CHAPTER 34
The reddened, charred skin on Saar’s arm throbbed. Sweat beaded on his forehead, and a chill raced over his shoulders. He’d tried to stop Kaelyn from leaving, but the moment she opened the cabin’s door, the sunlight had stopped him cold. Good thing it had been sunset, when the sun’s rays were at their weakest. Otherwise, he’d be dead.
He ground his teeth as a wave of nausea crested over him. “How could I ever trust that you wouldn’t betray me?” Kaelyn’s words tracked through his mind, followed by his father’s. “Does your loyalty lie with the future king or yourself?”
Kaelyn had delivered a low blow, hitting on his weak spot, bringing up his insecurities big time. A low, agonized moan filled the small cabin. It took him a moment to realize the sound came from his lips.
“Craya!” He clamped his jaw tight, refusing to give in to his weakness.
With determined steps, he headed into the bedroom to retrieve his sword. The ferns, placed so carefully in front of the fire the day before, were strewn around the hearth, evidence of their time spent together. An ache started in his chest, and he let out a roar. The need to chase after her, protect her from her futile task, burned hotter than the sunburn on his arm.
He wrapped his hands around his sword, sheathed it, and glanced through the window. Dusk. The sun was down. He could leave, track after her. My mate. He touched the marking around his neck.
With determined strides, he approached the window. A silhouette of his image reflected in the dirty pane. The dark bands were visible against his pale skin. A mixture of happiness, grief, and anxiety swirled together in his gut, reigniting his nausea. His mouth watered, and he swallowed the bitter taste.
Maybe she was right, he wasn’t loyal, wasn’t worthy of her. Yet, he couldn’t leave her, his need to protect his mate strong, unrelenting.
He turned and headed for the doorway leading into the old cabin’s main room. As he passed the fireplace and the ferns gracing the hearth, memories of his time with Kaelyn flooded his mind.
The muscles in his back and shoulders tightened. “I’ll find you, Kaelyn, prove my loyalty to you, protect you no matter what.” He pounded his fist against his chest. “I vow it.”
The words bore inside, intertwining and weaving around his soul. Once given, the unbreakable vow would remain with him for eternity.
He opened the door and inhaled, full and deep. Kaelyn’s scent, forever ingrained in his mind, lingered in the air. Energy and determination fueling his muscles, he raced into the forest, eager to win back her heart.
Kaelyn hid behind a large boulder. The wind whipped through her hair, carrying the fresh scent of the ocean along with the pungent smell of Gossum. Bile rose in her throat. The urge to battle welled in her chest, and she palmed the handle of her mace.
She’d anticipated the possibility of encountering either someone from her Tribe, the Gossum, or even a Stiyaha or two on her trek to the lake house, but not so soon. Damn. She clamped her jaw tight.
She peered around the large stone. Upwind, along a small path at the edge of the beach, was a solitary Gossum. Never bothering to learn their names, she didn’t know him, but she recognized his brown and yellow striped shirt and his red baseball cap. He was one of Mauree’s minions. Good.
He sneaked down the path, toward her, his slinky gait reminding her of a lizard. She released the clasp on her mace and hefted the weapon into her palm. The familiar, welcome weight provided focus.
When he was close enough she could hear his breaths, she burst from her hiding spot and swung her mace.
He skidded to a stop. A loud hiss eased from his lips. The long length of his tongue whipped from his mouth, narrowly missing her nose.
With a flick of her wrist, she propelled her mace at his face.
He blocked her blow with his arm. Bone crunched. His shrill cry rang in the air.
Footsteps pounded on the path.
Not wanting to get trapped by the trees, Kaelyn sprinted onto the beach. The surf pounded at her back, roaring as if it was in a bad mood. Anger bubbled up from inside. She could relate.
Three Gossum skittered down the path. None stopped to assist their injured comrade.
She raised her mace, whipping it around and around.
The three males surrounded her. Tongues snapping, loud hisses, and sharp chuffs echoed above the ocean’s thunder.
She didn’t wait for them to make the first move. Using the strength of her inner bear, she swung her mace at the closest opponent. One of the spiked tips connected with his shoulder. He grunted.
The other two took advantage. One snapped its long tongue at her, almost connecting with her chin. The other swiped a long claw at her arm. A long scratch drew blood. Pain flared.
“Stop!” Mauree’s shrill voice pierced the din. “Stand down.”
The Gossum growled, but gave Kaelyn some distance, moving out of her range. Behind them were several males from her Tribe, along with a few other Gossum, and Mauree.
Kaelyn’s muscles stiffened, ready to fight. Here was her adversary, the bitch who’d killed Theron. Kaelyn’s fingers slid around the handle of her mace, the need for retribution burning in her veins.
“Well, well. Fancy finding you here.” Mauree sauntered forward, the swagger in her step swaying her hips. “Where’s lover boy?”
“You killed Theron. I hate you!” Kaelyn spat the words at her.
“Now, now. Theron got what he deserved. No one betrays me and lives. That goes for you as well.” A hideous smile lit up her features. With a slow turn of her head, she glanced around. “Now, tell me, where is Saar?”
Kaelyn’s pulse rose. “Far away. He’s none of your concern.”
“Oh, I think he’s closer than that. We’ll find him, and when we do, he’s as good as dead.” Mauree trailed her finger over her skirt and lifted the edge, revealing her sheathed dagger.
“No!” Kaelyn swung her mace, faster and faster with each revolution. The whir of the ball competed with the ocean’s constant boom.
Mauree glanced at her fingers then wiped her nails on her blouse. “My dear, please. You and I both know you can’t hurt me.” She smiled and glanced at Kaelyn.
“Kaelynnnn!” Saar’s shout broke the air.
Kaelyn’s blood froze.
Saar emerged from the trees, his sword drawn, the edges of his hair bouncing as he ran toward her and his death.
Mauree pointed at Saar. “Kill him.”
Several of her minions bolted toward Kaelyn’s mate.
“No!” Before Kaelyn could think twice about her actions, she threw all her momentum into her movements and launched her mace at Mauree.
Mauree’s eyes widened. She ducked.
Instead of a direct hit, the mace scraped along Mauree’s cheek. The tip gouged into her eye.
Mauree’s eyeball burst from the socket with a loud pop. Blood gushed from the wound. Her shattered scream melded with the sea’s roar.
Kaelyn’s pulse pounded double time. Confusion flitted through her mind. As part of Zedron’s team, she shouldn’t have been able to harm Mauree. Something had changed. Perhaps the bond with her mate overpowered Zedron’s power over her. Hope, feeble and small, expanded in Kaelyn’s chest.