Read Online Wulf's Redemption (Borne Vampires Book 3) by W.M. Petzler - Free Book Online

hurried
to him and whispered in Von Patterson’s ear. The captain ordered, “Open the
gates. My lord, your father orders you to be confined to your bedchambers until
your brother, Alexander, returns.”
    Wonderful. Now how was he to search for Aldric? “First,
I will personally take care of my horses.”
    “My lord, I must insist upon you handing them to
my men.” Von Patterson signaled to the nearest soldier to take hold the bridle
of one of the horses.
    A grave mistake. The black gelding laid his ears
back and tried to take a bite out of him. The soldier jumped back, eyeing the
team fearfully.
    Grinning maliciously, Alex shrugged, “Like I said,
they’re my horses and I’ll take care of them.” He clucked to the team and drove
on to the barn. None of the soldiers made attempt to stop him.
    Halting the horses before the barn doors, Alex set
the brake and leapt off the carriage. Inside the barn, he swept his hand and
‘willed’ the oil lamps to ignite the wicks, bringing light to the dark building.
A deep, brassy whinny drew him to the white stallion, who stuck his head out of
his stall.
    Rubbing the stately horse’s head, Alex whispered,
“Ah, my friend, you know me anywhere, wouldn’t you? Back to sleep, Saber. I
must attend to your stablemates.” Giving his horse a final pat, he went to
work.
    Doffing
his coats and rolled up the sleeves of his dress shirt, he grabbed the leather
halters from the brass hooks set by each stall door and went back to the tired and
cold horses. They waited patiently as he replaced bridles with their halters. Unhooking
their harnesses attached to the sway bar, he led one and the others followed them
inside. Opening the stall doors with the wave of his hand, the horses went into
their assigned stalls. Alex unharnessed each horse and set the leathers on the
hooks outside their stalls. Then, he took up a soft brush and went about
brushing them down, checking hooves for stones or foreign objects. Ensuring
they had plenty of water and hay to feast on, he swung his coat over his
shoulder and blew out the lamps on his way out.
    At
the barn’s double doors, he stopped and listened to the crunching footsteps of
the patrolling soldiers. The manor’s windows were dark before customarily they
were lit to ward off the night. Except for one. The silhouette of his father,
tall and broad, unyielding, watched the courtyard below.
    Was
Ulrich anxiously waiting for ‘Alex’ to return or was he waiting for ‘Aldric’ to
obey his orders to confinement?
    He
made another attempt to make contact with his brother. “Aldric, where are you? Please answer me!”
    The
piercing howl of a wolf answered him instead.

Chapter Five

 
    Sensing she was no longer covered by dirt, Kai drew
in a deep lungful of air, inhaling the scent of spicy pine needles and dusty, dry
grass, sun-warmed dirt. Opening her eyes, she cast around her, confused by the
lack of snow, the hot, humid air.
    Why was it so damn hot? Where was the snow?
    She saw Alex standing at the edge of her grave,
holding his hand out to her. His image split and became two. Closing her eyes,
she reopened them and only one stared down at her with concern.
    “Kai, what’s wrong?”
    Mentally giving herself a shake, she took his hand
with her right. When he pulled, she cried out as pain shot up her arm and into
her shoulder. Crap, she hadn’t healed!
    He jumped into the grave and lifted her into his
arms. “Hey, what the—” She gasped as her throbbing shoulder hit his.
    Setting her down on the ground, he pulled down the
collar or her shirt, his face hardened as he lifted the back of her shirt, the
material stiff. Returning to face her, she drew back warily. Wow did he look
pissed!
    “Kai, why didn’t you tell me your wound hadn’t
fully healed?”
    “I didn’t know it hadn’t until you tried to help
me out. How bad is it?”
    “Fortunately, the wound did not reopen.” He stared
at the grave, his expression hardening. “There’s blood