LycanPrince by Anastasia Maltezos Read Free Book Online

wished Hesta wouldn't be long. Alex needed reassurance the warmth she'd felt on Ariel's forehead was fatigue from the journey and not a fever.
    She undressed, blew out the candles and crawled into her cot. The only thing she could hear outside was the soft rustle of the night wind and the occasional murmur of male voices. Apart from that, it was a still night and she was thankful for the quiet.
    With one final glance at Ariel, she lay back and let her body relax. Slowly, Alex fell asleep. The last thing on her mind was Vasilis and the look of sheer disbelief on his face after she'd felled him. An odd thought stayed with her. What would be his expression if he looked upon her with love?
    * * * *
    She tossed and turned, the covers tangling themselves around her thrashing form. This was one of her worst reoccurring nightmares. The one where she couldn't find Ariel and she couldn't wake up!
    Alex whimpered in her sleep as she yelled Ariel's name repeatedly. There was a dense mist all around her and she twisted and turned around, trying to find an opening in the fog to see where her little sister was. She heard the terrifying sounds of wolves howling in the distance.
    "Ariel, where are you?" She moaned in her sleep, perspiration forming on her upper lip.
    She looked up, toward the sky and saw more mist. There was no way out. The wolves continued to howl. In the foggy distance, she heard a faint cry, a child's cry. Alex panicked and screamed at the top of her lungs, a long agonizing cry that wrenched her soul.
    In her cot, tears spilled from her closed eyes and she moaned as she fought the emotional demons plaguing her in her sleep.
    She tried to run toward the sound of the child's faint cries, but her body felt like lead and she couldn't move. She screamed again, trying to put one foot in front of the other, but the heaviness around her was so profound, like a thousand hands holding her back.
    "I'm coming, Ariel!" she cried, tears streaming down her face in her dream and on her face on the cot.
    Then there was silence. There was only her and the mist and nothing--no sound around her. Alex spun around, her arms out, flailing, as she tried to move the fog away from her so she could see. Another guttural moan escaped her sleeping form and in her dream, she sobbed, covering her face with her hands, her body bent forward, wracked with grief.  
    Then she heard it, a child's giggle. Alex stiffened. She looked up and peered into the fog. A big shadow moved toward her.
    That's when she saw him, in his dark, warrior garb, carrying Ariel in his arms, striding toward her with an intent look on his face, his dark gaze locking with hers. Vasilis.
    Alex felt her spirit soar with joy and she ran toward them, her arms reaching for Ariel.
    "Where did you go?" she asked softly, looking up at Vasilis as she hugged her little sister close to her breast.
    He reached out with his hand and placed it gently on the side of her face. Tenderly, he brushed away a tear with his thumb. "I went to make Ariel better."
    Joy and gratitude filled her heart. She raised her face as he lowered his head and his lips met hers in a warm, tender kiss. Her heart swelled with feeling.
    Slowly, he withdrew his head. "Thank you, Vasilis," she whispered.
    "Wake up. Alex, wake up."
    * * * *
    Vasilis needed air. There was no way he was going to get any sleep tonight, so he strode out of his tent into the cool, dark night. He looked up and saw the moon was high. It would be full in four days and in four days the castle would not sleep. Ortega rose from the barrel he sat on.
    "At ease," Vasilis said. "I am taking a walk around the camp. You can see me from here."
    "As you wish, Your Highness," Ortega said dutifully.
    Vasilis clenched and unclenched his fists as he walked. He was tense and he knew why.
    Alexandra.
    Where did she come from? Who was she? Why at every turn did thoughts of her invade his mind?
    And why was a woman travelling alone with a child in bandit area?
    He had