Page 107 of Chosen Destiny

The two guards gasped as they tumbled into the guards behind them.

My head was jerked back, and sharp pain radiated down my spine. I turned awkwardly to find that the third guard had fisted his hand in my hair. He dragged me toward him.

Bodey appeared at my side as the royal advisors launched their attacks. I gripped the hilt of my dagger, ignoring the way my hand still screamed from my injury.

I leaned toward the guard fisting my hair, sending him off balance since I wasn’t fighting him anymore. Bodey punched him in the face, and his grip loosened. The guard’s head snapped to the side as Bodey swiped his blade across his throat. Blood squirted from the cut, hitting Bodey in the face, but my mate didn’t flinch.

An arm clenched around my waist and pulled me back against a hard chest. A guard with a mustache ran through the middle of the fighters, heading toward me with handcuffs. Kel still wanted to take me prisoner, but I’d rather die than allow that to happen.

I snapped myself forward, and the guard behind me grunted as I flipped him over my body into Mustache Guard.

Bodey fought two guards beside me while the others were engaged in their own battles. One smaller guard crept around the circle, and my wolf surged forward.

My skin tingled, and blonde fur sprouted from my body. My bones cracked, and I shifted into animal form. I hadn’t meant to shift, but I embraced my animal. She was furious, and I felt more confident fighting in this skin than with the human weapons. My clothes ripped, and the belt that holstered the guns and dagger clanked to the floor.

Not hesitating, I lunged at the man who’d attacked me from behind as he clambered to his feet. I landed on his back, dug my claws into him, and thrashed the back of his neck with my teeth. He growled and fell again, and I leveraged his momentum to leap at Mustache Man, who was now aiming his weapon at me.

I landed on his chest, knocking him onto his back just as he fired. I expected pain to sear into me but felt nothing as I ripped out Mustache Man’s throat. A pricking sensation inched down my spine, alerting me to the guard who was trying to sneak around me.

More guards came rushing down the stairs. At this moment, I hated each and every one of them. If Kel was using something against them to keep them in line, now would be the time to riot. Anyone who fought against us was a true enemy.

The small guard’s hand shook as she raised her firearm at me. Sweat beaded on her forehead and rolled into her eyes.

I crouched, wanting her to know I wouldn’t give up and cower, then charged.

Blinding pain exploded through my bond with Bodey, and my heart shattered. I stopped, not caring if the woman shot me, and turned toward my mate.

Lynerd had a knife to Bodey’s neck, the tip of its blade cutting into his skin. Blood trickled down his neck. Worse, I could see why my mate was in severe pain. Blood from another wound had already soaked his entire shirt, and even the top of his jeans had turned crimson.

“Everyone stop, or the king consort dies,” Lynerd rasped.

The royal advisors kept fighting, and I could only assume Bodey had told them not to stop and to protect me.

I had one choice.

Through the links, I alpha-willed,Everyone, stop fightingnow.

Callie, no,Bodey linked, but the damage was done. The royal advisors stopped. Dina stood panting over a man she’d slain herself.

A maniacal laugh rang out from the stairs, and Kel descended.

We hadn’t won. In fact, we were about to lose more than I’d ever thought possible.

CHAPTERTHIRTY-TWO

Kel wore black silk pajamas,and she was barefoot as always. Even in bedroom attire, she’d done her makeup and hair to perfection.

I wondered if, when she’d learned we were here, she’d prepared herself for our arrival, applying makeup and pulling her hair into a French twist instead of fighting alongside her pack.

“Callie, it’s so nice to see you again.” Kel beamed as she stepped over the body of one of her guards, the heel of her foot landing in a puddle of his blood. She didn’t flinch. Instead, she kept her eyes on me, leaving bloody heel prints on the wooden floor. “I must say, you did catch us by surprise, but rest assured, I have accommodations a few miles away where another fifty guards live, just in case something like this ever happened.”

Here I’d thought we’d prepared strategically. I wanted to speak, but I was stuck in animal form.

“Being a paranoid psycho bitch has really paid off for you, hasn’t it?” Jack sneered from my right side, his cobalt irises glowing.What are we going to do?he linked to Miles, Lucas, and me, leaving Bodey out.

Protect him however we need to.Bodey had suffered enough of her abuse, and after the threat she’d made, I refused to hand him over. I’d use alpha will to force them to obey me if necessary.

Rubbing a finger over her bottom lip, Kel walked toward Jack, smiling coyly. “You’re handsome and young, and there’s time to train you and mold you into someone worthy of my territory. Maybe I won’t kill you. I do like them young and eager.”

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