Amaruk feigned surprise. “You’ve been here only a few days. You’ve already grown so attached to your subjects that you’re willing to quarrel with your neighbor for their sake?”
It occurred to Lannahi that this was not a serious negotiation. The wolves had not come here to argue with her about their borders.
Amaruk was toying with her.
When Lannahi started lowering her hands, the wolves standing near her growled, but this time she was ready for it. “Are you afraid that I will attack you?” she asked Amaruk with fake sweetness, watching him tense up. “Don’t worry. I will be nice to you as long as me and my companions aren’t harmed.”
The man narrowed his eyes, surprised by her sudden change. “If something happens to your companions, it will only be because of you,” he said slowly. “I told you what will happen if you lower your hands.”
A stifled moan came from behind her.
“Fuck you,” growled Erril, though it was Esau who was injured.
“And I said that I would be nice as long as my companions aren’t harmed,” Lannahi said. “Judging from the fact you rejected my offer so quickly, I guess that you didn’t fully understand it so I’ll explain the consequences of your decision bluntly. You had a chance for righteous revenge. You lost it. From now on, for every insult, wound, or death of a resident of Goldfrost, expect severe retaliation.”
“Admirable confidence,” Amaruk noted, “for someone who may die soon.”
When he moved toward her, Lannahi didn’t even blink. “Kill me and your settlement will burn.”
Such threats in her situation weren’t the wisest strategy, but Lannahi had enough of fear. Why did she think that pride wouldn’t help her? Pride was everything.
“How are you going to do so if you’re dead?” Amaruk asked with polite interest, stopping so close that she had to cock her head back to look him in the eye.
“Who said I would do it?”
At that moment, a sound that resembled a loud sneeze shuddered through the air followed by the smell of citrus and Souhi’s shout: “Fly!”
Amaruk’s eyes shot up and Lannahi turned to follow his gaze. She barely saw the quickly ascending sleigh and the beasts jumping and yipping in the snow before her arms were pinned back and her hood removed with a strong jerk. She screamed in pain and surprise, but a large hand clasped over her mouth.
“Attack and I’ll break her neck,” Amaruk shouted.
“Break her neck and I’ll burn your settlement,” Souhi shouted back.
Amaruk made a sound that was a combination of laughter and annoyed snort.
“A score for you, little witch,” he muttered, pressing Lannahi against him. He didn’t wear gloves, but his hand was warm despite the frost.
Despite her uncomfortable position, Lannahi felt like laughing. She’d intended to steer the conversation in such a way as to suggest Souhi flying, but her friend came up with the idea herself.
But the moment of triumph was brief. Above the heads of the wolves, she saw dark figures rapidly closing the distance.
More beasts were coming.
Chapter 15
“It looks like your mongrels have finally caught up,” Amaruk said.
When she realized that he meant Ashared and his men, relief mixed with guilt. She’d abandoned them in her selfish pursuit of amusement.
Silence vibrated with tension. Souhi and Blann were free, but Lannahi, Esau, and Erril were not. Ashared had twenty guards with him, but Amaruk had twice as many shapeshifters.
The guards slowed down when they approached.
The thorny coil wrapping Lannahi’s heart tightened. Even her eyes, which lacked the sharpness of shapeshifters’ vision, saw the steam the hot breaths from the panting guardsmen. Numbers weren’t the only advantage Amaruk had. Ashared and his companions had been on the run for several hours. Even if they weren’t yet too tired to fight, their resistance would certainly take less time than if they had a walk instead of a race.
When the Lannahi’s guards closed the distance, Amaruk’s pack began to snarl. Amaruk commanded, “Let them pass.”
They reluctantly parted and a large brown wolf and three of his companions—Ledaii and Berikk with gray fur and smaller Roshanak with her coat color resembling a fox—separated from the rest and slowly moved toward Lannahi and Amaruk.
