CHAPTER 17
With careful, measured steps, Saar approached the large cedar. He placed his hand against the rough bark and peered over a low branch. Through the dense forest, the solitary bear lumbered over the rough terrain with ease. Its black coat appeared almost a deep shade of blue as the sleek fur shimmered in the moonlight.
Even in her altered form, Kaelyn was beautiful.
As she crested over the hill, he continued his pursuit, keeping downwind and out of earshot. The last thing he wanted was for her to know he followed her. He told himself he did this to gather more evidence about his enemy, maybe find out the location of Mauree’s hideout, but in truth, he didn’t want to let Kaelyn go.
And he couldn’t return to the Keep. Only death awaited him there.
Saar’s stomach hardened, and his marking for loyalty, courage, and honor all burned, hot and fevered, on the back of his shoulder. He reached beneath his shirt and rubbed the spot, but couldn’t wipe away the truth.
“Father was right, I’m selfish and now, I’m a traitor.” The words beat into his soul, shredding him from the inside out. Maybe if he found Mauree’s hideout, brought that bit of intel back with him, the sting of his death would lessen. Yet, providing Noeh with the information would bring death to Kaelyn’s door.
His chest tightened, squeezing the breath from his lungs.
Neither choice was optimal.
No, there was no going back, not after his treasonous act. Perhaps he’d become a lone fighter in the war, similar to some of the rogue Panthera warriors, the ones that roamed the edges of the Keep’s territory.
Only he’d have to avoid his own kind. Chances were they’d send a search party for him as soon as they discovered he was gone. He couldn’t allow them to find him. How strange…he’d gone from trusted warrior to traitor in a matter of moments and all for a beautiful female he could never be with. Irony was such a bitch.
He tugged a toothpick from his pocket, his last one, and jabbed it between his lips. The familiar stick calmed his ragged nerves, soothing him, and he refocused his attention on Kaelyn’s retreating form. He placed his palm on the hilt of his sword. At the moment, his trusty weapon was his only friend.
Kaelyn came to a small clearing. She morphed into her human form, her tight-fitting pants and shirt reformed onto her luscious curves. Long and full, her hair fluttered in the breeze, as if waving to him, saying their last goodbyes.
A tightness in his chest caused his breath to hitch. Unwilling to let her go just yet he shortened the distance between them, eager to remain close.
She drew her yellow braiding cloth from her pocket and studied the material. Her gaze rose skyward, and a pained expression strained her features. With a delicate caress, she parted her hair into two sections and using the cloth as the third twine, she braided the long tresses.
Mesmerized, his fingertips twitched. The urge to touch her luxurious mane, and feel the silky smoothness for himself, wafted over him. He curled his hand into a fist.
A loud whistle pierced the air, a tune one he’d heard before. He stiffened.
Kaelyn wrapped her fingers around her whistle and brought the bear’s head ornament to her lips. A soft melodic trill eased from her, the beautiful melody seeping into him. Part of him wished her call was for him.
A male with dark hair stepped from between the trees. Quick and firm, he tugged her into his embrace, his arms tight around her waist.
“Theron!” She buried her face against his chest.
Spots of anger flashed in Saar’s vision, and he bit the toothpick in half. He jerked it out of his mouth and tossed the broken stick onto the soft pine needles at his feet.
His beast pounded against Saar’s control, eager to break free, battle the male who dared touch his female. He hardened his hold on his inner beast. She’s not mine. Even as he thought the words, he understood the lie hidden within.
Theron stepped back, a relieved smile on his face. He studied her for a moment then pointed to the empty pouch at her waist.
She shook her head, and her lips moved, but a sudden breeze picked up, carrying away the words.
Theron untied one of the maces at his belt and handed it to her. She hefted the weapon, her bicep flexing under the weight.
Saar’s lungs expanded as pride for her filled him. She was a strong, beautiful female, so different from the ones at the Keep. This little Ursus bear went toe to toe with him, and he admired her feistiness and spunk.
Another male, a tad shorter, but with the same bulky build and dark hair, joined the two. He gave Kaelyn a quick bow, as if she were royalty.
A bow? Before Saar could dwell on the trio, the astringent stench of Gossum filled the air.
He tensed and drew his sword. The blade quivered, as eager as he was to battle the creatures.
“Not yet, my friend,” he whispered.
Four Gossum, their bald heads gleaming in the light, slipped from the trees. So focused on Kaelyn, he’d relaxed his guard, but their timing was perfect. He needed to let loose his frustration, and they were as good an excuse as any.
The four Gossum lumbered toward him, their tongues snapping from their mouths. They wore dark pants and shirts over their hairless bodies and blended in with the surroundings. One with a remnant of gray hair on his head outran his comrades. A shriek rose from his throat as he closed the distance.
Saar strengthened his grip on his sword and focused on his enemy. He prepared himself, his inner beast growling. Many times in the past he’d faced multiple foes and survived. He’d do so again tonight.
The first Gossum, Gray Hair, launched himself at Saar, the tips of his sharp nails gleaming in the light.
Saar swung his sword.
Screeeee.
His weapon sliced through the Gossum’s throat. The severed head landed on the ferns with a splat. Momentum knocked the body off balance, and the creature stiffened, then slid to the ground in a pile of black inky goo.
Saar didn’t have time to celebrate the quick victory. The other three Gossum were on him in a moment. He parried, blocking the barbed tip of a tongue with his arm band. Sharp claws tore through his pants and into the muscles in his thigh. The scent of his blood filled the air.
With his free hand, he gripped the creature around the throat and squeezed. Its breath rattled in its throat.
The remaining Gossum stung him on the leg, the shoulder, the knee.
He released the dead creature and swung his sword, again and again, severing hands, shredding flesh, slicing through bones. A howl tore from his throat fueled by his inner beast and his rage. When all was said and done, all that remained of his enemy was the dark black sludge coating the ferns and small plants at his feet.
His breath heaved in and out of his lungs. Pain rippled up his leg, his arm, his shoulder thanks to the Gossum’s muscle-numbing venomous tongues and sharp claws.
The rustle of feet trampling underbrush halted him. He turned toward the sound.
Two Ursus males sped toward him.
One male morphed into a bear, his silver coat reflecting the few rays of moonlight that filtered through the trees.
The other male, this Theron, the one who had held Kaelyn so tenderly, had eyes that gleamed with murderous intent. He gripped a mace in his hand, fingers clenched around the wooden handle.
Saar set his feet and raised his sword. Multiple Gossum, no problem. Multiple Ursus? Good question.
They appeared more formidable than their weaker counterparts, but he had no doubt he’d prevail.
Where was Kaelyn? Was she safe? The errant thought ripped through his mind, but he didn’t have time to dwell on it.
Theron was the first to arrive. He twirled the spiked ball above his head. The air hummed, louder and louder, with each repetition. With a quick flick, he brought the mace down. Saar blocked the blow with his sword. The clank of metal against metal echoed between the trees.
Saar’s muscles shook from the vibration, his fingers numbing from the impact. Through sheer force of will, he maintained his grip. He swung the sword, catching the chain that attached the ball to the handle around the sword’s tip. He yanked the weapon from his enemy. With a loud thunk, the mace landed amid the ferns.
The bear displayed its fangs, a loud growl rumbling from its chest. Before Saar could recover, the creature swiped its paws down his back. The excruciating pain fueled his inner beast. He kicked out, slamming the bear in the snout. The creature roared and kept its distance.
Theron retrieved his mace. He swung it above his head. The mighty weapon reverberated, undulating the air in waves.
Saar caught movement to his right and dared a quick glance.
Kaelyn ran toward him, mace raised. Her hair trailed behind her, bobbing with each step. Strength and determination flowed from her. She was beautiful. Pain and regret etched lines around her eyes.
Once, he’d been an honorable, trusted warrior. Now, he was nothing but a traitor. To die at the hands of his enemy was what he deserved.
The bear swiped his clawed paw over Saar’s chest. Pain bloomed, sending white sparks through his vision. A roar of anguish burst from him. Theron’s mace slammed into his wrist. He lost his grip. His trusted weapon slid to the ground.
Screeee.
A whoosh of air caressed his cheek, a precursor of…
Kaelyn’s mace connected with his temple.
Darkness claimed him.
Kaelyn’s breath heaved in and out of her mouth. Ever relentless and powerful, the urge to fight, battle, and kill Saar burned in her veins, fueled by her connection to Zedron. She’d held back from delivering a killing blow, and the pain still rippled up her arm and into her mind.
The familiar hum of Theron’s mace whipping through the air yanked Kaelyn from her tormented thoughts. His muscles bunched under his shirt with the mace’s last revolution.
The mace swung toward Saar’s chest.
Kaelyn launched herself at Theron, knocking his aim off balance. They tumbled to the ground. The ball’s pointed tips embedded into a nearby stump.
A low chuff and the distinct sound of running paws drew closer. The other Ursus warrior, Jacinth, barreled toward them in bear form. His claws dug into the soft loam, flicking dirt into the air with each step.
No! She scrambled to her feet and straddled Saar’s supine form. “Do not kill this male. I forbid it.”
Jacinth lumbered to the side, his claws narrowly missing Saar’s chest.
Kaelyn’s pulse pounded at her temple, her quick breaths providing the oxygen her muscles demanded.
“What’s going on, Kaelyn?” Theron rose to his feet.
Jacinth transformed into his human form, clothes reforming onto his body. His gaze narrowed on her.
Kaelyn ignored them both and knelt next to Saar who lay on the soft ferns at the edge of the path.
Unconscious, the long lashes that graced his cheek made him seem angelic even with the scar that cut across his face. Blood coated his arm, his leg, his forehead.
She’d hurt him. Self-hatred and loathing roiled in her stomach.
Theron stepped forward, his brow creased. “Why shouldn’t we kill him? He’s a Stiyaha, our enemy.”
She raised her chin. “Mauree is looking for a way into the Keep. He,” she pointed to Saar, “brought me through a manual entrance.”
Jacinth scoffed. “Lead us there.”
She stood, and a low, threatening growl curled in her chest. “I don’t know its location. He blindfolded me and circled our tracks too many times. Looking for a way in is pointless.”
Jacinth leaned forward. “What do you plan to do?”
Indecision had torn at her as she’d watched Saar fight. She’d admired his skill, his strength, and his determination. He’d dispatched the four Gossum with ease. A mixture of admiration and regret coiled together inside. She forced a smile. “Interrogate him.”
“What?”
Theron rested his hand on Jacinth’s shoulder. “Stand down, warrior. Don’t forget you address our queen. Kaelyn is right.”
Theron peered at her, then glanced at Saar. “This male has information Mauree covets. We would be wise to return him to the lake house.”
The tic in Theron’s jaw and his stiff posture indicated they weren’t done with this conversation, but at least he didn’t interrogate her here, in front of Jacinth.
Jacinth bowed low. “Forgive me, Kaelyn. I forget my manners.”
She raised her hand. “Help Theron carry Saar to Mauree. With the knock to the head and the amount of venom he took, I doubt he’ll wake anytime soon.” She wanted to rush to his side, attend to his injuries herself, free him, but she couldn’t let the others know how much he’d affected her.
Brows drawn low, her gaze tracked over Saar’s motionless form. She couldn’t care for him the way her heart wanted. He’s the enemy.
Ginnia’s soft, child-like laughter echoed between her ears.