one.”
“Your parents would kill you.” Jordan grimaced, as his parents wouldn’t be too happy, either. Of course, he and Conn were just in their early twenties and responsibility wouldn’t arrive for a century, maybe two. At least Jordan didn’t have to worry about ruling his people, like the Kayrs men did.
Conn shrugged. “They should be finishing up at the world symposium brokering deals with the new land in play now that the Kurjans finally want to be part of the Realm. My mum was looking forward to seeing yours again.”
“Yes—they’ll have a good time together.” Even though Jordan’s father wasn’t the leader of a pride, he was a statistical genius, and often advised his cousin, their ruler. “Well, what do you think about heading west and really exploring? It appears to be all mountains and wildlife. Might be fun.”
“I don’t know. Civilization appeals to me. All the women and ale, I mean.” Conn rubbed his chin. “I wanted Dage to come over and have some fun, but he’s so bogged down in duty. It’s like he thinks he’ll take over soon, rather than a thousand years from now.”
A chill swept down Jordan’s spine. “The guy is psychic.”
Conn laughed. “I know. Which so far has just made him difficult to beat in games. We need to come up for a plan next time we have a vampire/shifter soccer match.”
“We will.” Jordan smiled at his best friend. Life was fantastic, he had amazing friends, and the world was his. No responsibility for a while, and a whole new continent to explore. “For now, let’s go scale mountains.”
Conn stiffened.
Tension spiraled through the barn. Jordan pivoted toward the door. Power lay on the other side ... raw power.
Conn frowned, sliding open the door.
Dage Kayrs stood on the other side, a frown on his face, fury in his silver eyes.
“Dage, you’re here.” A wide smile covered Conn’s face that slowly disappeared as he took in his brother. “How did you find us?”
“I teleported a few towns over and have been looking for you.” Dage took a deep breath. “I have bad news.”
Jordan shook himself back to the present, not wanting to relive the moment when he discovered the Kurjans had engineered a brilliant massacre, taking out the leaders of the Realm. Taking out his parents.
Keeping his eyes closed, he took several deep breaths.
Pain exploded across his cheekbone. His eyes flashed open to see a fist coming at him again. He ducked, pivoting around to see the threat. “What the fuck?”
Connlan Kayrs settled his stance. “I’m tired of this shit.”
“What shit?” The bastard had coldcocked him for no reason. Anger swirled deep in Jordan’s gut. He dropped into a fighting stance.
“This ... I give up ... I’m gonna be a werewolf... bullshit.”
Garrett loped into the hallway. “Uh, Uncle Conn? You’re supposed to go to the gym next time you wanna hit somebody.”
Conn growled low. “You’re right. Let’s go, cat.”
Chapter 8
K alin relaxed in the newest Kurjan encampment and surveyed the waiting werewolves. Experienced, strangely calm, the twenty killer beasts sat on stumps or rocks in the forest, eating raw meat. Of course, he’d injected the meat with massive amounts of horse tranquilizer, but still. The monsters had gained some self-control during the last decade. Unfortunately, unlike human converts, the shifter-turned-werewolf couldn’t be enslaved completely—there was no binding spell with silver and slavery. But with food and pain ... they’d obey.
Dusk had fallen, and the moon would soon rise, normally sending the beasts into a frenzy. The tranquilizer would control them until the night of the full moon ... then he’d let them free. Free to hunt and kill, once he sent them in the right direction.
His second in command jogged up, red hair framing a stark white face with amethyst eyes. No wonder people saw the Kurjans as monsters. They were. Of course, Kalin could almost pass for human if he applied
“Your parents would kill you.” Jordan grimaced, as his parents wouldn’t be too happy, either. Of course, he and Conn were just in their early twenties and responsibility wouldn’t arrive for a century, maybe two. At least Jordan didn’t have to worry about ruling his people, like the Kayrs men did.
Conn shrugged. “They should be finishing up at the world symposium brokering deals with the new land in play now that the Kurjans finally want to be part of the Realm. My mum was looking forward to seeing yours again.”
“Yes—they’ll have a good time together.” Even though Jordan’s father wasn’t the leader of a pride, he was a statistical genius, and often advised his cousin, their ruler. “Well, what do you think about heading west and really exploring? It appears to be all mountains and wildlife. Might be fun.”
“I don’t know. Civilization appeals to me. All the women and ale, I mean.” Conn rubbed his chin. “I wanted Dage to come over and have some fun, but he’s so bogged down in duty. It’s like he thinks he’ll take over soon, rather than a thousand years from now.”
A chill swept down Jordan’s spine. “The guy is psychic.”
Conn laughed. “I know. Which so far has just made him difficult to beat in games. We need to come up for a plan next time we have a vampire/shifter soccer match.”
“We will.” Jordan smiled at his best friend. Life was fantastic, he had amazing friends, and the world was his. No responsibility for a while, and a whole new continent to explore. “For now, let’s go scale mountains.”
Conn stiffened.
Tension spiraled through the barn. Jordan pivoted toward the door. Power lay on the other side ... raw power.
Conn frowned, sliding open the door.
Dage Kayrs stood on the other side, a frown on his face, fury in his silver eyes.
“Dage, you’re here.” A wide smile covered Conn’s face that slowly disappeared as he took in his brother. “How did you find us?”
“I teleported a few towns over and have been looking for you.” Dage took a deep breath. “I have bad news.”
Jordan shook himself back to the present, not wanting to relive the moment when he discovered the Kurjans had engineered a brilliant massacre, taking out the leaders of the Realm. Taking out his parents.
Keeping his eyes closed, he took several deep breaths.
Pain exploded across his cheekbone. His eyes flashed open to see a fist coming at him again. He ducked, pivoting around to see the threat. “What the fuck?”
Connlan Kayrs settled his stance. “I’m tired of this shit.”
“What shit?” The bastard had coldcocked him for no reason. Anger swirled deep in Jordan’s gut. He dropped into a fighting stance.
“This ... I give up ... I’m gonna be a werewolf... bullshit.”
Garrett loped into the hallway. “Uh, Uncle Conn? You’re supposed to go to the gym next time you wanna hit somebody.”
Conn growled low. “You’re right. Let’s go, cat.”
Chapter 8
K alin relaxed in the newest Kurjan encampment and surveyed the waiting werewolves. Experienced, strangely calm, the twenty killer beasts sat on stumps or rocks in the forest, eating raw meat. Of course, he’d injected the meat with massive amounts of horse tranquilizer, but still. The monsters had gained some self-control during the last decade. Unfortunately, unlike human converts, the shifter-turned-werewolf couldn’t be enslaved completely—there was no binding spell with silver and slavery. But with food and pain ... they’d obey.
Dusk had fallen, and the moon would soon rise, normally sending the beasts into a frenzy. The tranquilizer would control them until the night of the full moon ... then he’d let them free. Free to hunt and kill, once he sent them in the right direction.
His second in command jogged up, red hair framing a stark white face with amethyst eyes. No wonder people saw the Kurjans as monsters. They were. Of course, Kalin could almost pass for human if he applied
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