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Zahn, actually wobbling side to side as he fought valiantly to maintain his upright position, tried to turn his head and gaze over his shoulder at the voice that he was sure he knew. Multiple males ran at him.

“Zahn!” Li’Don bellowed again as he hesitated briefly beside Zahn. “How many?”

“Two, four, five?” Zahn answered, obviously confused as his body wavered unsteadily.

Li’Don and three of Quin’s guards who’d chased after Zahn once they were assured that the new Sire and his nanny weresafe, took off again. “We’ll get them!” Li’Don called over his shoulder as they ran as quickly as they could to intercept the two males they could barely see in the distance.

“Hold them! I’m coming!” Zahn tried to yell after them, but only a very weakened rasp escaped him while he struggled to get to his feet.

“Zahn!” Kail called out as he and Rel got closer.

Zahn looked up at Kail almost drunkenly. “Ah, Kail. Look! I’ve killed them all!” he said with a chilling smile.

“Most of them,” Kail agreed. “But we have to get you to medical — now.”

“Most? Do you mean one lives?” Zahn demanded, finally getting unsteadily to his feet, his upper body leaning at a precarious angle as he searched for his still breathing adversaries.

“Two live, Zahn. Two were running away. They will not be long alive. Li’Don will find them, and if not, we’ll help track them after we get you to medical.”

“I refuse medical! I will end their miserable existence!” Zahn said, his chest heaving as he struggled to breathe, taking only two steps before he went down on his knees again. The hand he’d had pressed to his side since realizing it was covered in his own blood, pressed a little harder. “I must avenge my female.”

“Au’revele?” Kail asked. “She’s alive. She fought off the intruders and is safe, along with Alexandrus.”

“She’s safe,” Zahn said, smiling as he coughed and blood tinged spittle flew from his mouth and ran down his chin. “She is a good female. Tell her she… is… strong,” Zahn’s eyes rolled back in his head and he fell face first into the body of one of those he’d killed.

“Asl, I need help!” Kail shouted.

“I’ve got his feet,” Asl said, as he and Kail lifted Zahn into their arms and rushed him back inside the palace, through the kitchens and up the stairs toward the medical suite.

“Sire!” Asl said, as he activated his implanted communicator.

“Speak!” Quin answered immediately, waiting for word on those who’d tried to attack his son.

“Zahn has fallen!”

“He has not!” Quin shouted. “How?!”

“He chased and fought several males! Two are dead! But he was injured.”

“Is he dead?!” Quin demanded.

“We don’t know, Sire! We’re taking him to medical now. Rel is with Li’Don and the others of your guard searching for those who slipped away.”

“I’ll send in the palace guard to help,” Quin said.

“No, Sire. It is the palace guard Zahn was fighting. We don’t know who we can trust,” Asl said.

“Are you sure, Asl?” Quin asked.

“We are, Sire. Li’Don and Rel and several others raced to aid him, but two ran as we approached; Kail and I stayed to help Zahn. Li’Don and Rel and those with them gave chase. The dead and the two who ran were all wearing palace uniforms.”

“Protect him while he is treated. Tell the doctors if he dies, they may very well also,” Quin growled.

“It may already be too late, Sire, but we will not leave his side.”

“I’ll be there shortly.”

Quin turned to look at Vivian.

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