The wind whipped through my hair, my ears flattened against my head. Still, even over the noise, I heard the beating of furious wings. Though the wind stung my eyes, I managed to look up in time to see a massive golden dragon. The sight of it sent a bolt of fear racing down my spine. On reflex, my arms pulled me closer to the wolf’s back.
The dragon’s massive head turned just enough for me to see its eye as it blinked once before speeding off. While its fast escape was a relief, nothing was as calming as the sight of Ginger riding on the dragon’s back. Before I could ask Liam about the dragon’s identity, the wolf sped up.
Blurred shapes turned into smears of color as he moved ever faster. The tunnel took a matter of seconds to cross. Its darkness coming and going without providing enough time for me to even really blink. Then the wolf started to slow down until it reached a light trot as we approached the city.
Guards bustled around the place. It almost looked like someone came and kicked over a hornet's nest. Given the giant dragon circling toward the ground, I didn’t blame them. It landed next to Liam. Ginger dropped lightly to the ground as the dragon was enveloped by a mist of light and mana. When it dispersed, the dragon was gone, replaced with a clothed and serious-looking Pendragon.
“I thought dragons didn’t let anyone ride them.” Liam’s voice caused his chest to rumble between my legs. The vibrations traveled up my body and soothed something deep inside.
“And I thought wolves were the same way.” Pendragon shot back.
“I wasn’t going to have her holding onto my tail at that speed,” Liam spoke as we walked towards the gate. The guards, while still a bit annoyed, looked like they were not as alert as before.
“Well, unlike you, I don’t plan to let just anyone ride me.”
“And what does that mean?” Ginger lightly slapped his shoulder. Well, light to these people. With how his body shifted from the blow, I didn’t think it was all that light.
Pendragon stopped the turn and shifted enough to pull her into his chest. While his voice was low and spoken into her hair, my suddenly attentive and focused ears were able to pick up what he said. “I meant that you are the only one that will ever ride me. Whether that be while I am a dragon or a man.” My cheeks burned as the various meanings of his statement flit through my head. Judging by her expression, I wasn’t the only one either.
Liam scoffed before speeding up his walk to a jog. That plus the fact that they had come to a stop to do whatever they were going to do, meant that we left quickly left them behind. No longer distracted by the overly affectionate couple, I found myself looking around.
The fact that people didn’t react to the fact that a giant wolf was slipping around them as it made its way through the crowd told me all I needed to know about this place. Even if I didn’t notice it earlier, this city and its people were much more open and mixed.
While going from the middle of the wilderness to the city took a minute or two, crossing the city took a bit longer. Still, we arrived at the dark spire to find a group of guards preventing anyone from entering or leaving the place. One of them stepped forward at the sight of us approaching and shouted, “Stop.”
“Let us through,” Liam growled.
The guards raised their right hands to their foreheads in a salute. Still, the first guard refused to move. “We are under orders to not let anyone through. No exceptions were given.”
“Whose orders?” Pendragon’s voice cut over Liam’s ever-increasing growl as he and Ginger made their way out of the crowd.
“Senator Ismail.”
“Since when did a senator have power over the military or security?” While the dragon’s voice sounded calm, I could hear the anger bubbling beneath the surface.
A Middle Eastern voice cut over the noise as a man in a long flowing robe smoothly walked up behind the guards. “Since none of you have managed to stop the deaths of a strategic resource, time and time again.”
Liam’s voice seemed to drop even further. “So your answer is to just bar us from doing our jobs?” As he spoke, my hand reached forward and started to scratch behind one of his ears. The effect, while subtle, was instant. I could feel it as some of his muscles released the tension that was building inside them.
“We have a few people from one of our guilds looking into the matter.” The man flicked a hand. “If you will give me your word that you will stay away from the Oracle section of the building, I can authorize your entry. After all, we do still need you to do your other duties.” The man made it sound like he was doing Liam a favor but even I knew that this was nothing but a power play. This man was showing Liam just how much power he had and that he was more than willing to use it.
A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.
Now that the man had shown part of his hand, the question was, what would Liam and Pendragon do? I almost worried that one or the other would try to kill the guy. Thankfully, my stomach chose that moment to let out a furious growl. Almost as if I had eaten a wolf and now it wanted out.
The sound seemed to remind Liam that I was here. Sure, he could fight but I would end up hurt or worse. Since he knew that Xander had a need to protect me, he didn’t want anything to happen to me lest he incur the man's wrath. “Fine, but I WILL be bringing this up with the assembly at the next meeting.”
“Go ahead.” While I didn’t know the guy very well, I was sure that he was smirking. As if he knew something or had some sort of agreement going on that Liam didn’t know yet. Something that made him confident that he would win this argument.
But, with the verbal agreement, the guards moved out of the way long enough to let the four of us pass between them. Just as we were about to enter the building, the man spoke up. “I know I agreed to let the two of you enter to do your jobs and I can understand the need for the Foxkin to stay with her mate, but I don’t recall letting the Kitsune enter.” My fur bristeled at his tone.
Liam stopped mid-step and twisted his head to look at the idiot stopping us. “She is new to this city and must be under a trusted shifter’s watch until her control can be ascertained as you well know.”
“Are you saying that you have no other shifters that you trust?” Oh boy, even I knew that was a bad question to ask anyone in a leadership role, let alone this alpha.
“One, I don’t see any other shifters around here that I can give her to.” Liam’s voice grew cold as he continued. “And she is also under Kai’s protection. He entrusted her to his sister when he was forced to leave town.”
The man sneered as he looked me up and down. “I don’t see what he could see in this girl. She isn’t pretty or boasts anything one could call an asset. Unless he is into tails but if that were the case then he would only have to ask. I am sure that some of his animal-shaped fans would be more than willing to join him if he wanted company for a night. And even if she did, she should not be out without something to hide her face. Especially around other men. Add to that the fact that she is out without a family member as an escort. She should be ashamed of herself for bringing shame on her family.”
Ringing filled my ears, drowning someone's ranting. Instead, my mind spat sparks and sputtered as I tried to figure out what I was more upset about. The fact that he was implying that Xander was with me because I had animal traits or that I wasn’t pretty enough for anyone to want.
As I tried to figure that out, my mind fritzed even harder as I realized, at some point, I had changed. Not even a couple of days ago I would have been freaking over his words for a completely different reason. Freaking out over the reminder that I was no longer a man or even human. Yet I wasn’t. When had that changed?
The last time I could recall freaking out about being female was when I changed into a fox for my first run. After that the man below me kept me distracted enough to not even notice. Or maybe it was some sort of magic he was casting on me. Was it something pack-based to keep me calm? Maybe it was the power he, as the alpha, released without realizing it? I honestly had no idea and that scared me. Was any of my thoughts mine or were they being influenced? I needed to get away, now, while I had the chance.
“You seem busy. I think I will just head back.” The words come out in a rush, more of a courtesy than me asking him or out of obligation to keep him informed as to where I would be. Plus, while he might think that I was heading back to the shifter compound, I actually planned to wander around until I found the guild hall. Then maybe I could rent a room or something until Xander came back.
Mentally, I called for my shift to a fox. As the transformation washed over my body, I realized I had forgotten about my clothes. They were still on me and would tangle up my feet the moment I went to run. With hope and a prayer to the creator of the system, I tried to through all of them into my inventory. Thankfully, each and every piece entered it without fanfare or resistance.
With a twist of my body and a burst of mana, I turned and lept off Liam’s back. My aim was perfect as my body sailed between two of the guards. As my front paws touched the ground, my back curved upward to allow my back paws to land close to them. While I had expected it to feel awkward, I wanted to be as efficient as possible so that I had some chance to get away. Too bad I wouldn’t find out.
“Oh no you don’t,” Liam said as something clamped around the back of my neck before my hind feet could land. Whatever it was lifted me up and turned to face to guards. Now, I know what you are going to ask. Why didn’t I just try and fight my way free? There was something about the way I was being held that stopped me from being able to do so. To say it was disconcerting to have no control over my own body was a bit of an understatement.
“You should have just let her go.” The man said from where he watched. All he got in reply was a growl that vibrated my whole body. Given that it emanated from whoever was holding onto my scruff, I was fairly sure it was Liam. God that guy moved fast.
I let out a light whine in protest of his handling of me. His growling cut off in an instant as he sped up to a light cant into the building. Two turns later and I found myself completely lost. Either this place was a maze with curving walls or it was bigger on the inside because I was fairly sure we should be outside given how far we had walked.
Unlike me, Liam seemed to know where he was going because he soon came to a stop near a door with his name on it. Well, I assumed his last name was Peddlefoot. Everything else on it matched. Still, the door was shut. One of us would have to switch back to get it open as I was pretty sure that paws would not cut it.
Of course, Liam decided to prove me wrong. As if he had practiced many times before, the guy lifted a paw and slowly twisted the nob. Moments later, the door popped open with a light squeal from the hinges.
The inside of the room was fairly nice. Two chairs faced a massive desk set in the center of the room. On one wall a table filled with papers and items sat. While in the other corner, next to an unopened door, sat a dog bed of all things. The damned alpha walked up to the dog bed and plopped me into its center. “Stay here.” That was all he said before his hulking body vanished behind the second door. Yeah, that wasn’t happening.