Page 126 of Secrets of Avalon

"Melinda!" I wrench my arms loose from my guards, my heart pounding frantically in my chest. "I'm fine," I growl angrily at them, eyes scanning the fleeing crowd for any sign of my wife.

Fear grips my heart like an icy fist, making it hard to breathe, but I push through the sea of bodies, desperately searching for a glimpse of silver-white fabric or the glint of Melinda's crown. I reach out through our bond, a tendril of thought laced with fear and concern. Melinda, where are you? Are you safe?

For a moment, there's nothing but silence, and my blood runs cold. Then, like a beacon of hope, her presence returns to my mind and she speaks. I'm here. I'm safe. Siva protected me.

Relief washes over me, so intense it nearly brings me to my knees. She's alive. She's safe.

I spin around, ready to navigate through the panicked crowd to reach her. But a bloody sight freezes me in place. Destrien stands there, chest heaving, a bloodied blade clutched in his grip. At his feet lies Julius Darkwood, motionless, crimson spreading across his ornate robes like spilled wine.

A heart-wrenching cry pierces the air. Vencia's anguished scream almost makes me feel pity for her. Julius may have been a horrible man, but he was still her father. She pushes past me and drops to the floor beside her father’s body.

Where had Destrien come from? Darkwood had come for Melinda, hadn't he?

"Destrien. What–"

"I took the blade from him. He was going to stab Melinda. I... I killed him first."

I search Destrien's face, looking for any hint of deception, but find only shock and a grim determination. The blade in his hand drips steadily onto the polished floor, each drop pushing me away from thinking my brother is jealous, petty, and power hungry.

"I–" Words fail me. But if he's telling the truth, he just saved my mate’s life.

A feral growl rips through the air–unmistakably a wolf's growl–followed by screams of terror.

Fucking hell. Panic claws at my chest. Where is Melinda?

"Ares! Boaz!" I bellow. "Get Fen!" I shove through the crowd, desperation lending me strength. I catch sight of Kellan's head above the sea of bodies. "Melinda!"

I push past a few more startled guests and finally spot her. She's pressed against the wall, her wedding gown torn and Siva, her guardian dragon spirit, hovers protectively in front of Melinda. Her wings are spread wide, making the small ethereal dragon appear far larger than its actual size. The knife of worry that’d been lodged in my heart evaporates.

Siva dissolves a moment later and returns to her tattoo form on Melinda’s arm.

Melinda raises her arms and I step into them, tucking her close to my chest.

CHAPTER 49

Nothing Ever Goes Perfectly

Melinda Mayweather

I'm back in Hawke's arms, his familiar scent grounding me as my heart races.

“What happened?”

“It was so fast. Darkwood’s body barreled into mine and Siva pushed me through the crowd toward the wall. She put herself between me and everyone else.”

He’s touching me all over, like he’s worried I might have an injury.

“I’m okay,” I say. “I promise.”

I see it over Hawke’s shoulder—Julius Darkwood’s body on the stone floor. Dead. And beyond that, Fenrir’s wolf.

Gone is the knight. In his place stands his wolf, larger than any natural animal of its kind. His fur is a deep gray, almost black, in the flickering light of the hall. But it's his eyes that truly terrify me—even as a wolf they’re usually warm and full of mischief, they're now wild and unfocused, glowing with an eerie, feral light. Just like they had been in the arena.

"Fen changed again!"

“I know. The others will take care of him.” Hawke's body tenses against mine, his arm tightening protectively around my waist. The rapid beat of his heart matches my own frantic pulse.

Fen's massive jaws part, revealing rows of teeth that seem impossibly sharp and long. A low, rumbling growl builds in his chest, sending vibrations through the very floor beneath our feet.

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