The Lycan Hunter (The Gardinian World Series) (31 page)

Ronan shifted and pulled Marcela to his side. He flicked a gaze to
the male, but his wary stare was leveled on Alexis and her crossbow.
Kyran could see that she was trying to ignore the power of his gaze and
all that it implied, but its effect lingered in her eyes. Kyran shifted and
placed a knee in the middle of the males back before he looked up at her and motioned for her to put the weapon away.

“What are you two doing out here?” Kyran asked.

Alexis spared him a glance before fixing her gaze on the Tala.
“Marcela asked if I wanted to patrol the territory with her. I wasn
’
t
doing anything else, so…”

“And the male?”

“We heard the shots fired. I gotta say, Alexis is a damn good shot.
She didn’t even hesitate.” Marcela smiled over at her. “Do you know who it is?”

Kyran pulled the males hair back and looked at his features. “No,
but I’ll find out.”

“Those are just practice arrows. I didn
’
t want anyone to get the
wrong idea.”

Judging by the tension still evident in the set of Ronan’s jaw, her
explanation didn
’
t put him at ease. Kyran nodded, hauled the male
up, and took him into the enclave where Ronan punched in the codes
, putting Marcela in front of him as if to keep the distance between his
mate and Alexis as large as possible. Marcela and Ronan walked ahead
of Alexis, talking in hushed tones. Ronan didn’t seem to be enjoying the obvious berating he was receiving. Alexis increased the distance
between them as she made her way to the bedroom she
’
d managed
to make a prison.

The male in Kyran
’
s grip put up an earnest fight when they entered
one of the cells, but the pain of the arrows leeched any real ability to
resist the advancing chains. Kyran latched him into the shackles facing
the wall but left the arrows where they were. They might turn into good
interrogation tools. The male tried to muster more strength to break
the chains, but his efforts were wasted. He could try all he wanted,
but he wouldn’t get free.

“You could just stop,” Kyran said as he stepped to the male
’
s side.

“I’m not telling you anything.”

“You will. Here’s an easy one: what’s your name?”

The male was silent for a moment as if weighing the innocuous
question. “Mark.”

“Alright, Mark. Who do you belong to?”

“No one.”

Kyran laughed. “You’re too weak and stupid to be by yourself.”

“Not too stupid to find you.”

“You’re a Lycan, dumbass. I’m not hiding from you.”

“You should.”

Kyran’s eyebrows rose at that. “Really? Why’s that?”

“I’m going to take over your pack.”

“You were going to try, you mean. You failed, now what?”

Kyran leaned against the wall as the male lapsed into silence.

“I know you’re lying by the way. Just so you know it pisses me off
to be lied to,” Kyran said.

Mark’s head jerked towards him. “I’m not lying.”

“
Okay. First, a takeover is usually done with more than one Lycan.
Second, you’re too weak and stupid to take over anything, let alone be
the leader of an attack on my pack. Third, you told me earlier that you
aren
’
t telling me anything. Funny enough you
’
ve given me a confession
without any effort on my part. Now tell me the fucking truth.”

“That is – ,” Mark
’
s remaining words were lost to his growled cry.

Kyran held one of Alexis
’
multi-pronged arrows. He turned it over
in his hand, noting the craftsmanship. Mark was trying to shore up the
pain caused by ripping the arrow from him when Kyran did it again.

“
My mate told me that these were just practice arrows. She didn
’
t
say they looked like this though.” He kept his tone nonchalant, noting
the way Mark jumped when he trailed the arrow over a slowly healing
wound.

Mark took a few deep breaths before he could manage to speak. “Son of…a…bitch.”

Kyran lightly flicked one of the remaining arrows decorating
Mark’s back.

“Oh, gods, stop.”

“Begging? Already?”

“You’re tearing the muscle.”

Kyran nodded even though the male wasn’t facing him to see it.
Shredding the muscle made it heal wrong, creating a handicap due
to the scar tissue that formed once healed.

“I
’
ll keep ripping them out until you tell me what I want to know.”

“Then I’ll die. I’ll be killed for – ”

“What do you think I’ll do when I run out of arrows?”

Mark sagged in his chains. There were a few minutes of silence
before Kyran smelled Mark’s tears.

“Tell me what I want to know and I’ll let you live.”

“I tell you, and I risk my son
’
s life. I can’t. He
’
s all I have left of
my mate.”

Kyran hissed. “How old is he?”

“Twelve.”

“I’ll get him, but I need to know the truth. Now.”

Mark
’
s reply was mumbled as if he was straddling the line between
options. Die now or die later.

“Speak up,” Kyran said.

“Mikko Samuel of – ”

“The LC pack,” Kyran finished. “Got it.” He turned to leave but
stopped at the door. “My brother – the one you shot – will come give you meds for pain. I’ll take the rest of the arrows out when I get back with your son.”

Mark let out a sound caught halfway between relief and fear. Kyran
felt a little sorry for him, being caught and used between two warring
Alphas, but soon the male would have nothing to fear of Samuel. If
everything panned out, he might gain a safe haven in the Blue-Oconee
pack should he want it.

Kyran called Angel on his way to his bedroom and caught his Istato
up on what was happening. Angel would assemble the teams while he
stopped in, spoke with his brother, and dressed to deal with the LC pack
for good. He found Ronan was in his usual place – stretched across his
bed, staring absentmindedly at a movie on his TV.

“We need to talk, Ronan.”

“Marcie already got in my ass.”

“Yeah, well I’m not watching movies,” he made the air quotes, “with
you, so I doubt my version and hers is the same.”

A few seconds of silence spanned between them. A muscle ticking
in Ronan’s jaw, as he tried to bury is agitation. “I’m sorry, Kyran.”

“Not good enough,” Kyran said, massaging his temples. “I doubt
you notice since you spend all your free time with Marcela, but Alexis
rarely leaves our room. And by rarely, I mean never without me. No
matter what she may need, she stays in that room. She doesn
’
t feel like
she fits in here, and she has turned our bedroom into her prison.” Ronan
moved to speak, but Kyran glared him into silence. “In case you don
’
t
get it, that
’
s just the stuff I see. If I ask her what’s wrong, she
’
s fine.
Always fucking fine. But I know better, Ronan. I can fucking see it.
She doesn’t feel like this is her home. And after today, I can’t fucking
blame her. How can she believe I trust her if the very people I trust
most don’t have faith in her? Today you solidified the one thing I’m trying to fight against. She’s an outcast, and you made her feel like a leper. Fuck…” He ran his hands through his tangled hair. “Look, I’m
doing my best to make sure that she knows this is her home, but I need
everyone in on this. If not, ending the prophecy won’t happen.”

Ronan
’
s head jerked up. “What does her feeling like this is her home
have to do with the prophecy?”

“Othion sent me a parchment yesterday. All it said is ‘a vow that can’t be broken, a mind that can’t be changed.’ I take it that I have to marry Alexis. And with shit the way it is, I’m not doing it. I haven’t even bothered to tell her.”

“You don’t want her to feel obligated. I get that.” Ronan sighed. “Shit, I’m sorry, Ky. It’s just Marcie is my – ”

“Everything. I know, but I gotta ask you. What do you think Alexis
is to me?”

Kyran didn
’
t wait for an answer, choosing to prepare to work out
his aggression on Mikko Sam. He stepped into his bedroom to find it
lit by one of the bedside lamps and Alexis curled into a ball, asleep.
She
’
d taken to frequent naps in lieu of venturing out to the gym. Every
day she was losing herself more in an effort to comfort of the pack, which
didn’t do anybody any good.

“Alexis, wake up. Want to go shoot something?”

She
sa
t up slowly and fo
cused her sleepy
brown eyes on him. “What?”

“I found out who sent the shooter. Want to tag along?”

“And do what?”

“What you’re good at.”

Her features clouded with confusion. “You’re joking, right?”

“No. Someone attacked this pack. I’m going to answer their attack
with one of my own.”

“But how will I tell who is who?”

“
Fight styles. The pack we
’
re going against is a bunch of brawlers.
They don’t bother with real technique. My pack fights like soldiers.”

“Okay. Am I to wound or kill?”

“Kill. I don’t wound enemies.”

“Well, I have to get my sword. My guns are useless without the
right ammo.”

Kyran smiled, seeing the way her mood was changing. She tried to hide it, but she was failing. Miserably.

“It’s okay if you’re excited, Alexis.”

She frowned. “No, it’s not. It’s completely inappropriate.”

“Alexis, I want you to do what you’re good at. I’m not about to
pretend that you’re something you aren’t, and I’m not going to make
you apologize for being who you are. You shouldn
’
t try to either.”
He pulled her free of the bed and helped her stand. “Get dressed. I’ll
go grab you something to eat, because I know you haven
’
t, and inform
the guys that you’re coming with us.”

She blanched and sat back down. “Umm…”

“No, Alexis. You’re coming. I trust you with my life and the lives
of my pack. I wouldn
’
t put them at risk without reason nor would I risk
you with them if I didn’t have faith in them. Now get dressed. I
’
ll be back
in ten.” He opened the door to find Ronan
’
s hand poised to knock. “What?”

“I was coming to apologize to Alexis.”

“She’s getting dressed. I’m taking her with me to face the LC.”

“You’re doing what?” Ronan asked.

“I’m taking her with me.”

“But – ”

“If you’re about to say anything about her being a risk to this pack,
then shut the fuck up, Ronan.”

Ronan laughed.
“Touchy, touchy. And I wasn
’
t. I was going to ask
about the risk to her being out in the open. The Hunters are still after her.”

“I know, but she needs this.”

“Alright. I’ll talk to her when you guys get back.”

“One more thing before I leave.” Kyran said as he closed the door
behind them. “Give the male in the cell some pain meds. I’ll take the
rest of the arrows out when I get back. Try not to torture him. Apparently
, Sam has his son; his mate is dead.”

“What a fucking bastard.” Ronan grabbed his cell and walked out
with him. “I
’
ll put him out cold. Time passes too slowly if he is awake
waiting on news on his son.”

“Thanks. I’ll call you when we are on our way back.”

Ronan nodded and turned to see Alexis step from the room dressed
for war. Her hair was pulled up in a high ponytail and braided. She
wore the same outfit she had the first day they’d met, a nicer version
of her hunting boots, and silver blades strapped to her wrists. Peeking
over her left shoulder was the tell-tale glimmer of a mineral found
only in Gardas.

Kyran frowned. “Where’d you get a god blade?”

Blade wasn’t the right word considering the length of the sword
showing over her shoulder. If it had been made by some earthly metal,
Alexis wouldn
’
t have been able to heft it. That was the upside of having
a god blade. The blade
’
s size and weight weren
’
t a hindrance to the
wielder.

“
Lykil just gave it to me. He said it was better than my silver edged
blade.” She glanced over her shoulder at the blade. “Does it kill gods?”

Kyran laughed.
“No. A god blade is a weapon forged by Goddess
Jordis. She’s the Goddess of Weaponry. It usually has the blessing of whoever gifts it to you, which means that one reeks of destruction.”