Jackson’s lips pursed.
“It must be the magics he used. To set off the fire. He was with us when it started. Only magic could do that. There must have been a trail or a scent on it that let them know it was Dorien who did it,” Jackson replied as he analyzed the situation.
“Yes…that or their own magic. Others have left and come into our lands, none were touched or harmed, as far as we know. Only Dorien was taken,” Reyland chipped in absently.
Reyland fell silent as the two continued to walk.
“He left at night. He must have used a back road, that must have drawn their attention,” Reyland muttered.
“He left at night?” Jackson exclaimed quietly.
Reyland glanced at his friend.
“Yes,” he said quietly. He recalled how Dorien had bid him farewell.
He stopped walking.
“The morning I woke, very early. It was still dark, so, maybe two or three a.m.,&rdquo
Reyland held Marian’s gaze.“I will heal you,” he said hoarsely. He held her eyes with his, and she felt it. Felt a power moving within her that was undeniable.He had just kissed her briefly, nothing more, and yet, she could feel a strength in her chest.She understood what he had not said, about peace, about the time, but she, her wolf, Dinka as well, wanted him.She wanted him like a drug for an illness that was hurting her very soul.Which, he was, given her injury.But she wanted more than that.“I want you claim you. In front of the world,” he said huskily, his pupils, in his grey and yellow eyes, dilating.Marian swallowed, her eyes wide, searching Reyland’s.“I want to hold you, to soothe you, to give you a peace that is deserving.”Her lips parted.“I want you, in my arms, in my bed, in my house, for a day, and a night, and again.”
A croak spilled from Marian’s parted lips.She wrapped her arms around herself as her eyes took in the creature before her.Is this…my Reyland?My bear?!This is not a bear!What…what is this?Of course, she knew he had become muscular; of course, she knew he had thinned out. But knowing something and seeing it right in front of you, under moonlight, with just you and it, and no one else around, that had a different kind of impact.And yes, she had seen him last night, but tonight, something felt different.Reyland’s face was to the sky again.His back was to Marian.Every muscle was rippling.All his clothing was on the ground, about a yard away from where he stood.His lids shut, and very slowly, very deliberately, a deep sound filled the area. Marian blocked out all outside ears. Freeing Reyland from doing anything other than what he ne
There were no other guards at Reyland’s home. Not since he had woken from his operation and returned to his house.“He can’t heal you completely,” Reyland said quietly, repeating something that had been said earlier.“Only a mate can…” Marian replied in the same tone.They were in his living room. Where they had first talked in his home. There was no fire in the hearth this time, so as not to leave trails of smoke on Marian when she got back to Misha.Reyland was silent.“Are you still afraid?” Marian whispered.Reyland, holding a cup of lukewarm tea which had never touched his lips since he brought it into the living room, remained silent.Marian, holding a cup of cocoa, empty, wrapped in a large blanket, sitting on the floor – Reyland was sat in a chair – stared up at the silent giant.She sighed, then hugged herself tight, cup still in hand.“I&r
“Lightmoon will spare Bloodrayne, permanently, once Bloodrayne swears loyalty to Lightmoon, as a bonded clan,” Marian ended calmly.The hut and the surroundings were deathly silent as the red wolf stared down the Bloodrayne Alpha.“Nonsense!” Tobias snarled, “Impossible!”“The only thing impossible, Uncle, is that we fight this night,” Reyland rumbled, speaking out loud.“My brother is injured,” he continued calmly, “we will take him now.”“Please, tell your dying warriors to remain where they have hidden themselves, otherwise their leader here will be the first to die,” he said slowly, nodding toward Eaden.The Head Protector did not flinch, but his face hardened.“I know death does not bother Bloodrayne. But a useless death is…well…useless…no?” Reyland continued patiently.He gestured, and the six wolves moved
From Tobias’ contorted expression, Dax, and everyone else, knew that something was happening. But everyone had been shut out.Dax stepped toward Tobias. The Bloodrayne Alpha’s eyes darted to Dax, and he glared at him.“You…trick me? Twice?” Tobias snarled, his large frame lowering into a stance that meant only one thing in the shifter world.“There is no trick here,” Dax retorted firmly. “We are here to talk, only that,” Dax continued quickly, keeping a steady gaze on Alpha Tobias, raising his own chest and back.Showing with his pose that he was not reciprocating the Bloodrayne Alpha’s antagonistic movement.“Then what this one has said is part of the ‘talk’?” Tobias growled, his voice dripping with sarcasm.Dax’s Adam’s apple bobbed.Tobias swallowed involuntarily.Dax eyed the Bloodrayne Alpha, as if he had read the shifter's ver
That evening, a message was sent to Alpha Tobias. One of the three clan members of their chief spellcaster was sent to deliver it.Lightmoon would meet with Bloodrayne at an outpost, thirty minutes from Lightmoon’s border.The clan member was sent back with a positive response.At nine p.m., the conclave would be held.==========The outpost was a small round hut with windowless openings in its walls.It could take seven normal-sized wolves.Anyone outside could clearly see and hear any movement within or outside the building.It was a watch post, a simple shelter from snow and rain. It was not hidden or meant to be secretive.Inside, seated, were Alphas Tobias and Dax.Behind Alpha Dax was Beta Brock.Behind Alpha Tobias was Head Protector Eaden.Beside Tobias was a bleeding Dorien.His head was bowed as he knelt beside the Bloodrayne Alpha.Dax had not said a word nor made any c