Page 26 of Guardians of the Assassins
“Doubtful.” Atlas absently brushed his fingers over Loki’s head. “If war was in the air, the Academy would be the first to know. They would be called to make sure no signs of it would spill over into the human realm. Nothing has been reported.”
Before anyone could make another guess, a commotion outside spurred the guys into action. Kincade’s form hardened as he marched toward the door, while smoke seeped from Ascher, the scent of burnt clothing filling the air. Draven and Atlas had weapons in their grips, and she tipped her head, unable to figure out where they’d had them stored. Menace oozed from Ryder and Caedmon, their wolves riding them hard, their eyes glowing.
Even as she headed toward the door, the guys somehow managed to slip in front of her, Ryder even going so far as to grab her hips, pick her up, and deposit her behind him, a little warning growl rumbling in his chest. If it weren’t for the fangs peeking out from between his lips, she’d almost expect him to point a finger at her and order her to stay.
She rolled her eyes at the idiots and hurried after them before they somehow managed to lock her in the mansion. The wardswould have warned her if there was any sort of danger, so she wasn’t too worried.
But it was like she jinxed herself.
Not a second later, the wards rippled, and she sensed a dozen intruders step foot on the property.
By the time she burst from the front door, the guys were already standing on the top step and she nearly plowed into them. She pushed between them, the guys grunting when her sharp elbows hit tender spots when the asshats refused to allow her through.
Then she came to an abrupt halt, shock rooting her feet to the ground.
About a dozen or so metal wolves were lounging around the front yard. Some were so still, she thought they’d turned back into statues…until a tail or ear twitched. Others were sniffing every blade of grass. A few were even roughhousing with each other, rolling around on the ground, the gong and scrape of metal echoing around the clearing.
Loki was romping around them like an excited puppy pestering an adult to play, prancing and yipping in excitement at having more playmates.
“Morgan…” Draven whispered out of the side of his mouth, unable to take his eyes away from the sight. “I believe you have some explaining to do.”
At the sound of his voice, the wolves lifted their heads and turned, then pranced toward them, coming to rest at the bottom of the steps.
Morgan pinched the bridge of her nose, avoiding looking at the men standing next to her, cringing as she imagined their reaction. “I can explain,” she muttered, twisting her hands together, then remembered the alarms and gave a triumphant smile. “But later. Let’s worry about the dozen or so people making their way toward us first, okay?”
She released a shaky breath, never having thought she’d be so happy to be invaded.
The guys blinked at her like she was speaking a foreignlanguage, and she nearly sagged in relief when two trucks slowly crept up the driveway.
“Incoming,” she said in a soft, singsong voice.
They dutifully shuffled to face the driveway, watching in a daze when the metal wolves twisted to face the coming threat. The guys swept their eyes over the wolves once more, then lifted their eyes to face the two vehicles, seeming to wake from whatever held them captive.
In the back of her mind, she felt the pack circling the property, peering out from behind trees and hunkering down in the bushes to keep watch. Some remained human, while others were in their beast form.
When the vehicles stopped, the forest went silent.
The doors to both vehicles were thrown open as one, and eight people spilled out.
Which left four that remained hidden.
She instantly recognized Louis. While she’d expected his arrival, she hadn’t thought it would be this soon.
And definitely not with them looking like they’d barely survived a war.
CHAPTER TEN
ATLAS
The wolves were covered in blood soaked rags that barely concealed them. Brutal claw and bite marks riddled their bodies. One guy cradled his arm close to his body, the gleam of bone visible even at the distance. Blood dripped down the neck of another, his throat looking ravaged, and Morgan wasn’t sure how he was able to still breathe.
“What the hell happened?” She slipped past the guys and managed to get halfway down the steps before the others caught up with her. She walked past the pack of metal statues, casting them cautious looks, wondering if they’d had anything to do with their ransacked state.
“A difference of opinion.” Louis lifted his chin…then grimaced when he took a step toward her, fresh blood soaking his pant leg. “They gave us a choice to either join them or die.”
“What?” Shock nearly sent her stumbling down the rest of the steps, Ryder catching her arm before she could make a spectacle of herself, but she barely noticed. “Explain.”
Louis released a heavy breath, his dark green eyes looking haunted, then his expression hardened and he lifted his chin. “I will explain everything, but first?—”
