Page 118 of Night Meets the Elf Queen

“That looks an awful lot like you,” a voice came from his left. Thane turned to find a male in a black uniform trimmed in green. He was nearing seven foot tall and had a thick brown braided beard that reached his chest with matching bushy eyebrows.

“What does?”

The guard pointed at the sketch of Hel.

“Oh.” Thane cleared his throat and silently cursed Hel and their creator for making them look alike. “That’s not me.”

“I’d say that too if I were a wanted criminal connected to the murder of a Drakonan.”

“If I were this Mr. Black, why would I still be in town? I’m sure he’s long gone.”

“Maybe you thought growing out your hair with one of Presco’s potions would change you enough to go unnoticed.” Another guard stepped up beside him, this one with his weapon drawn. “Lowlifes always return to the scene of the crime.”

“I’m not Mr. Black, I assure you.”

“We’ll let the Drakonans decide that. If you come without a fuss, and we do have the wrong elf—who happens to look like Mr. Black and definitely has the blood of the gods, just as he did—then you’ll go and carry on about your life.”

“But if you want to make a fuss,” the other said, pointing the tip of his sword at Thane’s throat. “We’ll just bring your body, and they can decide if we got the wrong person.”

Katana stepped back out the door, eyes flicking between Thane and the two guards. “What is going on?”

“Then maybe we’ll get to have some fun with that beautiful thing.” The guards stared at Katana, mesmerized.

Heat flooded Thane’s body, and his magic flared in his veins, furious and ready to be unleashed. “You’re making a mistake.”

Katana lifted her chin. “Why do you have your sword pointed at him? Leave him alone. He has not done anything wrong.”

“Give me a couple hours with her and we might just let you go.” The guard’s disgusting smile sent a shock of fury through Thane.

The other guard twisted Katana around, then gripped her arms from behind. She squealed and tried to jerk away from him. “Cuff him. I’ll bring the girl. The Drakonans can throw her in as part of the reward. Never seen a prettier thing in my life.”

“Get your hands off her,” Thane growled. His blood seemed to boil.

“You best just shut your mouth and turn around, elf.”

“You have three seconds to let her go.”

Two more guards came up, claws out. “What’s going on here?”

“One,” Thane said.

“This idiot wants to fight,” the guard replied. “We think he’s the one who killed Caliban.”

“Two.”

“Thane,” Katana pleaded. “We can talk to them and clear up this misunderstanding. You do not have to do this. Please.”

Thane hit the sword up, grabbed the dragon by the wrist and twisted the blade out of his hand then shoved it through the base of his throat. In three quick movements, he jerked it out, slashed another across the throat and cut down the third, then pointed the bloody sword at the male still holding Katana. His eyes had gone wide, and his body was now covered in navy dragon scales.

But it was her face, those big doe eyes that scared him. She finally saw him for what he truly was. “I told you to get your hands off her. You want to die next, dragon?”

The doorbell chimed again, and this time Ronan and Piper came out with Fennan right behind. “Woah.” Ronan’s bright eyes swept over the dead bodies. “I saw him rip out a dragon’s heart once. Shoved his hand right through the fool’s chest. I’d let her go.”

The guard’s gaze shifted between Thane and his companions and finally released Katana. She wrapped her arms around herself, rushing toward Thane.

“You won’t get away with this,” the dragon guard said.

“Yeah,” Thane pulled Katana behind him. “I will. Send a message to the Drakonans for me. Tell them the god of war was here, and the last thing they want to do is start a fight with my cousin, Mr. Black, also known as the god of magic. My condolences for Caliban but it isn’t worth it. The realm gates are open once again.”

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