Page 103 of The Path of Blood and Betrayals

Wulf continues on, judging each of us silently. “The Hadeon is more than a creature to pass. He is a guardian to the village.”

I remember the story, of the creature being given toWulf’sancestor during the Great War.Seti, the God of Death and ruler of Hell, blessed him with the Hadeonfor protection for bravery shown during the war.

“He does not leave our tunnel, he does not pass into our village. Except for now.” Eyes flash, a shift of his inner beast trying to come out. “He looks for someone. One of you. So, I ask again, who does he seek?”

The woman at my side shifts, uncomfortable with attention.She’d be more comfortable hiding away, avoiding this, but her jaw clenches and her body tenses as she rises.

Cursing, I stand, following her lead. I refuse to let her face this alone.

Wulf’s eyes find her, across the flames, and rake over her lean body. It’s not assessing or clinical buthungry. His inner wolf sees her as its next meal and it’s already trying to figure out the best way to have her.

I know, because my beast has done the same.

Growling, I grab the blood summoner’s wrist, holding her back. Wulf doesn’t deserve the pleasure of seeing something that I’ve deemedmine.

Fee’s hand clamps down on my shoulder in warning.

I have to listen. Otherwise, I might find myself challenging him in his territory.

And I really don’t want to have to kill him.

“It was you?” he drawls, looking to her lips. Possessiveness so strong rips through my body as I nearly lunge.

“Me.” She nods. “Without me, he’d have died.” She shoots a withering glare at the few Humans still alive. They pointedly ignore her. “It was the right thing to do.”

“You saved him?” Wulf asks, amazed. “A slight thing like you helped that beast?”

He points to the entrance, around the front of the meeting hall. The Hadeon sits there like an obedient pet, all three eyes watching the group of people with unabashed hunger.

Except for when he sees Max. His eyes soften, and his body lowers in submission.

Gods.He’s as smitten with her as I am.

When I glance back, I take note of how Wulf watches her.

Max bites her bottom lip and I have to fight the urge to rip that lip from her teeth and lay claim to it for myself. To do something,anythingto stop Wulf from looking at her like she’s a gift from theGods.

Another growl lets loose, and I have to shove the beast further back with a savageness I’ve never showed before. It’s feeding off my chaotic mood, wanting to break free. It wants to claim the blood summoner butso do I.Desperately.

She’s supposed to be a tool for my father and yet? I can’t stop thinking of waking up next to her every morning. Seeing her smile. Feeling her beneath me after a long day in my lands.

I don’t want her as a weapon.I just want her.

“Yes. Why is that so hard to believe?” Her voice is so soft but it carries. “It shouldn’t be punished for being misunderstood.”

I can’t help the pang in my heart. She did the same for me. Because she understands me.

Wulf drops his square jaw into his meaty hand, nodding at her. “I think the Hadeon might be here for you, then.”

“For me?”

He waves away her concern. “The Hadeon is a guard, but he is a creature ofSeti. He was never meant to stay with us. Gods, even after my great-great-grandfather passed, he was supposed to move on. I think he might have waited for the right person.” His eyes glow. “You.”

She glances to me for clarification. “The creature is a gift. But once the person it was bonded to died, it should have returned toSeti. He never did.”

“Because he wanted me?”

I nod the barest amount. “Perhaps.”