from the white sheets did nothing to calm her nerves. “ What am I going to do? I don ’ t think I can beat him. I ’ m still injured and I barely beat Santos.”
“ It ’ s okay , lass, don ’ t worry. Take these pills and get some rest. I will not leave ya tonight.” Charlie bent down and kissed Jenny ’ s cheek.
***
Jenny was doing her best to stay down wind. She picked up Kane's scent easily in her lion form. Her paw ached , drawing away her focus. She had to be vigilant. She stopped as she swiveled her ear , lis tening for the faintest hint of Kane's location, nothing. She was tempted to give her animal side more control but remembered Charlie's warning. It could easily take over.
Kane's scent veered to the left , toward the stream. She tested the air again and silently padded to the edge of the water. She cursed her own inexperience. The scent was gone , and she realized too late that it was a false trail as Kane lunged at her from behind. She was too slow , and her injured paw hindered her movement. The powerful jaws of his black hyena clamped down on her vulnerable throat. She fought , digging her claws into his sides , drawing blood and tissue from his flesh. She couldn't give up and struggled un til all she could see was never-ending darkness. T he satisfied laugh ter of a tormented creature followed close behind her.
***
A meeting was called to decide the fate of Kane. Jenny was close to death , holding on by her sheer strength of will.
"She knew the risk! I have done nothing but win what is rightfully m i ne!" K ane roared .
"Mark my words , I will kill you. This I swear." The words were laced with vengeance as they passed through Gryph's feral scowl. His animal was close to the surface , demanding justice for his unclaimed mate.
"We will see who wins the final battle. I will be victorious , regardless of the queen's state. Better off if she dies , for I will still be king and you will have to live under my rule." Kane's eyes twinkled with sadistic happiness.
Gryph unleashed his claws and pushed Kan e against the wall , bringing his face mere inches away. He held Kane still by increasing his grip on his throat. His fangs fully extended as he barked his warning. "If she dies, there wi ll be no place for you to hide where I can't find you. You will die , this I assure you, but it won't be slowly. It could take weeks of your suffering to ease my hunger for justice."
Blood pooled in Kane's mouth as he spoke, "The only way you can kill me is if you submit to your animal , and we both know you can't do that as the heir to your clan. Either way, I win." Blood coated his evil grin.
"We will see who wins." Gryph released his hold on Kane and stepped away , barely reining in his animal. Tomorrow he would have justice, becaus e tonight he had somewhere important to be.
The sight of Jenny almost brought Gryph to his knees. She was pale, her face void of her special fire. He ran his finger along her cheek silently praying for her to wake up. He bent down and placed a gentle kiss on her lips, maybe it would be enough to bring her back to him.
"Foolish." h e mumbled to himself when the soft clearing of a throat interrupted.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to intrude." Marlena walked over and placed a lovely vase full of blue lilie s next to Jenny's bed.
"That's very kind of you." Gryph didn't make eye contact , uncomfortable with his witnessed show of affection.
"She was my friend." Marlena softly grasped Jenny's hand.
"I brought the paper s you requested." She motioned to the folder next to door. "It's a shame we can't take her to a human hospital. Our clan doctor won't be here till morning."
"Yes, it is." He walked over to the folder and opened it to examine the contents. He signed on the line, at peace with his de cision.
"Thank you ,
“ It ’ s okay , lass, don ’ t worry. Take these pills and get some rest. I will not leave ya tonight.” Charlie bent down and kissed Jenny ’ s cheek.
***
Jenny was doing her best to stay down wind. She picked up Kane's scent easily in her lion form. Her paw ached , drawing away her focus. She had to be vigilant. She stopped as she swiveled her ear , lis tening for the faintest hint of Kane's location, nothing. She was tempted to give her animal side more control but remembered Charlie's warning. It could easily take over.
Kane's scent veered to the left , toward the stream. She tested the air again and silently padded to the edge of the water. She cursed her own inexperience. The scent was gone , and she realized too late that it was a false trail as Kane lunged at her from behind. She was too slow , and her injured paw hindered her movement. The powerful jaws of his black hyena clamped down on her vulnerable throat. She fought , digging her claws into his sides , drawing blood and tissue from his flesh. She couldn't give up and struggled un til all she could see was never-ending darkness. T he satisfied laugh ter of a tormented creature followed close behind her.
***
A meeting was called to decide the fate of Kane. Jenny was close to death , holding on by her sheer strength of will.
"She knew the risk! I have done nothing but win what is rightfully m i ne!" K ane roared .
"Mark my words , I will kill you. This I swear." The words were laced with vengeance as they passed through Gryph's feral scowl. His animal was close to the surface , demanding justice for his unclaimed mate.
"We will see who wins the final battle. I will be victorious , regardless of the queen's state. Better off if she dies , for I will still be king and you will have to live under my rule." Kane's eyes twinkled with sadistic happiness.
Gryph unleashed his claws and pushed Kan e against the wall , bringing his face mere inches away. He held Kane still by increasing his grip on his throat. His fangs fully extended as he barked his warning. "If she dies, there wi ll be no place for you to hide where I can't find you. You will die , this I assure you, but it won't be slowly. It could take weeks of your suffering to ease my hunger for justice."
Blood pooled in Kane's mouth as he spoke, "The only way you can kill me is if you submit to your animal , and we both know you can't do that as the heir to your clan. Either way, I win." Blood coated his evil grin.
"We will see who wins." Gryph released his hold on Kane and stepped away , barely reining in his animal. Tomorrow he would have justice, becaus e tonight he had somewhere important to be.
The sight of Jenny almost brought Gryph to his knees. She was pale, her face void of her special fire. He ran his finger along her cheek silently praying for her to wake up. He bent down and placed a gentle kiss on her lips, maybe it would be enough to bring her back to him.
"Foolish." h e mumbled to himself when the soft clearing of a throat interrupted.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to intrude." Marlena walked over and placed a lovely vase full of blue lilie s next to Jenny's bed.
"That's very kind of you." Gryph didn't make eye contact , uncomfortable with his witnessed show of affection.
"She was my friend." Marlena softly grasped Jenny's hand.
"I brought the paper s you requested." She motioned to the folder next to door. "It's a shame we can't take her to a human hospital. Our clan doctor won't be here till morning."
"Yes, it is." He walked over to the folder and opened it to examine the contents. He signed on the line, at peace with his de cision.
"Thank you ,
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