In Lannahi’s heart, irritation mixed with shame. She regretted that she’d let Amaruk provoke her. She’d revealed that she could be manipulated. She’d exposed her weakness.
And, she’d broken a promise.
The brutal fight seemed to drag on forever. The strength of the wolves was well matched, and since neither wanted to give way to the other, the fight turned into a contest of endurance. Lannahi crossed her arms over her chest and tightened her fingers on her arms, trying not to flinch every time the powerful paws hit the target and the fangs tore the skin. With each passing moment, she cared less and less about the outcome. She wanted the fight to stop.
After another brutal clash that left both wolves with a severe limp, the two combatants moved a considerable distance away from each other. Lannahi hoped that this was the end of the fight, but their glares stated otherwise. The shapeshifters lacked the longevity of the fae and aged at a human rate, but their ability to regenerate was unmatched. Both wounds were already healing. If they waited long enough, the duel would begin again…
…unless they ran out of strength.
Amaruk’s hind paw trembled as if it couldn’t support his weight. Ashared wobbled on his forepaw but managed to prop himself up at the last moment.
A low murmur came from Amaruk’s throat.Tie?
Ashared didn’t respond, and if Lannahi hadn’t witnessed the blows that fell on him, she would have walked up to him and shaken him. Did he always have to be so stubborn?
Tie, Ashared growled.
Amaruk bared his teeth in a wolfish grin. Lannahi couldn’t stand it. She started toward him.
The black wolf squatted down, giving his sore leg a respite, and looked at her with interest. He was surprised when she approached him. When she reached out to touch his muzzle, he appeared amused.
She moved as if to stroke him before grabbing his ear tightly. “Goldfrost ismine,” she said. “Next time, challengeme.” She squeezed his ear tighter. “Do you understand?”
The wolf’s eyes lit with a defiant gleam. Lannahi wasn’t quick enough to dodge his fangs when he suddenly jerked his head from her grasp and caught her hand with his jaws, but she was prepared enough to pull out a knife and press it to his throat. She looked down into his eyes with icy calm, despite feeling his hot breath and sharp teeth against her skin.
After a long moment, the pressure eased. The wolf licked her fingers. When she pulled back, he did the same. Then he howled and his pack howled with him.
Lannahi retreated to a safe distance and looked at Ashared. His brown fur was dark and matted with blood, but anger, a shadow of his recent fury, still lurked at the bottom of his silver eyes. Lannahi felt a jerk of her own wrath but lashed it down. Ashared had fought in the name of Goldfrost. She owed him gratitude.
“Let’s go,” she said.
Ashared didn’t reply, but when she started to the sleigh, he slowly moved behind her, limping. The shapeshifters from Amaruk’s pack started making room for them. When Lannahi’s gaze fell on the white-haired woman, she cursed Fate in her mind, but there was far less hostility in Ashkii’s eyes than she expected.
The women stepped aside without a word.
By the sleigh, Lizaar threw Ashared’s cloak over his shoulders and helped him into the sleigh when he assumed his human form. When Lannahi saw his bruised and bloodied face, her anger vanished. She had to force herself to recall why she was displeased with him.
You were supposed to get information out of her…
Hearing Lizaar’s voice in her head, Lannahi didn’t feel any better, but at least she didn’t give in and sit in the sleigh with him. The duel earned him her gratitude, not sympathy or tenderness.
Amaruk stopped a few steps away from the sleigh. His face was covered in scratches, his bare feet leaving a bloody trail in the snow, and he stood supported by the gray-haired man. Despite his mangled state, at the corners of his mouth lurked his usual mocking smile. “I would give you a farewell kiss, Lannahi, but I’m rather attached to my cock.”
“A real inconvenience,” Lannahi said sarcastically.
Amaruk’s smile widened. “Come again if you’d like to play.” He looked at Ashared sitting in the other sleigh. “You are invited too, angry wolf. I’ll be happy to help you relieve your frustration.”
“I thought you were attached to your cock,” Ashared reminded him in an indifferent tone.
The alpha threw Lannahi an amused look. “He might feel more inclined to accept my invitation if you pet him a little.”
“Dallal,” she said coolly. “Let’s go.”
They left among laughter and howls.
***
Shocked at the sight of Ashared’s wounds, the guards in the courtyard forgot to bow to her, but Lannahi didn’t blame them. The pallor of his face and the way he leaned against Lizaar worried her more than she wanted to admit. Only his gaze, proud, angry, and stubborn, kept her from panicking.
