Page 113 of Feral Guardian
Kazimir doesn’t relax his aggressive stance. “I need to speak to Adrik.”
Zane appears at the top of the steps with disheveled hair and a half-tucked shirt. “You don’t have business here.”
“Vykhodi, Adrik!” Kazimir shouts for the Nest’s potion master in Seterian. “I need help, please!”
The sound of a shredding shirt is the only thing that precedes Zane leaping across the entrance space. Kazimir rears back and there’s a sudden burst of pressure that slams against the Spider Lord and his horde. They blast away from Kazimir in all directions, all but Zane, who threads his teal magic between his ribbons to create a shield.
The Spiders that try to climb back to their feet are instantly floored as they gasp for air. Kazimir stands at the center of an undulating purple vortex that shoots wave after wave of his power through the house.
“Stop!” Alastair roars, but no one heeds him.
He growls and pushes me back into the doorway to the kitchen. “Do not move,” he commands as his demon emerges.
“Yes, sir,” I say, loving the way his eyes blaze at the words.
He turns and leaps through Kazimir’s magic, then grabs the man by the collar of his shirt and shakes him. Zane moves fast, springing forward like a spider seeking prey, but Alastair catches him too, pushing a hand against his bare chest.
“Stop,” Alastair demands again.
Kazimir and Zane pant heavily as they glare one another down.
“Lily, would Alyseswoonover Kazimir?” he asks, his demonic voice a deep rumble that thrills me.
Kazimir scowls in confusion but doesn’t take his eyes off Zane.
I take him in. He’s lithe, but not skinny, with the physique of a man who lifts heavy books all day. His face is not unattractive, but I don’t find him alluring. Well, I don’t findanyonealluring anymore. Only Alastair.
“Yes, I think she would,” I say.
Alastair relaxes his grip on both men. “Zane, I won’t tell you what to do in your own home, but I do believe this mandoeshave business here.”
Zane looks on the verge of slicing both of them into little bits. He looks at Scarlett, who stands on the last step of the stairs to the dorms, looking just as mussed as Zane had been when he arrived.
“Did I hear my name?” Adrik asks as he slinks out of the dungeon in a stained leather apron.
“I’m surprised you heard anything with how engrossed you get in your work,” Kazimir says.
Adrik takes in the scene quickly. “Zane, please do not kill my childhood friend.”
“If he was a friend, he shouldn’t have fought his way into the Nest,” Zane says. The only indication he’s angry is the tick of his jaw.
“YourSpiderrefused to hear me,” Kazimir bites back.
“What do you want?” Zane asks.
“I need to speak with Adrik. Alone.” Kazimir adds the last bit with finality.
Alastair takes a few slow steps back, and when the men don’t immediately go at one another, he returns to me.
I tune out their conversation as I murmur up at him, “And the third sister will be joining us soon?”
Alastair crosses his arms and nods. “Whatever Kazimir needs, it’s for her.”
My head snaps to him. “How do you know?”
“I know that look,” he says.
“What look?” I stare at Kazimir. There’s nothing about his face that seems like a specific “look.”
