So I stood at the door, listening to her moan and thrash, and every muscle in my body trembled, begging me to go in.
I resisted. Once, I lifted a fist to smash the door down, to wake her, but she subsided not long after, finally giving in to deep, peaceful sleep.
That sleep was now being threatened by those outside. Teeth bared, I crept across the room without making a sound. I looked into every corner and tested the air, ensuring to myself it was indeed still empty. I wasn’t going far from my post, but I wasn’t risking anything. The slightest problem and Anna would reject me as her mate completely and permanently.
I had to be perfect.
The voices approached, and I stepped into the hallway in front of them, alpha power building in my throat.
“Silence.”
Two jaws slammed shut as the command hit them, locking up muscles and preventing them from speaking.
“Anna is sleeping,” I continued, still not having raised my voice. Every word was spokenin a low, even tone. The only thing that betrayed my anger was the alpha command dripping from each word. “You would be wise not to raise her. Understood?”
I released the command.
Florian sagged forward. I saw a spark of indignation in his eyes at my treatment of my number two, but I didn’t care. I met it immediately, and without hesitation. This was mymatewe were talking about.
Nothing came before her well-being.
“Sorry, bro,” the other shifter grunted, only coughing.
The alpha power hadn’t affected him as much. Nothing ever did. Younger brothers could be irritating that way.
I eyed Dirk. He was looking rough for wear. His uniform was ripped and stained, and he had huge bags under his normally bright blue eyes, but they were from more than a lack of sleep. Something had happened. Something bad.
“The market?” I asked, looking right at Florian questioningly.
Dirk might be my brother, but Florian was my second-in-command. He headed up my enforcers. Dirk washisright-hand man, but I would not disrespect Florian by cutting him out of the loop.
“No.” Ri shook his head, any anger at my use of alpha power on him for the second time in aday already faded. “Another push from the Red King.”
“I was out on patrol along the northeastern border,” Dirk said, jumping in now. “We had just finished our meeting with the fae lord, Duke Elissen, and were headed home when we saw smoke. I swung us north to check it out, and we were jumped by a squad of reds.”
I bared my teeth. “Damn them. I don’t want another war.”
“Seems like the Red King doesn’t feel the same,” Florian muttered.
“Why didn’t I hear of this earlier? You should have been back by now,” I asked, looking from Florian to Dirk.
Dirk grimaced, unhappy. “We crossed paths with Florian on our return. I … was angry at being ambushed. Two of my men didn’t make it. Killing the reds wasn’t enough. I needed to do something more.”
I inhaled slow and deep. Anna was asleep. She needed me. I had to stay under control. I couldn’t lose my temper. Not right now.
“Make them pay.” My eyes bore into Florian with the command. “But don’t get suckered into another ambush.”
Florian nodded. Dirk flinched, very unusual for him.
“There’s more. Isn’t there?” I asked, suspicions rising.
Silence.
“I’m not going to like it. Am I?”
They shook their heads in such unison they could have been one.
“Well,” I said, sighing heavily and wondering if I would get to sleep anytime soon. Everything seemed to be happening at once. “Out with it.”
