Hunger Untamed (Feral Warriors #5)(71)

"What if some of what you've remembered wasn't from the queens at all, but false memories planted by the sorcerer? At one time, you were sure the Ilinas had never been attacked by the Mage before. You blamed yourself, blamed us both for Hookeye's original attack after you took me as your mate."

Brow furrowing, she bent down and picked up her dress. "You think my new memories about other attacks, about starving the poison, were Hookeye's doing? For just this reason . . . to make me lose control?" She pulled on her dress, a new horror filling her eyes as she met his gaze. "If you're right, how do I know what's real?"

He grabbed his pants. "Can we kill him?"

"No." The word shot from her mouth without hesitation. Which told him all he needed to know.

"That's what he wants you to think. It's a lie. The only way to get him out of your head is to kill him."

"You can't know that." But as he dressed, he could see her processing his words and watched as hatred leaped past the anguish in her eyes. "We kill him."

Kougar nodded. "I've got to get back to Feral House to warn the others."

"It's too late." Melisande appeared behind him. "The maidens have left. The Crystal Realm is empty but for us."

Ariana's gaze collided with his. Feral House. She sprang at him, turning to mist and catching him in her energy in a flash of light. Moments later, he felt grass beneath his feet, his head spinning even as he started running for the patio door. He could hear shouts of battle from inside Feral House. Shouts of pain.

Ariana materialized at the door. "Do you want Melisande's help?"

He glanced back to find Ariana's second standing where they'd landed, a wary expression on her face.

"Yes!"

The three rushed through the dining room together. They found the battle in the foyer, Lyon, Jag, and Vhyper in their animal forms, leaping at the mist warriors, attempting to strike during those seconds the maidens attacked with their knives. The floor was smeared with blood. And Wulfe was missing.

"Don't kill them!" Kougar barked. "They've been enchanted. Melisande and Ariana are with me." In a spray of light, he shifted into his cat, leaping at one of the Ilinas as she tried to strike Vhyper.

Melisande flew at Brielle as the latter was about to stab Lyon.

Out of the corner of his eye, Kougar saw Ariana lift her hands above her head. "Mel, hang on!" Then she began to chant fast and furiously. Two seconds later, the Ilinas disappeared, leaving nothing behind but cries of fury.

Even Ariana and Melisande were gone. Kougar searched for her through the mating bond, opened fully once more.

Ariana?

I remembered a warding to keep Ilinas out, Kougar. There was no time to explain. Feral House is safe.

Where are you?

Behind the house.

What of your maidens?

The others took off. Melisande has gone to find them.

Even telepathically, he could hear the devastation in her voice.

I'll be right there. He shifted back to his human form.

"Wulfe and Paenther?" Kougar demanded as the other Ferals shifted.

"Neither was here." Lyon turned to Jag. "Call them. Warn them." His gaze met Kougar's. "What the hell is going on?"

"Come." Kougar strode through the house and out the back door, Lyon and Vhyper close behind him. Ariana waited, her skin and dress streaked with blood, her eyes shattered even as they radiated with a warrior's fire.

Lyon's eyes narrowed as he took in her appearance. "Explain."

"I lost control of the poison," Ariana told him. "My maidens are infected, except for Melisande. They're controlled by the sorcerer who attacked us a thousand years ago. He sent them to capture you with hopes of dropping you into the spirit trap."

"He failed."

"For now." Brittle eyes turned to him, breaking Kougar's heart. She thought her friends were lost to her. That after fighting for so many centuries to save them, she'd failed.

He wouldn't let that happen.

"I'll get your Ferals out of the spirit trap." Her voice was low, vibrating with a pain that sliced what was left of his heart into ribbons. Her gaze turned to him. "Then we go after Hookeye together. I don't care if the entire Himalayan range comes tumbling down." Her lips pulled back from her teeth. "I want him dead."

Even in devastation, the warrior within her rose to the battle. He lifted his hand, an invitation born of a need to hold her, to comfort her, but she gave a small, tight shake of her head. This wasn't the time for comfort.

Her eyes widened, a look of raw doubt shattering her warrior's persona. "What if I don't really know how to save them? What if the Crystal of Rayas is just another thing Hookeye planted in my head?"

"Then we kill Hookeye first."

Melisande appeared in a rush of air that smelled of snow rather than pine. "They're at the temple," she stated without preamble. "The Mage have armed them and set them up as the first line of defense." She looked at Ariana, her eyes almost as hollow as her queen's. "The place is so thick with magic, I couldn't get near it. There will be no misting in. They'll snare us for certain." She scowled. "I don't know what they want with us."

"Hookeye knows we're coming after him." Ariana's voice shook.