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Instead, I gritted my teeth and gave another strong push to my shield, forcing our attackers back farther, closer to the guards and nobles still defending Kai. They resisted, as was natural, bracing themselves or attacking my shield itself if they weren’t directly engaged with an opponent, but that was what I’d hoped for.
I waited until the exact moment where most were pressing against my shield, biting, kicking, headbutting, to drop the magical barrier. Suddenly, the whole lot of them lurched forward, off balance, and that was when I hit them with the other spell I’d been preparing.
I didn’t have an exact word for it. It was nothing so direct as a wind, flame, or water spell, but more of a utilization of natural force, grabbing the energy all around me and forcing it into the tiniest ball I could before confining it to a space. There it would whip around, building, building, and building upon itself until it was bursting at the seams.
And then I would let it go.
So, that was exactly what I did, releasing it from the confines of my shield so it blasted outward, slamming into everyone surrounding us, not so great that it also hit all the people mistakenly fighting for Kai and me, but it wasn’t the most controlled offence.
It did what it needed to, however, giving Kai enough room to leap over their heads, and land in the clear behind them. I, however, didn’t quite have that same physical capability, and the both of us came to that realization at the same moment.
It wasn’t exactly the smartest we’d ever been.
The gap between us was closing by the second and I knew I needed to get out of the bottleneck of the stairs. Kai and I wouldn’t be able to survive if we were separated.
Well, the cat was already out of the bag, as it were, so instead, I let go of my human form and jumped.
My humanity sloughed off in a smooth wave of transformation. I’d half expected my wolf form to be reluctant to come out, to rebel against how often I kept her so pent up and confined. But it was as easy as breathing, as fur rippled along my elongating limbs, and my joints began to reverse, to shift.
I was fully in my wolf form before I even hit the floor just behind Kai. I was quite formidable compared to my petite form, yet I was nothing compared to my mate. He truly was an alpha through and through.
It wasn’t exactly the most opportune moment to feel the thrill of attraction for Kai, but I let it slide over me rather than fight it. I figured whatever helped fuel the fight would have to do, even if it were arousal.
You’re so goddamned beautiful, Kai’s shifter voice echoed in my head, making me flush. I wanted to say something seductive back, but a snarl from behind me reminded me it wasn’t the time.
If there ever was a time to concentrate, this was it.
Kai seemed to come to the same conclusion as we both lunged forward, loping down the hall at the speed only our animal forms could achieve. I hadn’t memorized the castle layout, but I was sure we were headed toward a side courtyard that’d allow us to escape out onto the street.
From there, it’d be easier to disappear, to get enough distance where we could slip away. But the real question was where would we go? It wasn’t like we had our entourage with us. We would be scattered without transport, and an awful long way to go to get back to Canid. What would we even do once we got back to the Fort? It wasn’t like the king was going to forgive and forget just because we put a little space between us.
Right, the king.
As if my thoughts summoned him, a truly terrible roar thundered through the halls, as oppressive as an actual physical force. The next thing I knew, I felt a terrible crash behind us, and I looked over my shoulder to see what had to be none other than King Nathaniel in his wolf form, snarling and looking at us like we were his greatest enemy.
He was big. Larger than Kai and I combined. Suddenly, I was confronted with the fact that there was a difference between an alpha like Kai and the most powerful wolf in our entire nation. No wonder my mate needed the power boost from completing our bond in order to face off against the beast.
Except we hadn’t fully bonded yet, and Kai still went racing past me, his voice echoing in my head as he did.
Get out of here! I’ll handle my father!
Terror surged, and I yelped some objection, but Kai was already leaping at his father before the king could hurt anybody else.
No.
I wasn’t going to let my mate get hurt.
One way or another, I would keep him safe.
Chapter 7
Kai
I supposed that, after everything I’d been through since finding my true mate, I wasn’t too shocked by the sudden turn the night had taken. But even as I lunged at my father, knowing I was outclassed and outmatched, I still felt blindsided.
One moment I’d been released from my obligations toward Felicity, while also having one of my closest confidants find his fated mate. The next, I’d been dancing with my own beloved, her head on my chest, and the two of us having a romantic moment I never thought we’d get the chance for while my father was alive. Then the next moment, it was my father himself barging in, demanding things he had absolutely no right to. Of course, my ass of an uncle was there, too, determined to ruin my life however he could.
It wasn’t how I’d wanted things to go down, and in fact, Ayla and I were at an incredible disadvantage, but part of me was relieved. No matter what happened, I was finally free of all the trappings that’d forced me to acquiesce to my father’s abuse. Whether I lived or died, our animosity was out in the open. No more bowing to him. No more groveling.
