“Yes, my lord,” he said and turned to relay my orders to the others.
Weariness settled over me. Dragon-Clan blood was precious and finite. We had so little left to lose that any loss was a significant one. The thought of telling the families of the wounded was one I didn’t bear to contemplate until we reached the Northlands.
I lifted my sword and summoned Alaric’smirror.
He appeared in the small space available on the blade, a miniature version of himself. Noting my expression, his turned serious. “What is it?” he asked. “What’s happened?”
“We’ve been attacked.”
“Again?”
I nodded gravely. “This time someone equipped them with dragon’s bane, Alaric.”
“Were there any casualties?”
“Several. We’ll bring them back to the Northlands and we must tell their families.”
“I’ll have the clergy ready.”
“We’ll be on the ship by nightfall. The humans must be dealt with, and swiftly, before we lose anymore clansmen.”
“Of course.”
I ended themirrorwithout another word. Something was wrong here, but I wasn’t sure what. Attacks on shifters by mortals weren’t unheard of, but two in such a short time period was a rarity. To possess dragon’s bane meant they had dealt with casters to mix the appropriate magical ingredients, and humans didn’t often mingle with their Immortal counterparts willingly.
Turning toward the cliffs where I’d left Elena, I resolved to ask Alaric what he thought when we were back in the Northlands. No doubt the sense of doom that weighted my steps would lessen once I was back in the mountains. The humans had only learned new ways to assert their freedoms. I wish that were all it was.
My eyes lifted to the horizon, and I saw Elena on the crest of a hill, wind-swept and furious, marching to us. Stars, she was the most magnificent woman I’d ever seen. And she was all mine. The blood lust was still bright inside me, and I yearned to slake all that need for vengeance with her body. My dragon called out for her and I vibrated with urgency as it swelled inside me.
She wouldn’t be pleased, but at least she was safe, and that was all that mattered.
A harsh, heavy wind pregnant with the call of the sea and the salt of the waves blew from her direction. With it, the scent of hot, bloody flesh assailed my nose. I frowned. Was she injured? I hurled myself into the air, my wings erupting from my back so quickly it was almost painful. Elena paused, startled by the suddenness of my movement.
She shifted to make room when I grew close and that’s when I saw them. A human staggered up behind her with a wickedly curved dagger in his grip, already poised to slide across Elena’s perfect, white throat. The image of her blood staining the mud and melted snow at her feet flashed across my mind.
No.
With a speed even I didn’t know I was capable of, I was at her side. Pulling her behind me, the dagger descended and slashed, ripping at my cloak and slicing through my chest and shoulder. I roared out, more in anger that he got so close to my mate than in pain.
My claws whipped out and tore out the human’s throat. He bled out within seconds, his life’s blood flowing in a river at our feet. I glared at him, wishing I were a gifted caster who could bring him back from Slaine so I could kill him again.
I turned to Elena, who was as white as the snow underneath all the blood. “Are you harmed?” I asked. My vision went white with rage at the thought. This would never happen again, if I had my way. I’d kill anyone who raised a hand to her. Just let them try.
“I’m fine, Rhys. Let’s go back to the carriage.”
Stumbling toward her, I shook my head. “The carriage was destroyed by their little trap. I should have been more careful.”
“Then someone else’s carriage,” she suggested and wedged herself underneath my shoulder. Hmm, yes I liked that. Maybe when we got back to my castle, I’d keep her close like this for good. It wasn’t always that mates lived together, let alone spent most of their time together, unless they were trying for young ones, but I liked the thought of keeping her nearby.
“Trying to get me alone?” I said, attempting to sound seductive. I must have failed, because Elena had eyes only for Berrick, who was loading clansmen onto a litter for transport to the ship.
“Excuse me,” she says to him. “Is there an open carriage we can use? Lord Blaque has been injured.”
“A private carriage,” I interjected, but neither of them listened. Was I the damned Lord or what?
“I believe your companion’s carriage was undamaged in the fray, my lady.”
“Thank you,” she said. “Come, my lord. We must hurry.”
