Unleashed (Shifters of the Zodiac #3)

Chapter 1

MALIK

LEONORA’S PALACE IMMEDIATELY AFTER HIS brOTHERS AND THEIR MATES DISAPPEARED THROUGH THE PORTALS.

A skari gives me a little shove towards the hidden door in the wall. “Go now, while she’s still distracted.”

My shoulders slump, my chest as hollow and empty as the space my brothers occupied just a few seconds ago. I was so close to freedom, to revenge … But of course I used the key for Rian. Askari and I will just have to start over and make another one.

The thought gives me a headache.

“And go where? I can’t leave the palace, and?—”

A soft growl rumbles from the Asiatic lion beta doing his best to shield me. “You know she’s going to blame you for this, so …”

The muscles along his arms flex as he clenches his hands. We both know what he’s trying to say; as limited as it is, I should enjoy my ability to move about the palace while Leonora’s distracted, because when she turns her attention back on me … well, Askari and I know what’s in store for me.

The question is, how long will I be left in the dark, in that cage this time?

A shiver runs down my spine, and I do my best to keep my thoughts from spiraling. I place my hand on Askari’s shoulder, and his growl cuts off as I whisper, “You’re right. Thank you, friend.”

He dips his head, his tawny hair falling around the white porcelain mask hiding his chiseled features.

“I’ll come whe?—”

“I know. But please be careful.”

He backs up a step, ushering me closer to the hidden door as he says, “I’m always careful, Alpha.”

I half-turn, pressing my palm to the section of wall that triggers the release. There’s a small smile in my voice that I keep from reaching my face, even though I put my white mask back on—because even if Leonora isn’t watching right now, someone else probably is. She has eyes everywhere.

I say, “For the millionth time, call me Malik.”

The same amusement is in Askari’s voice, hidden by his own mask. “Not until you claim me as your beta.”

I sigh, wishing, wanting, but … we’ve been over this more times than I can count in the last year. I thought he’d given up asking, but then word got around that Bodi found and claimed his beta, and now Askari is more motivated to wear me down than ever.

“Kar, I ca?—”

“Just go, Alpha.”

I grit my teeth and push on the wall. The door opens with a hiss, and I step through, my anger, fear, anxiety, and sorrow dragging behind me, clinging to me, making my strides feel weighted and sluggish.

The shouting behind me changes in tone as the door swishes shut.

Someone noticed my brothers and their mates are gone, and now the whole room knows. My time is limited.

But I don’t rush, because there’s nowhere to rush to. Leonora will come get me before long. So, I wander down one long hall only to turn down another.

My beast begs me, “Run, run, run. Leave this place.”

“You know we can’t.”

I finger the collar around my throat as I pass through one of many gathering rooms, my bare feet cushioned on thick rugs overlapping the marble floor.

I skirt around the velvet chair, where two weeks ago Leonora rode me for several hours, her power licking at my skin, seeping into my blood, keeping me hard and panting for her.

And the entire time, she held my fucking leash in her hand, mocking me with its metallic clink, clink, clink keeping rhythm.

And it felt good. It felt really good, and I hate that the longer I’m trapped here, the more I end up giving up … a few hours of pleasure here, a couple moments of peace under her petting fingers there, allowing myself to go numb as I submit to her.

I always eventually find the will to resist, to drag the hate back to the surface.

Though there are times … Leonora’s magic, when I do submit to it, pushes me into a space where there is only room for pleasure and pain, and I can lose myself from reality.

I’m craving those moments more often, and I fear I am losing myself.

Suddenly, the mask feels too heavy, too warm.

I rip it off, scrunching my nose as the cooler air of the room brushes against my face.

I toss the panther mask onto the chair, the white porcelain stark against the deep green velvet.

I leave it there, wishing I could leave those weak parts of myself there as well, because I need to keep an ember of resistance alive.

My brothers are out there, and the allies I’ve found here within the palace are counting on me.

Askari isn’t the only one who surprised me with their willingness to side with me over Leonora.

Dozens have offered their aid in both large and small ways.

I do hope Selena—the brave cougar shifter who agreed to create the distraction to give my family time to escape—is able to circumvent Leonora’s wrath. I’d rather take that on myself to spare her, or any of the other Leo shifters.

I can practically hear Askari’s voice in my head. We are not all your responsibility. You shoulder too much, Alpha. And maybe he’s right, but the Leos are Leonora’s responsibility, and she’s abused that relationship for too long. If I don’t carry the responsibility, who will?

The marble is cool under my feet as I leave the gathering room and take the short hallway towards the music hall. I don’t recall the last time that space was used, but it might be a good place to hide out and just take a few moments for myself before …

It hits me like a punch to the gut.

No. Absolutely the fuck not!

My beast roars in my head. “No!”

I keep my rage from showing, never faltering, pretending nothing is amiss and that I don’t want to punch a hole in the wall right now. I pass the cracked-open door of the music hall and take a deep inhale, scenting my prey.

Leather, sunshine, and fresh mountain air.

I take another deep drag of the scent. Oh how I miss fresh air.

Mentally shaking the distraction out of my nose, I calculate … four more steps to reach my prey. Three. Two. I can’t see them, but that doesn’t matter, I know they’re there. I sn ap out my right arm with a growl, my hand wrapping all the way around their throat.

I squeeze.

A sharp, startled intake of breath whispers from the shifter I have pinned against the wall. A wolverine from the scent of her. What is she doing here? How did she get in?

Before I’m able to growl out my questions, the invisible shifter audaciously demands an answer from me. “How did you know I was here? That shouldn’t be possible.”

Her voice is rich and feminine in a femme fatale sort of way. I tighten my grip with a dark chuckle. “Are you fucking serious?” When she doesn’t answer, I dip my gaze before springing my eyes back to where hers should be, though all I see is the damask pattern gilded into the wall.

A second later, she gasps, but still says nothing.

I glance down the hall, one way then the other.

We are alone, but for how long? My claws come out, and as they sink into the back of her neck, I smell her rich blood.

I yank her away from the wall and half-drag her back towards the door to the music hall and shove her through it.

Even though I’m controlling her, pushing her backwards, she doesn’t stumble.

I toe the door shut quietly behind me then yank her close, snapping my teeth in her invisible face. “You have two seconds to show yourself, or?—”

“Or?” Her amused voice cuts me off.

My growl deepens and gets louder. “Don’t think this will save you, wolverine.” With my free hand, I gesture at the golden fate threads floating from our chests, intertwining even as I silently beg them to stop, to let go, to just go away.

An electric snap of magic zings up my arm from where my hand is still wrapped around her throat, and a second later I’m staring at my fucking mate .

She’s stunning, because of course she is.

Her short blond hair perfectly accentuates her sharp cheekbones.

Her blue eyes are almost too blue, like glacier water.

I realize how close we’re standing when I notice the smattering of light freckles over her nose and cheeks, barely there but lending a softness to her otherwise fierce features.

My eyes widen a fraction as I see the moon and stars tattoo under my hand across her neck.

An enforcer.

I shove her backwards until she hits the wall, and I get right up in her face. “What the fuck are you doing here? The Council isn’t allowed in the domains of the Zodiac deities. Do you have a death wish, Enforcer?”

She raises a brow, not even batting an eye at my rough treatment. “I’m not here on Council orders, at least not officially. They will deny my very existence if I’m caught.”

I snap my teeth at her again. “Well, good work, spy. You’ve been caught.”

Her brow is still raised, but the corner of her lips lifts to add a smirk to her expression. “Have I?”

I’m doing my best to ignore the shimmering threads between us, and I grit my teeth.

With a single step, I press my chest against her warmth, small breasts and toned muscle meeting my hard body.

I force her chin up, but she lifts her gaze willingly, boldly holding my gaze as she says, “I knew you three would eventually get me into trouble, but I never expected this. So interesting.”

I blink down at her. “Three? Are you referring to my brothers? Did they send you?”

She shakes her head. “Were you not listening? You’d think the Fates would know how important communication is to me, but I guess that’s something we can work on. No, your brothers didn’t send me. Only one other person knows I’m here, and to repeat myself, they will deny knowing me if I’m caught.”

I have so many questions, but I can feel Leonora breathing down my back. I don’t think I have much time before she comes for me, and despite my threats, I don’t want Leonora to get her claws on this shifter.