Read Online Defiance (Rise of the Iliri Book 3) by Auryn Hadley - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Auryn Hadley
Ads: Link
sweat moving at them from around the corner. She ducked the weapon that was coming, sliding to her knees as Hwa leapt.
When the guard rounded the corner, the grauori collided with him, grasping his shoulders and crushing the man's throat in his teeth. The exquisite feel of death was so much more pungent from his senses. With a push, he continued on, and Sal struggled to keep up, letting the male lead the way.
Above, Jase leapt across a gap between the internal buildings and the city wall, his body impacting with stone before he pulled himself up. He saw the guards and, with little more than a thought, both Hwa and Sal could, too. They passed the last building and turned, Sal's blade ready.
Hwa darted to the left, Sal to the right. She ducked behind her prey and embraced the man tightly, pinning her body to his shoulders while she plunged her weapon into his throat. Beside her, Hwa pounced on his own guard, his teeth locked on the man's shoulder. Suspended, his hind legs raked the man's body, the claws strong enough to slice through the leather, cloth, and flesh beneath. When the guard screamed, Hwa released him. That man wouldn't live much longer.
She nodded approval at her new partner, and he looked back with Jase's twilight eyes. They ran.
Outside the gate, Roo waited, murmuring softly to the horses. Sal reached her just as Jase jumped from the top of the wall. He hit the ground and sank to his knees, his shoulder muscles clearly visible through his shirt, pausing before he stood.
He caught her eyes, and Sal felt his desire for her across the link, matching her own. He'd intended to impress her, to seduce her. The pack was whole. Now it was time to go.
Wasting no time, they swung into the saddles. She held his mind to hers and pulled them away from the main link as she caught Roo's eye. The little bitch smiled, doing her best to stand tall like an iliri. The grauori had this. Kicking the mares into a true run, Sal and Jase left their new packmates at the gates to finish the ruse, racing beside the steep wall. It was the best place to hide. No one would look down today.
Are they up ta this? Jase asked, his desire to be alone with her warring with his urge to protect his pack.
Yeah, Hwa kills as well as you.
Should I be jealous?
No, but you also shouldn't slack off. I want five kilometers before we stop, Sergeant.
Yes, my beautiful Lieutenant. Anything you want, Kaisae.
He pressed his heels to his mare, asking Raven for more and the blue roan gave it, forcing Sal to push Arden. Through the snow they raced, the horses' hoof beats thudding like their own hearts. The smell of blood on them faded in the wind and Sal felt as if she was living in a fantasy. The crisp air, the pure scents, and the taste of blood still on her lips was what her kind lived for. Feeling Hwa's mind proved it. She wasn't a beast, but she was a predator, and she loved how it felt.
It only took them a few minutes at such speed, but by the time they were far enough away, Sal's mare was tiring. She pulled her in gently, letting Arden chose the pace, and was pleased when she trotted. Raven fell in beside her, letting Jase meet her eyes.
Looks like there's some caves up in the hills, he sent, his mind showing her the direction.
She turned her horse that way, flashing him a smile. By the time they reached the hills, the mares were breathing easily. Only one thing remained. She reached out with her mind to check her packmates, pleased to feel both Hwa's and Roo's joy at sprinting through the snow. Roo noticed her touch.
All is well my sister. There's no chase from them, Roo assured her. Find a safe place. We'll meet you in the morning. Enjoy the maast.
"The mutts are fine and won't be with us until morning," Sal relayed to Jase.
He dropped from Raven's back. "That's convenient."
"They get it, too," she said as he pulled her into his arms. "Find us a
When the guard rounded the corner, the grauori collided with him, grasping his shoulders and crushing the man's throat in his teeth. The exquisite feel of death was so much more pungent from his senses. With a push, he continued on, and Sal struggled to keep up, letting the male lead the way.
Above, Jase leapt across a gap between the internal buildings and the city wall, his body impacting with stone before he pulled himself up. He saw the guards and, with little more than a thought, both Hwa and Sal could, too. They passed the last building and turned, Sal's blade ready.
Hwa darted to the left, Sal to the right. She ducked behind her prey and embraced the man tightly, pinning her body to his shoulders while she plunged her weapon into his throat. Beside her, Hwa pounced on his own guard, his teeth locked on the man's shoulder. Suspended, his hind legs raked the man's body, the claws strong enough to slice through the leather, cloth, and flesh beneath. When the guard screamed, Hwa released him. That man wouldn't live much longer.
She nodded approval at her new partner, and he looked back with Jase's twilight eyes. They ran.
Outside the gate, Roo waited, murmuring softly to the horses. Sal reached her just as Jase jumped from the top of the wall. He hit the ground and sank to his knees, his shoulder muscles clearly visible through his shirt, pausing before he stood.
He caught her eyes, and Sal felt his desire for her across the link, matching her own. He'd intended to impress her, to seduce her. The pack was whole. Now it was time to go.
Wasting no time, they swung into the saddles. She held his mind to hers and pulled them away from the main link as she caught Roo's eye. The little bitch smiled, doing her best to stand tall like an iliri. The grauori had this. Kicking the mares into a true run, Sal and Jase left their new packmates at the gates to finish the ruse, racing beside the steep wall. It was the best place to hide. No one would look down today.
Are they up ta this? Jase asked, his desire to be alone with her warring with his urge to protect his pack.
Yeah, Hwa kills as well as you.
Should I be jealous?
No, but you also shouldn't slack off. I want five kilometers before we stop, Sergeant.
Yes, my beautiful Lieutenant. Anything you want, Kaisae.
He pressed his heels to his mare, asking Raven for more and the blue roan gave it, forcing Sal to push Arden. Through the snow they raced, the horses' hoof beats thudding like their own hearts. The smell of blood on them faded in the wind and Sal felt as if she was living in a fantasy. The crisp air, the pure scents, and the taste of blood still on her lips was what her kind lived for. Feeling Hwa's mind proved it. She wasn't a beast, but she was a predator, and she loved how it felt.
It only took them a few minutes at such speed, but by the time they were far enough away, Sal's mare was tiring. She pulled her in gently, letting Arden chose the pace, and was pleased when she trotted. Raven fell in beside her, letting Jase meet her eyes.
Looks like there's some caves up in the hills, he sent, his mind showing her the direction.
She turned her horse that way, flashing him a smile. By the time they reached the hills, the mares were breathing easily. Only one thing remained. She reached out with her mind to check her packmates, pleased to feel both Hwa's and Roo's joy at sprinting through the snow. Roo noticed her touch.
All is well my sister. There's no chase from them, Roo assured her. Find a safe place. We'll meet you in the morning. Enjoy the maast.
"The mutts are fine and won't be with us until morning," Sal relayed to Jase.
He dropped from Raven's back. "That's convenient."
"They get it, too," she said as he pulled her into his arms. "Find us a
Similar Books
