But the assassin was faster than I expected. He intercepted me halfway across the room and blocked my path with his body.
His face was covered by dark cloth that wrapped around everything except his eyes. Those eyes were cold and calculating as they looked me over.
“Going somewhere, little human?” His voice was muffled by the cloth but still mocking. Amused by my fear.
I held the knife in front of me even though my hands were shaking so badly the blade wavered. “Stay back.”
He laughed. The sound echoed off the high ceilings. “You think you can fight me? You are nothing. A weak human who does not belong here.”
He lunged at me faster than I could track. I dodged on pure instinct and felt the air move as his blade passed where my head had been a second before. I slashed wildly with my own knife and by some miracle managed to connect. The blade cut across his arm and drew blood.
He looked down at the wound and then back at me. “You bitch.”
I tried to run again but he grabbed my arm and yanked me back so hard I felt something in my shoulder pop. I cried out as pain shot through me.
The knife fell from my numb fingers and clattered across the stone floor out of reach.
His blade came at me and I felt it slice through the flesh of my arm. Pain exploded hot and immediate. Blood ran down my skin and dripped onto the floor.
Then his hand was around my throat. Squeezing. Cutting off my air.
I clawed at his hand desperately, trying to pry his fingers loose, but he was so much stronger than me. My lungs burned. Black spots danced at the edges of my vision. I couldn’t breathe. Couldn’t scream. Couldn’t do anything but scrabble uselessly at his grip.
“A bitch like you should have stayed in your realm,” he snarled. His face was close to mine now and I could see the hatred in his eyes. “You do not belong here. You will ruin everything we have worked for.”
My vision was tunneling. Everything was going dark at the edges. I could feel myself starting to lose consciousness.
Then the doors didn’t just open. They exploded inward in a shower of splinters as a massive black wolf burst through.
The wolf’s eyes glowed red with rage. Its lips were pulled back to show teeth that were far too large and sharp. It launched itself at the assassin without hesitation.
The assassin’s hand left my throat as the wolf’s jaws closed around it. I heard bones crunch. Heard the assassin scream as the wolf ripped and tore.
I collapsed to the floor gasping for air. My throat felt crushed. Every breath hurt.
Blood sprayed across the ancient books and the stone floor. The assassin’s screams turned to gurgles and then went silent. Thewolf was savage and vicious as it tore him apart, making sure he was dead before stepping back.
Then the wolf was shifting and the sounds were horrible. Bones cracking and reforming. Fur receding. The massive form shrinking.
Mal crouched where the wolf had been. He was completely naked and covered in the assassin’s blood.
“Wen.” His voice was raw as he crossed the room to me. His hands were immediately on my face and then my throat where I could feel bruises already forming. Then he saw my bleeding arm and his face went white. “Wen. Little mate. Are you hurt? Where are you hurt?”
“My arm,” I managed to rasp out. My voice was hoarse and it hurt to talk. “He cut my arm.”
Mal looked down at the wound and at the blood still flowing from it. Horror crossed his features.
“You are going to be fine. I am taking you to the infirmary. You are going to be fine.” He was talking too fast and his hands were shaking as he scooped me up in his arms. He ran through the library and into the corridor beyond.
Nobles who had been drawn by the noise gasped when they saw us. Saw the blood covering both of us. Saw their naked king carrying his bleeding mate through the castle.
“Move!” Mal roared. “Get the fuck out of my way!”
They scattered in every direction as he ran faster. I buried my face in his chest and felt his heart pounding against my cheek. Felt his terror through the bond as clearly as if it were my own.
“You are going to be fine,” he kept repeating like a mantra. “You are going to be fine. I will not lose you. I cannot lose you.”
“I’m okay,” I tried to say but my voice was barely a whisper. “Mal, I’m okay.”
