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Brick turned to the huge hound, and Kurgan growled low at him.Brick’s head immediately dipped, his beast recognizing a stronger male when he was confronted by one.

“Not sure where that big fucker came from,” Brick said, “but he doesn’t smell right.The look in his eyes isn’t right either.I’m…I’m not sure I can protect you from him.He’s a lot older, bigger.”

I could see it cost him to say that.I squeezed his arm.“Jagger knows him.The female in the cage is his intended mate.She’s afraid, but I think he’ll listen to her.I think she could control him if she tries.”

“It might work.My ma definitely knows how to get my dad to do what she wants.”

“Here’s hoping Lenny has the same influence.”We rushed to the side of the cage that Kurgan couldn’t reach and I used my spell to break the lock.“Are you ready?”I asked her.

“No, but I think we have to try anyway, I’m not staying here.”She chewed her lip.“If he kills me, run and don’t stop.”

That gave me pause.“He won’t do that.”

“He almost did the first time I met him.”Lenny pulled up her sleeve, showing me her mauled forearm.The scar was rough and twisted, the flesh misshapen.

“I don’t think he meant to do it.He was confused.”I’d felt it, that confusion, his deep regret when I’d sedated him.

Brick cursed, shifting from foot to foot.“That’s not normal.We don’t do that shit to females.”

Kurgan pulled on his chain and roared, the sound bloodcurdling.

“Stand back,” Lenny said to Brick, her voice shaking.“He’ll see you as a threat.”

“Maybe we should leave him here?”I said.“Send his brothers to get him once we’re out of danger.”

“We need him,” Brick said, worry in his eyes.“There are hordes of demons down here, and only one thing will keep them back.Yeah, I’m strong,” he said, flexing his biceps, “but one hound, as young as I am, might not be enough to hold them back.”He aimed his pretty eyes at Lenny.“You need to speak to him with authority.Hounds love touch, love to be hugged.His aggression will lessen if you touch him.”

She paled.“I’m not sure I can.”

“You can do this,” I said, and hoped I was right.“I was able to calm him once before with my magic.If this goes wrong, I’ll try to do that again.While I’m doing that, Brick will hook that chain around his neck.That should slow him down long enough for us to make a run for it.”

She nodded and stepped out of the cage.

“Strong voice,” Brick said.“With the cuff, he knows what’s going on but he’s all beast, he can’t shift, and everything feels like a threat even when it’s not.”

That was Kurgan all the time.

“K-Kurgan,” Lenny said, turning toward him.

Kurgan pawed at the ground, shaking his massive head, then growled low.

“Speak louder,” Brick said.“When my ma uses a certain tone, my dad stops in his tracks.Seen Wills do it with the alpha as well.Works every time.”

Lenny nodded and took another step closer.“Stand down,” she said and lifted her hands.“That’s it.”She took another step.

Kurgan lowered his head.

It was working.

But then he leaped, knocking her to the ground.His jaw wrapping around her leg tight enough to draw blood, then he dragged her away from us.I rushed forward, but Brick grabbed me, holding me back.

Lenny screamed, and that only set him off more.He stood over her, gnashing his teeth.He was confused, no doubt by everything that had happened, being taken from his cell, seeing Lenny again, and the strength of what he was feeling around her.

Her hands were planted against his massive chest.

“He doesn’t understand what he’s feeling,” I called to her, my heart in my throat.“The only desire he understands is hunger.That’s the only pleasure he’s experienced.He doesn’t want to hurt you, but biting is the only thing he’s felt that’s good.You need to speak up, Lenny.You need to show him there are other ways to feel good.”

“Stop,” she yelled, loud from the force of her panic, then wrapped her arms around his wide furry neck and pressed her face into the side of his.He eased up, no longer snapping and lifted his head.She started singing softly, her voice sweet and trembling.Kurgan stopped snarling completely now and blinked down at her.