Lerek jerked back, hands up as two large men came through the tent flap. Lerek backed away. The man who’d captured him watched him with a hungry, feral glee while the other man grabbed him.
“Soros, tie him up and put him in my tent. And have Rydon bring the cypher here.”
Lerek opened his mouth to protest, but his captor’s lips curled back as he snatched Lerek’s wrist and wrenched his arm back hard enough to make Lerek gasp.
“Take him away. Now.”
“Ren, please! What?—”
His captor yanked his arm, eliciting a grunt of pain from Lerek as he dragged him out of the tent. Lerek dug in his feet, protesting and shouting for Terena.
Before the soldier holding him pulled him away from the tent, he heard Terena say something about a prophecy.
“There’s no need for?—”
“Nighty night,” the brute holding him said, bringing the hilt of his sword to Lerek’s temple.
Chapter 26
ELIS
Sonah crouched on the riverbank, slurping the water from her cupped hands. Grateful for this one moment of respite, she glanced over her shoulder when one of the men’s laughter burst loud enough to carry to her from their little camp.
Crunching sounded behind her and Sonah turned, expecting to find one of their group. Instead, the wolf she’d befriended after escaping the Rivermen stood staring at her through beautiful emerald eyes.
Easing down so her knees rested on the damp riverbank, Sonah tucked her heels beneath her and smiled at her friend.
“Hello,” she whispered, not wanting to frighten him away. Then she quirked a brow at her own ridiculousness. Scare him away, indeed! Smothering a smile, Sonah leaned forward. “I wondered where you’d gone.”
The wolf ambled closer, stopping a couple of feet away. Sonah set her hands on her thighs and sighed. “Well. I’m glad you found me. My friends found me as well! Most of them, anyway. I hope to find my sister, soon.”
Scrunching her face, she bit her lip as she regarded him for a moment.
“Would you come with me? She’s in Ovenno.”
The wolf opened its mouth and panted softly, its eyes never leaving her face. After a moment, it took two steps closer.
Sonah beamed. “I’m going to take that as a yes.” Without thinking, she reached forward, intending to pet him, when she realized what she was doing and froze. Pulling her hand back slightly, she asked, “May I touch you?”
The wolf cocked its head and waited. Sonah pulled her chin up and shrugged.And I’ll takethatas a yes.
Tentatively, she put her hand near his shoulder, pushing down slowly until her fingers prickled on his pelt. Smiling, Sonah pushed her fingers through the soft fur. The wolf turned his head to her, startling her. He pushed his snout against her arm. Sonah grinned and ran her fingers back through his coat, repeating the motion several more times. She whispered nonsense to him, telling him how he would be her best friend. Well. Besides Terena.
“Do not move.”
Sonah jerked up at the voice. The wolf turned its head, growling low and deep as it moved slowly to face the newcomer.
Melanos stood there, a spear in his right hand leveled at the wolf. Sonah’s pulse exploded in her ears and she lurched upright, hands outstretched as she stared wide-eyed at the god.
“No! Please!”
“Move away, little one.”
“No! This is my friend! My wolf, Melanos.”
“Is that what you are, lycanthropo? A friend?”
The wolf continued to growl as he prowled closer to Melanos.
