Abyss - Book Five of the Alpha Series - MxM

Chapter 9

"Come on now, all of you, act with a little bit of sense, yeah?" Verando's tone washes over the crowd and cures them of their whispering; the shuffle of bows and swords answers him. 

The men surrounding us look similar to the three teenagers; their clothes were dirty, but nothing beyond that of someone who had been on the road for a few days. Their appearance did not fit the description of the typical roadside bandit, and I wonder just how much of a scolding I'll get from the warlord who happened to be correct. 

In my defense, it was a predictable outcome; we even separated our carriages in case this happened, but I had hardly anticipated anyone stupid enough to make an attempt.  My reputation for surrounding myself with dangerous men was not exaggerated, and I had my own demons to contend with when it came to the cities I had destroyed under Corina's control. 

Whispers in the cities of those present at the Battle of Ziduri were getting louder and louder. The Good King had a bloody past, and I had paved my way on the bodies of my enemies. While I was kind to my people, I had little tolerance for those who stood in my way. 

"If a single one of you tries anything, you'll be slaughtered where you stand." Verando reminds them, "This is an act against the crown. We're telling you to move along, or you'll find yourself without a trial and without a head." Verando concludes shortly, earning a light chuckle from one of the men. 

"When else will we get an opportunity to fill this bounty? The future King has a price on his head. When else will he be this vulnerable?" The man demands, gesturing for the companion beside him to take aim, and in one move, they all raise their bows. "I think it's now or never, moving along and not taking the risk doesn't pay the bills, Pet."

Reid flashes his teeth, snarling low in his throat, and Tonic elbows him sharply. 

"Who else do you have in this carriage? Plenty of ransom to go around, I'd say the risk is worth the reward, don't you boys?"

The men chant in succession, making my warlord curse under his breath. 

"I assure you I'm not vulnerable in any stretch of the word. I'm sure you've heard of what I can do and seen what I've done. I'll siphon the blood from your bodies before you can loose a single arrow." My voice sounds unfamiliar, harder, stronger. Looking beyond, careful not to turn my head too much to indicate where my eyes wandered, I could see Mr.Balan glancing out one of the slats of the carriage and willing him to remain inside. 

My horse jigs nervously, and Tomas rolls his shoulder while holding tension on the bow, not letting the boy in front of us out of his sight. 

"Perhaps." The man allows, considering this. "But, you might also take a loss, and I've heard the Good King is very enamoured with his guard. We won't aim for you, we'll aim for your men. Can you stop us from taking all of them?"

"I'm surrounded by lycans." I shoot back, "An arrow will not kill a lycan soldier. You are under-researched and outmanned."

"That one is not a lycan." He gestures to Tomas. "Neither is that one." His eyes flick to Penelope.

"Traitor." Reid snaps. "Siding against your own kind!"

I flinch, I hadn't expected one of these ordinary-looking men to be of lycan descent. 

"Don't bother with him, Reid, he's a lowborn, hardly a lycan. His blood is so weak, I bet he doesn't even have a wolf." Verando seethes through gritted teeth. "Ungrateful, free to walk amongst the humans, and you use your nose for something like this. You are the reason why lycans will become illegal once more. A disgrace."

It's personal for him, the ultimate betrayal considering how much he had sacrificed for this cause. Considering what we'd been through, the pain we'd endured, and then the ultimate decision to send the pack home and lose all of them.