Chapter 26
Rook
I crouched low on the ridge, watching as the lone figure hurried from the front door of Uther’s fortress.
He turned, sending a quick glance in my direction, and then dipped his chin.
My lips curved in a smile. Good. Gaheris had delivered the message, and the beast who would be king had taken the bait.
We’d known he would—the arrogant bastard had never been able to resist a slaughter.
Not when he thought his enemies were outnumbered and outpowered.
As I watched, Gaheris strode across the yard, looking as though he belonged there, and drawing no attention from the guards. He’d always had a skill for blending in.
Dragons are not meant to blend in, my dragon grunted irritably.
I ignored him as Gaheris flashed his open hand by his leg once, twice, and on the third time extended only two fingers. There were twelve dragons there, not counting Uther.
And Kaylee.
Yeah, Kaylee was there too—Gaheris would have left without giving a signal if she hadn’t been.
If we can trust him. He wants the king’s blood—and his crown.
He can keep the crown. All that matters to me is getting her out of there, alive.
And I meant it. I didn’t know when it had happened, when the annoying wolfless shifter had stopped being something I’d gladly have rid myself of, and become someone I couldn’t see myself without, but she had.
And every part of me burned with the need to tear into Uther, to taste his blood and his fear for even daring to threaten her.
Our talons shall tear into his flesh for daring to threaten her, my dragon vowed, and I inclined my head in silent agreement, not taking my eyes from Uther’s courtyard. Gaheris melted into the shadows, and seconds later, the palace doors opened again and this time—
A roared built in my throat, and it was all I could do to keep my jaws clamped tight and stop it escaping.
Uther was walking into the yard, accompanied by a guard…
and Kaylee. On. A. Fucking. Leash. I was going to rip that asshole limb from limb.
By the time I was done with him, there wouldn’t be enough left to weave into one of his fucking tapestries.
Agreed.
I threw myself off the ridge, shifting on the fly, and raced for the courtyard.
Shouts of alarm went up, but in seconds I thudded to the ground amidst them, sending guards scattering in every direction.
Gaheris had said there were only twelve of them, and it looked like five of those had just pissed their pants.
I didn’t allow myself a moment to relish the satisfaction.
How could I when Kaylee was standing right there, fresh cuts and bruises marring her face, and her eyes wide with hope as they fell on me.
Hope. That horrified me most of all, because I’d treated her like shit, and if seeing me made her hopeful, then what the hell had Uther put her through already?
I lashed out with my tail, hitting two guards who hadn’t moved away quickly enough.
They went down with cries of pain, and no surprise—my tail was powerful enough to break bones, and I wasn’t holding back today.
They should have been grateful I aimed as low as I did.
They’d be out of the fight, but they’d heal.
A mercy they do not deserve.
We’re not here for them, I reminded my dragon as I locked eyes onto Uther. Focus.
A bellow erupted from my throat, and I didn’t bother to try to hold it back. Pure rage burned through every cell of my body, and the only thing that would quench it was blood. Uther’s blood.
The would-be king sneered, but I saw the shadows darting in his golden eyes. Yeah, he knew I was here for him…and we both knew I could take him in single combat.
“Kill him!” he shouted, gesturing to his guards. “Kill the traitor who would dare threaten your king!”
I shifted before they could, reclaiming my human form and sweeping my gaze over them.
“Leave, now,” I told them, my voice icy in contrast to the hot fury pumping through my veins. “This isn’t your fight. I’ve come to reclaim my stolen Tribute, and I don’t give a fuck about any of you.”
“Our king has the right to take anything he desires, including your Tribute,” one of the guards spat, curling his lip at me.
“I don’t give a fuck what miserable creatures your ‘king’ hoards, but that woman belongs to me, and me alone.
” I turned in a circle again, letting all ten remaining guards see the resolution burning in my eyes.
“Anyone who leaves now gets to live, but come between me and her, and it will be the last thing you do.”
The same guard laughed. “You’re a little outnumbered. And delusional if you think we’re going to abandon our king because some nobody says so.”
I let my dragon’s voice meld with my own. “I am Rook Camlann, Lord Commander of the Western Flank, and I bow to no-one.”
Fear flashed through the guard’s eyes, but before he could open his mouth, Gaheris slipped from the shadows behind him, and plunged a dagger up and into his heart, killing him instantly.
Gasps of shock ran through the guards and I saw more than one readying themselves to shift. I raised my voice.
“I will not ask again. This man is a coward, not a king, and he will die today. Whether you join him is up to you.”
“Leave now,” Gaheris shouted, “and you can leave unharmed. Remain, and you will die alongside your imposter king.”
Movement caught my eye…one guard toward the rear slowly backing away, step by step. And then a second backed up, dragging a broken leg.
Uther screeched in anger, pointing a finger at their retreating forms. “You’re dead, both of you!”
“That implies you’re going to be alive to carry out any kind of sentence,” I said calmly, locking eyes with him. “Those who take what’s mine don’t live long. And make no mistake: that female is mine.”
In every sense of the word. My gaze cut to her, and I met her wide eyes. Fury bubbled in me again at the sight of the injuries on her, and I wished I hadn’t killed Landon’s pack so quickly. It was more merciful than they deserved. I wouldn’t make the same mistake with Uther.
My attention moved to the walking corpse holding her leash, and I rolled out my shoulders.
He flinched under my stare, and I curved my lips into a feral smile.
His hands trembled on the chain, like he wanted to drop it and run.
Let him try. He’d forfeited his right to clemency the moment he’d laid a hand on Kaylee.
I swept my gaze round the courtyard one final time. Another two guards had fled, leaving six guards, and Uther. Against me and Gaheris. It didn’t matter. I’d go through a whole fucking army if that was what it took. Kaylee was coming home with me.
…Whether she’d want to stay, however… I forced the thought away. Now wasn’t the tie for distractions. Now was the time to fight.
I sent a curt nod to Gaheris. He knew his role, and I knew mine. I’d had my eyes shut for far too long. Today, that changed. I locked eyes on Uther, and shifted.