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“Heir Holt?” the male asked her quickly as he glanced in the room to see Michael. “Michael Holt?”
“Who are you?” Tegan asked as she tried to force her hand back.
“I am Elrick, pack leader of the Seven Woods.” The male gave her a look full of earnestness. “I am a friend of the alpha’s, and I swear on my newborn babes, I am not here to hurt you but to aid you.”
“It’s an illusion,” Tegan blurted out to him.
“The fire is, I know, but the Drakhyn running amok down there and the one trying to enter your room, they are not.” Elrick reached inside the room and offered his hand to Michael. “I can help you.”
“We have been drugged,” Tegan whispered to him. “We are not ourselves.” Her tone was angry.
“I know, I received it too, but I am Lycan, and the mixture wore off pretty quickly.” He looked between the two of them. “You can dilute its effects with water, but we have no time.” Elrick steadied the female gently. “Can I trust you both not to fall off this roof?”
“It was not on my list of things to promise today, but I can try,” Michael grumbled as he tried to climb out of the room. Elrick grinned as he jumped into the room and hoisted the Heir to the small area of flat ledge.
“I will go between you. You cannot falter. I need you to be slow and steady, we crawl,slowly.”
“I can go to the rear,” Tegan said as she laid her head against the wall.
Elrick took one look at her and then her brother, who looked more alert. “You go in front. I think you may have received more of the dose.”
Elrick had fought Drakhyn and survived. He had hunted Drakhyn and been hunted byDrakhyn, and he had survived. His pack had been led by Drakhyn sympathisers, and they had survived. His wife had almost been lost to a Drakhyn attack, but she survived. Elrick knew conflict, he knew fear, fear from himself and fear for others—but Elrick had never experienced such fear as he did as he concentrated with all his might on keeping the two Heirs of House Holt steady as they slowly crawled the ledge and avoided the huge drop below them.
Tegan paused, her head dropping. “How much further?” she asked.
“To the end, I am sorry,” Elrick said softly. “I could try to carry you?” He knew even as he said it, he wouldn’t manage, but she looked so frail and weak.
“No,” Tegan said wearily. He saw the effort it caused her to lift her head. “I can continue.”
Elrick knew they had to hurry, he knew the Drakhyn would not linger at the door too long and that the broken window would soon be noticed. However, he also knew the extreme determination the female in front of him was exerting, so he held his tongue. A hand on his foot caused him to turn his head, and he saw the worry in the eyes of her brother. Understanding the concern, Elrick gave him a reassuring nod, and the three of them made their progress.
Tove? Tove if you are here, I need you, Elrick thought.
Elrick? I am fighting Drakhyn, they have overrun us, the Castors are fleeing!
I have the Heirs, they have been drugged, the Drakhyn comes for her. I need you, Tove, they are both exhausted.
He heard her assurance, and with quick words, he told Tove where he needed her to be. A short while later, Tove appeared in one of the windows, bloodstained, panting and looking every inch the warrior she was.
“Tegan,” she called, and then with great care she helped Tegan off the ledge. Elrick quickly followed before he turned and collected Michael. “What in shade happened to them?” Tove asked.
“Rorik gave us a draught,” Tegan said as she rested her head against Tove’s chest. “I have never felt so fatigued,” she said, barely audible as her eyes closed.
“They need water,” Elrick instructed as he crept to the door and looked outside. “Where are the Castors?”
“Some are fighting, some are cowering in corners, and others have simply fled,” Tove said with a heavy glare to the outside. “Some of the fire is real,” she added. “I have tried to call for Marcus, but he is too far.” She looked to the three of them. “I am reluctant to call to any others.” She turned her head away. “I do not know who to trust.”
“Jasper?” Tegan said as she struggled to open her eyes. “Is he here?”
Tove looked at Tegan with excitement. “Yes!” She turned to look at Elrick. “Protect them until I return.”
Slipping out the door, she made her way to Elite Sentinel Jasper’s room. It was empty, but Jasper was an Elite, he would have gone to fight. Cursing the male’s sense of duty, Tove tried to find him. Instead, she came across Pure Castor Jameis, who was too busy refilling his pouches to notice her approach.
“What are you doing?” Tove demanded as she put her dagger to his neck.
Jameis screeched as his body stilled completely. “I need more powders for spell casting,” he said.
“Why did your Prime drug the Heirs?” Tove asked as she kept a watchful eye on the hall.
