Warlord's Ward

A Target

Warlord knew nothing of one of his mage's games with the kings. He only knew that the woman standing in-front of him was the most argumentative, difficult little creature he'd ever laid eyes on.

"You'd take me with you, if you ever escaped?"

"Yes."

"How could we ever free your sister?"

"We can't, there's no way to do so. We'd have to get the mage that created it to find a way to unwind it. And they couldn't without the same ancient spellbook that the king possesses."

"So, someone would have to get it from the king?"

"Impossible, Jade." Warlord said coldly. "No woman enters his chambers and comes out unbroken. I'd never allow you."

***

Allow. I didn't like that word. But I could see the gravity in his eyes. Something close to...Worry.

For me?

"Well, I will not sit by and be the captive of The King's captive forever, Warlord. You've hinted you've some feeling for me. And I'm uncertain what I feel for you. I won't know until we're free and I can learn what manner of a man you truly are. But for that...We will be free. So, you best start planning before I do."

His black brows shot up in surprise. "Aren't you the clever woman?"

"You've no idea."

"Oh, I think I have some. You want to help me free my sister?" He asked warily.

"Yes. Then we're going to need the mages."

"You have them already."

"No. I've been put in the unique position of being hated by all of them. Both as their Commander and the King has made me the face of their sentencing for exactly this reason."

"That's why they never know he's the one behind the executions."

"Yes. All that are left. Are not amongst those who favor my company."

I eyed him thoughtfully, chew my cheeks. "But the ladies are..."

***

"What?" He asked astonished.

"I saw you at the banquet."

"I'm aware..." He eyed me askance. Wondering where I was going with this.

"You've a unique way of charming women."

"Do I?" He quirked that haughty black brow. "It seems I've yet to charm you."

"I'm no normal woman."

"Indeed, you're not...You're a fierce little she-wolf." There was a possessive note in his voice.

"So, Warlord, let's use all that skill in tacticians you've been honing to come up with a plan. But in the interim, I think you should start charming those she-mages."

He chuckled. "They're just called mages, Jade."

"Well, if I'd said that, perhaps you'd have thought I meant for you to give the men a wink too." I teased. Unable to resist the laughing note that entered my voice.

He snorted over a laugh. "I most certainly wouldn't have."

***

I found some bits of fabric and was pressing them to the bleeding wounds on his chest. "Go lay on the bed."

"Are you certain that's where you want me?"

I gave him a sharp look and caught him grinning broadly. Vivid white teeth seeming all the more stark against his tanned features and making those fathomless blue eyes dance.

Changing his entire face. Making him look heart-wrenchingly handsome. For a moment I was awestruck. My prolonged study made that silence vanish and his gaze become hooded.

"I was kidding, Jade."

"I know. But..."

"Not a humorous joke, after what I've done. I understand."

That wasn't what I was thinking at all.

It's what I should've been thinking. But somehow Warlord was impossible not to want to be close to.

I want to know more about him.

***

He walked over to me and tucked a stray lock behind my ear. "I'll work on it, Jade."

Charming the she-mages.

I felt the hint of jealousy, hoping he'd not find one more to his liking then he found me. I wondered how many women he'd really come to know, being locked away in that dark tower. Watching his mages from so far above.

Being the one to point a finger and condemn someone to death.

I didn't think about how dangerous it could be for him, down amongst their ranks, because I couldn't imagine them hurting him. He was a knight amidst pawns when he stood with them.

He passed me and walked to the bed. Twisting to lay on his back. Crossing his ankles leisurely and linking his fingers over his belly. Whooshing a pained breath as he forced his body to relax.

I walked over and began pushing at the wounds, inspecting them to see how best to bandage them. "There's more cloth in the trunk under the table."

I frowned, having never noticed that there was a trunk there. But when I leaned over, I suddenly saw it. "How'd you keep that hidden this whole time?"

"Carefully."

"Why?"

"Because I didn't want you stringing cloth together to try and drop into the gardens. Those mages would kill you like as look at you."

I reared back. "Why? They don't even know me."

"They've been trained that wolves are killers. That's why the king hunts them down to protect the country."

"They don't bother people unless cornered."

He sighed. "I know that. And you know that. But they don't."

***

I opened the trunk and found an array of gorgeous dresses. "Your sister's?"

"The King would've thrown them away." He admitted.

"Are you certain you're fine with me tearing one up."

"She would tell me to shut up and let you do what needed doing."

"Why did the King hate her so much?"

"He wanted her. He was smitten. And she'd have none of him."

"He desired her, despite that she was a wolf?" I was aghast.

"That's why he now hates them. He vowed to destroy every-one he came across after she rejected him. He tried to ravish her."

"Tried?" I couldn't imagine anyone stopping him.

"You intervened?"

He scoffed. "I didn't have to. BailaLae is a force of her own. Amazingly strong."

"She used magic against him?"

Warlord laughed coldly. "That's putting it mildly. He hated her after that. All of our kind."

"But she used magic not her wolf."

"He hates mages just as much. That's why he makes them serve him. He calls it fighting fire with fire."

I winced in pain. Hating that phrase. And feeling Warlord's resentment in saying it. Feeling his pain at having killed so many of both his kind.