Pillar of Light (The Lost Princess Book 1)

by A. Mashburn

“Thanks, it was my first car. It was a junker when I got it, but little by little, we brought him back to life.” She smiled affectionately at the thing, as though it were her pride and joy.

  She didn’t seem to be in a rush but Nicoli could smell that male getting closer in the woods. Yet somehow, he couldn’t stop himself from asking, “Him?”

  “Yes, him,” she said proudly, “I know most vehicles are a her but look at him—do you really think this vehicle is female? No way; he’s a beast.”

  He laughed at the obvious affection she had for her vehicle and tapped the side of it as he started to walk away. “I’ll see you around.”

  “Wait, uhm—do you need a ride?” she asked nervously.

  “Nah, I’m good; I live up the road, easy commute. But I’ll tell you what, if I asked for your number, you could say no, so, I’ll give you mine. You can call or text when you decide you want to.” He handed her his card.

  “What do you mean, when?” she asked.

  He flashed her a devilish grin, “Just get in contact with me if you need anything, I’ll be around.” He jogged off towards the woods.

  Gretchen sat there for a moment and watched until he was no longer visible through the dense forest. As she turned her head, she did a doubletake as a flash of fur disappeared behind the tree line. She strained her eyes to get a better look but as the hairs on her arms started to rise, a lead weight settled in the pit of her stomach. What on God’s green Earth was that?

  Then, it hit her—Nicoli, he’d just walked off in that same direction, shit. She knew what she saw had to be an animal of some sort and quite a large one if that glimpse of fur was any indication. Her heart lurched in her chest as she reached into the glovebox and grabbed the hunting knife and strapped it to her thigh, then for good measure she reached for her nine-millimeter pistol. Once the gun was firmly seated in the palm of her hand, she exited the vehicle and went after Nicoli.

  Over the years, she learned to be prepared for anything and today, she was glad she was.

  Chapter Four

  Nicoli entered the tree line, and by the scent alone, he knew it was a rogue shifter. Why the fuck is a rogue this close to the city? He thought to himself. Rogues were bad news as they were packless and usually feral. That, and the smell of blood on the air, led Nicoli to believe that this particular rogue was definitely a grave danger to the surrounding human population. He scanned his surroundings and knew he would have to shift when he saw the rogue's large pawprints that he now tracked. He could not allow the animal to be this close to civilization or to Gretchen. He took a deep cleansing breath as excitement seeped its way into his bones. It had been too long since he had a good hunt, and the stench of this feral beast promised a fruitful excursion.

  He walked farther into the dense forest and began to remove his clothes. He placed them under a nearby bush, out of sight from anyone who might stumble upon them and search for the owner. His counterpart, Xander, on the other hand, pranced in his mind with anticipation scenting the wind for any humans close enough to be a worry. Although none were found, he could never be too careful. He walked a few steps and let the change take him over. He welcomed the pain and the pleasure he received as Xander surged forward excitedly. Each bone broke and stretched; his muscles expanding to accommodate Xander's massive form. Fur sprouted from his body, and Xander howled in exhilaration as his wings grew from his back.

  Free, Xander spoke to his counterpart. Nicoli, it has been too long, my friend.

  “Aye, it has.”

  Xander folded his wings against his muscular back as though it were a second skin and put his nose to the wind. The rogue cannot be allowed to live, the blood is strong on the wind, and it does not carry an animal's scent. Xander closed his eyes and strained his ears to determine the direction in which he had to go.

  Nicoli, we cannot allow him to go anywhere near her. She must be protected at all costs; the rogue must die today. In their shared body, it wasn’t necessary for Nicoli to answer. Xander knew he agreed and took off in the direction of the rogue's scent.

  Gretchen held the Glock in her hand steady as she walked past the tree line, farther into the forest. She had no idea where Nicoli went, so she decided to follow her gut. Something pulled her deeper into the woods. She just hoped it wouldn’t be her death that awaited her when she reached her destination. She pushed past the lush foliage and tried to be as quiet as possible as the forest floor crunched beneath her boots.

  She prayed that she was just paranoid and the random feelings of impending doom she’d felt over the last months were not all converging here and now. How foolish she was to wander into the woods after a man she’d only just met. However, in her mind, the only thing that mattered was this invisible tether she felt that drew her to him. No matter how much her cowardice and common sense told her to turn around and walk away, she knew she couldn’t. She sighed and wondered, for what seemed like the hundredth time, what the hell she was doing out here when she heard a terrifying sound; a low but distinctly chilling growl.

  Fear speared her heart as a flash of gray fur crossed her vision as quickly as it came and another growl, then a snap to her right had her heart racing like a wild horse stampede. Somehow, she managed to hold her gun steady as she whirled around towards the petrifying sounds, only to feel warmth against her back and hot breath upon her neck. Afraid to make any sudden movements, she slowly slid her hand to the hunting knife at her thigh. As her hand curled around the hilt she unclasped the snap to release the blade and heard a low growl in her ear that caused her breath to catch in her throat.

  At that moment, everything seemed to slow down and a sharp pain ran up her spine to her brain. As anguish coursed through her body, she was forced to release the hold she had on her gun as she clutched either side of her head. The gun tumbled to the ground and she was unable to defend herself as the wolf began to circle her. Gretchen’s skin tightened and itched as her muscles spasmed making her knees buckle and her body crash to the forest floor. She began to tremble, completely unable to protect herself as the beast came closer and began to sniff her, almost curiously.

  Not wanting to move, even as the pain ebbed, she watched the wolf and noted that he was massive, at least twice her size.

  His brilliant green eyes were startlingly bright, stood out from his gray fur. He nudged her boot with his snout, then scanned her body up to her face. He sat on his haunches and howled so loud that the trees shook with its force and somehow, also broke her heart. The sorrow she felt in that howl shook her to her very core.

  He looked back down to her and put his large snout into the crook of her neck and huffed. If she wasn’t mistaken, she noticed his tail lightly thumping on the ground as he licked her face and whimpered into her hair.

  She felt an odd sense of kinship to the animal at that moment, one she couldn’t explain as she felt her heartbeat slow to a normal rhythm. She giggled as the beast nudged her again with his cold nose. The sudden sound seemed to startle the creature as he stepped back and cocked his head to the side. He looked at her wearily and turned his back to her. His eyes darted back and forth as he scanned the surrounding area as though he were keeping guard and searching for something that her human vision couldn’t see.

  She sat up, unsure of what to do with the strange beast. She leaned forward on her knees and he turned his face back toward hers. If she didn’t know better, she would have thought he was smiling as he tilted his head to the side, almost in amusement, as she cautiously inched closer to him.

  She held out her hand and the wolf turned to touch his nose to her open palm. She took that moment to study him further and noticed the white patches on his chest and paws. He was magnificent; she stared in awe as she moved her hand to pet him.

  “Is this okay?” she asked him as she moved her hand under his snout and ran it up behind his ear. A low rumble emitted from his throat causing her to jerk her limb back. He inched closer letting out a whimper as he nudged her hand again.

  She
smiled and tentatively put her hand back on him scratching behind his ears and into the scruff around his neck. She was entrapped by the docile nature of the ginormous creature in front of her, completely unaware of the one that approached from behind. Beast, as she had quickly come to think of him in her mind, knew differently. His hair began to stand on end and he stood to his full height, towering over her as a deep growl emitted from his throat.

  She gasped and withdrew her hand, falling to the ground again in shock. When she looked up into Beast’s intense stare, she noticed it was narrowed on an intruder. He lowered his head as his lips pulled away from his razor-sharp teeth with a snarl, warning the feral looking wolf away.

  The animal ignored Beast's warnings so Beast maneuvered himself to where Gretchen’s body was behind him. She tried to peer around the hulking frame of her protector to examine the savage, pale brown wolf that emerged from the bushes. Its bright red eyes glowed with rage and drool dribbled from its teeth as it snapped its powerful jaws in their direction.

  A metallic taste coated her throat as she noticed the telltale burgundy color of fresh blood that streaked the creatures skeletal form. Fear crept into her bones as Beast used his substantial form to block her from the sight of the vicious wolf, but she was already in its crosshairs and she got the distinct feeling she wasn’t going to make it out alive without Beast’s help.

  In Xander’s form, Nicoli followed the scent of the rogue through the dense foliage when the smell of lavender and vanilla assaulted him. What the fuck is she doing in the forest? Xander let out a loud howl as he ran in the direction of her scent.

  We need to find her, now, Nicoli roared in his mind. Xander pushed his speed as he tracked her scent.

  We will keep her safe, Xander growled.

  Yes, Xander. We will keep her safe, always. Now, run. They tried to focus as they tracked the sweet scent that was unique to their ward.

  They bolted through the bushes and the thorns, past the woodland animals as her scent became more robust. We need to slow down, Xander. She’s close, and we don’t want to spook her in your form.

  She said her favorite animal is the black wolf, Xander said seriously. But he knew that approaching in their current state would be a reckless move, and the last thing either of them wanted was for her to fear them. As Xander pondered this, a third scent hit their nose.

  Jade, they said together.

  As they approached the clearing, they saw Jade’s large form behind Gretchen and Nicoli had to smother Xander's menacing growl. He will not hurt her, Xander. Jade’s a masochistic asshat, but he won’t hurt her. Nicoli emphasized her because that was the one thing about his little brother he knew. He would never hurt Gretchen.

  Xander huffed, I still don’t like him near her, but he knew Nicoli was right.

  They stood vigil near the clearing, keeping a close eye on the interaction between the two. Jade's large wolf was twice her size as he stood behind her. They watched as she let her hand slide to the knife at her thigh and noticed that her scent began to mutate. Nicoli, Xander warned. Nicoli, he will know.

  He already knows, and there’s nothing we can do unless he attacks her. You know that. Right now, he poses no threat.

  He poses a very real threat, Nicoli—he could kill her before we get there. Xander roared in their shared mind. Nicoli held their large body still as Xander attempted to lunge when Gretchen fell to the ground and clutched her head in her hands.

  Xander, be still my friend, be still. I know he will not hurt her. He wants her, he has wanted her since they were children and she was taken from him.

  Xander’s massive body shook with rage and fear as he growled at Nicoli in his mind. She is ours. She has been ours; she was always meant to be ours. She was born for us.

  Nicoli shook his head. She’s not ours, Xander, not anymore. She is our ward, our responsibility, and nothing more. It would be best if you remembered that. She doesn’t even know who we are.

  Nicoli pushed Xander to the back of his mind and braced his large body for attack just in case. After all, no matter how much he tried to console Xander, they both shared body and mind. They both knew the danger that Jade presented to their female.

  Not our female, he reminded himself as he watched Jade nudge her boot and scent her neck.

  Jade closed his eyes and breathed deeply. Nicoli heard Archer, Jade’s wolf, purr at the smell she was putting off. Jade opened his eyes, snout still buried in her neck as he peered into the shadows where Nicoli was standing sentry. From the Shadows in Archer’s form Nicoli observed the apparent pleasure Jade was feeling as his wolf’s tail thumped lightly against the ground as though he had found a grand and wonderful prize.

  Nicoli grew restless as he watched the interaction between Jade’s large gray wolf and the one female who could change the world as they knew it. Jade wasn’t known for his patience or kindness, but as he interacted with Gretchen, Nicoli noticed a side of Jade he had thought was long gone. He was almost tender with her as she tentatively rubbed his scruff.

  Jade let out a guttural growl when he sensed Nicoli shift as the rogue’s scent assaulted their senses. Seeing that he startled the woman, Archer, Jade’s wolf, whimpered, whimpered, as he nudged her hand with his nose. He licked her as if he was encouraging her to pet him. Gretchen giggled a little as she asked if what she was doing was okay, and Archer’s tongue lolled out of his mouth.

  What the hell is he playing at? Xander nudged Nicoli in his mind.

  Nicoli considered that for a moment before responding. Maybe there isn’t a game plan, Xander. Perhaps it was the thought of losing her that caused his madness and turned him into the beast he is and the possibility of having her back—listen, I realize how it sounds. You must trust me.

  No, Xander roared in his mind cutting off Nicoli’s optimistic thoughts. He is dangerous; Jade will take her to Jayce who will mate with her then drain her. Have you forgotten the damage they caused? The horror they brought upon our kind in Scotland? Your brothers are murderers; they killed unknown numbers of our clan in the war that he and Jayce created. I know he was once your brother, but he has long since been lost—they both have. You can never, never gamble with her fate because you hope that he can be the male he once was.

  There, Xander growled as the rogue stepped out from the bushes, and he watched as Jade placed his large body in front of Gretchen as if he were protecting her from the rogue. Can I at least kill that abomination? Xander asked snidely.

  Aye, my friend, aye, Nicoli agreed, that one is all yours.

  Gretchen peered from behind Beast, as she fondly began to call the gray wolf, and saw the glowing ruby eyes of the intruder. A prickling sensation at the back of her neck indicated she should fear this new animal. If that weren't enough, the red eyes and blood-streaked fur definitely did the trick. He smaller than her protector, and yes, Beast was protecting her. The way that Beast’s fur rose, the fierce growl and the way he placed his big body between her and the vicious, snarling wolf indicated he would keep her safe. Her heart raced as the rabid wolf lunged towards them and Beast met him halfway.

  Gretchen gasped and placed her hands over her mouth as the raging animal snapped its jaws at Beast’s neck. Beast dodged out of the way; his fluid movements were like a dance he’d done many times before. Beast lunged for the animal’s hind leg and she heard a sickening snap as his teeth met bone. Instead of slowing the wolf down, though, it seemed to become even more volatile as it ripped its own leg out of Beast’s jaws and the two predators began to circle each other, growling menacingly.

  Beast looked towards Gretchen as if to check on her, and the rogue found his opening and charged. He rammed into Beast’s side, knocking him into a tree with a sickening crack. Beast whimpered as his body hit the ground and he looked to Gretchen again as if he were willing her with his eyes to run. He tried to get up to get to her, but it seemed as though his hind legs weren’t working properly. Gretchen’s heart broke in her chest and tears sprang to her eyes as her fierc
e protector attempted time and time again to get to her to keep her safe.

  Gretchen felt something inside of her snap. Rage filled her body that this monstrosity of nature would dare to harm her Beast. At that moment Gretchen remembered her gun. She frantically searched the ground and found it about ten feet away. She sprinted towards the weapon as a growl came from behind. She didn’t take the time to look as she lunged for the one thing that might be able to save Beast’s life.

  As her hand closed around the weapon, she flipped over and fluidly pointed in the direction where Beast was trying to get up; he was growling fiercely at the monster that had interrupted them. The monster’s attention was averted from Beast for the moment as it prepared to attack her. Her heartbeat slowed and she aimed directly at the frenzied wolf’s heart.

  You might think that her life flashed before her eyes or that she would try to protect herself in some way, but instead she couldn’t wrench her gaze from the scene that unfolded.

  As the crazed animal surged forward, a midnight-black wolf commanded Gretchen’s attention as he flew through the air; yes, flew. His wings tucked against his body as he dove towards the raging monster like an angel of death. Their bodies crashed against each other, breaking bones and spilling from fresh wounds. The black wolf-like creature quickly gained the advantage, being at least twice the smaller animal's size. He held the light-brown wolf down with his front paws incapacitating him, but the wolf would not relent. The vicious animal’s eyes were filled with rage and unbridled hatred as he snapped his jaw at her avenging angel.

  The winged wolf swiped his paw across the savage animal’s snout, leaving it bloodied and momentarily stunned. Latching his teeth around the rogue’s neck and severing its head cleanly from its body. The black wolf growled and howled as he flung the lifeless flesh to the side with the rogue’s head still dangling from his mouth. Gretchen’s head began to swim and her vision turned fuzzy around the edges as the darkness threatened to overtake her. Through the fog though, she heard a whimper from her side and a cold nose at her hand. She looked to see Beast standing over her.