Page 61 of Royal Bite
Two large beasts, this was just a walk in the park for her.
She waited for them to make their move. It didn’t take long. The newcomer rushed her, but Hegna was ready. She swung around, slicing the lycan’s body. It slid on the ground, away from her. It got back up to its feet and circled her with the larger one.
“You both will die tonight,” Hegna warned.
The larger one snorted, holding her gaze. The smaller one attacked again and slammed into Hegna. She dropped her blade and encircled her arms around its neck. She brought it close to her and squeezed, then jerked hard, snapping the animal’s neck.
Hegna let out a cry from pain exploding in her shoulder muscles. The massive lycan had snuck behind her while she’d been dealing with the other one. He’d sacrificed the weaker animal. His fangs dug deep into the meat of her muscle. The scent of her blood filled the air as it rushed out of her. She snarled and tried to not jerk away from him for it would tear her even more. She picked up her blade and drove it backwards.
He roared, releasing her. She fell forward on her knees. Her vision was blurry with her spinning. She shook her head and stood to her feet. She stumbled, holding her blade tight. A howl pierced through the air off in the distance. The lycans, who were still fighting, paused, turning around and running off.
Who the fuck was calling them back?
The large one who’d bitten her made his way to the alley where he had come from. He lingered and swung round to her. He flashed his fangs, disappearing into the alley. The dead beast remained on the street.
Hegna ignored the blood running down her arm. She stalked toward the center of the road and raised her dagger in the air.
“For the crown!” Hegna shouted.
Her warriors echoed her cry. Hegna faced the car and walked toward it. She blinked, two cars swimming before her. She squinted and tried to focus on ambulating.
“Your Grace!” Cezar called out.
He came to stand in front of her, blocking her pathway to the car. Suddenly, there were two of him. She blinked again, and then there was one.
“You are injured,” he said.
“I’ll be fine. I need to check on Stormey.” Hegna moved to walk past him, but he blocked her with his body. “Move out of my way, warrior.”
“We need to get you to the healer immediately. You are losing too much blood, Your Grace.” His gaze dropped to her shoulder.
The pain was pulsating. She gritted her teeth and tried to will her mind to ignore it.
“I’ll be fine,” she snapped. She tried to raise her arm, but the damn limb wouldn’t cooperate. Her world tilted over, and warm arms wrapped around her waist.
“I got you,” Cezar murmured.
He shouted out orders to the men and walked toward the car. He was practically dragging her. She refused to be carried, and he didn’t even ask. Cezar knew her well. A future queen and commander of an army would walk.
“Here we are.”
She turned back and looked out at the street. She eyed the unmoving lycans, curious as to why they weren’t switching back to their human forms.
“I want these bodies taken and studied. Any who are still alive, throw them in the dungeons,” she ordered.
“Yes, Your Grace. Let’s get you to the healer.” He opened the door and helped her into the car.
Hegna grunted, releasing her blade to fall onto the floor of the car.
“Oh my god!” Stormey cried out. She moved to Hegna’s side, tears sliding down her face. She tore off her cloak and brought it to Hegna, pressing onto her wound. “I saw that wolf bite you. I thought you were going to be killed.”
“It would take more than a bite to kill me.” Hegna groaned. The pain from her shoulder zipped down her entire arm to her fingers.
Stormey’s sobs filled the air while she held her makeshift bandage. Cezar slid into the driver’s seat and threw the vehicle into drive.
Hegna rested her head back on the seat while listening to Desmond calling ahead to the castle, alerting them that they would need the healer urgently. She gritted her teeth and tried to breathe. She already knew what she needed to heal completely.
Blood.
