Page 109 of A Luna's Dynasty
Felicia landed hard, a tangle of limbs and blood. The wolf stalked after her, shoulders rolling with predatory grace, and finished the job. Jaws clamped down on Felicia’s skull, crushing it with a single, sickening crunch. Blood, tainted black with demon poison, sprayed in an arc, splattering the birches at the edge of the clearing. For a moment, there was only silence. The wolf stood over the ruined body, head low, steaming breath rising from its nostrils.
Lita stared at the black wolf with white ticked fur in shock. She knew this wolf. The scent of anise blasted her in the face. The smell she recognized from her nightmares. This was the wolf that had attacked her mother.
She crawled back a foot or two before he turned his gaze upon her.
His eyes were yellow, rimmed in black, with pupils like slits of obsidian. Recognition flickered in those eyes—not animal, not even human, but something deeper. Something ancient. The wolf bared its teeth in a parody of a smile.
Then, without warning, it began to shift.
The process was silent and horrifying. Fur receded into skin, bones re-knitting with grotesque efficiency. The beast shrank, twisted, and reassembled itself into a man, a tall, lean man with hair so black it looked blue in the moonlight. His face was handsome in a predatory way, all sharp lines and cruel angles. He wore a black cloak that covered his dark attire.
“Hello, little princess. I am Abaas,” the man said. His voice was a velvet dagger, smooth and deadly. “I’ve been looking for you.”
She tried to push herself up, but her arm gave out. Pain lanced through her side.
Abaas approached, moving with the easy grace of a predator who knows there’s no rush. He crouched beside her, one hand reaching for her face. She flinched, but he only brushed a lock of hair from her eyes.
“You look just like her,” he said, almost tender. “The same eyes. A fiercer spirit. And the same calming presence.”
“Don’t touch me!” Lita jerked away from his touch.
He chuckled, unbothered. “You’re even better than I hoped.”
Lita! Where are you?Asher’s panicked voice sounded in her mind.
Clearing. South of our border. Felicia is dead and—That was a conversation for another time. Right now, she was weak and needed help.The demon who was after my mother and me … he’s here. Abaas is here.
Hold on! I’m coming—
“Ah ah ah.” Abaas lit up a crystal, cutting off Lita’s communication. “You should be focusing on me. Were you talking to someone? Your little alpha? He won’t reach you in time. This little trinket blocks mental communication and suppresses magic. Fun, huh?”
“Go to hell,” Lita gasped.
He laughed, a sound as smooth and cold as river ice. “You’d be surprised how much of me already lives there.” He crouched again, lowering his voice. “You know, your mother was supposed to be mine. The fates gave her to me, but she ran. I’ve been looking for her for so long, but—” he growled. “She ran to the arms of another mate. She was supposed to be mine. My fated. She made me what I am now.” He paused, gazing at her eyes. “You’re perfect. You’re going to fix everything your mother broke.”
He reached out to brush her hair from her face, a mockery of gentleness.
Lita set her jaw, gritting her teeth. “I’ll die before I go anywhere with you.”
Abaas shrugged. “You all say that, but you’ll see. Once you’re away from this place, you’ll be okay. You were always meant to be mine.” His grip tightened on her chin, forcing her to look into his eyes. “You’re not just a wolf. Not just a fairy princess, either. You’re a bridge … a key. And I’m going to use you to walk right through the front gates of Elysia.”
He reached out to touch her again and she slapped his face, burning a handprint onto his cheek.
Abaas laughed, delighted. “Oh, I like you. But it looks like you’ve used up too much energy. Too much for someone who has just awakened. Otherwise, you could have fought through the crystal's suppression. Pity.” He leaned in, lips brushing her ear. “You’re coming with me, princess.”
She tried to fight him. She tried to call the fire again, but it fizzled. Could she still summon Seraphina with the mental block? Abaas lifted her with effortless strength, cradling her like a child. He turned to leave the clearing, but a sound stopped him. A low, furious growl.
A blond wolf streaked from the trees, slamming into Abaas’ leg with enough force to topple a normal man. Abaas barely staggered, but he looked down, surprised. The wolf snarled, eyes wild with fury, and clamped its jaws onto Abaas’ calf.
Caspian.
Abaas grunted, then kicked the wolf in the ribs, sending it flying. Caspian yelped but landed on his feet, blood dripping from his mouth. He circled back, hackles raised.
Abaas glanced at Lita, then at the wolf. “Persistent, aren’t you?”
Caspian lunged again, this time for Abaas’ throat. Abaas dropped Lita, spun, and caught Caspian in midair. His hands closed around the wolf’s neck. Caspian twisted, claws raking Abaas’ chest, but the demon-wolf was too strong. With a jerk, Abaas slammed Caspian to the ground, pinning him.
“I could kill you, fairy mongrel,” Abaas said, voice cold. “But I think I’ll let you watch.”
