Page 27 of The Wolf and the Chimera
“It’swhyI take protecting the Sovereign’s library so seriously,” she continued. “It’s why I’m wondering why you’re snooping around it.”
Behind her, two more werewolves, one male and one female, both of them broad and muscular, entered the library and flanked her. I suddenly wished I had heeded Ryder’s warning and stayed in my room.
Nonsense,I thought.You’ve faced far worse without the protection of a werewolf with an attitude problem.
“If you know so much,” I said, “then you must know I’m here as aguest,not a prisoner. I’m free to roam as a please.”
The Keeper chuckled. “You and I both know you don’tknow a thing about freedom. You’re not even free to use your own power.”
I winced, and the Keeper’s grin broadened.
“Stay out of the library,” she ordered.
Her lackeys crept closer and bared their teeth. I balled my hands into fists to keep them from shaking and walked past them without another word. When I made it into the hallway, I ran. Faster and faster, I hurried down the hall, determined to reach my room before letting the tears fall.
Face-first, I ran into a firm, broad chest. My nose crunched against it, and hot blood poured down my face.
Kieran cursed and steadied me. He rushed over to one of the nearby, ornate tables and grabbed a tissue from it. He held it out to me, and I gratefully took it.
Once the blood was stanched, I said in a nasally voice, “Thanks.”
“Of course,” he said. Genuine worry lined his face. “Are you okay? I never meant to—”
I waved him off. “I know you didn’t mean to. I should’ve watched where I was going.”
I studied his tall form. “Are you okay?”
He stared at me in disbelief and shook his head.
“My brother really does not deserve you.” He gestured to himself. “Yeah, Elle, I’m okay. How is your nose?”
“Not broken,” I assured him. “It doesn’t hurt that bad.”
“You should get checked by our pack healer,” he argued.
“No,” I snapped. The last thing I wanted was another interaction with a member of Lyall’s pack. “No, I promise I’m fine.”
Though he was young, Kieran was observant. He stared at me intently.
“Did something happen?” he asked.
I shook my head, but I couldn’t bring myself to tell a lie. I didn’t trick him.
“What happened?” he repeated. “Tell me what happened, or—”
Down the hall, footsteps pounded.
“Or what?” Ryder demanded in a voice garbled by his wolf.
Claws extended from his fingertips, and fur lined his arms.
As he looked me over, standing bloody before his angry brother whom he despised, Alpha magic rolled off him in waves. It raised the hair on the back of my neck and thickened the air with tension. Every breath I took was heavy. Kieran stumbled back a step. Ryder prowled closer.
“Stop,” I said and moved between the brothers. Ryder growled. “It’s not what it looks like—”
“It looks like he’s threatening you,” Ryder argued. For a heartbeat, worry softened his features as he took in my bloody nose. “It looks like he hurt you.”
His glowing, amber eyes met Kieran’s. “And now, it looks like he’s going to die.”
