by Cheree Alsop
He advanced toward her, daring her to hit me to get to him. Every step hurt. I fought to breathe, to think. I could change and end it; I could tear out his throat as a wolf and let him fall lifeless to the dirt. With Vesut out of the way, his army would surely fall apart and retreat if they haven’t already done so.
But it would be too easy. He needed to live and pay for what he had done instead of escaping his punishment through death. My ability to fight in human form was limited to luck and strength. Vesut was bigger and had a longer reach. I needed something to turn the advantage.
Metal glinted in the firelight as we neared Koya. A quick glance showed Vesut’s knife amid the trampled grass. I gritted my teeth and dropped down. My wrist popped, sending a flood of pain up my arm. Vesut let out a string of foul words. I grabbed the knife, spun on my knee, and rose behind the Lord of Vashold with the knife pressed against his throat.
His breath caught in surprise. I felt him tense, ready to struggle, and pressed the knife deeper against his throat. “Try it,” I said in a low growl.
He did the one thing I didn’t expect. He ignored the knife at his neck and lunged forward. The blade slid across his flesh, but he was quick and the wound was minor. He ripped the knife from my grasp and turned, then shoved it into my stomach before I could react. I stumbled backwards.
“Victus!” Koya cried.
Vesut grabbed the branch Koya held and hit her in the face. She fell back into the fire that surrounded the camp. A scream escaped her as she scrambled for safety with Vesut at her heels.
“Get back here,” he growled.
I pulled the knife out. It fell to the ground with a soft thud. The blade had been stopped by the leather armor Joven insisted I wear. I made a mental note to thank him for that later.
Vesut was almost to Koya when shadows broke from the flickering flames and barred his way. The eight wolves of my pack let out low, angry growls. I had defended their pups and the pack numerous times in the wild, and now they protected the one I loved from the man who threatened her. Joven appeared behind Koya and pulled her to her feet. He glared at Vesut, the anger in his eyes as sharp as any dagger.
“You threatened a member of a Ralan royal family, Vesut. You know the laws. Vashold is forfeit, and so are your titles.”
Vesut looked back at me, his eyes wide and rolling. The wolves’ growls intensified as rage and hatred on the edge of insanity flowed from the man in waves. His eyes flickered behind me and they lit up. I glanced back just long enough to see his tent being devoured by flames. Vesut rushed toward me.
Instead of bracing for the impact, I folded when he hit me. The instant my back touched the ground, I kicked out, sending Vesut over my head and into the tent. It crumpled around him. He rose as a flaming demon from its fiery embrace. I sprang to my feet, worried he would charge at Koya and Joven. An unearthly scream tore from his throat. He turned and ran, trailing fire toward the tree line. Eight wolves loped past me and brought him down just before he reached the forest. I turned away as his scream was cut short, ended by the mercy of a wolf.
Koya pushed away from Joven and ran into my arms. I hugged her tightly. She sobbed against my shoulder as all the terror and uncertainty from the past several days came to a head. I smoothed her hair and murmured softly, “Shhhh. It’s all over now. I’ll never leave you again, I promise.”
She held me tighter. “But what about Joven and the laws?”
I met the young Lord’s eyes over her head. He grinned at me and the last shred of worry fled my heart. “We’ve worked things out.”
She sniffed and pushed back from my chest to turn a heartbreaking gaze on her brother. “Is it true?”
He nodded. A strangled laugh escaped her. She ran to him and gave him a hug which he tolerated momentarily before sending her back to my side. He smoothed his tattered clothing, looking rumpled far beyond his normal composure.
Koya ran into my arms again and hugged me as if she would never let me go. I was filled with awe of the girl I held. I barely dared to believe she was mine. I feared she would be taken away, that somehow we would be torn apart once more; then her lips were on mine and my worries were lost in the taste, smell, and feel of her. I was surrounded by meadow gold and vanilla. She filled me in ways I hadn’t known I was empty. My broken heart was made whole by the touch of her hand on my cheek and the way she stared up into my eyes. I lost myself in her sky blue gaze and vowed never to return from their depths.
Chapter 20
A fortnight after the battle with Vesut, the main doors flew open while Joven, Koya, and I were eating breakfast in the empty dining hall.
Lord Brayton walked in with a frazzled Steward Wies at his heels. “I’m sorry, my Lords and Lady,” the Steward sputtered. “I tried to stop him. He wouldn’t listen to me and-”
Joven held up a hand. “It’s alright, Master Steward. Let him pass.”
The Steward glowered at Lord Brayton who walked straight to our table looking more than pleased with himself. I was happy to see him, and by the looks of things, he wasn’t surprised to find Koya and me together again. His spies must have been busy.
“To what do we owe the pleasure of this visit, Lord of Miduan?” Joven asked formally. Then he broke into a smile. “It’s good to see you.”
Lord Brayton shook his hand. “Actually, I’m here to see Victus.”
Surprised, I rose and shook his hand as well. He grinned. “You look like you fit in here.” I smoothed the front of my tailored jerkin self-consciously and he laughed. “It looks good, trust me. Joven wouldn’t let anyone sit poorly dressed at his breakfast table.” His smile faded and his expression became serious. “Victus, the Dukes, Duchesses, Lords, and Ladies of Rala owe you their deepest gratitude, and I’ve heard that of yet none of them have thanked you for coming so selflessly to our aid.”
He glanced at Joven and the Lord confirmed it with a nod. Brayton gave a loud sigh. “Their stiff royal necks should be stretched to remind them how dearly they value their lives.” He shook his head. “Well, I can’t help them act appropriately, but I mean to do what I can to make up for what they lack.”
He clapped his hands. Steward Weis obeyed by grudgingly opening the door once more. In walked several of Brayton’s guards wearing Miduan white and red led by Lieutenant Aled and four of his soldiers. In the middle of the group, almost lost in their midst, walked a lone girl with a hooded cloak over her head. The assembly stopped at the base of the dais.
Lieutenant Aled and his men saluted our table with a fist to their hearts. When I returned the salute along with Koya and Joven, the Lieutenant’s eyes twinkled merrily. I wondered what secret he was privy to.
“A hunter caught her in a trap below Miduan and brought her to me.” Brayton walked down to meet the woman in the middle of the group. “She’s a little shy.” He helped her gently lower her cowl. There was a softness to his expression I recognized. He smiled as if in looking at her he saw his entire world. My heart knew the same feeling every time I met Koya’s gaze.
Brayton stepped back to show us the girl. She had raven black hair and piercing green eyes. Something about her sent a shiver of familiarity up my spine. Brayton whispered and the men closed around her for a moment, shielding her from our view. When they stepped back, a black jaguar stood where the girl had been. Her green eyes met mine with fierce intensity.
Brayton laughed at the amazement on my face. “Perhaps we are even,” he said with a satisfied grin.
About the Author
Cheree Alsop is the mother of a beautiful, talented daughter and amazing twin sons who fill every day with light and laughter. She married her best friend, Michael, who changes lives each day in his Chiropractic clinic. Cheree is currently working as an independent author and mother. She enjoys reading, riding her motorcycle on warm nights, and playing with her twins while planning her next book. She is also a bass player for her husband’s garage band.
Cheree and Michael live in Utah where they rock out, enjoy the outdo
ors, plan great adventures, and never stop dreaming.
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Check out Cheree’s other books at www.chereealsop.com
