Page 18 of King of Moon and Claws

Get out of there! Find Nerys!

She had only been bound by one wrist, the metal clanking against the wall she was going to be tied to if her abductors hadn’t been interrupted. She smacked it hard, bending the rusty metal to release herself, and retreated through the chaos into the sunlight.

She found Nerys lying between the shadows, and she went to her to check on her wounds. Wolves were still funneling into the building at a remarkable rate. They all obviously respected their king and were quick to come to his mate’s assistance.

She pulled the wolf into her arms, laying her head on her lap. Through her mind, she begged Bastian to hurry.

ELEVEN

BASTIAN

Bastian flew across the corridors, thinking only of Elora and the danger that could potentially seal her fate. He ran over the hills of the kingdom, galloping in his wolf form fast enough his heart felt like it might burst.

Once he got to the town, there was confusion and pandemonium. Not everyone had heard his call. The others had heard rumors of the call and were deeply concerned.

The king continued through the crowd and eventually found the structure where his mate had been. He weaved past curious eyes and heard the distinct sounds of slashing and clawing. His heart nearly crawled up his throat as the wretched image of his beloved laid out and slain plagued his mind.

He scoured the room for her but didn't find a trace. Part of him was thankful while the other seized with terror. His wolf brothers were still fighting what remained of the vampires, so he jumped into the fray, easily ending the lives of several creatures of the night.

Once their enemies were dealt with, he returned to his search for Elora. That was when he found her outside with Nerys lying nearly unconscious in her arms.

“She’s hurt!” Elora said when she saw him. “I don’t know what they did, but she’s weak, so weak.”

Her voice quivered and her body trembled. He quickly shifted, clothing himself with what he’d brought with him on his back as a wolf. He took Nerys’s head in his hands while the wolves who had aided in Elora’s rescue emerged from inside.

They all shifted into their human forms, quickly clothed by the other shifters who surrounded them. Everyone gathered around the king, Elora, and Nerys. A quiet sense of sorrow hung in the air, and it was Bastian’s responsibility to eradicate it.

Except, he wasn’t completely sure how. He switched into military mode.

He pointed at some of the wolf guards, motioning to Nerys and the rest of the injured.

“You and you, take Nerys to the castle and call the royal medical staff. See to the rest of the wounded and take them to the healers.”

The wolves promptly did as he asked while he took Elora into his arms. She was still shaking, and while it ripped him apart to see her so disturbed, he had to get her back to the castle. The king had no idea what else Vasilis had planned, and though the vampire had been thwarted that day, it was likely he wouldn’t make the same mistake twice.

He couldn’t allow Elora to go anywhere without him, preferably anywhere outside the castle walls. He sensed she wouldn’t enjoy the order, but it was the only way to keep her safe.

Bastian wrapped a blanket around his mate, kissing the top of her head. A crowd was still congregating, a curious silence deafening as he whispered into her ear.

“My men are going to take you to the castle. I have to assess what went on here so it won't happen again.”

She agreed with him somewhat reluctantly, raising her gaze to meet his.

“I understand. I want to make sure Nerys is okay.”

Her voice was mouse-like and muffled, which didn’t seem like her at all. Bastian gave her another kiss and handed her off to his trusted men.

The sensation of her skin lingered on his. It reminded him of the feeling he felt when sneaking into the vampire bunker to rescue her.

He hoped desperately she wasn’t sinking back into the hideous darkness of her trauma. But there was business to tend to. She would have to wait.

The king surveyed the scene of the battle with his soldiers surrounding him, the townspeople following closely behind. It seemed clear-cut what had happened. Vasilis had Elora followed by his vampire crew and had instructed them to kidnap her once more. It seemed simple enough, but the way in which the leader had gone about retrieving her was rather brazen.

He had initially sent his men into a human village to kidnap an unknown witch. She was under the protection of the Wolf King, which meant that seeking her out and attacking her not only put his people under threat but was a direct slight against him as a leader.

It was a lot to take in after decades of peace.

“We heard your message,” one of the wolves who had aided in the battle spoke up. “Telepathically. We have never used that before. Is this a new defense?”

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