“Linton.” His harsh voice has softened. “That was never you.” I throws his head back, tossing his horns. “I should have stayed with you on release from the Shadow Keep instead of handing you over to the brothers.”
“Yet, you still come to me when you need assistance. You, the Barghest, the Wyrm. You all call on my services when it suits.”
Warden shuffles his hooves. They scuff on the floor as he stares down at them.
“Linton?” My blood runs cold at the sound of my sweet mate’s voice.
My Kaitlyn stands in the doorway of the throne room. Warden is between me and her.
I should have known he’d do a trick such as this. Brags are tricky creatures and Warden is one of the trickiest.
Warden sets his gaze on Kaitlyn and I’m already growling.
“Warden is just leaving,” I force out through teeth gritted so hard I wonder if they will crack.
Kaitlyn looks him over before her eyes come back to me, and then she moves fully into the doorway, a large halberd in her hand, big enough that if she tries to use it, it will most likely pull her over.
But Warden doesn’t know. He’s stock still, and I take my advantage, using the height of the room to spin over his head and land at her side. I gently take the weapon from her grip and put it back before wrapping my arm around her waist and holding her to me.
“Thank you, my mate.”
“You wouldn’t throw out an old friend, would you, Linton?” Warden chuckles and then trots over to my throne, rights it, transforms into his biped form, and throws himself down on the seat. “Now, are you going to listen to me or not?”
KAITLYN
Warden is a huge man, possibly eight feet tall or so close as it not to matter, but even so, he’s still not so large as he was in his centaur, or Brag, form.
He stares at us insolently from Linton’s throne.
“Yes,” Warden says. “I did free Linton from the Shadow Keep, selfishly perhaps as I wanted it for myself.”
“You wanted a prison in the Night Lands?” I ask.
“Who wouldn’t?” Warden growls.
Linton huffs out a hot breath. “I wouldn’t. It is a foul place.”
“Fouler still since I began serving justice on those who wish the Yeavering harm.” Warden glowers. “Don’t you have any food in this place?” he adds.
“I am in my mating cycle,” Linton announces proudly.
Warden narrows his eyes.
“The food I have is for my mate.” He fluffs up his wings, making himself look bigger.
“The mate.” Warden’s gaze rakes over me once again. “The reason Tam Lin searches for you, I expect.”
“I have done nothing for Tam Lin to want me,” I retort. “I was brought here via a lottery which the Faerie set up, tossed into the hands of Lord Guyzance, and left to rot.”
Warden rubs his chin, which makes a sound like gravel over sandpaper.
“You were with Lord Guyzance.” He looks past me at Linton. “When did you get your orders?” he growls at him.
“Before,” Linton rasps back.
“Before what?” Warden demands.
Linton stares at him. Warden expels a long breath.
