A Wolf's Duty Page 20

  Jeremiah looked ashamed of his daughter’s actions when confronted with them so bluntly, a light blush rising to his pale cheeks. “What will you do?”

  “I should have her killed.” Jeremiah winced.

  Should? What are you talking about? his wolf demanded. There is no ‘should’. I thought we had agreed on this, we’re going to kill this bitch and make her suffer.

  You don’t think of the consequences killing her would bring and apparently, when I’m angered, neither do I.

  I can’t believe you. You’re going to let her go!

  I never said anything about letting her escape from this unscathed. She hurt our Xandria and for that she will suffer, don’t worry. His wolf grumbled but seemed content with the idea of Lucinda suffering even if it was disappointed that she wouldn’t be dying any time soon.

  “I should have her killed for her actions but I won’t, as you’re well aware she’s likely the mate to one of our clansmen. I cannot force an innocent to suffer forever the half life of unmated males just because of her stupidity.”

  “What are you going to do then, your highness?”

  “She will be confined to the dungeons of the estate until her mate comes to claim her.”

  Dungeons? His wolf piped up. I like the idea of a dungeon, not as much I did the idea of chopping her head off, but I can work with it. Dark and dreary?

  The darkest, dreariest one I can find. If I can’t find one that I’m happy with, I’ll have one built specifically to hold her.

  Can’t forget the spiders, it has to have spiders.

  Of course, he agreed, but we can’t forget the rats either, it has to have those too. His wolf purred, apparently satisfied. The sound of voices outside of his head forced his attention back to Jeremiah.

  “But no one knows how long that could take your highness. She could be there for decades, alone and waiting.”

  Good. The longer the better. The thought floated through his mind but he was unsure whether it was his own or his wolf’s.

  “It is her own fault, she had the opportunity to wait for her true mate in freedom and she squandered the chance. As I’ve said, she brought all this upon herself. No one is to blame but her, and perhaps you indirectly for not guiding her properly. If she has to wait decades then hopefully by the time she’s released she will have learnt her lesson.” Turning from Jeremiah, he found Alex still shivering on the floor. “Call a doctor,” he ordered, his voice frantic. Shrugging out of his jacket he draped it over her shoulders, trying to warm her by rubbing his hands up and down her shivering flesh.

  “Tobias?”

  “Yes, dearest?”

  “You seem worried,” she remarked, her voice fading.

  “You’re injured and poisoned why would I not be worried?”

  “I’ll be fine, trust me.” She smiled, trying and failing to bring a hand up to reach his face. Seeing the failed movement, he removed his hands from her arms and cupped her cold palm against his cheek. “Tobias?”

  “Yes?” he answered, kissing the back of her hand before placing it back in her lap, where it lay limp.

  “I love you.” Before he had a chance to respond to her statement, the vines that had lain dormant around them surged to life, discarding their thorns and wrapping themselves around her body. Lifting her from the ground, they moved towards the trunk of a tree, setting her down in front of it. The grass beneath her body grew, coating the vines and the tree branches lowered, resting their foliage against her cold skin. Rushing forward, Tobias felt his body readying for an attack, as he prepared to tear Alex from her leafy cocoon. Her soft sigh of relief floated through his mind and his body faltered. Moving towards her slowly, he ran the tips of his fingers against the bare skin of her face, noting that her skin was no longer so cold and that she seemed to be alright within the confines she had made herself. He sat down on the overgrown grass, sneezing as a wealth of new scents floated to his nose.

  “Is she ok?” Looking up, Tobias noted that his mother and father had moved closer, with what appeared to be the entire assembled body of clan representatives at their backs.

  “I have no idea,” he groaned. “Lucinda poisoned her.” A collective gasp sprung up at his statement, the overheard words of Tobias’ heated confrontation with Lucinda now confirmed.

  “She couldn’t have done that,” Yvonne exclaimed in disbelief.

  “Well Alexandria was fairly sure she was poisoned and as it’s her body, I’m inclined to believe her. Smell Lucinda for yourselves, if you have any doubts that what I say is the truth.”

  “I’ll have Lucinda tell us what poison she used and it will be easy enough to find an antidote or have one made,” Thomas inserted. “But we can only help her once she’s out of there.” He stepped forward and Tobias raised a hand to halt his advance.

  “Don’t father. Don’t touch it.”

  “We have to get her out of there Tobias, otherwise we can’t help her,” Thomas asserted, trying to reason with his son.

  “She isn’t being hurt in there. Xandria isn’t like normal humans. These plants wouldn’t hurt her and if she did this to herself she must have had a reason.”

  “Tobias, listen to yourself, your mate is poisoned and injured and you’re suggesting that we do nothing about it?”

  “That’s exactly what I’m suggesting father,” he stated, leaning his head back against the tree trunk and calmly waiting for her to wake. Time passed slowly, seconds blurring into minutes and minutes into well over an hour and yet all those gathered continued to wait, anxious to see what would become of their prince’s mate. As time ticked on Tobias became increasingly concerned until a small groan from her grabbed his attention.

  Her eyes fluttered open and she smiled at him. “Tobias.”

  “Xandria.” He reached for her and the vines around her body slid away, receding into the ground. Gathering her close to him, he breathed deeply, relishing the feel of her small, warm body against his.

  “I won right?” she asked her question muffled against the fabric of his shirt.

  “Yes dearest, you won.” He responded before thrusting her away from him to examine her. The white shirt she wore was now bloodied and torn but the hand that touched her stomach was met by firm skin, healthy and whole. Reaching forward he lifted the shirt to confirm with his eyes what he had felt with his hands, the flesh beneath the shirt was unmarred though blood was still spattered across her skin. His gaze lowered and he found that the skin on her calf was also healed.

  “Xandria?”

  “I just hear plants in my head, eh Ryan?” She threw over Tobias’ shoulder, seemingly unaware of the crowd that had gathered around them and were watching her with questioning looks in their gazes. “I told you that I’d win,” she chuckled.

  “Are you ok Xandria?” Tobias inquired.

  She swayed within his grip, the wear of the constant barrage of whispers in her mind and the extended use of her ability finally catching up with her. “I feel tired Tobias.” She fell forward, landing against his chest.

  “Rest for now then, you’ve got a busy day ahead of you.”

  “Mmm?”

  “Yes, you have to be introduced to the clans.”

  She groaned at the mere idea of meeting so many new people in a single day; pushing the voices to the back of her mind before it went blissfully blank.

  Lifting her still body into his arms he stood, turning to face the gathered crowd.

  “She’s well?” Yvonne asked again.

  “She’s fine now, apparently she’s gifted at healing as well, but the strain has proved too much for her. She’s just tired now.”

  Yvonne sighed in relief. “I was worried for her.”

  “So was I.” He mumbled under his breath.

  “Prince Tobias?”

  He scanned the crowd, quickly coming across the face of the speaker. “What is it Samuel?”

  “Your highness, there are several tasks that need to be completed now that the Challenge is over.”


  His gaze flickered from Samuel to the sleeping form of Alex, his decision made. “No.”

  “Your highness?” Samuel inquired perplexed.

  “I said no, I’m staying with my mate until she wakes up.”

  “Your highness, there are things that require your urgent attention.”

  “I’m aware of that, she’s right here in my arms.”

  “Your highness, it’s your duty to attend to these tasks.”

  “My duty is to my mate, the one that you let get in such a state by allowing Lucinda's preposterous Challenge. I’m not doing anything until she wakes up, am I clear?”

  “Your highness?” Another Council member injected, preparing to throw his support behind Samuel’s demands.

  “You heard him,” Thomas interrupted, “he’ll be taking care of his mate and will see to these tasks once he’s sure she’s well. Not another word will be said on the subject. Now everyone, let’s go inside, there is no point in us staying out here, you can’t meet her until she wakes so we might as well be comfortable.” Thomas turned heading back in the direction of the estate, confident that the others would follow his lead.

  Looking down at the small body he carried in his arms, Tobias found himself smiling despite what had occurred. She admitted it; she loves me. He grinned, pulling her closer to his body and she began nuzzling the side of his neck, causing him to groan.

  We’ve been deprived Tobias, his wolf began, but now that we can touch her again…the possibilities are endless.

  We have to wait until she wakes up.

  That’s true, but there are locks on the doors of both your bedrooms, no one needs to know she’s woken. We’ll barricade ourselves in and enjoy our reunion in peace.

  She rubbed her lips against the skin at his throat in her sleep and he moaned in pleasure. You know, I’m beginning to see the merits of that plan.

  I knew you’d come round to my way of thinking eventually. The wolf chuckled, pleased at the prospects of their reunion once Alex woke.

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Sitting in a chair across from the bed, Tobias watched the gentle rise and fall of Alex’s chest that assured him she was still breathing. The resident doctor had come to check on her and told him that while there were still traces of poison in her system, she was otherwise fine. At the time, he had been elated, but four days later she was still sleeping and he was becoming increasingly frustrated. After the second day, he’d called in a different doctor who had told him much the same as the first, there was no reason they could find to explain why she still slept. So he had barricaded them into his bedroom, refusing to leave until she opened her eyes.

  Wake up Xandria. He rose from the chair, taking a seat instead at the edge of the bed and gripping one of her hands within his own. I miss you. Through the contact of their skin, he could feel that what the doctors had said was the case; there was nothing wrong with her. He dropped her hand, frustrated and walked over the balcony, opening the window to let in a fresh breeze.

  “Tobias?”

  He spun round at the sound of her voice. “Xandria?” Quickly covering the distance between them, he pulled her from the bed into his embrace.

  “Woah, Tobias,” she wheezed, the tightness of his grip making breathing a difficult chore. “What’s the matter? Did something happen?”

  He thrust her away from himself, scanning her frame to ensure that she was fine. “You’re never allowed to use that ‘gift’ of yours again,” he stated, his tone demanding compliance.

  “Why Tobias? I don’t understand, I thought I won the Challenge. Did I get disqualified or something? Did Lucinda win?” She sobbed, “Oh God, she did, didn’t she? I’m sorry Tobias, is there anything I can do? Can I Challenge her? I’ll win this time, I promise.”

  His grip loosened and he felt his ire fading at her frantic thoughts. “No dearest, Lucinda didn’t win, you did.”

  “Oh thank God, you scared me for a second.” She sighed, clearly relieved, before she remembered his strange demands. “If I won Tobias, then what’s the problem? Why don’t you want me to use my ability anymore?”

  “Because apparently using it exhausts you.”

  “Yeah, I guess I was a little tired,” she conceded.

  “A little tired? A little tired?” he reiterated, baffled by her calmly delivered statement. “Xandria, you’ve been asleep for the better part of four days.”

  “Four days? Are you serious?”

  “I wouldn’t joke with you about something like this. You had me racked with worry. I haven’t been able to sleep, that’s how concerned I was for your wellbeing. I couldn’t wake you no matter what I did, but you seemed fine. The doctors were confused as well, according to them there was nothing wrong with you, which leads me to the conclusion that it’s the use of this power of yours that did it.”

  “Tobias, don’t be silly. That can’t be right. I used my ability all the time when I was preparing for the Challenge with Ryan.”

  “Not your ability to control a wolf you didn’t.” She groaned at the statement. “Yes, I found out. Ryan confessed everything when you still wouldn’t wake up after two full days of sleep.” He growled, remembering the anger he had felt towards his cousin when Ryan had confessed that little bit of information. Sebastian's calming influence was the only thing that saved him from a sound beating, though as the days had continued to pass with no sign of Alex awakening, he had regretted that decision.

  “Are you mad?” she murmured, avoiding his gaze in case he was disappointed.

  “With you?” She nodded. “Of course not.” She sighed relieved, smiling widely at him. “Ryan on the other hand is another matter.”

  Her smile vanished. “Don’t be mad at him Tobias, I asked him not to tell you.”

  “And he shouldn’t have listened, you could’ve been killed.”

  “But I wasn’t,” she pleaded, dragging him over to the bed where they both sat.

  “He didn’t know that.”

  “Tobias, I had to try. Besides, I won, didn’t I?”

  “That isn’t the point,” he groaned, the image of Alex’s flesh being torn so easily by Lucinda's claws flashed through his mind and he found his body shuddering. “You don’t understand how hard it was for me to watch Xandria. I could see you bleeding, smell your blood, feel your fear coursing through me like it was my own.” He turned to her, his eyes wild. “I thought I’d lost you Xandria. I can’t lose you, ever.”

  “Tobias I –”

  Her response was cut off as his lips descended upon hers, snatching her breath. His lips were hard against her own, the kiss bruising in its intensity. His tongue easily slipped past her open lips, clashing against hers. The punishing kiss continued as he dragged her body closer, preventing her from catching her breath. As oxygen became an issue, she began to struggle in his grasp, but he didn’t seem to notice her attempts to be free until she began pushing at his shoulders, demanding he let her go. His mouth left hers and she felt torn, wanting it to return while desperate with the need for air.

  Panting she tried to catch her breath, looking at the expression of desperation on his face. “Tobias, I’m sorry I didn’t tell you, but I didn’t want you to worry.”

  “Promise me, Xandria, that you won’t use that ability any more.”

  “I can’t Tobias. If someone else tries to Challenge me I’m going to need it.”

  “No one else will be challenging you dearest, you can be sure of that. So there’s no need to use it anyway.”

  “It doesn’t matter Tobias. I can’t even control it properly. There’s no need for me to promise not to use it because I can’t anyway. The only time I seem to be able to hear wolf whispers is when I’m scared for my life and I have no intention of going through that any time soon.” He sighed, relieved. “And as for the plants, it’s not like I can really do anything about them, they’re always there in the back of my mind. If I don’t try to use them when I’m in trouble I think they’ll just take matters into their
own hands – well if they had any hands I mean – and do what they think is best.”

  “I want you to be able to do anything that makes you happy dearest, but the Challenge and these last few days…I swear I think you’ve taken a few decades off my life expectancy,” he chuckled.

  “Tobias?” she murmured hesitantly.

  “Yes, dearest?”

  “If I’ve been asleep for four days, does that mean everyone’s gone? I’m not sure, because I was losing consciousness at the time, but the last thing I remember is you telling me that I was going to have to meet all those people.”

  He grinned at that, tossing her further on to the bed, before crawling over her and caging her in with his body. “You know if I didn’t know better, I’d think you slept that long intentionally so you could get out of meeting my clans.” A blush rose to her tinge her cheeks. “Well even if you did, it would have been for nothing because everyone is still here.”

  “What?” she spluttered. “Why didn’t they leave?”

  “People are anxious to meet their Warrior Princess, soon to be Queen.”

  “You’ve got to be kidding me, warrior Princess? Who thought that one up?”

  “After your display, it seemed natural for people to think of you as a fighter and before long everyone was calling you the Warrior Princess.”

  She groaned, “They can’t all still be here! There were so many of them… where did you put them? The estate just isn’t big enough for everyone to have somewhere to stay.”

  “The grounds are bigger than they look dearest. They go on for miles and miles and there are houses scattered all over. You didn’t think that everyone here lived in just the one building, did you?”

  “What else was I meant to think?”

  “There’s enough housing on the grounds to house all the clans and all their members. The whole estate was built so that in case of an emergency, we would have somewhere to fall back to.”

  “Oh.”

  “Xandria, do you remember what you said to me before you wrapped yourself up in those plants of yours?” Her eyes widened as the memory floated through her mind but she stayed silent. “It seems that you’re having a bit of a memory lapse,” he grinned, lowering his head to her neck and planting a light kiss against the flesh. “I think that I’ll have to remind you then.” He continued placing butterfly kisses against the warm skin. “You said you loved me Xandria.” He began undoing the buttons of the oversized shirt she wore, kissing the exposed flesh as he went and she moaned as pleasure began to course through her. “Did you mean it Xandria?” He stopped kissing her, sitting up with the edges of the shirt in his hands. “Xandria? Do you love me?”