the day to help hide their activities.
Vital to the plan was the use of shoes on the horses. Although rare, they were at times used by horses for their own purposes - to protect their hooves on long trips that required their animal forms. They also served a more sinister purpose in that they also kept the creatures locked in animal form since the metal in the shoe prevented transformation. The shoes, along with the threat of certain death by their riders, would hopefully keep them under control.
Mordigal walked to where the pack was gathered and the group stood when he drew near. One of the women stepped forward as he approached. She had long, straight blonde hair and a stunningly beautiful face with bright green eyes.
“I was beginning to worry,” she said.
Mordigal eyed her warily. “I know better. We weren’t gone that long.” To the rest of the group he continued. “They are packing up to move out. We leave in a few minutes.”
The group separated and began clearing their site while Mordigal walked to the black mare and began securing his gear, ignoring the woman who had followed him to the horse. A scowl had formed on her face.
In quiet but angry voice she began, “Why must you treat me this way? Other men would kill to have my love.”
Mordigal glanced at her and then returned his gaze to the saddlebag he was securing on his horse.
“Will you never give me a chance?” she said before affectionately placing her left hand on his shoulder. “Your brother is more than willing.”
Without looking away from his work he replied, “Then perhaps you should take the matter up with him.”
“We mate for life, you know that, and I am clearly the superior female in our group. I should be with the Alpha.”
“But I have a say in that,” Mordigal said. He paused a moment then continued, “Ash has been after your heart since you joined us. You should give him a chance. I will not claim the woman he loves. Besides, you know he will take over the pack if I die.”
She took her hand from his shoulder. “Ash is not the one I want.”
“He won’t give up on you and I can never love you,” he said sympathetically. “Ellyn, you are a beautiful woman and will make him, or any man, many beautiful children. Don’t waste your time on me. He loves you and my bond with him is more valuable than the touch of any woman.” Mordigal then glanced over at Ash who was busy checking the shoes on his horse. “Now go get ready. We need to leave.”
Chapter 9
A vryn ran into Thane’s room when he heard the scream. He glanced down at the small pool of blood on the floor next to the bed while Felia looked out the bedroom window. He kneeled down and touched it. When the cool moisture tickled his fingertip he knew it was fresh.
“This isn’t enough to be a serious wound,” Avryn said. “It couldn’t have been too long ago. I will check the training area and see if any of the guards have seen him, maybe you should check the school.”
He then noticed the tears that had formed in Felia’s eyes. He stood up and walked to the window and embraced her. “I’m sure he is fine,” he said. “He is probably running in the fields or checking on his new little friend.”
“I hope you are right. He never wanders off without telling us and the blood…what if he is hurt really bad?”
“I’m sure he is fine,” Avryn said. He then grasped her hand and led her from the room. “Come on, let’s go track him down.”
***
Felia arrived at the school after a short sprint. It was not a school day and thus the shutters on the windows were closed and the building appeared vacant. She reached the main door and pulled it open. The hinges creaked in defiance.
Although dawn had recently broken the classroom was dimly lit with only small scattered beams of light trickling through the cracks. As she gained her focus she spotted Thane sitting with his back to her facing a cage that rested along the left wall of the
Vital to the plan was the use of shoes on the horses. Although rare, they were at times used by horses for their own purposes - to protect their hooves on long trips that required their animal forms. They also served a more sinister purpose in that they also kept the creatures locked in animal form since the metal in the shoe prevented transformation. The shoes, along with the threat of certain death by their riders, would hopefully keep them under control.
Mordigal walked to where the pack was gathered and the group stood when he drew near. One of the women stepped forward as he approached. She had long, straight blonde hair and a stunningly beautiful face with bright green eyes.
“I was beginning to worry,” she said.
Mordigal eyed her warily. “I know better. We weren’t gone that long.” To the rest of the group he continued. “They are packing up to move out. We leave in a few minutes.”
The group separated and began clearing their site while Mordigal walked to the black mare and began securing his gear, ignoring the woman who had followed him to the horse. A scowl had formed on her face.
In quiet but angry voice she began, “Why must you treat me this way? Other men would kill to have my love.”
Mordigal glanced at her and then returned his gaze to the saddlebag he was securing on his horse.
“Will you never give me a chance?” she said before affectionately placing her left hand on his shoulder. “Your brother is more than willing.”
Without looking away from his work he replied, “Then perhaps you should take the matter up with him.”
“We mate for life, you know that, and I am clearly the superior female in our group. I should be with the Alpha.”
“But I have a say in that,” Mordigal said. He paused a moment then continued, “Ash has been after your heart since you joined us. You should give him a chance. I will not claim the woman he loves. Besides, you know he will take over the pack if I die.”
She took her hand from his shoulder. “Ash is not the one I want.”
“He won’t give up on you and I can never love you,” he said sympathetically. “Ellyn, you are a beautiful woman and will make him, or any man, many beautiful children. Don’t waste your time on me. He loves you and my bond with him is more valuable than the touch of any woman.” Mordigal then glanced over at Ash who was busy checking the shoes on his horse. “Now go get ready. We need to leave.”
Chapter 9
A vryn ran into Thane’s room when he heard the scream. He glanced down at the small pool of blood on the floor next to the bed while Felia looked out the bedroom window. He kneeled down and touched it. When the cool moisture tickled his fingertip he knew it was fresh.
“This isn’t enough to be a serious wound,” Avryn said. “It couldn’t have been too long ago. I will check the training area and see if any of the guards have seen him, maybe you should check the school.”
He then noticed the tears that had formed in Felia’s eyes. He stood up and walked to the window and embraced her. “I’m sure he is fine,” he said. “He is probably running in the fields or checking on his new little friend.”
“I hope you are right. He never wanders off without telling us and the blood…what if he is hurt really bad?”
“I’m sure he is fine,” Avryn said. He then grasped her hand and led her from the room. “Come on, let’s go track him down.”
***
Felia arrived at the school after a short sprint. It was not a school day and thus the shutters on the windows were closed and the building appeared vacant. She reached the main door and pulled it open. The hinges creaked in defiance.
Although dawn had recently broken the classroom was dimly lit with only small scattered beams of light trickling through the cracks. As she gained her focus she spotted Thane sitting with his back to her facing a cage that rested along the left wall of the
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