Page 10 of Dante's Circle Reborn

Because Charlie had fought with them once as their Pack member. Now, he was the enemy. Alec grabbed Charlie by the throat as Charlie dug his claws into Alec’s arm. Alec didn’t growl, didn’t wince. Liam knew that had to have hurt. Blood poured down Alec’s arm, though Liam couldn’t focus on that. He couldn’t do anything but try to get whatever was in Charlie’s coat out safely. It wasn’t easy to do when the damn rogue kept moving, trying to lure Alec into a trap.

Alec squeezed harder, and Charlie’s grip on the bundle under his jacket loosened just enough for Liam to claw at the garment, ripping it to shreds. A little bundle of red fur fell into his outstretched palm.

It looked up at him with wide, scared eyes, its little nose twitching. Liam wanted to scream at the world for daring to let this kit get caught up in this mess.

Charlie, realizing his lunch or whatever the fuck this kit was to him was out of his grasp, went at Alec again, clawing Alec in the face. Alec growled, but Liam couldn’t help, not when he needed to keep the kit safe. Alec had moved a bit out of the way at the last moment, saving his eye and any deeper gouges to his face. Charlie must have known, even with the insanity of his rogue-ness, that he had to keep fighting. He leapt, running full-tilt away from Alec and Liam.

Alec’s chest heaved as he looked towards where the rogue had gone. He didn’t follow. Not when he was weakened, blood pouring from his arm and from the small cuts on his face. And not when Liam needed him. Because Liam had no idea what to do with this kit, and Alec was better with children.

Holy hell, this wasn’t going to end well. Because Charlie was strong. Far stronger than any other rogue they had ever fought. And with the emotional connections, and this little baby in the middle of it? They would have to rethink how they went about this. First, Liam needed to make sure Alec and the kit were okay.

“Alec?”

“How’s the kit?”

The little fox burrowed into Liam’s chest, and he slowly slid his hand down her soft fur, trying to calm her.

“She seems unharmed. Her heart’s racing under my hand. We need to get her somewhere safe. How are you?”

“I’ll be fine. The dragon’s lair is near here.”

“Sounds like a plan.”

Handing the baby fox over to a dragon might seem outlandish to some. However, Dante was mated to Jace and Nadie, and the three of them were wonderful parents. They could probably save the world. After all, they had already done it once or twice. They would take on anyone in order to protect their children. Would do anything to ensure their safety. And Liam knew that that protection would extend to any child, including this kit.

“We need to get you patched up.”

Alec shook his head. “The kit first.”

The little fox whimpered and buried its nose under Liam’s arm. He kept petting the little fox, and Alec reached out with his uninjured arm and slowly stroked the baby, as well.

Their fingers tangled over the fox’s fur, and the kit slowly calmed down at the feel of them, letting out a little yip before going back to normal.

“I’m sorry I wasn’t strong enough to stop him.” Alec growled, though his statement was pretty much devoid of emotion.

“You don’t get to put this on you. It was both of us. We saved her. We’ll save the next.”

Alec didn’t say anything to Liam, likely because there wasn’t much to say. They had failed, and they would have to pay the consequences for that. This little kit didn’t need to suffer for it.

They made their way to Dante’s lair—in other words, his home.

It was surrounded by warding, though since they had been here before, they were allowed in. They walked past the empty guard stations that served to tell the humans that there was security. It wasn’t manpower that kept the place safe, though. Eons-old magic held sway here.

Dante was a very old dragon and the most powerful in the realm.

His mate, Jace, was a Mediator for the entire Conclave, and a strong bear shifter in his own right. He would’ve probably led the bear shifters if his fate hadn’t led him down another path. Nadie was one of the seven lightning-struck women and best friends with Becca.

Nadie was also a succubus and had far more magic than anyone knew. Liam had always been able to sense it, ever since he’d met her after she had mated Jace and Dante. She hid her power well from others. And that was good. It was always smart to be underestimated in a fight. And with war constantly on the horizon, especially within their own realms, she was a good asset to have.

Dante opened the door before they even had a chance to knock. Of course, Liam had figured the dragon knew they had arrived the moment they stepped onto his land.

“You’re hurt,” Dante growled out. Jace was there in the next instant, bandages in hand, tugging Alec inside. Nadie was there, as well, even as Dante’s eyes roamed behind them, checking for threats.

Liam appreciated that since he wasn’t in the mood to deal with more fighting at the moment. They needed to make sure Alec was safe, the same with the kit. His wolf rode him, wanting blood, needing to make sure Alec was okay. Craving to care for the young fox. He inhaled through his nostrils, trying to calm himself.

“Here, let me have her,” Nadie whispered, her hands outstretched.

The kit burrowed into him more, and Dante raised a brow at Liam.

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