Total pages in book: 115
Estimated words: 112500 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 563(@200wpm)___ 450(@250wpm)___ 375(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 112500 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 563(@200wpm)___ 450(@250wpm)___ 375(@300wpm)
To fuck and claim. To bite and mark.
Did she already suspect she was his fated female? Had her letters been devised to test him? Establish the wolf’s sexual interest, then extend an invitation for more on the one telling night of the calendar.
Cagey witch. His refusal to meet tonight would be a glaring red flag.
As ever, he was to be denied what he desired and left hungry. He clenched his jaw and scrawled a final reply.
Kingdom business. Another time.
Thane
Jastorgh had just vanished with the letter when banging sounded on Thane’s chamber door.
Lowell barged in, keys jangling like broken chains. “No more putting me off, damn it!”
Thane tensed. “Why the hells do you have keys to my private quarters?”
“I’m the steward,” Lowell said, unapologetic as ever. “I’ve got keys to everywhere. If you doona like it, fire me.”
Thane ground his teeth. The kingdom wouldn’t last a day if I did. He’d been blessed with brilliant seneschals all his life—until he’d literally lost his last one, the best of them all.
Ailsa.
He’d brought Lowell on not for administrative skill but because the teenage tracker had been legendary for his nose, for the way he could find anything or anyone, even through storms and illusions. Thane had prayed he could find Ailsa. But it was as if she’d been erased from the Skein.
Still, the lad had worked himself into indispensability, quietly taking over every task Thane least enjoyed. Which only made him more irritating now.
Lowell wrinkled his nose, waving his hand as if warding off a stench. “Gods, it reeks in here! Crack a bloody window if you’re going to spill seed like a callow lad who’s just discovered what his cock can do.”
“You’re trying my patience.”
“Moonrise is in an hour. It’s time. You know it’s time.”
Thane exhaled. “Everything prepared?”
Lowell nodded, sobering. “No’ that you’ve been around to notice, but aye, we’re set up on the Mount. Look, tonight will be brutal, but mayhap something will shift before next month.”
“How goes it with Ditch’s assistant?”
“I’ve seen her nightly.” Lowell’s voice thrummed with some unknown excitement. “But she does no’ have sway with the new high priestess. I get the feeling no one does.”
“Have you tupped Meera?” Thane asked.
Lowell shook his head. “Just talking and necking.” Judging by his enlarged pupils and accelerated heartbeat, he enjoyed one or both of those activities very much.
“Ditch and I have been writing each other.”
“I know.” At Thane’s look, Lowell said, “There’s little I doona know in this castle. I’d hoped those letters might soften her a touch.”
“I don’t believe Ditch does soft. I think she suspects she’s mine but only toys with me. Have you found out what her other powers are? Akelarre would no’ have sent a witch here with no battle magic.”
“Nay, I’ve no’ been able to. And I doona suggest you ask her. Apparently, it’s bad form for us to query a witch about her power. But I got the impression she’s definitely qualified for her job—”
A howl sounded from the dungeon.
Lowell bit out a curse. “I dinna tell you, but Straegan tried to break free again. Dented the bermetal bars.”
Thane froze. “The same Berserker steel as my cage?” If Straegan had nearly escaped with no mate to lure him, could Thane tonight?
“Aye. But you’ll keep control with the Mount’s magic. The cage is just another redundancy. In fact, I’ve ordered your sentries to Straegan instead. If he kills again…”
His byname among the pack was Mauler. Straegan the Mauler.
His victim hadn’t gone easily.
Thane’s beast snarled inside him. “He’ll go straight for Ditch.” Stealing her life was the surest way to seize control of the pack.
Lowell nodded. “He would have heard all the whispers in this castle. He’d know she’s the key to taking you down.”
Thane considered informing Ditch she was his mate, but she was sworn to subjugate his people; he’d rather not hand her this decisive advantage. Still, he would do everything in his power to protect her.
He held Lowell’s gaze. “Every guard on him. If he tries the bars again, take him down. Royal or not, spare him nothing.”
Lowell’s voice was iron. “She’s my queen by fate. I’ll guard her with my life.”
“Good. Because I canna tonight.” Thane trusted no one like Lowell. “Let’s get this over with.” Before heading down to the bailey, Thane gave Lowell one last look. Doona let me down…
By dusk, Timofee had traced him to the base of the Mount, then left him behind with a sympathetic expression.
At the summit, the cage gleamed, waiting. Thane squared his shoulders and approached the enclosure. His beast must have figured out the plan because it thrashed inside. The magic of the Mount kept it quelled. Somewhat.
He stepped inside and let the lock click shut behind him, beginning his twelve hours of torture. He sank down to the bottom of the cage, leaning back against the bars.