Page 56 of Fennick’s Fortune (Sentinels of Apollo #2)

The underlying unease that had troubled me all day while we were gone was standing in front of me in bear form.

Mikeal’s bear smoldered with rage. I knew there would be no reasoning with him.

I would attempt, since as a Sentinel, that was my job, but I wouldn’t push repeatedly or overly hard.

The truth was, I knew he’d never be able to stay away from her.

If he weren’t dead, he would forever be a threat.

“You need to shift. If you don’t, not only will our friend up there shoot you, but we’ll transform, and I can guarantee you, we have one large enough to deal with you easily,” Brax warned as he joined us.

When Mikeal didn’t immediately do it, I switched back, though Ripper wasn’t happy. I appeased him by telling him he’d get his chance.

“His bear is called Ironhide. Be careful,” Akiva’s voice said in my head.

“Got it.”

“Mikeal, surely you don’t want Ironhide killed. We’re supposed to protect our animals. It seems you like to let yours be hurt,” I taunted.

And just like that, with one last snarl, Ironhide returned to being Mikeal.

I got my first look at the man who was obsessed with my mate.

He was shorter than I was by a few inches.

He wasn’t a bad-looking guy, not that it mattered.

But I could understand why he might find it hard to believe that a woman would turn down the chance to be with him.

But he should’ve learned that while most wouldn’t say no to him, we were all on the receiving end of rejection sometimes.

“I don’t know who you are, and I don’t care.

Akiva is mine. She’s my mate. If you refuse to walk away and never come near us again, then based on the rules of our kind, you must accept my challenge, and it can’t be interfered with.

I invoke the Crucible of Conquest,” were the first words out of my mouth. There was no need to dance around it.

“It should be me issuing the Crucible challenge. I’m her true mate, and I have the first claim for her.

However, I accept your request. I hope you have all your affairs in order.

Oh, and Akiva, when I’m finished with this impostor, there will be no more running.

I’ve allowed you to get away with too much,” he shouted so she would have no trouble hearing him.

“You seem to have forgotten something, Mikeal,” I told him with a smirk.

“What’s that?”

“You have to kill me first. I wouldn’t count on a win just yet.”

“Who are you, and why steal my mate? I heard that you and others had come and taken her and the group she was traveling with away from the desert and brought them here. They were seeking safety, and they were forced to come here,” he accused.

“That’s a damn lie. None of Asa’s group was forced. I want to know something before I tell you who I am and why she’s with me. How did you find her?”

“A lot of hard work. Nothing can keep us apart for long when you’re meant to be together like we are.

My bear and I know her scent, no matter how faint.

Sure, she got clever and went down the river, and it took a while to find her trail, and then she’d layer on stuff to try and cover her perfume, but we can taste them on our tongues.

And she’s an unforgettable woman. No one seeing her, especially a man, would forget.

I plastered her picture everywhere. Anyone helping me to the next substantiated sighting was rewarded. Money helps.” He smirked.

“I’ve answered you. Now it’s your turn. Who are you? What gives you the right to steal what belongs to me?” he asked.

“I have never belonged to you, and I never will. You should’ve listened to your father. Mickie knew I wasn’t yours. What does he think of all your running all over the country?” Akiva shouted from the window above. I didn’t admonish her for it.

“Dad was a fool. He kept trying to convince me that you weren’t for me. I knew what he was doing. He wanted you for himself. I warned him not to interfere, but he wouldn’t stop,” he growled.

“What did you do?” she gasped and asked in horror.

“What any shifter would do to a challenger to his claim. I killed him.”

Her gasp of pain was choked off. I wanted to go to her and offer the comfort of my arms, but that would have to wait until I took care of this delusional bastard.

“I’m Fennick Mason. And these are my friends, well, most of them.

As for who I am and what gives me the right.

I have double the right when it comes to her.

First, as Akiva’s mate, to defend her. And secondly, as a Sentinel of Apollo, removing threats and putting down those who deserve it are my job. ”

I saw the flicker of uncertainty when I told him I was a Sentinel, then he chose to deny it.

“You’re no Sentinel. They’re too busy policing this Knights of Pytho bullshit that’s out there circulating.

There’s no such thing as Pytho or his Knights.

It’s some tale someone made up. We would’ve been told long ago by the Council of Oracles if they truly existed. ”

“I bear the mark. You can see it. And before you say it’s fake, would a fake one be able to do this?”

I barely grazed it with my fingertips, and the tattoo glowed a bright gold, throwing out rays as if I were the sun.

The light grew brighter as the others tore off their shirts to do the same.

I watched Mikeal stumble for a moment. He stood there frozen, looking at me and the others in disbelief. Finally, he seemed to snap out of it.

“Y-You, uhm, that… It doesn’t mean anything. Even if you are a Sentinel, you must uphold our laws, and a Crucible of Conquest cannot be abandoned or overturned because one opponent is one of you.”

“You’re right, it does have to be upheld.

And there’s no way any of us will attempt to dissuade him.

We’re here to ensure the fight is fair. If you were to win, which is highly doubtful, but say it did happen.

Then we would step up in our official capacity and have you arrested and tried for stalking, forcing a mating bond, and the murder of your father.

You’ve confirmed that you’ve done two already and plan to do the third.

It is within our rights to conduct your sentencing as soon as this ends,” Royal informed him coldly.

Mikeal was back to displaying fury on his face.

He bared his teeth. “I’ll kill every one of you!

No one is taking her now that she’s been found.

I’ve searched for her for months. And if you think I’ll stop now, you’re insane.

Akiva is mine. Enough talk, it’s time to finish this.

Akiva, before this night is through, you will be mated.

I hope that this thief hasn’t put a cub in your belly.

But if he has, I’ll ensure it doesn’t survive,” Mikeal said darkly.

His madness shone through. His maniacal expression, the brightness of his eyes, and his words all confirmed it.

Mikeal was suffering from mate mania, the same as Hadar had.

In response to his threat, a growl came pouring out of me.

I heard Akiva gasp, then shout down at him.

She was out on the upper deck of the house.

“You’ll never have me or kill my cub, if I’m pregnant.

Fennick will defeat you. But if he doesn’t, you’ll have to accept a Crucible of Conquest request…

from me. You’ll die, or I will. Removing your sickness from the gene pool is imperative.

You’re suffering from mate mania, Mikeal.

There is no other choice for you but death,” she hissed.

I shifted as Mikeal looked up at her and roared his fury at her threat. He was only seconds behind me with his transformation. My friends moved back to give us enough space to fight in. They formed a circle to prevent him from running. One way or the other, Mikeal’s life would end tonight.

Ripper was thirsty for his blood. He wanted nothing more than to rip out the other bear’s throat.

It was his preferred way to kill. However, before that happened, I knew my bear.

He didn’t need to tell me what he was about to do.

Ripper would teach a harsh lesson before administering the killing blow.

He was infuriated by the threats to our mates and a hypothetical cub.

“Don’t let his words cloud your mind. He’s dangerous,” I warned Ripper, even though it wasn’t necessary.

“I can take care of this abomination. He will not touch our mates or cubs.”

“Well, our mates. There’s no evidence she’s pregnant. We’ve only been together a month.”

His only response was to say, “More than enough time.”

I had no idea what he meant. Did Ripper know something I didn’t? If so, I’d have to wait until after he defeated Ironhide to ask. Surely, if she were pregnant, Akiva would know and tell me. However, this wasn’t the time to ask her.

Ironhide moved in a slow circle, studying Ripper, while my bear did the same. He wasn’t as hot-headed in a fight as Hadar had been. At least Ironhide/Mikeal studied his opponent and didn’t charge in without knowing how his opponent moved and fought.

My years as a shifter had given me many opportunities to fight. Add to that I’d been a Sentinel for over a hundred years, and I’d honed those skills to be razor-sharp. It didn’t mean I couldn’t lose, but it wouldn’t be done easily.

As with any fight between animals, wild or shifter, there was some posturing.

Ours started with making huffing sounds and opening our mouths to reveal our teeth.

Then, there was a bluff charge that stopped short of contact.

After each of us did that, Ripper swatted the ground with his paw, and Ironhide copied him.