Ryper watched after her as he considered everything that had happened.
Someone had taken Renata’s horn. There were only two reasons for that.
Trophy hunting. Though it’d been popular at one time, it’d been outlawed ever since Dash took the throne. Cutting off a unicorn horn from a living target had always carried a severe risk as unicorn magick was some of the most powerful in the world. But a gold horn was priceless.
Especially given the one power it held above all others.
It could assassinate Dash.
Then the one who held it could seize power and rule. Or throw the Thirteen Kingdoms back into chaos and war.
Ryper winced at memories he’d give anything not to have. All too well, he remembered the wars. That unending vying for power.
Peace came at a cost and was a fragile flower that needed to be nourished.
Whoever had done this…
They wanted war. He could feel it with every part of himself.
And if they wanted war, they were about to meet the Outlaws. The deadliest bastards ever spawned by the Thirteen Kingdoms that had begrudged them all every breath they’d ever taken, and that had done its best to break them and bring them to their knees.
Yet they still stood in spite of every degradation and blow.
Determined. Steadfast.
And ready to kill to protect each other.
“You want war. Saddle up.” The Outlaws had been through hell, and they were more than willing to go there again to protect each other.
Chapter 3
The more Tanis considered her bargain with Dash, the more it chafed. Why not ask for her soul instead of her freedom?
You don’t value that.
Well, that was true. But did it really have to be her freedom? She’d already lost it once, and it’d been more than enough for one lifetime.
She hated for anyone to have control over her. It’d been bad enough when she’d been a girl in her father’s court. But her slavery had been unbearable. Every day in captivity had been an eternity. She still bore those scars, inside and out. She’d fought hard for her freedom.
And she’d promised herself that no one would ever have sovereignty over her again.
Now here she was. Captive once more.
By her own stupid choice.
Tears filled her eyes as she remembered the past. Everything she’d been put through for greed and selfishness. Human and unicorn cruelty that enjoyed watching others suffer. Even their own kind.
She knew nothing of this unicorn she’d bargained with. He could be wanted. A doctor. Banker. Anything really.
Now, she was part of his life.
Why did he wanther? “What are you planning to do with me, beast?”
“What?”
“After I kill the dragon slayer... what are you going to do with me once I go to your kingdom?”
He snorted. “Little late to be asking that now, isn’t it?”
