The Blood King by Calle J. Brookes, BG Lashbrooks Read Free Book Online

again."
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Emily left Mickey in the sitting room, needing to think. Even though she'd learned so much about the Dardaptoans, the idea that they could live close to two thousand years or more was unfathomable to her. She also couldn't imagine being without someone special for six hundred years. Yet Rydere was letting her go? She settled on a small bench and watched the sun as it started to set. If she was destined for someone and was lucky enough to find that person, she'd grab on and hold tight with everything she had.
So why was he letting her go? Had he realized he'd made a mistake? Did he...not want her anymore?
Why didn’t that thought make her happy?
She’d studied him for the last week. She’d sat in his office most evenings while he dealt with the small concerns that running such a hotel consisted of, even offering her opinion on situations the several times he’d solicited it.
His job was no different than her position of head of Taniss. He just had many more people depending on him. And he shouldered his responsibilities well.
He was a fair leader, reasonable in his requests and equitable in his dealings with his people. He was available when they needed him and he cared for them a great deal. And he’d ruled them for over four hundred years, always alone except for his three advisors.
TI supported a world-wide staff of six thousand people so she had some inkling of his responsibility. Yet, Rydere’s leadership went so much deeper than mere employer. He was their king.
According to his own admission, he’d waited six hundred years for her, but now he was sending her home because she wasn’t happy with him. Why would he care?
Emily needed to know the answer to that. She stalked around the garden, pausing when she saw Josey on the far side. Josey tossed a toy for Free to chase, though her cousin’s demeanor was tense. Josey wasn’t happy, that was clear. Emily started toward her.
She didn’t make it. Free started barking wildly as half a dozen dark shapes came out of the shadowed grove and  encircled Josey, issuing deep growls that the blonde couldn’t hear.
The closest shape sprang, knocking Josey to the ground. Both Josey and Emily screamed, but Emily was too far away to help. Free attacked, but the little Border collie stood no chance against the larger wolves.
The wolves ignored the dog, shaking her off with almost human movements, staring at Emily as she continued screaming Rydere’s name. Screaming for help.
One was behind her as she turned and ran; she could feel it’s hatred, feel it’s breath as it burned against her skin. So close.
She tripped, slamming hard to the path. Gravel bit into her skin, mud soaked her white tunic. The beast behind her pounced, his teeth inches from her neck, his weight pinning her. She grabbed for a stick inches from her on the path; she swung, but it jerked the branch out of her hand with its teeth.
She fought, certain she was going to die, ripped to shreds by some beast her mind refused to identify.
She screamed; the word on her breath his name.
Then it was gone, and she heard a voice yelling her name; yelling at her to run, to get inside and get help.
She stumbled to her feet as Rydere attacked the first of the beasts surrounding her. He slashed with his knife, doing more damage than she’d have expected. Another man passed her with a keening cry, a warrior yell of both anger and despair, as she neared the doors. Cormac.
Hands pulled her inside the building. Theo held her. Thank God. “Josey! You have to help her! Help him!”
“Stay inside! Go to the king’s suites and stay there! The alarm has been sounded, and there is no one in this tribe that won’t die to protect you. Go!”
Emily couldn’t leave, not while knowing that Josey was outside, hurt. That Rydere might be. She could see everything that was happening through the window. Rydere still fought, though he was bloody. God, what if they killed him? What would his people do? What would she do? He