Page 14 of Guardians of the Assassins
Even when Loki, Stanley, and Séamus set off a prank war in the house, the elf remained unflappable.
As much as she tried to fight it, she liked him.
Caedmon shut the door, tucked her hand into the crook of his arm, and began walking toward the stairs—stairs that were wide enough for a whole truck to drive up or a pack of wolves to spill down and confront any threat.
Ryder was almost a ghost as he followed behind them, a silent shadow, a snarl curling his lips at anyone who dared try and get too close. There was nothing relaxed about his posture, his wolf riding just under his skin. She wanted to go to him, soothe him, but Caedmon’s grip on her arm tightened, and he gave a subtle shake of his head.
It would be seen as a weakness.
Ryder was her mate.
He should be walking at her side, but it was like he was locked in a living hell that she wasn’t able to penetrate. She stifled her sigh and continued up the steps, already counting the minutes until they could leave.
There were two levels of stairs, separated by a small platform. It was done on purpose. Wolves were etched into the walls along the steps. Some played, some were caught in a fierce fight, some mating. In the center of the platform, a large metal crest was placed in the ground.
It was opulent and over the top, cast in bronze and dark silver.
It was stunning, but it was also a symbol.
A warning.
That wolves were in charge here—enter at your own risk.
Not ominous at all.
Before they could reach the top, a man walked to the edge of the stairs and gazed down at them. If she’d been anyone else, the power radiating from him would have been enough to steal her breath. Instead of bowing to him like he no doubt expected, she lifted her chin in defiance.
His eyes flashed, something dark moving within the depths, and an almost menacing smile twisted his lips…like he was already imagining how to break her. There was a possessiveness in his gaze when he ran his eyes over her.
She felt stripped.
Like a possession to be acquired.
A toy to be bent and broken at his whim.
Magic tingled along her hands with the need to knock the pompous idiot on his ass.
If this was how they treated their women, she wasn’t surprised there were so few of them. They didn’t deserve them.
“Welcome to the Alpha Assembly. My name is Alpha Carrington.” He gave a small bow of his head, his smile smarmy now that they were up close, and she couldn’t help but take note of the way his nostrils flared at her nearness.
Like he was trying to catch her scent and confirm for himself that she was indeed a female wolf.
If the way his eyes gleamed suddenly with avarice was any indication, she must have passed the sniff test.
What pissed her off even more, he refused to back up, leaving her on the step below them so he towered over them in a show of power.
One that she refused to allow him to win.
Pulling Caedmon with her, she side-stepped Carrington and ascended the final few steps until they stood on equal ground, which left her near the large metal wolf.
And she couldn’t resist fucking with the bastard.
With a smile, she released some of her hold on her magic and felt it curl around the wolf at her back. The great beast inhaled adeep breath. She could hear metal creaking as he slowly turned his head in her direction. It leapt from the pedestal, the impact sending cracks spidering across the smooth surface of the cement.
Carrington’s eyes widened and his mouth parted as the great beast came to heel at her side, standing almost as tall as her shoulders, brushing against her like she was his master. His tail curled around her leg, a silent claim. She ran her hand over the creature, even going so far as to scratch under his chin.
And even she was shocked when the beast gave a metallic groan of pleasure.
