Sabine watched in horror as the shifter charged at James, reaching him before the king could lift his sword to defend himself. The animal twisted to the side at the last second, slammed into James’s legs, and knocked him off his feet. It immediately turned around and leaped onto James’s chest, clearly intending to bite him. Sabine shouted and rushed toward the animal, her sword drawn. It scurried out of the way and when she swung, she hit only air.
Glancing down, she saw that although James was still alive, the wolf had sliced him across the abdomen and bit his arm. His sword lay in the dirt next to him, useless.
“Run,” he said, looking up at Sabine. “Save yourself. I declare you Queen of the Lightbearers. Take them away from this place, for their immediate safety. Once you have settled somewhere new, train them to protect themselves. All of them. Women and children, too. You can do it, Sabine. I know you can.”
The emotions that were all but slapping her in the face were not her own. Sadness, worry, and something foreign to her. Love? Was that even possible? While they had lived in the coterie together for their entire lives, she and James had had a total of three interactions and shared one searing kiss. It was not possible the king was in love with her… was it?
A growl caused her to whip around. The wolf stood several feet away, watching her.
“All running does is excite them more,” she stated, speaking more to herself than to James.
At that moment, she made a decision. She would not run. She would fight. She would protect the king. She would get him back to the coterie, alive, so the healers could tend to him, so he could continue on as their leader. She’d be lousy at the job, anyway. She might be able to stand by his side one day, but she had no interest in actually taking over.
“You beast,” she seethed, and she charged at the shifter, who danced away as if he were toying with her. She continued to attack, while he continued to stay just out of reach. She did not let up, conscious of the fact they were moving farther away from the king. She hoped to keep the shifter distracted long enough that James could drag himself to safety.
The wolf twisted to the right, as if he intended to run that way, and at the last second, he shunted left and rushed around behind her. Fearful he was going after the king, she turned around to lay chase and ran into a rock hard wall, which, upon closer inspection, was a chest, covered by a thin linen shirt. She lifted her gaze and looked into the face of the shifter who had been a wolf a moment ago. While she was still recovering from the shock of him standing so close, he covered her sword hand with his own and held it there, ensuring she could not use her weapon. She struggled, but he was far too strong.
“It seems we have a predicament,” he said in his strangely accented voice.
She gave her hand another fruitless jerk. “Yes. You won’t let me go so I can run you through with my sword.”
He laughed. “How can I possibly kill you, Lightbearer, when you are so utterly charming?”
She ceased struggling and stared at him. “You aren’t going to kill me?”
“I haven’t yet decided. If there is a way for you to give me your magic without doing so, I am not opposed to that option.”
Based on the emotions she’d felt from James when the shifter had first suggested she give him her magic, the king was vehemently opposed to the idea, which led Sabine to believe she should not do it, even if it meant losing her own life.
“I’ve just had an epiphany. I think I know how you do share your magic.”
Sabine had an urge to run but was not able as he still held her hand captive around her sword. Using that connection, he pulled her close so quickly, she stumbled over her feet and fell into his chest again. With his other hand, he grasped her chin, lifted her face, and kissed her.
It was nothing like the king’s kiss. The shifter was rough and demanding, the hair on his face course against her skin. She hated the feel of him, the taste of him. He was her mortal enemy. He had undoubtedly killed friends of hers, probably relatives.
A great roar came from behind her, and the shifter pushed her away. She landed on her knees in the dirt and turned her head in time to see the king staggering toward Xander, sword in hand, his clothes soaked with blood, magic glowing around his hands, fury in his eyes.
The shifter changed forms, back to a wolf, and prepared to attack. Sabine scrambled to her feet and screamed, “No! Stop!” Both men—well, the king and the wolf—paused to look at her.
“A deal,” she said, talking fast. “I will strike a deal. I swear it.”
“No,” James said. “I forbid it.”
The wolf shifted back into human form. “I am listening,” he said, ignoring the king.
“I will give you magic. On one condition.”
“Which is?”
“No,” James insisted again. Sabine and the shifter both ignored him.
“We will leave, find a new place to live. And you will never seek us out again. And you will tell your fellow shifters the legend is not true. However you must do it, convince them we cannot share our magic. If you do not agree, or if you do and I learn you do not keep your side of the bargain, I will pull my magic back.”
Xander eyed her with a mix of interest and trepidation. “You can do that?”
“Yes.” Her voice did not waver, and she did not break eye contact. The less he knew about the magic she intended to give him, the better. Especially the fact that, if she shared it with him, he too would have the ability to share it with others. She was playing a risky game and she knew it. But the chance was worth it. She had never been so certain of anything in her entire life.
“I cannot promise they will listen.”
“Make them.”
Long seconds passed with no sound save those of nature and the belabored breathing of all three beings. Finally, finally, the shifter nodded once.
“You have my word.”
Chapter 5