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“Take that back,” the man barked.

Layala looked over her shoulder and glanced up at Thane. “Seems we have friends to take care of our light work.”

“Not that we need them.”

“Certainly not,” she agreed. “I could take this whole room myself.”

Thane slowly shook his head but laughed. “I wouldn’t let you have all the fun on your own, but it would be entertaining to watch you take these bastards down.”

A shove in the chest by one of the elves was all it took for the room to explode into chaos. Splinters of wood flew through the air as chairs crashed over backs. Tables tipped and ale sloshed across the floor, splattering on Layala’s boots. She flicked her ankle, kicking some of it off. Grunts and roars of anger, and filthy curses that even made Layala cringe, ground against her ears. Fists cracked against bone, and it seemed the weapons drawn were only for show. No one died yet. The elves were quicker and stronger, but these gruff human men fought dirty; clawed and bit and sucker punched.

Suddenly, a wailing sort of singing voice bellowed out from behind her.What in the hell?Layala turned to find Tifapine standing on a stool, arms spread wide, yodeling. Her high-pitched voice was like nails scraping on metal only adding to the chaos. “Get down!” Layala demanded and marched toward the stage. She slapped her palm against the raised platform. The tiny menace was supposed to stay in the room.

Tif only yodeled louder, tapping her foot, and pushing out her chest. How could anyone that small be ear-piercing? And where did her acute fear of jumbos go all of a sudden? She’d barely come out of the bag or Thane’s hood, but she would take the stage in the middle of a brawl?

One of the men made it past the other elves and Thane popped him hard with an elbow.

“Shut that thing up!” someone shouted and tossed a half loaf of bread. It sailed right by Tif but with her eyes closed and her mouth wide open she didn’t even notice.

Layala groaned and hopped up on the stage, snatching Tif by the back of her dress and lifting her up. “What in the world are you doing? Are you blind and deaf?”

A blush spilled across her cheeks, and she adjusted her little red hat. “I wanted to sing.” She pointed out at the fight still going on. “And I have an adoring crowd.”

The room was in shambles at this point, with men and elves rolling on top of each other, tables cracked, chairs split in half, food, and drink everywhere. Alisara and her group of friends disappeared and Kail still sat in his booth, head resting on his fist watching everything with a miffed expression.

Layala rolled her eyes. “Yes, they look so adoring, don’t they? I told you to stay upstairs.”

“I may have gotten a few thimbles full of this juice that turned out to be wine and suddenly I got real brave.” She pulled a tiny sword from under her skirts. “Let’s get ’em.”

The entrance door crashed open, and sunlight spilled inside. Palenor soldiers in navy uniforms stepped inside. At first there was only a couple, but they kept coming. Thane hopped up on stage, grabbed Layala’s arm and started for a shadowed corridor. “Time to make our exit.”

“You think they are here for us?”

He shrugged. “They could be. Or someone got help from the street patrol for the fight. Either way, we need to go.”

“I can take ’em!” Tif said, slashing her weapon through the air.

“We’ll get our things and take the back door.” They rounded the corner that led upstairs to over a dozen guards blocking their path.

Chapter19

Thane glanced back, finding five more soldiers coming up behind them. All of them had their weapons drawn. He held Layala’s arm a little firmer, ready to negotiate until blond hair and a cocky grin stepped through the soldiers, and then he only saw red.

Thane’s sword was out and pressed against Aldrich’s heart in a flash. “Before you do that,” Aldrich said, raising his hands in surrender. “Know that we have Piper, Fennan and dearest Aunt Evalyn being held outside. If you go out there before I do, my soldiers have their orders to kill them.”

“You piece of shit,” Thane snapped, hand shaking with rage. It took every last bit of his restraint to not shove his sword straight through Aldrich’s chest. His hand snapped out and he gripped a handful of Aldrich’s hair, jerking him closer. “How dare you show your face to me. I am the reason you still draw breath. I saved your ass over and over and this is how I am repaid?”

Aldrich had the nerve to allow the corner of his mouth to curve upward. “You made a critical mistake, Thane. You forget I know you. I knew you’d split the Ravens to throw us off your trail, but I was at your side for years. So my gut led me here. Alisara looks good, doesn’t she?”

Thane shoved him into the line of Palenor soldiers and a low growl rumbled in his throat. “The mistake was yours, thinking you could come here, and I wouldn’t tear your heart out of your chest with my bloody bare hands.”

The soldiers around shifted nervously, their breaths shallow and quick. They knew how fiercely a male would protect his mate and they knew Thane’s threats were real. He contemplated his odds of being able to take everyone here down and getting to his friends before the soldiers outside could hurt them.

“Thane, if he has—” Layala started, and Thane cut her off with a glare. She clamped her mouth shut and looked away.

“Well, that’s a first,” Aldrich drawled.

“Watch your filthy mouth.”