Amassive shape filled the doorway.
Kaelan reacted instantly, setting Bria on her feet and shielding her with his body as he turned toward the threat.
The creature had to duck beneath the frame to enter. Thick gray skin stretched over enormous muscles. He turned sideways to enter, his broad shoulders too wide to fit through the doorway, while tangled dark hair hung past a face made even more frightening by two large eyes black as night.
Bria’s breath caught.
“A troll,” Kaelan muttered.
Fear struck her hard. She had heard tales of trolls, their huge size and great strength, but they were nothing more than tales meant to entertain or frighten children enough to behave, or so she believed.
Kaelan knew there was only one way he could stop the troll and every muscle in his body tightened in preparation for it.
The troll’s large dark eyes settled on Bria, peeking out from behind Kaelan.
Then it moved, lunging with shocking speed.
Kaelan tried to stop him, but his enormous hand shot past him and hooked Bria around the waist.
She cried out as she was lifted high and wide. “Kaelan!”
The troll hauled her effortlessly against its chest.
Rage exploded through Kaelan and his eyes flashed gold.
The familiar heat surged violently through him as the beast responded instantly to his fury. Muscles tightened and his hands curled into fists. The urge to shift slammed through him so hard that it nearly broke free.
The troll saw it, and a cruel grin spread slowly across its face.
“Do it,” the troll warned, its thick fingers tightening around Bria.
Pain shot through her side, and she could not help but wince.
Kaelan heard it and saw pain mar her face and his eyes glowed a deeper gold.
“Shift,” the troll challenged.
The beast pushed harder inside Kaelan. He wanted out, wanted to tear the troll apart.
The troll grinned. “I tear her apart.”
The words struck with brutal precision, and Kaelan froze.
The beast roared inside him, demanding release. It wanted blood. It wanted the troll dead. Most of all, it wanted Bria safe. Yet even through the fury, he knew the troll spoke the truth.
A shift required precious moments, moments Bria did not have.
The troll nodded once, satisfied he would be obeyed.
Bria felt fear claw through her chest as she looked at Kaelan. Never had she seen such fury in him. Never had she seen him look so close to losing control and beneath that fury she saw something else.
Fear, though not for himself, for her, his first thought was always for her.
The troll turned toward the doorway and ordered, “Follow.”
Kaelan took one slow step forward.
The troll tightened its hold around Bria and once again she winced.
