Chapter One
Griffin watched, fists clenched, chest tight with rage, as Addison was pulled forcibly away from him. He was almost certain Xavier would not have her killed, but it tore at his heart to see her treated so roughly. He watched the last place she had been visible, the leaves still rustling in her wake, until Xavier stepped in front of him. The older shifter radiated anger, his beast barely restrained. Griffin’s beast was equally angry, just as close to bursting forth. But to do so would be suicide.
“Griffin, you are dangerously close to being exiled from the clans.”
Griffin dragged his eyes away from the last place Addison was, to meet Xavier’s steely gaze.
“Do I appear to care? If you feel you must, then do so. But do not expect me to go without a fight.”
“Are you challenging me?” Xavier took a step forward, chest thrust out. “Do you believe you can beat me, man to man, beast to beast?”
Griffin held his ground, hands resting loosely at his sides, fighting to control his anger, to control his beast. He wanted to clench his hands, to drive a fist through Xavier’s smug face, but Griffin was still a man of honor. Challenging a superior was done in public, in a ritualized manner. It wasn’t carried out in a fist fight, alone on top of the sacred ruins. Griffin was too proud to stoop that low, and too respectful of his heritage. But it took all his control, all his strength.
“You’re not the man you used to be, Xavier. You’re old, and growing weak. Someday, someone will challenge you. And that might be me.”
“You’re nothing but a whelp, Griffin. Infatuation with a human woman isn’t how a clan leader acts, and not how a grand leader behaves. You are selfish, and great leaders put their clans first, not their own base needs and desires.”
Anger boiled up in Griffin and for a moment the world receded, Xavier his only focus. His beast rose and it was only by sheer force of will he held it back, kept it from leaping free, tearing out Xavier’s throat.
The older man’s eyebrow rose a fraction of an inch, his lip curling in a contemptuous smirk. “So, I do ruffle your feathers, Griffin. I can see your beast as plainly as if you had shifted. I can see your hate for me as well.” He leaned forward, holding one finger dangerously close to Griffin’s face.
“Know this. You have crossed the line with me. I will be watching you. No move you make will be without my knowledge.”
“And I will be watching you, Xavier, just as closely.” Griffin moved forward, just enough so that Xavier’s finger brushed against his cheek. The leader’s eyes darkened dangerously but Griffin refused to back down.
“Is that a threat, Griffin?”
“It’s a warning, Xavier.”
Leaves rustled behind Xavier but neither man moved. There was a discreet cough and Griffin watched irritation flash across the older man’s face.
Finally Xavier thrust his chin at Griffin. “This is not over, whelp. Watch what you do, knowing that I’m watching you as well.”
With that Xavier turned, his cape flaring behind him. Griffin watched him consult with his guards as he strode across the ruins, disappearing down one of the exterior stairways.
Griffin turned away, looking out over the jungle. Emotions collided within him, anger, betrayal, disbelief. But among all the emotions he’d expect to have after a confrontation with Xavier, the strongest he felt was of loss.
He missed Addison. He’d vowed to protect her, but more than that, he’d grown to really care about her. Now she had been taken from him, all but torn from his arms.
And to add salt to his wounds, she was to be paraded before all the clan leaders, to be fought over like some common prize. He ground his teeth, her words echoing in his head.
He would fight for her; he’d fight harder than he ever had. He’d claim her again, before Xavier and the rest of the clan leaders. No one would ever doubt his strength, or who Addison truly belonged
Griffin watched, fists clenched, chest tight with rage, as Addison was pulled forcibly away from him. He was almost certain Xavier would not have her killed, but it tore at his heart to see her treated so roughly. He watched the last place she had been visible, the leaves still rustling in her wake, until Xavier stepped in front of him. The older shifter radiated anger, his beast barely restrained. Griffin’s beast was equally angry, just as close to bursting forth. But to do so would be suicide.
“Griffin, you are dangerously close to being exiled from the clans.”
Griffin dragged his eyes away from the last place Addison was, to meet Xavier’s steely gaze.
“Do I appear to care? If you feel you must, then do so. But do not expect me to go without a fight.”
“Are you challenging me?” Xavier took a step forward, chest thrust out. “Do you believe you can beat me, man to man, beast to beast?”
Griffin held his ground, hands resting loosely at his sides, fighting to control his anger, to control his beast. He wanted to clench his hands, to drive a fist through Xavier’s smug face, but Griffin was still a man of honor. Challenging a superior was done in public, in a ritualized manner. It wasn’t carried out in a fist fight, alone on top of the sacred ruins. Griffin was too proud to stoop that low, and too respectful of his heritage. But it took all his control, all his strength.
“You’re not the man you used to be, Xavier. You’re old, and growing weak. Someday, someone will challenge you. And that might be me.”
“You’re nothing but a whelp, Griffin. Infatuation with a human woman isn’t how a clan leader acts, and not how a grand leader behaves. You are selfish, and great leaders put their clans first, not their own base needs and desires.”
Anger boiled up in Griffin and for a moment the world receded, Xavier his only focus. His beast rose and it was only by sheer force of will he held it back, kept it from leaping free, tearing out Xavier’s throat.
The older man’s eyebrow rose a fraction of an inch, his lip curling in a contemptuous smirk. “So, I do ruffle your feathers, Griffin. I can see your beast as plainly as if you had shifted. I can see your hate for me as well.” He leaned forward, holding one finger dangerously close to Griffin’s face.
“Know this. You have crossed the line with me. I will be watching you. No move you make will be without my knowledge.”
“And I will be watching you, Xavier, just as closely.” Griffin moved forward, just enough so that Xavier’s finger brushed against his cheek. The leader’s eyes darkened dangerously but Griffin refused to back down.
“Is that a threat, Griffin?”
“It’s a warning, Xavier.”
Leaves rustled behind Xavier but neither man moved. There was a discreet cough and Griffin watched irritation flash across the older man’s face.
Finally Xavier thrust his chin at Griffin. “This is not over, whelp. Watch what you do, knowing that I’m watching you as well.”
With that Xavier turned, his cape flaring behind him. Griffin watched him consult with his guards as he strode across the ruins, disappearing down one of the exterior stairways.
Griffin turned away, looking out over the jungle. Emotions collided within him, anger, betrayal, disbelief. But among all the emotions he’d expect to have after a confrontation with Xavier, the strongest he felt was of loss.
He missed Addison. He’d vowed to protect her, but more than that, he’d grown to really care about her. Now she had been taken from him, all but torn from his arms.
And to add salt to his wounds, she was to be paraded before all the clan leaders, to be fought over like some common prize. He ground his teeth, her words echoing in his head.
He would fight for her; he’d fight harder than he ever had. He’d claim her again, before Xavier and the rest of the clan leaders. No one would ever doubt his strength, or who Addison truly belonged
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