Bound by Roses (The Bound Series Book 1) (3 page)

“I would not do that if I were you,” a raspy and melodious voice stopped Saledii from completing her sentence on the Wolf, “I will not hesitate in killing every last Human before the sun rises, my Rose Red.”

A howl broke through from the courtyard. With a wide grin upon his blood soaked jaw, flesh upon his teeth, the Wolf rushed the wounded Soldier. Grabbing his neck, the creature twisted his head sharply. A crack. The Soldier fell to the side, a limp rag doll.

“Now,” the voice called out again from the darkness of the courtyard, “release your grip upon the sword.”

Saledii hesitated. The voice called out again, “Release your grip.”

Saledii looked away from the cluster of Ministers and closed her eyes. Minister Ephice asked, “What are you doing?”

“I am sorry,” Saledii dropped the sword she held so dearly and tightly. It clanked coldly upon the blood soaked floor. Blood splashed Saledii’s stained feet and rained upon her delicate slip.

A thunderous bark rang from the courtyard over the dying song of the sword. A new band of Wolves rushed and jumped the flames. They rushed the defenseless Ministers. Screams silenced quickly. Each Wolf took one to the floor. Jaws directed at their throats. All their lives ended in an instant. Blood pooled and streamed all about the throne room, bodies piled everywhere. Another thunderous bark rang and the Wolves, drenched in blood, rushed as silently as they appeared. Drops of blood rained down from their fur onto the once white marble. Saledii could not look at the Ministers. She merely stared at the fire upon the threshold. Her body shook with both fear and rage. Nostrils flared with her erratic breathing. She could not even cry. For the Minister’s deaths were the ramifications of her actions, and she knew it. She wanted to scream. Mouth open, but no sounds came from her throat.

“Now we can talk,” the voice called, “just the two of us.”

Saledii stole a glance upon the heaps of dead Ministers. Many eyes still open. They were all the same. Throats torn out, their blood ran out like thick crimson rivers. Her gaze did not linger, for her attention turned to the fire. A fire meant to keep the Wolves at bay. It failed her. The protection of Pharast failed her.

Through the fire Saledii saw that which talked to her. A bright red Wolf, piercing jade eyes and white underbelly sat elegantly in the courtyard, watching, thinking as all Wolves do. Just on the cusp of the light. Barely enough light for Saledii to see clearly, just enough to be considered a dreamed image. The red Wolf sat unmoving as the statue behind her. Jade eyes stared at Saledii as she made her way towards the flame. Jade eyes, uncommon for Wolves to possess, they unnerved Saledii as she stared into them. She was drawn to them. Blood weighed down her delicate slip. Splatters of blood across all exposed flesh. Her own feet stained crimson. She sloshed through the lukewarm blood towards the flames. The Wolf snorted and huffed. The Wolves that assassinated the soldiers circle around Saledii from the shadows. They prevented her from moving closer to the flames. Saledii’s eyes kept track of the beasts around her, taking a step back,

“Who are you?”

“I am one with no name,” the Wolves grew closer to Saledii and seemed to bow down before the red Wolf as she spoke.

“How am I to address that which has no name?” The red Wolf bared its teeth towards Saledii as she posed the question.

Over the intense flames the Wolf leapt. Crimson fur shed away in clumps. The fire flared as the fur fed it. The Wolves’ paws retracted with a cracking that made Saledii wince and shake with chills. Bones readjusted, snout shrank back. Teeth grew smaller, and less sharp. The creature landed with grace before a pool of blood, but in its place, a beautiful fair skinned woman, a cape of fire red hair extended down her back. The luscious locks ended just above her bare buttocks where they curled like the flames behind her. She possessed pale milky skin, and stood naked before Saledii, with no shame. She reveled in being naked before Saledii, who could not help but stare at the beautiful woman. The Wolves that surrounded Saledii bow lower than they had been in reverence for the woman.

“You may address me as your Majesty.” The woman’s voice was still deep, raspy and calm, her arms outward. She shook her hair as she held her head high. Her whole body shook as a breeze blew.

“And what Clan do you claim dominion over? Your majesty?” Saledii questioned.

The woman stepped forward angrily. Foot splashed in a puddle of ice-cold blood. Fists clenched tight. Her teeth bared, mouth extending into a snout, she snarled,

“ALL WOLVES OF THIS REALM ARE MY DOMINION!”

Her voice rang throughout the hall, and before it ended, she inhaled sharply and deeply. Her snout retracted and sharp teeth disappeared, a twinge of humanity crossed her face. She toyed playfully with her fire red locks, “Forgive me, Rose Red. I do have a terrible anger at times.”

Saledii raised an eyebrow. She breathed in and out to calm her rapidly beating heart, “I was unaware that the scattered Clans united under a single banner.”

“They will,” the Woman picked at her nails, “Once I have found what I am looking for. Here in your
quaint
city.”

As the Wolf talked, Saledii grew closer to her throne, “We have nothing that would interest to the Vucari. You have wasted your time not only here, but in any attempt at reunification of a fractured empire.”

The Wolf sniffed the air passionately. Eyes rolled in ecstasy. The woman licked her lips, “the Vucari,”

She ran her slender, but thick fingers through her long red hair.

“There is a name my ears have not heard uttered in many years. It does sound wonderful to roll off the tongue of a Human.”

The woman stepped ever closer to Saledii. Feet left paw prints as they cross through the blood pools.

“Can you hear that?” Her head twisted around in the air. Enjoying a silent song that only she enjoyed. The other Wolves closed their eyes and listened. Saledii strained to listen. There was nothing but her own heart beat, heavy breath, and dancing flames. The Wind howled its own sad melody through the many windows of the throne room above.

“I do not hear anything,” Saledii continued to stare at the jade eyed woman.

“Pity,” the Woman shrugged with a snicker.

The naked woman sniffed the air much more deeply this time. Heart a flutter from the smell of blood that saturated the air. Its astringent, coppery smell stung Saledii’s nostrils. She tried to breath through her mouth, as she remained tall before her throne, “You have wasted your time. Reinforcements from Ashok Orai are on—”

“Do not lie to me,” the Woman laughed with a howl into the air, the other Wolves joined in. Hand in the air. Nails sharp, they glistened in firelight, “I heard you speak to the Ministers, now dead at your feet. Only you have defended this realm from
my
kind. Ashok Orai is not coming. For they have not been contacted.”

“You are confident that they have not,” Saledii swallowed hard into her throat and the woman clapped with a giggle.

“Oh I do love a game of bluff,” the Woman’s giggle turned into a growl as she stared deep into Saledii. “But the quiver of your voice, and the racing of your heart—oh yes, I can hear it—it tells me you are lying.”

Saledii remained tall before the naked woman. She was scared, but also entranced by her beauty, “We have nothing to offer you. As I have said.”

“I believe you know exactly what I am after, Rose Red,” the Woman’s eyes were large as they stared at Saledii.

“You seek the Bloodstone, I presume?”

“You,
you
possess my mother’s Bloodstone?” The Wolf sniffed the air in several directions. What she hoped to find was unknown to Saledii.

Saledii inched closer to her throne, “No, as it was destroyed—”

“DO NOT PLAY FOOLISH GAMES WITH ME, CHILD!” The Wolf barked at Saledii, who fell upon her throne with eyes wide.

The innocent, humane face returned. She playfully curled hair around her fingers, “Forgive my temper sweet one. I’m afraid I inherited it from my mother.”

Saledii sat high, in a throne meant for someone double her size. There was easily room for a second person to sit next to Saledii comfortably. Legs crossed at the ankle and knees just off to the side. A delicate and hair thin silver chain glinted against the blood, “Ah. Now I see why you consider yourself Queen of the Wolves.”

“I do not consider myself Queen. I
am
Queen of the Wolves!” The Wolf Queen stood taller, slightly hunched, shoulders flexed and bellowed. Spit flew and foam formed at her mouth, “By birth right, they will all bow to me!”

The great bell rang three times. The resounding gongs filled the silence of the throne room. Saledii leaned upon her hand and looked at the Queen, “I hate to disappoint you, but all I can offer you is the Bloodstone.”

“Then it was not destroyed?” The Wolf Queen growled. Hair seemed to stand on end.

“I would not offer the Bloodstone if it was destroyed,” Saledii stated. She uncrossed her legs and held tight to her throne.

“She told us
it
was here,” the small Wolf that sat ready to pounce on Saledii’s left barked.

“What is,
it
?” Saledii eyes were not taken off the Wolf Queen.

The Wolf Queen approached and playfully brushed Saledii’s cheek. A slender but thick finger tucked hair behind Saledii’s ear. She ignored the young ruler’s question posed, “we have come for that which belonged to the Queen.”

“That which belonged to the Queen?” Saledii repeated the same words, while her mind processed the vague riddle given. She inhaled sharply, eyes lit up and she inhaled sharply.

The Wolf Queen leaned close. Lips almost touched Saledii’s ears as she whispered. Finger on the rulers chin, “
that’s a good girl. Where is it
?”

Saledii brushed the woman’s hand away, “Out of your reach.”

The Wolf Queen thrust her hand forward, and wrapped tightly around Saledii’s exposed, slender neck. She squeezed slightly, while Saledii gasped. The Wolf Queen’s lips teased and tickled Saledii’s ear. “I could snap this pretty neck with such ease.”

“But you will not,” Saledii shook her neck, and the woman broke her grip upon it. The Wolf Queen tenderly took Saledii’s hand in hers and kissed the flesh. Soft tongue roughly licked the blood off Saledii’s bony knuckles.

“Do you fear me?” She asked.

“I would not have arranged for this night otherwise,” Saledii, informed the woman who leaned upon the thrones arm. Her eyes watched the woman lap up the drying blood. The woman’s tongue continued up Saledii’s arm. It was both rough and sensually soft. A smile, and the Wolf Queen gingerly flicked her tongue upon Saledii’s bare neck. Saledii whimpered. Tongue moved slowly up to the ear. There she nibbled slightly. Saledii let out a moan, and leaned in for more before the Wolf Queen exhaled. The breath against her bare skin sent sensual electric chills through her body.

“You’re lying. I can smell the fear pouring off you. I can taste it. On your flesh, under the sensual desire you feel. It’s so very—
intoxicating
.”

The Wolves on either side of their Queen sank to the ground and growled deeply. Their teeth glistened with saliva. Heavy footfalls could be heard beyond the dark courtyard. A sharp flick of their ruler’s head all but a single Wolf bounded over the fire. They howled as they flew. The soldiers screamed as Wolves overtook them. Armor clanked as soldiers fell. Weapons shattered. Saledii could hear the creatures gorge upon the soldiers flesh. She winced.

“Was that necessary?” Saledii tried to leave her throne, but the Wolf Queen blocked her and forced her back down.

“I thought it was time for a more, intimate conversation,” the Wolf Queen brushed her hand upon Saledii’s cheek. A shiver ran through her spine. She continued to sit tall and proud upon her throne. Unnerved eyes stared at the single Wolf that remained, its own eyes locked on her, “Now tell me, Lady Red, what I wish to know.”

The lone Wolf flanked his Queen’s side. Teeth glistened with drool with blood lust in his eyes. Blood still fresh upon his chin from the dead Ministers. He licked his chops as he continued to stare deep into Saledii

“And if I do not know the location of the spell book?” Saledii adjusted herself while the Wolf Queen caressed her cheek with a single finger. It did not linger, soon she was softly and gently moving down to Saledii’s neck. It was soft to the touch, almost electric in Saledii’s body. Saledii enjoyed the finger touch her; it was soft as her handmaiden’s. The creature’s knuckle felt the rushing blood of fear and anxiety that made the vein throb in timely beats. The finger did not stop moving. It worked its way under the spaghetti strap of her slip, where her nail grew sharp and snipped it in half with ease.

“I have my ways of making people talk, my dear, Lady Red.”

The Wolf Queen took a thick lock of Saledii’s curly, rusty hair and pulled hard. Saledii yelped. Neck exposed, with its pulsing vein, throbbing up and down as more blood rushed through it. Saledii fought, but was overpowered by the Queen’s paw upon her chest. Claws extended, and dug easily, and deeply into soft flesh. Four tiny rivers of blood trailed down Saledii’s chest. The beast could feel Saledii’s heart beat wildly.

“And I do so much enjoy making my prey talk,” the Queen’s jaw extended, teeth long, and sharp. With a ferocious howl, she dug deep into Saledii’s exposed skin.