Fist of the Furor by Frankie Rose, R. K. Ryals, Melissa Ringsted Read Free Book Online

this?”
    I approached her. “I will never reveal my sources, but I can’t promise you they won’t figure it out.”
    The cat sulked, her claws pulling across her stone seat. “I can’t risk it.”
    Another cat jumped up opposite Korrine. This one was black; part of its hair missing in tufts, its ribs showing through its side. “Not all of us are so pampered, my Queen. I would rather die in service to my kind than die from starvation.”
    My heart filled with pity, and I reached for the cat. It hissed at first, its fear palpable.
    “I’ll not harm you,” I soothed. “Your name, cat?”
    “Karma,” she answered, settling down carefully on her ledge, her skin rigid to the touch when I stroked her.
    “I’ll make sure you’re fed, Karma,” I promised.
    The mice around me scoffed. “Not us, our queen! Only if it isn’t us!”
    I grinned. “First rule. No one is allowed to eat anyone else in this room. The ones who are here were brave enough to come to my summons. You’ll be awarded for your courage. I will not see you eaten or killed by your allies.”
    Karma bared her teeth. “So the mice who did not show up are still fair game?” she asked.
    As much as I hated to, I nodded. She purred.
    A mouse jumped onto my boot, followed by a slithering garden snake. Maeve trembled against me.
    “I’m Thomas,” the mouse greeted, his small chest puffed out. “My friends and I will not betray you.”
    “The sss snakes around the palace are in agreement,” the serpent responded.
    Leaning down, I gently cupped the mouse before running a finger down the snake’s cool skin. Roaches circled me, and I had to fight back my uneasiness to smile at them. I may be a beacon of hope for all creatures belonging to Silveet, but bugs still made me squeamish.
    “I need all of you,” I announced. “Now more than ever. There is war brewing, and there are traitors in our midst.”
    The chickens clucked worriedly, the seagulls made bad jokes, and the hairless dog yipped. Oran glanced at him in disgust.
    I threw Oran a look before my gaze slid to Korrine. “These traitors could be more of a risk to your place in the palace than I am.”
    The cat sniffed, her nose lifting. “We shall see,” she said.
    It was enough. I glanced at Lochlen, and he nodded.
    I stood. “Go, and come to me whenever you feel it necessary. Find a way. I will always be receptive no matter where I am or what I am doing.”
    The animals converged; the roaches and mice skittering across my feet, the snakes circling my ankles, the pigeons flying, the chickens pecking at the ground in front of me, the dog and Karma rubbing themselves against my legs before departing. It was their way of showing respect to their queen, and I let them. Because in the end, no matter how I felt about any of them, how squeamish I was, or how uncomfortable I was in my position, these creatures were mine. They were my spies, my friends, and my family.
    Maeve finally relaxed against me. “We’re a sorry army,” she complained. “What use are animals against people?”
    There was a loud hiss, and the sound of claws against rock as Korrine jumped to the stone floor, her eyes yellow in the glow from the torches. “I will serve you, my Queen,” the cat said. “If only to prove the foolish girl with you wrong.”
    Her tail lifted as she sauntered away, her mumbling voice echoing against the stone, “What use are animals against humans, my arse!”
    Lochlen’s gaze met mine, and I shrugged. “It’s a start,” I said.
    He winked. “They will prove an invaluable asset.”
    There were shouts from the ramparts above. Our backs went to the stone wall, the torches suddenly extinguished by one large fanning breath from Lochlen.
    “I think we’ve been discovered missing,” Maeve mumbled.
    Oran’s paws scrambled over stone. “Come,” he commanded.
    Grabbing Maeve’s hand, I searched the darkness with my fingers, Oran’s fur brushing my palm as he guided us. Lochlen vanished. I’d