Marius struggled against the ropes binding his arms from wrist to elbow, snarling at Tansin who was building a fire. They were in a cave and Marius guessed they weren’t on the elven realm anymore. The lack of foliage was a big giveaway, not the mention the reddish glow that permeated the cave and what he could see beyond it. “You’re a damn coward; tying my arms behind my back so I can’t shift. Why don’t you untie me and kill me like a man, you bastard?”

“Oh, I will get the chance soon enough,” Tansin said dreamily as he poked the fire. “But Tiber insisted on meeting you first. I can’t think why he’d be interested in a mutt like you, but what my master wants, my master gets.”

“Master?” Marius’s ears pricked up at the word just as his nose registered the underlying scent of deceit. “Since when do elves have masters? You have a ruling council, don’t you? You said your father was one of the members.”

“Bah, those old fools don’t do anything unless the seers tell them to. Tiber is different.” This time it was a trace of lust that filled the air and Marius shivered. “He knows what he wants and goes after it and to hell with anyone or anything else.”

“And does he confide in you, this Master of yours?” The hair on the back of Marius’s neck was standing straight up. “Was he the one who convinced you to open the portal at Cloverleah?”

Tansin laughed. “I would’ve done it anyway if I’d known that’s where Cathair was hiding. Imagine someone like Cathair being stuck in a hick town like that. It’d be unbearable for him.”

“He liked it well enough until you and your friends came along.” Marius tried to ease the ache in his shoulders, but there was no give in the rope. “Where’d those wolves and vampires come from anyway? Do you run a home for wayward rogues and strays?”

“As if I’d have anything to do with rejects like that.” Tansin reached over and magicked more branches for the fire. “No, those were my master’s pets; misfits he picked up on his travels.”

“You’d think he’d be pissed when my pack killed them all.” Don’t think about pack; don’t think about my brothers and how much I wish the fuck they were here. And don’t think about Cathair. Marius stretched out his chest, trying to ease the pains in his back.

“Collateral damage.” Tansin shrugged as he stood up. “Don’t get too comfortable. Tiber will be here momentarily. I need to change and be ready to greet him.”

“Got to get your sub gear on, have you?” Marius scowled. “Don’t forget your butt plug.”

“My relationship with Tiber is nothing you’d ever understand.” Tansin flicked his fingers and his black battle pants were replaced with similar ones in white. His bare shoulders were now covered in a white flowing robe and Marius thought he looked like a sacrifice.

“Pushing the virginal look a bit much, aren’t you? Last I heard, you were married with kids and trying to get into Cathair’s ass.”

“That’s the problem with you shifters,” Tansin scowled as he came and stood almost chest to chest with Marius. “You are all about fidelity and mates; loyal and trustworthy. Where does that get you?”

“Tied up waiting to be killed by a mad man?”

The slap to his face knocked Marius’s head back against the rocks hard, but he was ready for it. Tansin doubled over with pain as Marius’s knee connected with the man’s balls. A quick jump and Tansin was gasping for another reason – Marius’s thighs clenched around his neck.

“Never underestimate a Reef brother,” Marius snarled, squeezing his thighs together as hard as he could as he feet slammed back on the ground. Tansin’s mouth was open, his tongue hanging out as his hands scrabbled against Marius’s jeans. Elves might be damned immortal, but Marius would put a power of hurt on Tansin if he could just get free.

But just as Tansin’s face started to turn blue, Marius heard the sound of clapping and all of a sudden, Tansin was on the other side of the cave, gasping and clutching at his neck.

“Always trying to prove you’re the physically stronger man, aren’t you my pet, even in situations when magic would be so much more effective.” A deep honeyed voice wafted around the cave and Marius looked up to see a dark hooded shadow gliding into the firelight.

“Tiber.” Tansin fell to his knees. “Master…I…he…attacked….”

“Shut up.” The words were snapped and Tansin bowed his head. Pale fingers brushed over Tansin’s hair, but Marius couldn’t see the newcomer’s face. “You really need to learn to hide your weaknesses, my pet. How are you going to rule the elves if you can’t contain one bound wolf?”

“He….” Tansin swallowed and tried again. “I’m sorry, Master.”

“That’s better.” Tiber’s fingers trailed across Tansin’s face as Tiber moved closer to Marius. The dark hood hid half of Tiber’s face but what could be seen was a pale, sharp jaw, thin lips and the end of a delicate nose. “Is this the one? The man your friend claims a bond with?”

“He’s an enforcer from Cloverleah and the one who had the audacity to bite Cathair.” Tansin shuffled round on his knees, peering up at his Master.

“And you brought him to me, why?” Marius caught the stench of sulfur and death as Tiber glided closer.

“You told me I needed permission before I killed anyone at Cloverleah. Master, this man is the key, don’t you see?” Tansin looked like an eager puppy waiting for his dinner. “With this man gone, Cathair will be unfit to rule as heir and my father will take Frank’s place as High Elder. On earth, once his brothers and pack mates learn of his death, they will come out of hiding and they’ll be yours for the taking. You can rule their territory and I can rule the elves.”

“You are such a short-sighted fool.” Tiber’s slap sent Tansin sprawling across the dirt. “Did anyone see you take this wolf from your realm?”

“Only Cathair and half the soldiers,” Marius thought it was time he had a voice in the conversation. “Your pet thought it was funny to whisk me away in front of dozens of witnesses, including my mate. I imagine they’re moving heaven and earth to track me down. I doubt Tansin will ever be allowed to show his face there again. Sounds like that might muck up a few of your plans.”

“Your captive has more brains than you have,” Tiber loomed over the hapless Tansin like a vulture over a dove.

“Once Cathair is out of the picture, the council will have no choice but to appoint my father High Elder,” Tansin cried, his fingers scrabbling in the dirt as he tried to get away. “I’m the only other possible heir to the realm. They won’t do anything to me.”

“You truly are as dumb as you look.” Even Marius winced at Tiber’s tone and Tansin looked stricken. “You’ve come to the end of your usefulness to me.”

“Tiber, Master, no,” Tansin babbled as Tiber raised his hands. “I promise I’ll make it right. I’ll rule the elves and then your kind can come back and you and I will be together. We can play with Cathair as much as you want, just like you promised.”

“My kind doesn’t keep their promises. You really should have learned that by now.”

Marius turned his head as Tiber flung out his hands creating a dark fog that swallowed Tansin’s screaming body. His wolf howled in his mind, desperate to get away and prickles like darts shot up and down his body. It only lasted ten seconds, no more, but Marius sagged against his bindings when it was done. Tansin looked as if he’d aged a hundred years, his skin flat against his skull, his lips devoid of color and yet his chest slowly rose and fell.

“My gods, he’s still alive?”

“Elves can’t die,” Tiber said, straightening up and brushing his hands together. “It’s one of the more annoying things about them. No matter. He won’t be bothering me again. Sniveling pissant.” He glided to the mouth of the cave.

“Er…excuse me.” Marius pulled at the rope around his arms. “Any chance you can free me before you run off and do whatever mad men do?”

Tiber laughed, and a shiver ran down Marius’s spine. “If I set you free, you’ll owe me a favor. Do you want to owe me a favor, little one? One of your kind is in our debt already, do you really want to add to that number?” He threw his hood back and Marius’s eyes widened. The man was insanely beautiful. His jet black hair fell around his pale face and his bone structure would be worth millions if it could be replicated. But the eyes studying him were black – not just the pupils but the whole damn eye socket.

Marius backed up even though he had nowhere to go. “Dark elf,” he whispered and at his words, his wolf surged, eager to be free. “You’re trying kill my pack.”

“I don’t want to kill your pack, my precious pet; I plan to control it. All those wonderful powers in the one place. It’s enough to give me a boner.” Tiber’s laugh was like shattering glass. “Till we meet again, precious, and believe me, we will.”

Seconds later Marius was alone with nothing but the husk of Tansin’s body and a fire for company. There was an ominous sound of water lapping against the outside of the cave and the smell of salt Marius hadn’t noticed before tinged the air. It was no wonder Tiber left him hanging. He was going to die if he didn’t think of something fast.

His shoulders were numb, the rope binding him was thick, but Marius still had his fingers free. Calling on his wolf, he partially shifted his claws and bending his wrists as far as they would go, he started to scratch away at the rope. Hopefully, he could get his arms free before the tide came in. Was that damn water red? Marius scratched faster.