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Calys didn’t even blink, didn’t even seem to care about the slur that was directed her way. But Alejandro did. In a second, Alejandro had the man against the wall, his fingers wrapped around the noble’s throat.
“Alejandro!”
Alejandro didn’t understand Calys’ shock. It was as if she hadn’t expected him to come to her defense. Looking at the man he held by the neck, he said grimly, “Apologize to the princess.” The air in the room was rife with tension, influenced by the aura of danger surrounding Alejandro.
“Release my man—-” But Pasquale’s voice died down when he caught a glimpse of the cold fury glinting in the werewolf’s eyes. Dammit, why did this Lyccan care so much about Calys? The Moretti prince was the only blight in his horizon, an unpredictable factor that made Pasquale leery of making any unplanned move.
“I mean you no offense, prince—-” The tone, rather than the words, had Pasquale’s teeth gnashing. The Lyccan’s voice was polite but bland, making it clear he didn’t really give a shit about what Pasquale said or not.
“—-but I only owe loyalty to the princess,” Alejandro finished. He waited for Pasquale to argue. Privately, he hoped that the other prince would argue. If he did, then Alejandro would have the right to kick his—-
Pasquale looked at Stefano. “Are you not going to reprimand him?”
Alejandro was disappointed.
Stefano shrugged. “As the wolf said, he is only under the princess’ command.”
Humiliated fury turned Pasquale’s cheeks ruddy. Damn jaguar. He should have known he wouldn’t get any support from the bastard. Once Calys was his wife and he had her under his thumb, Pasquale would make the Guidicelli by-blow pay.
Summoning a smile, Pasquale said to Calys, “Surely you would at least side with me on this, my princess?”
CALYS
The look on my fiancé’s face made it obvious what he expected me to say. I bit my lip, trying to think of the best way to resolve the situation. Stefano and I were used to the insults that were directed my way, but I should have thought of warning Alejandro about it.
“Calys, my dear?” Pasquale was beginning to sound testy.
Before I could answer, we heard a yelp of pain, and I winced in horror when I saw Alessandro extending his arm, effortlessly carrying the man’s weight as he pushed the panther further up against the wall.
“Alejandro,” I protested. “His head might—-”
“Are you going to apologize?” Alejandro asked.
The man spit at my Cavaliere.
Alejandro’s arm shot straight up, and this time his captive’s head did hit the ceiling. Repeatedly. There was no change in Alejandro’s expression as he hammered the ceiling with the panther’s head.
“What are you doing?” Pasquale shouted, making no move to help his pack member.
“Is it not obvious, prince?” Alejandro hit the ceiling with greater force, causing the man’s temple to start bleeding. “There,” he said in a very helpful manner. “Is it obvious now, Your Highness?”
I was torn between horror and amusement. Maybe I really was a human monster, but I just couldn’t make myself feel sympathetic for the panther Alejandro was currently treating like a jackhammer. I had never done him any harm, but like most shifters, he had hated me on sight.
Pasquale stalked towards Alejandro and struck him from the back.
I gasped. “Pasquale!” Without thinking, I moved towards them as well, but Stefano was suddenly there, holding me back.
Stefano said in a low, grim voice, “Stay, princess. He cannot be your Cavaliere if it’s you who comes to his defense.”
Knowing Stefano was right, I tried to appeal to Pasquale instead. He had never been this confrontational, so I couldn’t get why he was being so antagonistic. “Pasquale, please don’t—-”
But it was as if he didn’t hear me. There was a twisted look of satisfaction on Pasquale’s face as he looked around him and saw all his men. He had the numbers on his side, giving him a sense of false bravado.
Pasquale shoved Alejandro from behind. “Let him go.” Another hard, taunting shove.
Alejandro stiffened, and the air around us suddenly became heavier.
Stefano muttered under his breath, “Your fiancé has it coming now.”
Pasquale didn’t seem to know it. “Damn you, let him go, d—-”
Without letting go or stopping his hammering, Alejandro’s head slowly turned to face my fiancé.
If he wasn’t mad before, he was now.
“Before you finish what you’re saying, prince...” My Cavaliere’s voice lowered, turning his next words into a threat. “You need to remember one important thing.”
“Is that so?” Pasquale sneered, but his voice shook in the end.
“Yes.” A smile slashed across Alejandro’s lips. “You are in my city. My territory. So if you think having this paltry few will keep you alive, think again. This hotel is surrounded by Moretti wolves. Right this very moment, they’re all around us. Outside our door, on top of us, below us. They’re everywhere.”
My head snapped to Stefano, but he didn’t seem surprised. He must have sniffed out their presence well before now, and it just showed how ill-trained Pasquale’s pack was. I looked back at the panthers and saw the same truth dawning on their faces as fear filled their gazes.
