Page 162 of Wolf Caged
Protecting him.
“Saphira.” A familiar voice curled around me, warming my chest.
Malachi dared to move.
I skidded forwards a few steps, snarling and snapping my fangs at him, driving him back, and then growled low as I eased back towards the owner of that voice, my gaze darting between everyone, watching for the slightest movement.
“Saphira.” The voice again, softer this time, almost coaxing.
I stiffened as someone touched me, fingers plunging into the thicker fur at my nape.
Massaging that spot.
“I am fine,” he murmured. “You can back down now, little wolf.”
I lifted my snout and looked at him, at the blood that covered him, and the wounds that littered his skin.
And snarled even as some part of me despaired, some distant part that was yelling at me to do as he wanted, to back down because I had already hurt enough people.
It wasn’t only Malachi’s blood on my tongue.
I looked at Jenavyr where she stood off to one side, my torn blouse wrapped around her arm, and regret swamped me when I realised it hadn’t been the shift that had broken me free of her hold. I had bitten her. I had been so frantic to protect Kaeleron that I had hurt her and I hadn’t even realised I had done it.
Malachi moved.
Instinct roared back to the fore, howling at me to protect Kaeleron.
I launched at the demon on a savage snarl.
Chapter 43
KAELERON
“Saphira.” I slowly picked myself up off the courtyard flagstones, a deep ache throbbing in my bones wherever Malachi had struck me and my head pounding. But my pain did not matter. All that mattered was the furious bundle of white fur and sharp fangs that had thrown herself into the fray, risking injury.
To protect me.
Malachi dared to move.
The big white wolf between me and him skidded forwards a few steps, snarling and snapping fangs at him, driving him back, and then she growled low as she slowly crept backwards towards me, her head jerking with her rapid movements as she catalogued the crowd gathered around us.
Watching all of them in case they dared to attack me as the demon had.
“Saphira,” I coaxed, gentling my voice and gathering shadows to me, in case she needed protecting from Malachi.
The demon did not look inclined to attack her as he warily watched her, the reddish-purple fire in his irises fading as she bared fangs at him, threatening him. Blood tracked downMalachi’s chest from the claw and bite marks she had placed on him, wounds he did not seem to notice as he kept his focus fixed on the wolf before him. In fact, Malachi looked fascinated by her. Because she was defending me, acting nothing like a slave might, or a female who had been purchased for her body.
I eased forwards towards Saphira as the thicker fur at her nape shook and she snarled, gnashing fangs and licking her lips.
Some hollow thing inside my chest warmed at the sight of her, at the fact she was defending me, shielding me from the one she perceived as my enemy. She was no match for the demon warrior if he put any effort into attacking her, but she stood her ground on trembling paws regardless.
To protect me.
Someone unworthy of such kindness,herkindness and warmth.
I reached for her ruff and she stiffened as my fingertips brushed her fur and went to turn on me, but I plunged my hand deep into the thick fur at her nape and gripped it hard. Massaging that spot.
“I am fine,” I murmured. “You can back down now, little wolf.”
