“Your son?” Dylan repeated, disbelief in his voice.
A slow nod confirmed this. “He killed the royal family and received orders to take over the realm. They sent me to retrieve the princess and take her back to Val-des-Loups, dead or alive. And that’s what I’ll do.”
Dylan’s fists clenched. He refused to let the man seize Allegra. His woman. Dylan stumbled a fraction at the thought, then straightened his shoulders. It was nothing less than the truth. He had to stop the hunter and scanned for something to use as a weapon. He glanced at Allegra, and his heart sank. She lay still and limp, her eyes closed. She was unconscious, and he had no idea how to wake her.
The man sidled closer, another dagger appearing in his right hand.
Dylan had no choice. He lunged forward and tackled him, sending them both crashing to the floor.
Thumping footsteps sounded in the hall.
“Saber’s here,” Esther called.
“Stay back,” Dylan shouted. “The knife blade contains poison. Yank it out of Allegra and press a pad against the wound. Call Gavin!”
The old man jabbed his elbow into Dylan’s ribs, and Dylan gasped for breath. He was strong. So strong.
Esther ran to Allegra, seized her, and dragged her from the room.
The hunter stepped up a gear with renewed determination and fight. Dylan guessed he wanted to watch Allegra’s demise so he could report back to the council.
The man feinted left but went right, the blade arcing outward and striking Dylan’s biceps. Immediately, the skin turned numb, and blood poured from the wound.
“What’s happening?” someone demanded.
Was that Saber? Wow, whatever was on that blade was fast-acting.
“Watch the knife,” Dylan said, but his words didn’t form properly and came out in gibberish.
A feminine voice interrupted, “Poison on the blade.”
Dylan still grappled with the man, but he recognized Esther’s voice. Suddenly, a roar echoed through the room, wild and familiar, causing the old man to release Dylan with an expression of terror.
A giant black cat stood in the doorway. Its eyes were green, and its fur shimmered under the light.
The man had no chance of escape, despite his scramble for freedom, because the cat lunged and darted low, ripping at the man’s legs with his teeth. The hunter screamed, a shrill sound that echoed off the walls, then a gunshot sounded, and he toppled to the ground.
“Is he dead?” a feminine voice shouted.
“Dammit, Isabella. I wanted to interrogate him,” Saber said. “We don’t know who he is.”
“I might recognize him,” Isabella said. “I’m going around to the kitchen entrance. Don’t shoot me.”
Saber muttered something before turning to the big cat. “Thanks, Leo. He didn’t cut you?”
The black leopard grunted and slipped out of the bedroom.
Dylan struggled to sit, and Saber helped him. “Is there anything in his pockets? Are we sure he’s dead?”
Isabella entered the room and headed straight for the stranger. “What’s with all the medals?”
“No idea,” Saber said. “Dylan, stay with us. Gavin is on the way.”
“Wash out the wound with cold water,” Isabella suggested.
“Wait, I’m okay,” Dylan said. “My wound is healing. I want to know if he’s carrying identification.”
“Whoa.” Isabella whipped out her phone. “He’s a shifter of some sort. Bird, I think, given his reaction to Leo.” She snapped several photos. “His body is disintegrating. His face. This won’t do much for your carpet. Hard to remove a stench like this.”
