Page 74 of Wolf's Prize

“Kathryndeservesthe right to choose who she weds.” His words came out through gritted teeth. He met Lothair’s gaze. In saying what he had, had he opened the door to losing Kathryn forever?

Lothair’s eyes narrowed. “What if I insist she marry either Lance or Godfrey?”

From behind him, Kathryn growled.

His body stiffened.No. Kathryn.It had been an instinctive response, not a deliberate move, but Lothair’s eyes lit up. He recognized what it meant.

Lothair rose from his chair and circled around them. “My, my. A female werewolf.”

Aimon kept his body between Lothair and Kathryn, a buffer between this threat and his mate.

“Thisis why you came here.” His gaze fixed on Kathryn, glinting with malevolent glee. “I imagine it would be a difficult thing to find a bride willing to marry a werewolf. Much easier if she is already one of your kind. It surprises me Kathryn has remained unwed for so long.”

His eyes widened, and his mouth dropped open. Then he laughed. “They do not know. You have not told them.”

Aimon pursed his lips together and drew back his shoulders.

“Sheisquite a prize then, is she not?” Lothair stopped circling them and stood in front of Aimon, toe to toe, eye to eye, an intimidating figure. “Does Gaharet know?”

Aimon looked away, breaking Lothair’s stare.

Lothair chuckled and returned to his seat by the brazier. “Youhavebeen in contact with him, then?”

Aimon raised his gaze to the ceiling. Was there any point in denying it?

“Aimon?”

“Yes,” he hissed.

“Mmm.” Lothair drummed his fingers on his thigh. “This could still work. You almost ruined my original plan, but this…this might actually be better. If I play things right…” He stared at their hands, still clutched together.

Tension coiled in Aimon’s gut. He did not like being at the mercy of their comte. Nothing good ever came from that.

“Here is what you are going to do. Send a communication out to the others. Tell them…tell them you have important information to share.” A wicked smirk tugged at Lothair’s lips. “Something that will change everything.” Lothair stood and paced the room. “Invite them here.”

“What? No!”

Lothair quirked an eyebrow.

Aimon’s heart skipped a beat. “I will not risk Kathryn’s safety by bringing them here.”

“But Aimon, it wasyourwish she have a choice in who she marries. I am giving you what you asked for.” His gaze turned hard. “You will bring them here.”

Aimon raised himself to his full height, his beast close to the surface, pushing forward, ready and waiting for his command. “No.”

Lothair scowled and took a step toward him, his hand reaching for his sword. Aimon stood his ground, keeping Kathryn tucked behind him.

“You would defy me on this?”

Aimon said nothing, standing firm, the room taking on a strong, musky scent. Would he shift and take on his comte? To defend Kathryn?Yes.

Lothair studied him, eyes narrowed. He took a step back. Aimon’s wolf was close, and he suspected Lothair could sense it, feel its presence hovering just below the surface. It would be a brave, or reckless human who would take on a werewolf in close quarters.

“I see you would.” He retreated another few steps, but his hand remained on the hilt of his sword. “Work with me here, Aimon. We need to flush out Renaud’s informant. I imagine this is of as much importance to the pack as it is to me. I know it is not you. Or Ulrik. You are the only two vassals who know Gaharet lives, and your dedication to keeping his secret is obvious.” He dropped his hand from his sword. “Gaharet must have some inkling who may have betrayed him.”

Aimon resisted the urge to shift from foot to foot beneath the comte’s direct stare.

“Tell me, Aimon. What alarmed you more? That two vassals approached me for Kathryn’s hand in marriage, or that it was Godfrey and Lance?”

---