Chapter 28 Malachar #2
But Andreas broke the moment of stillness first. I saw understanding dawn in his eyes as he looked between Wen and me. Saw him realize exactly how to hurt me. Exactly where to strike for maximum damage.
He shifted midstride and ran straight for her.
“NO!” The roar tore from my throat.
I felt the bond snap fully open between us. All the walls I had built came crashing down. Energy flooded through me in a massive wave that made me gasp. Her presence was helping. Strengthening me. Giving me power I had been missing for months.
I slashed wildly at the men still surrounding me. My blades moved faster than they had all fight. Fueled by desperation and terror. One went down with his throat cut. Another fell clutching his stomach. The remaining three backed away from the feral energy radiating off me.
But Andreas was already halfway across the room. Moving fast. Too fast.
Wen’s scream cut through everything else. High and terrified. She was backing away from the massive wolf charging at her but there was nowhere to go. The wall was right behind her. She was pregnant and slow and completely defenseless.
I shifted without thinking. My wolf burst through in a cascade of breaking bones and reforming muscles. The pain barely registered. All I could see was Andreas closing in on my mate. All I could feel was the absolute certainty that if he touched her, I would burn this entire kingdom to the ground.
My paws hit the stone floor and I ran. Faster than I had ever moved before. Faster than should have been possible. The bond was wide open now and energy poured through it in both directions. She was feeding me strength. Making me stronger.
Andreas’s claws were extended as he leaped for her throat.
I jumped and intercepted him in midair. We collided with enough force to crack the stone wall behind us. Crashed to the floor in a tangle of fur and fangs and rage.
He tried to go for my throat but I was faster. Twisted and got my jaws around his shoulder. Bit down hard enough to taste blood. He howled and thrashed but I held on.
We rolled across the floor, crashing into fallen bodies and overturned furniture. He got his back legs under me and kicked hard enough to send me flying. I hit a column and felt something crack. Pain exploded through my ribs but I forced myself back up.
He was stronger than I expected. Motivated by desperation and the knowledge that if he lost, he died. But I had faced him before in our challenge. Knew his patterns. Knew his weaknesses. And now I had something he did not have.
I had my mate nearby. Had the bond open and feeding me her strength. Had the absolute certainty that I was fighting for everything that mattered.
Andreas charged again. I sidestepped and caught him across the flank with my claws. He yelped and spun to face me. We circled each other. Looking for openings.
He feinted left and went right. Tried to get past me. Tried to reach Wen again.
Not fucking happening.
I slammed into him from the side and we went down hard. My jaws found his throat. He thrashed and tried to shake me off but I held on with everything I had. Bit down harder. Tasted more blood. Felt him weakening.
He made one last desperate attempt to break free. Clawed at my face. Caught me across the eye. The pain was blinding but I did not let go.
I bit down with crushing force and ripped. Tore. Did not stop until I felt him go limp beneath me. Until his heart stopped beating. Until I was absolutely certain he was dead and could never threaten my mate again.
I shifted back to human form and roared. The sound echoed through the throne room and carried an alpha command that made every wolf in the room drop to their knees in submission. My newfound strength, fed by Wen’s presence through the fully open bond, made it impossible to resist.
I stepped in front of Wen and glared at everyone still standing. Growled low in my chest at anyone who even looked in her direction. My wolf was fucking wild right now. Protective and possessive and ready to kill anyone who threatened our pregnant mate.
My guards had rounded up the remaining men loyal to Andreas. They dragged them forward and forced them to their knees in a line in front of me.
Lord Matthias was among them. His face was pale. “Your Majesty, please. I was coerced. Andreas threatened my family-”
“Silence.” My voice came out as a growl. “You tried to kill my mate. You sent an assassin after a defenseless woman. There is no excuse for that.”
Another council member spoke up. “We did not know she was your mate! You said she was nothing to you!”
“That’s no excuse,” I growled. The sound was harsh. “You believed I would let anyone attack someone under my protection, even if she wasn’t my mate? You believed I would not hunt down everyone responsible?”
Aurion shifted back to human form and positioned himself next to Wen. His presence calmed me slightly because I knew he would protect her if anything went wrong.
I walked down the line of traitors slowly. Let them see the blood still dripping from my mouth. Let them see the wolf in my eyes. Let them understand exactly what was about to happen.
“Please,” one of them whimpered. “Please, Your Majesty. Mercy.”
“Did you show mercy when you sent that assassin to strangle her? When you killed two of my good men?” I stopped in front of him. “Did you show mercy when you tried to murder my pregnant mate?”
His eyes went wide. He opened his mouth to speak but I did not give him the chance. My hand shot out and wrapped around his throat. I lifted him off the ground and squeezed. Felt his windpipe collapse. Dropped his body when he stopped struggling.
The next one tried to run. My guards caught him and dragged him back. I killed him just as quickly. Just as efficiently.
One by one I went down the line. Matthias begged. Another stayed silent. A third tried to fight back. It did not matter. I showed no mercy. Gave no second chances. Just delivered swift, brutal justice to every single person who had threatened my mate.
When it was done, when the throne room was covered in blood and bodies and the traitors were all dead at my feet, I turned back to Wen.
She was pale and shaking. One hand pressed protectively to her pregnant belly. The other was gripping Aurion’s arm for support. Her eyes were wide with shock and fear as she stared at me covered in blood.
But she was alive. Safe. Here.
And I had so much to explain.