Taken by the Wolf King (Gladiator) (15 page)

When Jaccob and Surriah entered the dimly lit cavern where she awaited Leif, Elsa dissolved into a blubbering heap. Even in the bad lighting, she’d know her children anywhere. Both ran into her arms. Even Jaccob didn’t hesitate to show affection in front of the other children who’d led them in.

“We’re fine, Mom,” Jaccob assured her. “Everyone was really nice to us.”

“How did you get here? Elasa swiped tears from her eyes. “We weren’t supposed to get back for another couple of days. Did something happen at the camp?”

“John sent for us. He had Jewels bring us here to meet up with everyone else.”

“Who’s Jewels?”

Jaccob shrugged. “Julia, but everyone calls her Jewels. I think John’s her dad or something. Don’t know.”

“Who else came with you?” They weren’t supposed to meet up with the children and the rest of the group until they actually got to the portal.

“No one,” Surriah said, looking up at her with a bright smile. “You glad to see us?”

“Of course, baby. I just didn’t expect it, that’s all. What a wonderful surprise.” She gave the little girl a smile before hugging her again.

“Jewels said John was worried that wolf king person would hurt you.” Jaccob screwed up his face. “I thought you said the shifting people wouldn’t hurt us.”

“It’s complicated, sweetie.” Elsa didn’t want her children to be afraid of Leif’s people now just because they were different. “I hurt him first.”

Jaccob’s brows net together. “I won’t let him hurt you back.”

“I’m not sure you’ll be able to stop me, boy.” Leif stood in the rocky hall and tossed a bundle he’d been carrying out of the way next to the wall. In the dim light, he looked more than intimidating. Her brave son stood, his shoulders back, and faced down the powerful warrior.

Elsa grabbed for Jaccob, but the boy batted her away, putting himself between his mother and Leif. Surriah hid behind Elsa’s legs, peeking out to see what was happening but clearly afraid.

“You leave my mother alone,” Jaccob said, his little fists clenched by his sides.

Leif’s eyes began to glow before he stepped more fully into the light. “And if I don’t?”

Elsa tried to pry Surriah’s arms from around her leg, desperately needing to get to Jaccob before he angered Leif. While she might be perfectly willing to accept his wrath, she absolutely would not let her son be on the receiving end.

“Jaccob! Get back!”

“Yes, boy.” Leif sneered. “Get back. Your mother betrayed me. Delivered me into the hands of people who would have killed me. She will pay as I see fit.”

Without another word, Jaccob attacked. His fists plummeted Leif’s chest and lower torso, his war cry coming well after the initial attack.

“No! Jaccob!” Elsa was still trying to extract herself from Surriah, who was now screaming shrilly. Making a lunge for Jaccob again, Elsa tried to pull him away from Leif, though the man had yet to defend himself or do more than knock Jaccob’s fists away.

Then Jaccob landed a punch to Leif’s groin. Finally, the wolf growled in pain, doubling over as he dropped to his knees. Immediately, Jaccob pounced, jumping on the man, pounding his fists into his shoulders.

“You’re not gonna hurt my mom!”

As if that one screamed command unleashed hell, the other children attacked as one. Even little Surriah ran to Leif, kicking him in the leg before retreating back to Elsa. For her part, Elsa was at a complete loss. All she could do was grab Jaccob and forcibly remove him from the fight.

“Jaccob, honey, no! You have to stop!”

Alerted by the commotion, John and Alvik entered the room, their eyes wide at the scene before them. Through it all, Leif never once lifted a hand in offense. He covered his face and head as best he could but he didn’t strike out. Not even at Jaccob.

When John and Alvik finally got the children away from Leif, he was bloodied in more than one place. One eye was red and swelling, and a bruise formed on his jaw. Yet he sported a grin?

“So, the cub has fangs,” he said, winded but looking at Jaccob with approval. “The little one, too. Good. You’ll need them.” He got to his feet, wincing slightly. Likely his testicles were feeling the aftereffects of Jaccob’s stray punch. Approaching Jaccob, he extended his hand. The boy looked at him with narrowed, suspicious eyes, not knowing what to do. When he glanced back at Elsa, she nodded, urging him to take Leif’s offered hand. “You’re brave, boy. And fierce. Loyal. All are admirable traits.”

“Are you still going to hurt my mom?”

“No, child. But I do need time alone with her. We have much to discuss and can’t have an audience. Will you grant me that privilege?”

Again, Jaccob looked to Elsa, clearly not knowing what to do. “It’s all right, baby. I’ll be fine.”

The eldest girl in the group took Jaccob’s hand, leading him out of the cave. Looking back over her shoulder, she gave Leif a wary look, as if she didn’t trust him not to retaliate for their attack. Then she hurried the others out. Only John and Surriah remained with Leif and Elsa.

“You remember John, don’t you?” Elsa tried to urge Surriah to focus on her, but the little girl continued to look at Leif with owl eyes, her little arms once again locked around Elsa’s leg. “Will you let him take you back to Jaccob?”

“I want to stay with you, Mommy.” Her plea wasn’t much more than a whisper.

“I’ll be right here, baby. Just stay with Jaccob until I come for you. Can you do that?”

When she shook her head, shifting to hide behind Elsa’s leg, Leif squatted down to her level. “You’re a brave girl,” he said, extending a hand to her as he had Jaccob. “I promise I won’t do anything to harm your mother. She will be out for you in the morning when you wake.”

Surriah didn’t take his hand, but she did allow John to lead her from her mother, though she frequently looked back.

“It’s OK, baby. I’ll see you in the morning.”

Both Elsa and Leif watched as John scooped the child up and handed her to Beth before trotting back down the corridor to Leif. “I’ll post a couple of guards so the two of you won’t be disturbed.” He glanced at Elsa. When she nodded, he focused on Leif. “Someone in your guard isn’t on board with your new mate. Any thoughts?”

“Oh, I have plenty of thoughts,” Leif affirmed. “None of them good. Do not let anyone down this corridor unless someone is dying.”

“As you wish, highness,” John acknowledged, respectfully. “Jorak is much better, though still weak. Your party should be ready to move in the next twelve hours. I’ll have a plan ready for you to look over by then in case we meet resistance at the portal.”

“Understood. Go.” Leif left no room for argument, staring the other man down until he turned and left.

Leaving Elsa alone with him once more.

Leif cast an amused glance over his shoulder before moving to the cavern wall to pick up the previously discarded bundle. Prowling toward her, he looked like exactly like a wolf on the hunt.

“You mentioned a discussion?” Elsa swallowed before raising her chin to continue. “Perhaps we should start with you threatening my son.”

“I didn’t threaten him. I
tested
him. Which he passed better than any wolf I’ve ever known. Cub or adult. I can’t think of anyone other than maybe the guardian of our people who would have attacked me like he did.”

Elsa blinked. “Why would you do that?”

I wanted to see how he would react. What he would do if he thought his family was threatened.” Leif jerked his head in the direction of the tunnel that led toward the rest of the group. “They are good kids. Brave.”

“They are very good kids. They deserve better than the hand they were dealt.”

“We’ll get to that.”

Leif retrieved and unrolled the pallet he’d brought with him before facing her once again. “Tradition says I can’t claim you until after the ceremony. That can only be performed in Denwuf. As I said, it’s a tradition. One my family has kept for more generations than I can count. I may not intend for you to be my queen in more than title only, but you have proven yourself worthy of at least the respect of upholding the mating ceremony tradition.”

While his words were encouraging, she still felt like she’d been slapped. Elsa had no desire to be anyone’s queen, but it still stung that Leif thought she wasn’t good enough. Most of all, she didn’t like the calculating look in his eyes. Like he was sizing her up yet again. And expected to find her lacking.

Narrowing her own eyes she said carefully, “That’s good. Because, just now, I have no desire to be
claimed
by you at all. Ceremony or not. In fact, I just want away from you.”

“I see. You have your children and you’re good to go?” Leif didn’t sound particularly put out, but there was a shadow of a bluish flicker in his eyes. For an instant, they flashed with some unnamed emotion.

“Sure. Why not?” She shrugged. “I know you don’t feel about me the same way you did before. Hell, maybe you never felt the way you
thought
you felt. I wronged you. You don’t trust me. Why not just let me go and be done with it?” When he shook his head, Elsa stomped her foot. “No! Listen to me, you ape! I realize you did something you can’t take back! I did the same! The difference is I wouldn’t take back what I did even if I could!”

It was Leif’s turn to jerk his head back as if she’d struck him. “I see.” He looked like he’d expected anything other than what she’d just said.

“That’s just it. You
don’t
see. You’re a strong male. A king. The very men you lead respect you because you’re a strong warrior. I bet you’ve never feared anything in your entire life. I saw the way you fought the guards. You tore them apart with your bare hands! Do you honestly think either of my children could have survived anything like what you went through?”

“So, had you allowed your children to be taken instead of betraying me, they would have been sliced open? Experimented on the same as me?”

“No. At least, not right away. And not in the same manner. Jaccob would have been first. Despite his actions a few minutes ago, he’s a gentle boy. Not a rough-and-tumble kid used to fighting and rough play. Today was the first time I’ve ever seen him that angry. Or that determined to hurt someone. The government would have put him in a military school. When he wasn’t able to fight to defend himself, he’d have been used for practice for the other children. Do you know how they teach soldiers to kill? They start with animals and move to human criminals. Finally, they cull their own numbers. If a soldier is able to kill one of his own brothers in arms for the good of the company, he’s deemed worthy.”

As Elsa spoke, anger built with each word. How could he possibly understand? Would he even care? The expressionless mask he gave her was maddening. She wanted to claw his handsome face until he looked as raw and anguished as she felt. She was as in his face as she could get given how much taller he was than her. “Would I wish you to suffer like you did again? God, no! But I’d want it for my son—for
any
child—even less! Had there been a way for me to have sacrificed myself, I would have done so rather than betraying you. But there wasn’t.” With a humorless laugh, she continued. “I guess I got what I wished for though. I might not have been able to take your place then, but you’re determined to punish me for it now. I already told you I accept that. Willingly. But I refuse to pretend to be something I’m not. You don’t want me for your wife? Fine. Tell everyone what a manipulative, betraying bitch I am and throw me in a prison or something.” To her utter and complete horror, tears slid down her cheeks in their own betraying rivulets. Angrily, she dashed them away. “But stop reminding me how I will never mean anything to you! I realize I killed anything between us. Living with that will haunt me forever, but understand I will always protect my children.
Always
! No matter what it costs me.”