Page 81 of Wolf’s Fated Bride

“Damn, girl, you really did your sister in.”

“Maren couldn’t care less. She canceled the treaty before you all arrived.”

“With a lover, I presume.”

I nod.

“Damn.” Blade interlocks his fingers behind his head and stretches out his legs. “I fucking told Ash not to come here. I fucking told him it was a trap. I said we should meet in neutral territory like the wastelands, but he told me it had to be Stormcrest territory.” He drops his hands. “He told me this place called to him. Maybe death whispered to him, and we should let nature take its course.”

“No!” I shout.

Blade rears back at my tone.

“No, we get him out of here and give him a chance to heal.” I flip the water faucet on so the background noise masks our conversation.

A horn sounds in the distance.

“Wonder what that is,” Blade says casually, but he’s anything but casual.

“The storm is clearing. The Peacebroker is due to arrive with a regiment. I don’t know what they plan to do but… I know enough to want to get Ash out of here.”

The air becomes thick, almost liquid. I struggle as I inhale.

“Leave us,” Blade says, his voice like a sword cutting the thick air. “Hide where nobody can find you until the worst is over.”

“Ash can’t fight,” I say as I exhale. I gasp, inhaling more air, but there’s very little useful oxygen. This elemental terrifies me.

“I’m not chopped liver, you know.”

I hold my neck. “You’re choking me.”

“I know what I’m doing.”

“If I die, you die,” I say, gasping for air. “I know a way out.”

“I don’t want a way out. I’ll wait for the humans to arrive. Attacking Ash Fireborn won’t go unpunished.”

I fall off the chair, stars playing over my eyes. “You’re outnumbered. And my brother might recover enough to help the humans. Your body is made of water. You will be the one suffocating.” I’m losing consciousness.

“Why do you want to help us?”

“Because…” I lick my lips.

“I can’t hear you.”

“That’s because you’re not letting me breathe, asshole.”

“I heard that.”

“I love him,” I whisper.

Air gushes into my lungs, and I inhale so deeply, I cough. As soon as I can sit up, I curse him out.

He offers me a hand, but I slap it away as I get to my feet. “Fuck you, Blade Skyrender. I came here to help. I’m risking everything. If you try to kill me again, you’d better kill me dead, because if you don’t, I’ll pay some omega to fuck you and neuter you in your sleep.”

Blade smiles. “Okay. You want to help Ash? Let’s hear it.”

“I can show you a way out.”