Page 60 of Israel

Chapter 23

Ashley’s dragon responded to Larik’s call. She felt the fire in her belly, and her body rippled, bones snapping.

No! She couldn’t do this. She wouldn’t.

Her dragon fought her, furious at being suppressed. Larik’s will pressed on her. He was a mage, a prophet and a truthseer, and his magic was strong. The collar responded, trying to compel her to his will.

“Shift.”

No!

Suddenly she heard Israel’s voice in her head. Don’t fight. Ask her to cooperate with you.

He’d said that last night.

Ashley sent the feelings and memories to her dragon. Israel holding them, loving them, protecting them. If you shift now, we’ll never have this again. We’ll have Larik for eternity. Don’t do this. Please.

Larik’s will beat down on her. Shift. Shift. Shift.

She thought she heard Israel’s wolf, growling.

Help me, she begged silently. Help me resist him.

I’ll fucking kill him.

There was a furious snarl, and then something huge and furry barreled into Larik. He lost his grip on the collar and Ashley fell to her knees, gasping. The urge to shift receded, but she still felt nauseous, and her body was rippling uncertainly.

Not now, she begged her dragon. Please.

She looked up to see a huge gray and brown wolf crouched a few feet away, snarling at Larik. His eyes flicked to her, and she could see his intelligence in their golden depths.

Israel.

Larik raised his hand, flames crackling around its edges.

“Please don’t hurt him,” Ashley gasped out.

Shocked, Larik turned to her, his face perplexed. “It’s a wolf,” he said. “What is he to you, that you should beg for his life?”

Oh, shit. There were so many ways this could go wrong. According to her people, Larik was within his rights to kill Israel just for seeing him here—as long as no other shifters or humans were there to witness it. If he found out the two of them were involved…

The wolf looked from Larik to Ashley, and then he blurred and shimmered, bones snapping. Israel stood up, naked and looking totally unconcerned by that fact.

“I’m her bodyguard,” he said, folding his arms, as if that would intimidate Larik. “Her safety is my responsibility.”

He turned to Ashley. “Are you okay?” he asked.

“She’s unharmed,” Larik said. “And this is none of your concern, Wolf.”

“She can speak for herself,” Israel said, barely flicking Larik a glance. “Are you okay?” he repeated.

“Yes,” she said. “God, Israel, you shouldn’t have come here.”

“Indeed,” Larik said, his voice silky and threatening. “You shouldn’t have, puppy.”

Israel slowly looked Larik up and down, his face a mask of intense dislike.

He turned back to Ashley. “Who the fuck is he?” he asked.