Chapter 49
Ksenia watched Jaxom in awe as he ripped the cell door off the hinges. He’d changed the moment she finished the words on the tattoo. She hadn’t seen him actually stand by himself. That had to be magic. He looked magnificent ripping the solid metal bars off it’s lock and hinges.
Metal squealed as he ripped her door off, too.
The handsome guy knelt before her and offered her his hand, an invitation to go with him.
That had to be better than staying here.
She gave him her hand. A little shock ran through her system as he kissed it.
The smile he gave her was excited with a hint of mischief.
More than that, his blue eyes were soft as the handsome man gazed at her.
He watched her like he was just seeing her for the first time.
Maybe being able to stand, and maybe even escape, made a difference.
The desire to actually talk to him rose again.
Jaxom gently helped her to her feet and led her out of the cell. She grabbed her backpack and got out her dad’s knives, threw the pack on, and swept more knives into the scary guy’s roll. She went into Jaxom’s cell and collected the three she’d stolen earlier. Jaxom nodded in approval.
He grabbed two crow bars and marched into the long hallway. He yelled something and the men in the cells repeated it in a chant. He used the bar to break the locks on the first two cells, handed the bars to the men, and took Ksenia by the hand.
Those men immediately started releasing other prisoners.
The freed prisoners raced ahead of them up the long hallway.
After all the times they’d repeated Jaxom’s chant, she wasn’t surprised the prisoners didn’t attack him.
Again, the frustration with communication reared it’s ugly head even though now was not the time for talking.
As they headed to the door to the courtyard, she could hear men yelling, growling, and wolfs yelping in pain. So much fear in the melee. Jaxom looked down at her and smiled, mischievous and light. She returned the smile. The only way out was through and he seemed to know what he was doing.
Jaxom touched his shoulders, turned his back to her and crouched down.
Apparently, he wanted her on his back. Ksenia couldn’t figure out why but was game for anything at this point to get out of the dungeon.
With the roll of knives in one hand, she gently placed the other on his bruised and bloody shoulder.
Jaxom changed from man to massive wolf-thing.
He didn’t look exactly like the other wolves.
He was bigger and stronger. His paws more like hands.
The face more pointed and fearful looking.
His big body rose up underneath hers, lifting her off the floor.
He towered over the men running ahead of them. Cheers broke out and a new chant began.
Jaxom moved with speed up the remaining steps and out into the dark courtyard lit up by lamp stands and filled with violence. Wolves battled each other. Blood and fur, claws and teeth. Ksenia clung to his back, trying to keep her fear under control
One wolf charged at Jaxom. He caught it with his teeth and shook, breaking bone. Ksenia sunk her hand into Jaxom’s fur to hold on as he fought. Her strong thighs and calves gripped his ribs. With a free hand, she was able to slip a knife out and stowed the roll down her tight tank top.
Another wolf charged from the left as Jaxom slashed at one to their right.
Ksenia took a deep breath and let the knife fly to the beasts heart.
It collapsed at Jaxom’s feet. With a jerk Ksenia had the knife flying back to her hand.
The knives burned in her mind begging to taste more blood.
And for some reason, she was certain her knife throwing ability was directly affected by touching Jaxom.
She could feel energy thrumming through him.
Jaxom ran through the courtyard and barreled at the gate, busting it open.
Another wolf surprised Ksenia on her left and slashed at her.
Claws ripped through her jeans, leaving long bloody slashes in their wake.
She screamed in pain as Jaxom turned on the wolf and bit it’s neck. Bones crunched and the wolf fell dead.
Jaxom raced out of the gate and along the edge of the castle. Ksenia clung to him trying to ignore the burn of the wound. She wasn’t mortally injured. The pain was temporary, damnit. There were too many other things to worry about than irritating scratches.
They raced to what looked to be the front of the castle.
Lights flooded the steps leading up to immense, ornate doors.
Wolves flung themselves at each other. Snarls and yelps of pain echoed against the castle walls.
So many more were fighting. The battler was intense compared to the yard they’d just left.
Wolves lay bleeding on the steps. Some were already dead.
Ksenia buried her face in Jaxom’s fur. It was all so hard to see.
Jaxom came to a sudden halt and Ksenia looked up. The monster from the dungeon was standing in front of them. He held a sword in his hand, slashing at them. He snarled at Jaxom. Castle warriors stood behind the monster, hesitant to approach.
Jaxom roared something at him. Everyone stopped to watch the two face off. The monster wasn’t shifting into wolf form. Maybe he wasn’t a shifter. Whatever he was, he was evil and seemed to enjoy hurting people. Ksenia got a knife ready. That thing was the one that needed to die.
Jaxom snarled at the monster. The crowd cheered Jaxom’s words.
Some wolves slowly backed away from the fight.
She knew they didn’t want to be noticed fleeing.
She also knew they were being tracked by the predators supporting Jaxom.
They were coordinating who was following the cowards that were fleeing.
She turned her attention back to the monster, took a deep breath and let the knife fly.
It sank into the monster’s heart. She expected him to topple over, die.
She’d struck the mark! But the monster didn’t fall.
He pulled the knife out and roared in pain.
He flung it on the ground and fled back into the castle.
Jaxom turned and ran as wolves chased him.
Some leaped and snapped at him, trying to stop him.
With help from wolves using themselves as shields, Jaxom ran.
She could feel him breathing hard. Yet, he was still faster and stronger than those around him.
She only hoped he could keep it up. She’d seen his wounds.
This was sheer determination to get to safety.
How much could his beaten and battered body take?
They made the woods and the running got easier but the chase got more intense. The wolves protecting them fanned out but the snarls behind them got louder. Wolves roared or squealed in pain in the distance. Ksenia prayed it was theirs not hers getting hurt.
She let another knife fly as a wolf charged at them, snarling. Jaxom ducked the wolf as the knife hit it’s heart. She couldn’t get it back. The wolf had landed on top of the knife. She slipped another knife out of the roll.
Ksenia didn’t know how long they’d been running but Jaxom was starting to slow down. Stumbling occasionally. She could feel the strain in his body. She petted him, talked to him, encouraged him to keep going. The snarls in the distance said they weren’t safe yet.
Two massive wolf-things appeared in a clearing. They shifted to human as Jaxom ran at them. He shifted as he ran, tripped and landed on the ground. Ksenia clung to his back, knife at the ready. It was harder to look a human in the eye and send a knife into his heart.
Jaxom rolled onto his back and wrapped his arms around her, hugging her to his chest. Ksenia could feel his heart pounding as he chugged in air. He was whispering to her and stroking her hair. She didn’t want him to stop running. The bad wolves were getting closer.
Sitting up, she patted his cheek. “You have to get up. Run. Please, Jaxom. Get up!”
He smiled and kissed her cheek. He pointed to the younger looking blond guy and pushed her at him. The man changed into a massive black wolf with a red undertone. It looked more like Jaxom’s type of wolf than the others she’d seen. His amber eyes were steady and kind despite his fearsome face.
“No! Get up, Jaxom. Please!” she cried and tried to cling to him. This couldn’t be the end.
The bigger guy picked her up and placed her on the massive wolf’s back. The black and red wolf took off before she could protest. The last she saw of Jaxom was the other man kneeling beside him.
She cried as this new wolf-thing ran. He was so bloody fast the wind of his passage stung her eyes.
The muscles bunching and releasing under her hands and legs was reassuring, a rhythm that hypnotized her into some sense of calm.
She couldn’t stop him and they were now too far away to get back to Jaxom.
She hoped her friend hadn’t just given up. Maybe he actually knew these two. He was safe in the other guy’s protection and maybe, just maybe, she was safe in this one’s protection.
Ksenia didn’t know how long this wolf ran, either. It felt like hours. The moon was coming up and spilled light on the path the wolf was running. And yet, her companion still ran. He amazed her at his strength and stamina.
Wolves raced in beside them. They howled and he answered back. There was no anger in these wolves. They were there to protect and encourage. It almost became an honor guard. She didn’t know how she knew that but it felt right. Maybe exhaustion was messing with her perception.
Houses, roads, and a small town started appearing through the trees.
Eventually, a massive mansion rose up before them.
People streamed out. A gurney was ready as the wolf she was riding shifted to human beneath her.
Someone took her backpack off and placed it at the end of the gurney.
The roll of knives fell out the bottom of her tank top.
They gently placed it beside the backpack.
Her new wolf picked her up and placed her on the gurney, only to collapse beside her on it.
He held her hand as the people wheeled them into the house.
He didn’t let her go, but kept whispering in her ear.
The words, tone, sounded like he was trying to reassure her.
Someone had thrown a blanket over them as they went.
It was only then, Ksenia realized she’d never been cold riding on Jaxom’s back, or this guy’s back.
At first, it could have been adrenaline.
But not with the hours this guy had spent running.
Even with that, Ksenia was grateful she didn’t have to walk. She was stiff all over from clinging to massive wolf-men. The claw marks on her leg were stinging again since she was moved onto the gurney.
They finally made it to a suite of rooms. A woman helped Ksenia off the gurney.
The wolf-guy looked angry. He was growling and the lady was telling him off, if Ksenia read that whole exchange correctly.
She helped Ksenia limp into the bathroom.
A warm shower was already running. A bottle she assumed was shampoo, and a bar of soap, made her want to cry at the homey simplicity.
At that moment, Ksenia didn’t care if the lady was watching or not.
She slipped out of her torn clothes and got in the shower.
The water stung on the claw marks but she didn’t care.
She was getting clean and drinking in the water.
Some would say that was gross but she’d been mostly without food and only the bare minimum of water for days.
Clean shower water was just fine with her.
Ksenia stepped out of the shower and the woman helped her dry off.
She had a beautiful green dress ready to put on.
It had embroidered flowers running along the hem of the skirt and up the side, stopping just under Ksenia’s left breast. The top was fitted enough to not need a bra.
The skirt also flowed enough to stay off the claw marks.
The kind lady had Ksenia sit on a stool. She dried her hair and brushed it out. Then the lady opened the door and wolf-guy was leaning against the frame glaring at the lady. She just smiled and asked something. He snorted and shook his head. At least wolf-guy was cleaned up and dressed.
A woman came in pushing a cart. A syringe, needle and thread were laid out on it along with a few bottles of creams. Wolf-guy came in and stood behind Ksenia.
He encouraged her to lean back against him.
She knew they were going to treat her wounds.
Didn't mean she had to like it. Needles always made her woozy, it was even worse now after the dungeon.
She winced as the woman stuck a syringe in by a claw mark. Before Ksenia could rationalize any thought, a knife flew into her hand and she raised it up in protection.
“Oh, shit!” She dropped the knife and clung to wolf-guy’s hand. “I’m sorry, so sorry. Didn’t know I could do that.”
His laughter was reassuring. It almost sounded like Jaxom in the dungeon as she learned to move knives. Amused and patient. To this guy, her protective instinct was no problem.
Her leg went numb and the next shot was easier to take.
She held on to the guy who was probably not enjoying her tight grip.
It was cling to him or call more knives.
She really didn’t feel like killing anything else at the moment.
There had been too much death today. These people had been nothing but kind to her.
He moved to stand to her side. She buried her face in his chest. The tug and pull of the thread was stomach churning.
It didn’t hurt but it was unnerving. The woman only sewed up two of the three.
The third wasn’t very deep. Ksenia sighed in relief as the lady bandaged her leg and hot wolf-guy picked her up and walked out of the bathroom and into a bedroom.
He gently laid her on a bed and gave her water to drink. It tasted better than the shower water.
He picked up a bowl of what she would call chili and fed her a few bites. She tried to take the bowl but he just winked at her and offered another bite. She smiled, bemused by him feeding her. Her leg was injured not her hands.
“Ksenia,” she said and pointed at her chest.
“Ksenia,” he repeated and said it again, like he liked the taste of it on his tongue. Amber eyes looked in hers and she blushed. “Hayden.”
Ksenia pointed at him, “Hayden?”
He nodded and smiled.
“Jaxom?” she asked.
Hayden stood up and kissed her cheek. He said something soothing, approval in his eyes.
“Jaxom coming here?” she pointed at the floor.
“Jaxom,” more words followed as Hayden nodded and pointed at the floor, too.
She hoped she understood him to say Jaxom was coming to her, that he was safe.