Page 161 of Primal Bonds

He threw back his head and howled. He had to get to Marjani.

Even at the best of times, he was more wolf than human. Knowing she was inside a fae court without any backup made him half-crazed with worry. If something happened to her, he’d never forgive himself.

He took several paces back and forth in front of the portal before forcing himself to halt. This was getting him nowhere. He had to hide before the ice fae wondered what the big, brown, backpack-wearing wolf was up to.

Moving a few yards off the path, he hunkered down next to a pile of boulders. Around him, the fog thickened until he couldn’t see more than a few feet in any direction.

He pricked his ears and heightened his sense of smell. The locals had spoken of the vicious goblins that guarded this area. He had no desire to be set upon and torn to pieces.

The sun set and a cold breeze teased his fur. He hunched his shoulders, thankful for his thick coat, because he wasn’t moving from this spot.

Sooner or later, another fae would go through the portal, and this time, Luc would be ready.

Fear congealed in his stomach. Please let her be safe. Please don’t let the fae catch her.

The fae wouldn’t harm her. Not at first. They’d be more likely to force her into some one-sided bargain, keeping her as an assassin…or a sex toy.

But in Marjani’s current state of mind, just being held captive might be enough to drive her over the edge.

He growled, low and anxious, still pissed off at Adric. Why the fuck had he let her leave Baltimore?

Something in her was broken, even if Adric refused to admit it. People said she should step down as second, although no one was brave enough to say that to the alpha’s face.

If Marjani were Luc’s, he’d have tied her to the damn bed if necessary. She was too fragile to tangle with the fae.

But she wasn’t his, and he was beginning to fear she never would be. He loved her with all his heart, but the mate bond wasn’t there.

He expelled a breath.

Slipping out of the pack without shifting, he worked the clasp open with his teeth and munched through a couple of energy bars and a large chunk of beef jerky.

After that, he settled his head on his paws and dozed, ears pricked. But the night remained quiet save for the occasional squeak and growl of nocturnal creatures.

Just before dawn, he jerked awake as two fae in an SUV drove out of the portal heading south.

The portal remained open. He crept closer. The dirt track wound through the mist to the ominous black castle.

He sniffed, testing the air. He caught a whiff of silver, but that he’d expected. He darted through the shimmering circle.

It closed behind him, but he ignored it as he picked up Marjani’s trail. He paced forward, all his senses on high alert.

The high-pitched chatter reached him first. He dropped to his belly and froze.

A sour stench filled his nostrils. Shadows moved. Crept closer.

The fur on his neck stood straight up. He scrambled back up and took off at a run, but it was too late. A manic screech split the air.

He turned to face them, but they were all around him. Ripping at him with razor-like teeth and sharp black claws. Piling on his back until he went down under the sheer weight.

His last thought was a prayer that they hadn’t caught Marjani, too.

Chapter 9

Fane watched as Marjani climbed into bed fully dressed except for her shoes. The switchblade went under her pillow. He’d bet she had a knife or two hidden on her body as well.

A corner of his mouth lifted in a self-mocking smile. Guess it was up to him to be a gentleman and leave the bed to her. “I’ll take the chair,” he said and went into the bathroom to wash up. He exchanged his button-up shirt for a T-shirt but left his pants on.

When he returned, she was on her side facing him, the comforter tucked around her so that all he saw was a nose and cat-shaped eyes. He took a quilt from the closet and padded to the easy chair.

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