Page 31 of Wolf's Bane
Alek knocked the blade from Luis’ sloppy grip. He looked stunned, glancing at the blade far behind and back at Alek.
He rushed, and the youth raised his arms to defend himself. The flat of the blade landed in harsh blows along Luis’ side and back. Every blow amplified his frustration. The Marechals needed him—begged for his assistance—yet Godwin warned him off his daughter.
Solenne needed to make a good match. She could not marry a penniless hunter. More than that, he knew he shouldn’t want her. He was cursed. If any of them learned his secret, they would slit his throat, probably with an ornate silver blade passed down through the generations.
“Enough,” Godwin shouted.
Alek did not stop, instead tossing the sword. The man’s voice infuriated him. The silver chain around his neck stung. His bite burned. Who was Godwin to tell him to stop? Only a partly blinded old man. He would not stop.
He slipped behind Luis, wrapping an arm around his neck and dropping the youth to the ground. A silver blade pressed against the tanned skin of his throat. Up close, Alek saw the faint stubble of several day’s growth.
A faint line of red appeared where the edge sank into skin. His very being trembled with the desire to lick the wound clean, to let the flavor of blood blossom on his skin. If he could not have the taste of his mate on his tongue, fresh blood would suffice. It would satisfy him for a time.
“I yield,” Luis said.
Alek blinked, coming back to himself. He eased his grip on the dagger and stepped back.
“Was it wrong to…should I have run?” Luis rubbed his throat, smearing the thin amount of red until it disappeared.
“No. Never run. A beast will chase, and it will not have restraint. Instinct will demand a kill,” Alek croaked. “It is better to find a hole to defend yourself than to run.” He wiped sweat from his brow. “I think that’s enough for today. You should bathe before the dance.”
“Poor hygiene is generally frowned upon in society,” Luis said with a grin.
“Sure, good society, but why would you want to impress a bunch of snobs?”
“It seems exciting. A pressure release.” Luis headed to the door, but Alek stayed behind. “Don’t you need to get ready?”
“No. I’m not fit company for any society, good, bad or otherwise.” He ran his thumb along the edge of the silver dagger, the pure metal burning.
If he ever forgot why he needed to distance himself from Solenne, that was reason enough.
Chapter 9
Solenne
Boxon
Vervain Hall
A dancebefore the summer solstice.
It seemed the height of arrogance as those affected by the curse would be increasingly vulnerable to the effects of the nexus. A dance filled with light and music and laughter and bodies crushed together might prove too tempting for a beast on the prowl.
Still, that didn’t stop Solenne from donning her best frock, a lightweight, seashore green-striped dress. Luis wore a black tailcoat and matching trousers left over from his school days that did not look entirely academic. Despite the sleeves being a touch too short, she thought her brother looked rather dashing and did not comment on the small dagger he put in his boot.
Godwin came down the stairs dressed smartly in evening clothes, a black patch over his eye and wielding a silver-tipped cane. Solenne hadn’t been sure if he would attend, but felt glad he went to the effort.
Alek stated he had no plans to attend and did not enjoy standing about in a hot room to be scrutinized like a show animal. As Solenne left the house, he watched her with covetous eyes. When she caught him looking, he turned his attention back to his book.
Vervain Hall was lit against the night like a beacon. Braziers lined the path to the front. Every door and window had been opened to the night air. Lively music and laughter drifted out.
Inside, they had pushed the furniture back and cleared space for dancing. People milled at the edges, nibbling on food and nursing drinks. If the chatter stopped when the Marechals entered, it was only a moment. This was the first time Godwin had been out in society—such as it was in Boxon—since the attack.
The dance had all the makings of a perfect summer evening, but something lurked at the edges, like a storm waiting to break, giving the atmosphere a manic feel. The revelers felt it, laughing too loud, drinking too much, and dancing with an almost desperate enthusiasm.
Solenne scanned the crowd, taking in the familiar faces and half hoping to spy Alek brooding in a corner. Of course he wasn’t lurking about in corners with potted plants, waiting to dance the night away with her. That was wishful thinking. She promised Colonel Chambers a dance, and the sooner she completed that task, the better.
She spotted Charlotte in a vivid yellow dress with stiff white lace trim at the bodice and cap sleeves, standing next to her father by the terrace doors. She waved to her friend, who made her way across the room.
