Alora spat out the mouthful of blood. Elaena's blood was revolting. Bitter, like copper.
Rain chuckled. "You do not take of the slaughter of human intruders, Mer lin. You must learn to stomach the bitter taste of the salt in their blood."
"Never," he hissed.
The Ice Wolves watched the sleeping maiden from the entrance of the cave. The maiden had collapsed into an exhausted sleep from the night of blood and dreams. Alora guarded the entrance with Rain and Dariel while the pack slept.
"Elaena. Does not such a name Elaena mean 'of the sun'?" Rain asked. "Such a pathetic name for a pathetic girl."
"A pathetic girl?" Dariel snarled at his brother. "That pathetic girl, Brother, offered her life in sake for repayment for blood. Without fear. Without a lie. She pledged herself- entirely. And you still call her pathetic?"
Rain snorted. "If she is to avenge the blood of the Stone-hearted, she must be mad. She would be dead the moment they laid eyes on her."
"Then train her, Mer lin," Dariel said to his Alpha.
"No. Rain will train her."
"WHAT?" Rain rasped hoarsely. Dariel's head snapped to his Alpha. "Surely you are joking, Mer lin."
"Train her, Rain. Train her on speed. Reflexes. Harnessing the fire in her heart. How to fight."
Rain stiffened. "You want her body—entirely. If so, you train her. She is wasting my patience. I still suggest we kill her and leave her body to the ravens."
It was true; the ravens circled the tips of the Dark Forest, hunting for the carcasses the wolves left. There was seldom meat left, but they were ever hopeful. Black shadows against the black night. The three wolves' ice fur glittered like stars in the darkness of the forest. Alora jerked his head, warning them to draw back into the darkness of the cave to hide their light from the world of the Dark Forest.
"Rain..." A warning growled in Dariel's throat.
Alora spun to his Beta. "Should I take your place I would run her into the ground. Break her bones, exhaust her heart, and strip all life from her body."
At every word, he advanced on Rain, who cowered. "Do you even think I wish to kill her as you hunger, Rain? Do you think I would kill her, as you wish? Would you kill her? If you even dare dream of such, you will have to kill me."
"What if she is not—"
"She is." Rain flinched. "And there will be no other."
Alora returned to where the maiden slept and settled his massive body beside her.
Rain's head sagged. Dariel muttered close to his brother's ear. "Be lucky, Brother. She may be dead with you before she even reaches the city."
Rain twitched a mirthless smile. "An attempt I will accomplish."
**********************
The Ice Wolves knew when dawn arose; a different taste in the air, smell, colour, and heartbeats moving in the Dark Forest.
Alora knew Rain was impatient; Rain had planted himself in front of Elaena at the crack of dawn. "Wake up!"
The Maiden creaked open one tear-stained eye.
"UP!" he roared.
She frowned, and curled into a tighter ball against Alora, completely ignoring Rain. He responded in the fashion of clamping his jaws around her arm and promptly dragged her from her little cocoon of warmth from Alora's side. He dumped the struggling maiden on the earth far away from the warmth of the sleeping wolves, yet remained hidden in the cave. "UP!" he barked.
YOU ARE READING
The Cursed Prince - Fire and Ice (Book One)
Fantasía"What she remembers can never be spoken... " A young prince is raised by a king. His adopted sister hides the dark secrets of her mind within her heart-one that is locked away-filled of secrets. But all secrets and promises made are shattered when t...
