviously don't know me. First of all, I haven't been anyone's boy for a long time now. Second of all, I don't give tribute where none is owed. I didn't ask you to come here. I didn't ask you to get the throne for me. You chose to do that for your own purposes. Therefore, I owe you nothing. And as for my clan, I think you've taken quite enough from them already."
Mandrake stared at Razor, his eyes conflicted. If he backed down he would look weak to his clan. If he didn't it would end in a bloody battle between them and one of them would not be coming out alive.
"You are right. You did not ask for this. Therefore I will forgive the customary tribute this once. Instead, I insist you mate with one of our clan females and seal the rift between our people."
The offer was one Raze had seen many times before to ensure peace between clans. But it didn't matter. Mandrake was in no position to insist on anything.
"I cannot accept this deal," he replied. "For I have already taken the bond with another."
Mandrake shrugged. "Many sabers in our clan take more than one mate. It does not matter."
"It matters to me." Razor turned and offered his hand to Affina. She looked at it for a moment and then slipped her hand into his and stepped forward. "Affina is my mate and my queen. I will have no other."
Mandrake's gaze narrowed and he gritted his teeth.
"I will give you something you can return home with however, as both tribute and to seal the rift between the clans."
Mandrake folded his bulky arms over his chest. "And what is that?"
"I give you stewardship over Saber Mountain and all of its possessions until such time as I or one of my descendants returns to claim it."
Mandrake stared at him a moment, but the sparkle in his eyes and the slight upturn of the corners of his mouth told Razor the prospect was already agreeable.
"You are giving me Saber Mountain castle?"
"On one condition."
Mandrake growled. "You try my patience."
"Trust me, mine was spent the moment I walked in this room. If you find any more members of the Saber Mountain clan, you are to send them to me unharmed."
Mandrake nodded. "And..."
"And neither you, nor any of the Silver Edge clan may ever return here again."
Grumbles sounded around the room. Mandrake held up his fist and the grumbles stopped.
"Agreed."
"Wait!"
Raze's gaze traveled over the group and a saber rushed forward. She lowered her hood and Raze saw a shock of blonde hair and a set of bright blue eyes. The female stopped in front of Razor and dropped to her knees.
"Please. Let us stay."
"Us?"
The female looked behind her and out of the group walked four other sabers. Three men and a girl no more than seventeen.
Mandrake grabbed the female by the arm and yanked her to her feet. "How dare you? After everything I've done for you-"
The woman pulled away. "Done for us? You murdered our father and married our mother. You then used us as pawns to make alliances with other clans."
Mandrake backhanded the woman and Affina roared and ran to the female helping her up. The other four rushed to the female's side.
"Get back in line," yelled Mandrake. "You have no right to even speak unless I give you that right."
Razor's saber roared in protest. "Enough. I will take them in as well."
"No!" Mandrake bellowed. "A deal was struck. I released you from your debt-"
"And I am releasing you from your murders of my mate's parents."
Mandrake's face reddened and he stepped up to Raze, towering over him. "All it would take is one command and my sabers would rip your clan apart."
"Would they?" Raze asked, keeping his voice low. "If I offered sanctuary to any saber who no longer wanted to be under your rule, how many do you think would be left on your side? Something tells me you might be standing very alone."
Mandrake's frame shook but Raze kept his gaze steady. He wasn't afraid of Mandrake. He knew that if Affina gave the word what was left of their clan would jump in and attack. He could see in Mandrake's eyes that he wasn't quite as sure.
"Fine," Mandrake said. "Take them. They carry no value to me anyway."
Raze looked at Affina and nodded. Like a protective mother, she ushered the group of five behind Raze.
"Enough of this. The deal has been struck, now we seal it."
The promise had to be sealed in blood or there was no guarantee Mandrake would keep it. Razor shrugged out of his jacket and handed it to Affina. Then he unbuttoned his dress shirt and untucked it. His nails lengthened and he raked them across his chest. Blood welled to the surface and dripped down his pecs.
Mandrake ripped through his tunic, shredding it and staining it in blood. Both of them wiped their blood on the other's chest and then nodded.
It was done.
There was a sharp knock on the outer door and heavy booted footsteps walked down the hall. Logan looked around the gymnasium and spotted Raze.
"If you are finished we're about out of time."
Raze nodded.
Mandrake's nodded to his clan and they filed into the hallway one by one.
"I don't know which is worse," said Mandrake. "Not being able to take Rancor's daughter as a slave, or knowing you are mated to her."
Raze fought to keep his voice even. "While you and your clan are busy keeping stewardship over my lands, take comfort in knowing that as long as you do your job, you will never have to see either of us again."
Mandrake's eyes softened and for a flash of a moment, Raze saw his mother in them. Then they hardened again and Mandrake stormed out.
The door closed and the group stood in silence for several moments before Satia burst into tears. Razor turned as Affina and the rest of the clan huddled together in desperate clinging need.
"Thank you," said the blonde female. "Thank you so much."
"We cannot ever repay you," said a male, shaking Raze's hand.
Raze waved them off watching Affina and the others. They whispered words of love and comfort to Affina as she kissed each one in turn and hugged them tight. Minutes passed making Raze feel more and more like an outsider. Finally, Affina turned to him and bowed. The rest followed suit.
He reached for her. "Fina. Don't-"
"No." She stopped him. "You are our Alpha. Our king. We owe you our allegiance and our respect."
The pain in her voice was palpable. And what she was doing was obvious. She was leading the way like always. The others would follow what she did. They would accept him or reject him based on her actions. She was making it clear, that she believed him to be the king.
Slowly she got to her knees and bowed her head. The others followed suit. Raze swallowed hard. From lone, slave saber, to mat
ed king all in one day. It was almost too much for him to take.
Chapter Thirteen
Raze stepped into his apartment followed by the rest of the group. Just like in the cars they stared at everything in wonder. Affina walked with her arm around Satia and ushered her into the front room, followed by the men, and finally followed by Raze's cousins.
"Are you hungry?" she asked.
The group nodded.
"We shall get you each a shower and something clean to wear and then you shall eat."
She looked to Razor. "Can you call down and have some fruits and meats and bread brought up?"
Razor nodded. "Of course."
"Satia, Isis, Ayla, you come in my room and you can shower in there."
"Highness, I cannot," said Satia.
Affina wrapped her arms around the smaller young woman. "Here there is no highness and handmaiden. There is just us. Okay? What is mine is yours."
Satia looked to Raze terrified.
Man this was not what he wanted. He didn't want them to look at him like an oppressor. He wasn't his grandfather or his father, he was his own man. His gaze traveled over the group. Each of them stared at him with tired fearful eyes. He wanted to yell at them. To make them understand this wasn't his fault. He hadn't asked to be their new leader. All he'd wanted was Affina.
"Come." Affina led the women toward the guest bedroom.
Incus, Boramus, Medajon, and the three other males watched them go and then turned back to Raze.
"I'm not going to baby you the way Affina might, but you can use the other showers. I'll show you where they are." He walked past the men to a guest bathroom and opened the door. "One of you can use this one. There are towels in the cabinet. Another can use my bathroom."
The men looked at each other.
"Incus should go first, he was captain of the guard," said Boramus.
"No." Raze blew out a harsh breath. "Like Affina said. There are no ranks here anymore. No hierarchy."
"Except for you. And Queen Affina," Incus said.
Raze licked his lips. The disdain and distrust wafting off the men was hard to ignore. His saber paced back and forth wanting to be unleashed to show the men their place. But he refused. Showing dominance wouldn't win him any points with any of them. And more than anything now he needed to show Affina he was capable of compassion.
Tamed Under The Moon (Wolf River, ID. Book 4) Page 10
