Page 70 of All's Fair in Lion and War
“Liam, you may shoot him, but only somewhere it will bleed for a very long time.”
There was no hesitation. None.
Liam took a step forward, bringing the muzzle of his shotgun only a few feet from Rivian’s stomach and fired. The blast from the weapon sent the lion shifter to his back. Blood ran from the wound, drenching his shirt, like water running over the counters from an overflowing sink.
“You bitch!” Rivian’s words were garbled by blood running from the corners of his mouth. He lifted his head and then laid it down and then lifted it again. “You dare to talk to me about killing and betraying Tallix, but you’ve already replaced him.”
Saul’s breath hitched in his chest.
Lorelei released Liam’s arm and stood up straight all on her own.
“You killed Tallix. You stole a year of my life and kept my memories from me the whole time. Were it not for the magick of our world healing my mind through a new bond, I would still think Tallix was waiting for me. Each. And. Every. Single. Day.”
She spit blood at Rivian. “Tallix loved me. And I loved him. He would not want me to be alone. He would not want me to ignore the second chance Fate has so graciously offered me.”
“I’ll kill you.” Rivian’s words came out angry, but filled with the desperation of a man who knew he’d lost. A man who knew he was about to die.
“The only one dying today is you.”
She nodded toward the waiting dragon. Then backed up, taking Liam’s arm again to support her. They left Rivian in the center of the circle alone to face his judgement.
Novik took one step forward and then breathed fire.
Rivian didn’t have time to make a single sound.
Only ash remained where his body had been a moment ago.
A loud chant thundered from the men surrounding—all Novik’s dragons.
Novik shifted from his dragon and the woman Saul assumed was his mate ran into his arms. The brunette who’d Rivian had been using as a human shield.
Saul had hoped the bastard would suffer longer, but he was also thankful it was over.
Liam picked up Lorelei again and took her through the throng of chanting dragon warriors. Saul watched him continue down the mountain with Lorelei cradled in his arms.
“Ready?”
He nodded to Tor. “I think I can walk.”
Tor slipped an arm around Saul’s waist and they followed his mate and Liam, leaving the dragons to finish their celebration. Leaving them to figure out what to do with the survivors.
All that mattered right now was making sure Lorelei got the care she needed. Making sure she got cleaned up. Got rest. Food.
“I want him to take her to my cabin, Tor. Make sure he knows.” Liam was a good thirty paces ahead of them down the mountain. He didn’t want the man taking her anywhere but hishome.
Tor slipped away, leaving Saul standing on his own. He tried to take a step and the pain of holding up his body and moving it without aid nearly sent him to his knees.
He’d just stand and wait.
Tor was already talking to Liam. He’d be right back. And a few moments later he was. Then Ryder appeared from the crowd and took Saul’s other arm over his shoulder. Between the two of them they moved a little quicker and caught up with Liam by the time they got to the bottom where the trail road cut through the forest.
Several snow machines were parked there, some were the Tribe’s, and some Saul recognized as rentals from Douglas’s place in town.
Liam helped Lorelei onto a sled and then climbed on in front of her, making Saul’s upper lip curl into a jealous snarl.
“Saul, he wouldn’t do anything.” Tor shoved Saul onto a different sled and climbed on. “I trust Liam with my life.”
The sled with Liam and Lorelei pulled away first. Lorelei had her head against Liam’s shoulders. She’d wrapped her arms around Liam’s waist and pressed her knees to his hips.
