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Authors: Natalie Shaw
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people acted as her guards.”
“But why come looking for me now? After so many years?”
“The alliance between the shifters and vampires has disintegrated—it was never going to last for long. There's now nothing to stop Milton from killing the only witness to his betrayal of Krell.”
“What about Lassiter?”
“It's in his interest to keep Louise alive. It means he still has a hold over Milton. Even without the alliance, she's a powerful bargaining chip for Lassiter.”
Craven's heart sank. If Milton got to her first, she'd be dead. If Lassiter got there first, she'd be alive, but at what price?
“I still don't understand why you came to me.”
“We need Louise alive. My people still don't know the attack on Jesters was no more than a diversion. And they don't know Lassiter was working with Milton to overthrow Krell. There would be real anger if the truth was known. It's one thing to form an alliance, but quite another to sacrifice your own people simply to strengthen your own position. Keeping Louise alive is a risk for Lassiter, but it's one he's judged to be worthwhile for the hold it gives him over Milton. If you can free Louise, and she tells what she knows, then that should be the end of both Milton and Lassiter.”
“How do you know they haven't killed or snatched her away already?
“We don't. That's why we came here as soon as we knew the alliance was about to crumble. If she's still alive, we don't have long.”
Chapter 14
He'd never trusted a vampire before, but he sensed they were telling the truth.
“We have to leave now,” Craven said.
“We can't go with you”
“You have to. How will I find her—?”
Hesta took a sheet of paper from her pocket and handed it to Craven.
“Can you follow it?” she asked.
He studied the hand-drawn map. As he recognised a few of the landmarks, his heart sank. All those years ago, during his initial search of Maja, he'd been less than four miles from where Louise was being held.
“Yes. This will be fine. What will you two do?”
“We can't go back. Word will have reached Lassiter by now. We'd be dead as soon as we set foot back in Maja territory. We can't return until Lassiter has been removed from power.”
“What will you do in the meantime?”
“Try to survive. It won't be easy. Vampire coves do not welcome outsiders readily.”
“Thank you for bringing this to me,” Craven said. “I wish you luck.”
Craven wasted no time. He had memorised the map, so didn't need to carry it with him. The two vampires were still in his room when he left via the window. After shifting to wolf-form, he set out on the long journey to Maja.
Travelling cross-country, he calculated he could complete the journey in under twenty-four hours. The journey was risky. He'd be travelling in daylight for some of the time. He planned to take the most direct cross-country route available which meant he'd be entering some territories at dangerous border locations. It was a risk he had to take.
*********
For once, lady luck was on his side. Apart from a couple of minor skirmishes, he'd completed the journey back to Maja without any major confrontations. He'd travelled for over a day without sleep or food, and he was almost spent. The enclosure was less than two miles away. Craven could already see the wood where it was located. The smell of wender berry was overpowering even from that distance. No wonder he hadn't sensed Louise's presence when he'd passed nearby.
Hesta had warned him the enclosure might be heavily guarded. Even though he was exhausted and weak, adrenaline would see him through any confrontation. The thought of his fated mate being so close was enough to drive him on. One last push, one last battle, and they'd be re-united.
Craven crept slowly through the undergrowth trying to avoid any dry twig which might snap underfoot and give him away. He could see the fence —i nside it was a small cabin. He tried
“But why come looking for me now? After so many years?”
“The alliance between the shifters and vampires has disintegrated—it was never going to last for long. There's now nothing to stop Milton from killing the only witness to his betrayal of Krell.”
“What about Lassiter?”
“It's in his interest to keep Louise alive. It means he still has a hold over Milton. Even without the alliance, she's a powerful bargaining chip for Lassiter.”
Craven's heart sank. If Milton got to her first, she'd be dead. If Lassiter got there first, she'd be alive, but at what price?
“I still don't understand why you came to me.”
“We need Louise alive. My people still don't know the attack on Jesters was no more than a diversion. And they don't know Lassiter was working with Milton to overthrow Krell. There would be real anger if the truth was known. It's one thing to form an alliance, but quite another to sacrifice your own people simply to strengthen your own position. Keeping Louise alive is a risk for Lassiter, but it's one he's judged to be worthwhile for the hold it gives him over Milton. If you can free Louise, and she tells what she knows, then that should be the end of both Milton and Lassiter.”
“How do you know they haven't killed or snatched her away already?
“We don't. That's why we came here as soon as we knew the alliance was about to crumble. If she's still alive, we don't have long.”
Chapter 14
He'd never trusted a vampire before, but he sensed they were telling the truth.
“We have to leave now,” Craven said.
“We can't go with you”
“You have to. How will I find her—?”
Hesta took a sheet of paper from her pocket and handed it to Craven.
“Can you follow it?” she asked.
He studied the hand-drawn map. As he recognised a few of the landmarks, his heart sank. All those years ago, during his initial search of Maja, he'd been less than four miles from where Louise was being held.
“Yes. This will be fine. What will you two do?”
“We can't go back. Word will have reached Lassiter by now. We'd be dead as soon as we set foot back in Maja territory. We can't return until Lassiter has been removed from power.”
“What will you do in the meantime?”
“Try to survive. It won't be easy. Vampire coves do not welcome outsiders readily.”
“Thank you for bringing this to me,” Craven said. “I wish you luck.”
Craven wasted no time. He had memorised the map, so didn't need to carry it with him. The two vampires were still in his room when he left via the window. After shifting to wolf-form, he set out on the long journey to Maja.
Travelling cross-country, he calculated he could complete the journey in under twenty-four hours. The journey was risky. He'd be travelling in daylight for some of the time. He planned to take the most direct cross-country route available which meant he'd be entering some territories at dangerous border locations. It was a risk he had to take.
*********
For once, lady luck was on his side. Apart from a couple of minor skirmishes, he'd completed the journey back to Maja without any major confrontations. He'd travelled for over a day without sleep or food, and he was almost spent. The enclosure was less than two miles away. Craven could already see the wood where it was located. The smell of wender berry was overpowering even from that distance. No wonder he hadn't sensed Louise's presence when he'd passed nearby.
Hesta had warned him the enclosure might be heavily guarded. Even though he was exhausted and weak, adrenaline would see him through any confrontation. The thought of his fated mate being so close was enough to drive him on. One last push, one last battle, and they'd be re-united.
Craven crept slowly through the undergrowth trying to avoid any dry twig which might snap underfoot and give him away. He could see the fence —i nside it was a small cabin. He tried
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