Page 4 of Guardians of the Assassins
Before she could even form a reply, the two wolves dropped one knee to the ground, their heads bowed, and she blinked at them in astonishment. Not wanting to take her eyes off them, she forced herself not to take a step back and spoke out of the side of her mouth. “What are they doing?”
Caedmon’s lips twitched for barely a second when he answered. “I believe they finally noticed the alpha queen symbol on your arm.”
She glanced down at the tiny blood red moon etched on herarm, which swirled and glowed under her regard. The bow and arrow symbol over the top didn’t detract from it at all.
She wanted to cover it with her hand, not liking the attention…or more specifically, their reaction to it. “Well, make them stop.”
This time, there was no stopping the smile, and he chuckled. “They’ve probably never seen an alpha queen before today. Tell them that we’ll attend their Assembly tomorrow.” Then his voice hardened as he turned toward the wolves. “They will have no choice but acknowledge your position and claim over theloup garouand werewolves in the coven, releasing you from any duties and responsibilities to them.”
CHAPTER TWO
RYDER
No one moved as the two men shifted into wolves and loped off into the woods. Caedmon signaled to two guards, and they followed to make sure the wolves actually left the territory. Loki gave a deep bark, like the order had been directed at him, and charged after the others. Morgan didn’t have to worry about him, the beast knowing better than to leave the coven grounds.
Morgan waited a beat before turning toward Caedmon. “Why did you say that we would go?”
Because that was the last thing she wanted. She’d just graduated and inherited the coven. They had a lot of work to do to make it functional. Paranormals were still flooding the human realm, and the covens were overwhelmed trying to keep them in line—deciding who needed to be sent back, who needed to be killed, and who was allowed to stay.
“He’s right,” Atlas said, coming to stand at her side, the darkness in him lingering in his burnt umber eyes. A scowl marred his expression as he gazed after the two shifters. “They want something from you, and they’re not going to stopuntil they get it.”
Ryder grunted in agreement. “If you don’t go, enforcers will come, and they won’t be polite and ask.”
Draven just shook his head as he tapped his blade against his thigh. “You just don’t know how to not find trouble. It’s like a not so hidden talent of yours.”
She made a face and shot him the finger, which only made him smirk. The nightmares in his haunted blue eyes lightened as he gazed at her, and he winked. “I wouldn’t trade a second of it.”
Of course he wouldn’t.
He adored trouble.
“You’re part of both worlds now.” Ascher ran his hand through his messy blond locks, leaving him with a sexy, just rolled out of bed look that nearly distracted her from the problem at hand. “As much as you don’t want to deal with them, it would be unwise to think they would just go away.”
She gave him a twisted smile that was part grimace. “So you’re saying no burying my head in the sand.”
He flashed her a sympathetic smile, and her heart sank, because she knew he was right.
She glanced at Ryder in concern, not liking his silence. “As my mate, does this put you in more danger?”
His eyes narrowed dangerously, and his fangs peeked out when his upper lip curled. He stalked toward her, grabbed the back of her neck, and rested his forehead against hers. “You’re not going to leave without me. Don’t even think it.”
“But if it puts you in more danger?—”
“He’s right,” Caedmon interrupted, grimacing when she pulled away from the warmth of Ryder’s arms to glare at him. “He is your mate. If he doesn’t make an appearance at your side, they will see it as a sign of weakness.”
“And you can’t afford to show any weakness.” Kincade wrapped his arms around her waist and hugged her close. “I know you want to keep us safe, but think if the positions were reversed. You wouldn’t allow any of us to go off alone.”
Draven gave her a taunting smile. “And if you think you’regoing to try and sneak out, we’ll take a page out of your own book and sneak off after you.”
She barely resisted the urge to deck him. She must have made a move to put her thoughts into action, because Kincade tightened his grip even more.
As much as she wanted to hate them for boxing her in a corner, he was correct. It just wasn’t safe for any of them to go off alone.
She slumped in defeat, then glanced at Caedmon. “You mentionedloup garou,and they reacted like they were something sacred. Explain it to me.”
Caedmon grimaced in distaste. “Loup garouare a myth to most of the shifter society. It used to be considered a blessing given to the most worthy, but the lycanthrope strain died out a long time ago.”
“Died out?” Something about the tone of his voice lifted the hairs on the back of her neck. “Or exterminated?”
