Claiming the Jackal by Seressia Glass Read Free Book Online Page B

mortality was never an easy thing to face. “Does he... Did Peter have a mate? Someone I need to talk to?”
    “No, priestess,” one of the guards said, his face bleak. “I’m sure he appreciated having you beside him at the last. We all did.”
    “I just wish I could have done more for him.” One more life to lay at Amansuanan’s feet. One more reason why this has to end and she has to be stopped.
    She drew a steadying breath, wishing she knew where Hector was, wishing she could see him and know for herself that he was all right. But she knew her duty wasn’t done. “The rest of you should seek your beds. I’ll go report to Markus. Has he come back?”
    “He’s back,” Tia answered. She sat in the only available chair, her features drawn with fatigue. “He’s with Hector in his office. They didn’t find Derek. I’ll come with you in case he needs me.”
    “No, you won’t. You’re going home.” She held up a hand when Tia began to protest. “I’m pulling rank as clan healer. Amarie, take her home.”
    “Yes, healer.” The female guard pulled Tia to her feet.
    Tia attempted another protest. “But Markus—”
    “Will understand,” Rana cut in, then gentled her tone. “You used a lot of energy tonight, more than you had to spare. Go home, or I will tell the Anapa why you’re so tired.”
    With Tia headed home, the other clan members began to disperse. Rana dismissed two of the priestesses, leaving just Inari to monitor those too injured to be moved, disposed of her scrubs and cleaned up, then went to Markus’s office to make a report.
    And immediately wished she hadn’t.

Chapter Six
    Hector stalked across the polished wood floor, the sound of his boots an indication of his rage. “This has gone on long enough! For centuries we have been in defensive mode, engaging the Lost Ones as we encounter them while protecting the humans. The time for defense is past. It’s time for us to attack first!”
    Markus sat in the chair behind his massive carved desk, his fingers steepled together. “How do you propose we do that? They use portals to travel. We don’t know where their lair is.”
    Hector planted his feet. “We know who leads them. We know who controls them.”
    Markus leaned forward. “Do you know where Amansuanan is hiding?”
    “No.” Hector clenched his fists in frustration. “But I bet one of the Isis witches does.”
    Something rolled through Markus’s eyes. “Which one?”
    “I don’t know. One of the older ones who was around when Amansuanan was part of their circle. I find it hard to believe that none of them know anything about that witch or the one who escaped through the portal with her when we battled them.”
    “High Priestess Aya is the oldest of the priestesses in her circle,” Markus said. “She trained with Amansuanan. Like me, she was there when we discovered the bodies of Sekhanu and High Priestess Asharet. She thought Amansuanan had perished in that attack as so many others, jackals and priestesses alike, had.”
    “She could be lying,” he bit out. “They all could. No Isis witch should be trusted!”
    The clan leader didn’t move, didn’t raise an eyebrow, but Hector felt the press of his anger all the same. “Tread carefully, Hector,” he said in a tone all the more dangerous for its softness. “Your Anput is a Daughter of Isis.”
    The rebuke in Markus’s tone made Hector drop his gaze, as submissive as his anger would allow him to be at that moment. He’d lost a good jackal, several more were injured and one was missing. His failure to protect their people weighed heavily on him. He needed to do something, anything, and the fact that they had no leads, no clues to hunt down their enemies, chafed him.
    Somehow he bit back his anger. “Our Anput pledged herself to you and the clan under Anubis’s eternal eye. We all know that you now have a blood bond with her, because we can feel her through the clan bond. She may be a Daughter of Isis, but she