Runaway Heart by Scarlet Day Page B

might have to set him straight about that if she got the chance.
     
    * * * *
     
    Jaren crouched low to the ground behind a large bush. He could see the entrance to the grotto from his vantage point. It was mostly concealed by vegetation, with thick vines draping down across the gaping mouth of the cavern. But he could see through enough of it to see the bastards inside. Odair. He couldn’t see the other man’s face, but it didn’t matter. He would be dead soon.
    He was relieved to feel Kari again through their link. When he had felt her panic and then suddenly nothing, he had feared the worst. Apparently she had only been unconscious. He didn’t detect fear coming from her but, much to his satisfaction, she was feeling particularly defiant at the moment. She was feisty, his sha-lia . He liked that.
    He motioned to Jaxson, who was hidden behind a nearby tree. Jaxson nodded once and disappeared into the thick vegetation. Kari’s brothers were hidden nearby as well, although Jaren couldn’t see them from his position. They would be taking Jaxson’s cues and moving into position, waiting for his signal to strike. But first, Jaren needed to go in and assess the situation.
    He stood and began walking toward the grotto’s entrance, not bothering to hide his presence. The note that had been left on his balcony made it clear he was to approach the grotto alone and unarmed. It made no difference. Odair was no match for Jaren in a fight, whether he was armed or not. Whether by stealth or directness, Odair would die today.
    Jaren entered the grotto and his eyes instantly adjusted to the dim light. A man Jaren didn’t recognize was standing off to the side. He was armed with some type of energy weapon Jaren didn’t recognize, but it was of no consequence. He would deal with him soon enough. Odair was unarmed and was standing in front of Kari, who was on the ground, her eyes closed. He would have thought she was still unconscious, but he could easily feel her through their link. She was pretending to be unconscious. So not only was his sha-lia feisty, she was cunning as well. Pride built inside Jaren, along with another familiar feeling. Jaren had to tamp down his desire. If he weren’t careful, he would be fully aroused before Odair was even dead.
    “What have you done to my sha-lia ?” Jaren’s voice was deadly calm.
    Odair scoffed. “She’s not fit to be a sha-lia . She’s not even Aldryssian.”
    Jaren growled warningly. “What do you want, Odair?”
    His uncle laughed. “Why, I thought that would have been obvious, my juvenile nephew. I want the crown.”
    “It will never happen.”
    “It will if you want your pathetic little female to live.” Odair’s voice was cold.
    Jaren’s eyes narrowed, and his beast wanted to rip the man’s throat out, but Jaren needed more information. “What did you do?”
    “Let’s just say that without the proper antidote, your mate will never wake up.”
    Jaren could feel Kari pouring reassurance and self-satisfaction to him. Jaren understood and both he and his beast relaxed. Obviously, Odair’s plan hadn’t worked out quite as he expected. Odair just didn’t know it yet.
    Jaren crossed his arms over his chest. It was the signal to Jaxson that Jaren had the situation under control. In one fluid motion, Jaren moved sideways and smashed the unknown man’s head backward into the wall, crushing his skull. Jaren returned to his original position in front of Odair before the unknown man had even finished sliding down the wall, his unused weapon dropping to the ground.
    Jaren looked down at Kari. She had opened her eyes when Jaren attacked the other man, but Odair didn’t realize it, since he still had his back to her.
    “Did that make you feel better, young would-be king?” Odair’s voice was mocking, like he was talking to a child.
    Kari’s eyes narrowed at hearing Odair’s ridiculing tone, and Jaren felt a wave of indignation flare from her. With no additional warning,