The Savage King by Michelle M. Pillow Read Free Book Online Page A

but she really wanted to learn more. There never seemed to be time at the Agency for archaic weapon training. Almost all species she dealt with used a type of gun. The ones that didn't weren't handled by her unit.
    "Halt!"
    Ulyssa blinked at the command, surprised but not afraid. She turned to see a large Var warrior standing before her. The man was half-shifted, his features not all cat and not quite human. He wore the Medieval-like tunic of a guard. A light tiger striped fur covered his face and neck with orange and black, mimicked by the fur on his hands. His voice was a gravelly pitch, as if garbled by the beginnings of a roar.
    Ulyssa grinned, looking forward to a little sport. A brow rose artfully on her features. There was only one of them and she so wanted to test her abilities against Var in a fair fight. "Yes?"
    "You're not to be walking the halls," the tiger man said.
    Ulyssa tried to hide her smirk. "Oh? And why's that?"
    "Because it is forbidden the night of the coronation," another voice answered.
    The second Var was behind her. Ulyssa froze. She hadn't heard his approach. There was no growl to his tone, only a flat dominance. The blackness in the voice gave her chills. Slowly, she turned. Before her was a large warrior, perhaps the largest Var she'd seen yet. She grimaced. He would not be so easy to beat. Even without his impressive build, she detected a quality to him that screamed militant warrior.
    "I--I have permission," Ulyssa answered weakly. She hated herself for stuttering.
    "Permission?" the large warrior repeated, giving nothing away from his overly serious face. Then, turning to the tiger man, he ordered, "On your way, Navid."
    "Yes, Commander Falke," the tiger, Navid, answered.
    Ulyssa didn't bother to watch the guard obey. He'd become the lesser of her worries.
    Falke turned back to her and again prompted, "Permission?"
    "Yes," Ulyssa lied, lifting her jaw. "From Prince Kirill."
    Falke's brow rose, urging her silently to continue.
    "He has chosen me for his woman," she said, watching the man's face carefully. "I spent last night in his room. So I demand that you let me be on my way before you incur the future King's wrath."
    "Navid, come back here." Falke leaned forward to sniff her. His eyes dipped over her attire. At great length, he nodded. "My brother has chosen her as his woman. Take her and have her prepared for him, then deliver her to Prince Kirill's chambers."
    He was Kirill's brother? Oh, hell, I've really done it now! Great going, Ulyssa! Ulyssa thought with a brief wave of panic.
    "That won't be necessary," Ulyssa began weakly, swallowing down her nerves. She glanced over her shoulder at Navid. His thick arms were crossed over his chest, as he waited for her to comply with the Prince Falke's order. Turning back to the Commander, she shook her head. "I...."
    Ulyssa did the only thing she could think of, she took off running. Passing the smaller Navid, she hooked him across his throat with her outstretched arm. The man fell back. With lightening speed, Falke was on her, pouncing from behind and tackling her to the ground. Her face slammed into the hard stone floor, jarring her near senseless at the impact. A light moan escaped her lips.
    "If my brother wants you, he will have you. You wear his clothing and you have his smell," Falke said, unaffected by her escape attempt. She tried to struggle at his words, but his one hand held her pinned to the floor. An unforgiving knee pressed into her lower back, stifling her breath. She gasped just to stay conscious. "On your way, Navid. I'll handle her. She better speak the truth for, if she lies, she'll bear the King's wrath."
    Navid bowed and left, glaring at her as he did so. Ulyssa knew he didn't take kindly to being out-maneuvered by a woman in front of his boss. She didn't care. It was his fault for thinking she'd be a complying female who'd follow orders.
    Falke hauled her up from the ground with a swift leap into the air. Ulyssa stumbled