A Love Untamed (Feral Warriors #7)(81)

Just as they reached the passage that led to the tunnel, a shout went up in the distance. They’d either found the bodies or Kara’s open cell. Either way, the Mage knew they had intruders. The good news was, it was clear the Mage had no idea there was any way in or out of the dungeons except by the stairs above, or they’d have had guards posted down here.

Reaching the tunnel, Melisande pulled off the grill and stood back as he ducked in. For one moment, their gazes met, and he saw the steel in her sapphire eyes and knew she was solid.

Melisande replaced the grill and followed him into the tunnel. Behind, he heard the pounding of booted feet and more shouts.

“The Radiant’s gone! Find her!”

Melisande carried the flashlight, leading the way back to Castin, who appeared to be collecting dead Mage, by the stack of bodies piled just inside the cave’s mouth.

Outside, rain slashed, the wind howling. Thunder crashed in the sky.

Castin motioned with his head. “The coast is clear at the moment. Come on.”

Together, they crossed the clearing through the deluge, ducking into the woods without a single shout going up. For the first time, Fox allowed himself a deep breath. If they stayed to this wooded path, straight out from the castle, they might be able to get away without being seen.

When Melisande motioned for Fox to pass her, he shook his head. “You first.” He didn’t want her out of his sight.

But she threw him a grin, loving him with those warrior eyes. “You’re carrying the precious cargo. I’m covering your flank.” She laughed, low. “Move your gorgeous ass, Feral.”

He threw her a grin that promised all kinds of carnal fun . . . if they got out of here alive . . . and let her bring up the rear. It was damned hard not to try to protect her, but she’d been a warrior for more than a dozen times as long as he’d been alive. And apparently she was one once more, though with her heart and conscience and smile fully intact this time.

They traveled quickly and quietly, hidden by the trees. About a mile from the castle, Fox began to think they just might make a clean getaway. But moments later, Melisande’s voice came from behind him.

“We have four Mage on our tail.”

“More in front,” Castin said. And Fox could see them—eight more appearing over the rise not twenty yards ahead.

Mage sentinels on every side.

Chapter Nineteen

They were surrounded by Mage, an even dozen of them as they stood in the blinding rain. They’d taken on this many and won once before, but not with an injured woman in their midst. Fox set Kara on the ground, and the three of them quickly surrounded her.

Fox looked at Melisande, and she met his gaze with that same blue steel in her eyes. He nodded, trying to toss her a grin and failing. There was too damned much at stake. He’d been in tighter spots in his life, but never had a battle meant so much to him personally. Because never had the woman he loved been fighting at his side.

“Anyone have an extra knife?” Kara asked.

Castin handed her one, approval in his eyes, before turning to face their attackers.

“And just where do you think you’re taking our Radiant?” one of the Mage asked, a smirk on his face as the sentinels slowly closed the circle. That Mage would be the first to die.

Fox shifted, upsizing as far as he could, until the Mage sentinels in front of him took several steps back, eyes wide, faces paling. Damn, he was the size of a pony.

“They’re here,” Kara said quietly.

And before he could ask what she meant, he heard the low snarls and growls of large, predatory animals and his pulse leaped with thanksgiving. A quick glance behind and he saw them—a lion, jaguar, wolf, and cougar coming over the rise behind the Mage and slowly circling until the four made up the outer, and by far the most vicious circle.

Jag’s voice slid into his head. I’m glad to see you and the misses made it, Foxy-woxy.

Fox grinned. Damn am I glad to see your sorry furry face, boyo.

In his mind he heard the sound of Jag’s laughter. Then Lyon’s stern command. Protect her.

Aye. Fox shifted backward, placing Kara between his front legs, where she fit easily. Anyone coming for her was going to have to get past his teeth.

The moment Lyon caught sight of his mate, his beloved Kara, sitting weakly on the ground between the giant fox’s forelegs, his control shattered. His logical mind urged him to keep quiet for fear of alerting the rest of the Mage. To attack rationally with cool self-control.

Fuck. That.

The deep, massive roar barreled out of his lion’s chest and throat as he leaped for the nearest Mage, the fury and frustration and anguish of the past hours, the past days, fueling his actions until he was caught in a berserker’s rage, ripping apart his enemies.

Limbs flew, heads rolled. A blade slashed through his fur and flesh, but he couldn’t feel it through the righteous wrath blazing through his mind and muscles. The bastards had taken his Kara!

Thunder crashed around them, hail pelted them from the skies, but still he fought and clawed and destroyed his enemies. With a single swipe of his paw, he tore off the head of his opponent, then turned to attack the next. But there were no more. It was over, the Ferals standing, the Mage all dead.

His gaze flew to Kara, where she stared at him, loving him, tears running down her cheeks. Desperation to feel her in his arms fueled his muscles as he lunged for her, shifting into human form even as Fox stepped back. And then he was sweeping her into his arms, feeling her slender arms tight around his neck, her tear-streaked cheek pressed to his as he held her against him so tightly, he feared he was crushing her.