Page 86 of Bearing Secrets
“Yes.” Klebra clapped.
“I hereby relinquish the title of Captain of High House Ursa, effective immediately.”
Kaelyn drew herself up as well, taking on the regal air of the Queen that she was. “I accept.” Then she turned to Klebra. “There, are you happy? He’s gone.”
“Not yet! Not yet! It’s not done.” Klebra pointed at Kaelyn. “Approach. I will kneel before you, and you will appoint me in his stead. Then we will be complete.”
Kirell almost rolled his eyes. There was nobody else around how the hell did he expect this to stick? The man truly was insane. But he could still kill Natalia with a flick of his wrist, and until then, he was too dangerous to dismiss entirely. Once Kirell could free her, once he could get his mate to safety, then things would change. But not before.
He didn’t even blink over thinking about her as his mate. During his time recovering, he’d come to the conclusion that they may have started out faking it, but he was convinced beyond a doubt now; Natalia was hisrealmate. Nobody else had ever made him feel the way he felt about her. And nobody ever would. She was his mate.
The Queen paused several feet in front of Klebra and spoke. “Approach, Klebra of House Ursa,” she said formally.
His face split in glee, Klebra walked up to her and knelt on one knee. “My Queen.” He glanced over at Kirell, probably as much to gloat as to keep an eye on him, to ensure he didn’t try anything while he was being confirmed into his position.
Kirell just glared.
“As Queen of High House Ursa, I give to you that which you deserve most.”
Kirell frowned. Those weren’t the words.
Klebra looked up just in time to see the Queen’s fist come smashing down into his face. She followed that up with a knee to his chin. “YOU DARE TO CHALLENGE ME!” she bellowed, picking the stunned Klebra up and tossing him clear of Natalia.
Kirell wasted no time, running toward his mate. Behind him, the Queen stormed off after Klebra.
“I AM THE QUEEN OF HIGH HOUSE URSA, YOU FOOL! DID YOU THINK I GOT HERE BECAUSE OF MY LOOKS? DID YOU ASSUME I WAS SOME INCOMPETENT WEAKLING?”
Kirell heard a dull thud and, looking over his shoulder, saw his Queen deliver another solid kick to Klebra, sending him spinning across the ground until he smashed into the stone wall of a mausoleum to some dead ancestor.
You’re an idiot, Klebra. You forgot she is of our blood as well. Now you’re going to pay for it. I guess that’s what she meant by ‘what you deserve most’.
None of that mattered though, not unless Kirell got Natalia out of there safely.
40
“Kirell!” Natalia exclaimed, unable to control her shaking as he skidded to a halt in front of her.
“Natalia.” He stared at her for a moment, then kissed her.
She let him, hungry for his touch, but quickly her inability to get her hands on him, to feel safe in his arms, won out over her enjoyment of the feel of his lips against hers.
“Look, I’m all for letting you tie me up, but this isn’t quite what I had in mind,” she quipped, pulling away from his face.
Kirell snorted, glancing over his shoulder as he yanked on the ropes that held her to the stake. They parted with ease, each mighty flex of his arms snapping the bonds until they were loose enough for her to struggle free.
“Natalia, I’m so sorry,” he started repeating as she fell into his arms. “I’m so sorry. I should never have let this happen to you.”
“It’s not your fault,” she said, gripping the back of his head. He lifted her clear of the ground, scooping up her legs as well.
“I need to get you to safety. The guards will be on their way, but it’ll take them a few minutes. Can you drive?”
“What? Why?”
“The SUV,” he said, pointing to the vehicle they’d arrived in. “Take it out of here, I have to help Kaelyn.”
She looked over at the two with a soft snort. “Are you sure? It looks like Klebra’s the one who needs help.”
Even as she spoke, the traitorous shifter lashed out with a fist that sent the Queen reeling. She wasn’t down, nor not even out of the fight, but Natalia understood what Kirell meant now. Better not to risk it by ending things here and now.
