by Zoe Chant
He first duty was always, always to protect civilians. Whether human or shifter, his job was to protect those who couldn’t protect themselves.
Though it made him burn with rage to think about one of Watts’s men attacking Emilia in her own home, she had shown she could handle herself. But that had been against a lone shifter, and in his human form. Watts had three other men with him – and at least one of them was a huge boar: a dangerous enemy. And besides which, Watts was deadly enough alone, with his bear’s massive size and strength, his thick protective fur, and long claws that could tear through flesh and shatter bone.
Rowan’s eagle eyes scanned the ground below, picking out and then discarding the movements of small animals like rabbits as they went about their business in the snow. He’d know Watts when he saw him, even at this distance. Bears didn’t usually travel with other animals. Not to mention the fact that any real bear would be hibernating at this time of year.
Bears could move fast when they wanted to, and Rowan could only hope they hadn’t left the woods yet. He didn’t know exactly what, in Watts’s mind, ‘holy hell’ entailed, but Rowan was pretty sure it didn’t mean anything good for the inhabitants of Fairhill.
I have to stop them before they get to town. I can’t risk it.
He’d only seen a small part of Fairhill, but it didn’t matter. He loved what he’d seen. The friendly people, the Christmas cheer. The way it felt like home, even though he’d been here only a couple of days. It was the kind of place he wished he’d grown up in – the kind of place his hometown could have been, if only it hadn’t been ruined by criminals.
The kind of place he hoped it was now, after he’d arrested the gang that had terrorized it for so long.
He wouldn’t let the same thing happen to Fairhill. He’d keep Emilia safe – and the rest of the town too.
A movement to the south of where they were flying suddenly caught Rowan’s attention, and he slowed, mindful of Emilia on his back, turning in the air to take a closer look.
There. There. I see them.
There was no mistake: a bear, a boar and two wolves running together through the snow.
His griffin wanted to screech in fury, but Rowan managed to restrain it.
They are the ones who threatened our mate! They must bleed!
They will, Rowan promised it. But right now, we need to preserve the element of surprise.
The griffin huffed.
In the past, we would have descended screeching in fury, sending fear like icy needles through their veins.
There was some appeal in that, Rowan had to admit. But now, he needed to do things sensibly. And he had to drop Emilia off somewhere safe before he could do anything else. With that thought in mind, he circled lower, heading toward a slight clearing in the trees.
“Rowan! Look down there!”
Emilia’s voice in his ear grabbed his attention. Glancing over his shoulder, he saw her pointing, and quickly realized what she was looking at: it was Max, sitting on a boulder, his tongue lolling as if he’d been running hard.
Scanning the forest around them, Rowan could see no evidence of the two wolves Max had led away from the cave. Probably they had realized they were chasing an ordinary dog and gone back. Which meant they’d soon find Curtis – and realize that Rowan had escaped.
“Oh thank goodness, he’s safe.” Relief flooded Emilia’s voice as they came to land a few feet from where Max sat. He bounded over to them immediately, leaping into Emilia’s arms as she crouched down.
Rowan transformed into his human body. He had to explain things to Emilia quickly, and then fly back to stop Watts before he got any further.
“Emilia, I have to go. If those two wolves release Curtis, my odds of taking down Watts will decrease. Dramatically.”
Emilia looked up at him, her eyes wide, her lower lip drawn back between her teeth. Worry filled her face – but in the end, she nodded.
“Promise me you’ll be careful,” she said, standing. “Your boss Hardwicke is on his way – please only do what you have to do to slow them down.”
Rowan nodded. “I promise.”
Unable to resist her, he drew her into his arms. Their lips met, heat searing through him as they kissed. Rowan could feel the beat of Emilia’s heart against his chest, pulsing with love and hope and confidence.
Confidence in him. Confidence that he would return to her.
And I will.
Somehow, Rowan knew that Emilia had heard his silent promise. He saw it in her eyes when he reluctantly pulled back from their kiss, still holding her in his arms.
Rowan took a lingering moment to look into her dark eyes, before he finally forced himself to step away from her.
Then, he shifted, leaping into the air and spreading his wings wide. He circled the clearing once, looking down at Emilia and Max, before, with a few strong beats of his wings, he was on his way again, back to the place where he’d spotted Watts and his men.
Those assholes will pay, Rowan thought grimly.
They’d pay for the crimes they’d already committed – and they’d pay for what they’d done here. What they’d tried to do to Emilia. What they were trying to do to Fairhill.
It wasn’t long before he spotted them again. They might have been fast, but flying, he was faster.
Nonetheless, he’d have to do something – and soon – if he wanted to stop them from getting to Fairhill.
He’d be badly outnumbered if he tried to take them on now. Taking them on in a standing fight was out of the question. He’d be so busy fending off the attacks from the fast-moving wolves that he wouldn’t be able to avoid swipes from the bear’s massive paws, or charges from the boar with its razor tusks.
Rowan swooped lower. He’d seen the way some of the men had hesitated to follow Watts’s orders earlier.
I suppose I can give them a test of loyalty, then.
Maybe his griffin had had the right idea to begin with: he’d see how quickly the wolves came back once he’d put some fear into them!
Folding his wings, Rowan descended into a steep dive. He dashed between the sturdy branches of the trees, passing them by a hairsbreadth. Rowan didn’t even notice as the freezing wind whipped past his face. He was utterly intent on his target: the wolf running through the snow beneath him, right beside the boar.
Perhaps, at the last second, the wolf below sensed him coming – it turned its head, its ears flicking – but by then, it was too late.
Thump.
Rowan’s talons sunk into the wolf’s sides, burying themselves in its flanks. The wolf didn’t even have time to howl in surprise before two beats of Rowan’s wings had lifted both of them up again, rising above the tops of the trees.
The wolf struggled in his grasp, but there was no way Rowan was letting it go. Besides, he didn’t think the wolf really wanted him to – not at this height, anyway.
No killing, Rowan reminded the griffin, as temptation spiked within it. Just get him out of the way and send him running. We can pick him up later.
The griffin, somewhat placated, crooned slightly. Rowan folded his wings, descending once more, until he was only a few feet off the ground. Then he released the wolf from his grasp, sending it tumbling to earth.
It wasn’t a long fall, but the wolf still rolled over and over in the snow, before scrambling to its feet and dashing away as fast as it could. Terror was written in its every movement. Rowan would have smiled if his eagle’s beak had been capable of it. The wolf wouldn’t be back. His loyalty to Watts wasn’t strong enough for him to risk another encounter with a griffin.
Rising again above the trees, Rowan circled back, spotting Watts and his remaining men quickly. They had stopped in their tracks, clearly having noticed their missing companion – but Rowan didn’t give them too much time to think about it. Again, he swooped down, and again, he lifted a shocked, struggling wolf up into the air, before dropping him down into the snow a few hundred feet away.
That leaves only Watts
and his boar friend.
As large and strong as Rowan’s griffin form was, he couldn’t hope to lift either of them into the air in their animal forms. They were too large and bulky, Watts especially. But with the wolves out of the way, Rowan knew he’d have a better chance at keeping them both at bay – at least until Hardwicke arrived with reinforcements.
Provided he does in fact arrive, Rowan thought grimly.
If he doesn’t, we will handle it, his griffin said. We will not let anything harm our mate, or her home.
That was what would give him an edge, Rowan knew: he was fighting for his mate, for her safety. And that would give him all the strength he needed.
With a mighty screech, Rowan folded his wings for a third time and dove, descending at a terrifying speed. Watts and the boar were clearly wise to what was happening now, however – when Rowan broke through the canopy of the trees, they were waiting for him.
Watts’s massive bear reared up, roaring, its lips pulled back from its long yellow teeth, sharp and curved as sabers. One massive paw swiped through the air, missing Rowan by inches as he banked sharply. Rowan let out a screech, his talons tearing through the air and forcing Watts back a little, but before he could rise again he heard the sound of the boar’s enraged grunting as it charged.
Rowan turned swiftly, striking out with his lion’s back feet, claws extended. The boar ignored him completely, rushing through his attack. Its bristled pelt protected it, and Rowan’s claws made only superficial slashes in its side. He only just managed to twist away from its tusks as it tossed its head as it passed him.
Close, Rowan thought. Too close.
But at least he was stopping them from getting any closer to town, which was the only thing he was concerned about at the moment.
Landing in the snow in front of Watts and his goon, Rowan lowered his head, glowering at them.
They couldn’t speak to each other in their current forms, but the message was clear: You stop here.
Just as clear was Watts’s rage. He bellowed out his fury, his jaws slavering. Then, he charged.
Rowan stood his ground until the last minute – Watts was obviously too enraged to think clearly, and the swipes of his powerful paws were unfocused, driven more by anger than strategy.
That was the danger in allowing your animal side to take over too completely, Rowan thought as he dodged back, before answering Watts’s attack with his own. But before he could land a hit, he was distracted by the boar as it raced forward yet again, tusks at the ready.
Rowan beat his wings, rising into the air, evading the boar – but as he did so, Watts’s mighty paw slammed into his side, leaving bloody slashes in its wake.
Letting out a screech of rage, Rowan dove forward. His talons glinted as he sunk them into Watts’s shoulder.
Blood spattered into the snow – both his and Watts’s. Watts roared in pain, wrenching his shoulder free, before backing off slightly. His breath created clouds in the frigid air as he and Rowan circled each other warily.
Hurry up, Hardwicke, Rowan thought. His side was painful, but it would take more than that to slow him down – but still, if the two-on-one fight dragged on too long, he knew he’d eventually be worn down. He’d fight to the death for Emilia – but hoped it wouldn’t come to that.
I promised her, after all. I promised her I’d come back.
Squealing and grunting, the boar charged him again. Rowan had his measure, now – this boar had only one move. Feinting to one side, Rowan waited for the boar to change course, and then dashed away, spinning in the snow before lashing out with his hind legs. His claws may not have been able to penetrate the boar’s thick hide, but Rowan had something else in mind for him.
The powerful kick from Rowan’s back legs pummeled the boar sideways, sending him flying – until his fall was abruptly halted by the sturdy trunk of a massive tree. The boar’s head smacked into it with a satisfying thump. The beast, swaying on its legs, tried to rise once, before teetering over, falling in a heap in the snow.
One down, Rowan thought, turning to face Watts once more. Come on, you bastard. Try it. I’ve taken you down before, and I’ll take you down again.
Blood dripped down his side. But he was ready for Watts when he charged.
Rowan twisted, managing to keep away from Watts’s paws this time – and he had just managed to score a hit on the bear’s shoulder, making him grunt in pain, when he heard a sound that made his blood run cold: the howls of wolves approaching.
They’re close, too.
Rowan was surprised – he’d felt sure the two wolves he’d disposed of wouldn’t be coming back.
When he managed to dodge away from Watts and look up, he realized he’d been correct: the two wolves that stood at the edge of the clearing weren’t the ones he’d picked up and dropped.
They must have been the ones who had run off after Max, Rowan thought. They must have run back to the cave, seen he had escaped, and –
Right on cue, the furious, snarling face of Curtis’s lynx appeared beside the wolves.
Shit, thought Rowan.
This was going to be a big problem.
Now facing Watts’s powerful bear, two wolves with sharp teeth, and Curtis’s agile, razor-clawed lynx, things had just got much more complicated for him.
He hated to back down, but his promise to Emilia burned brightly in his mind. Growling softly, he stepped back – but the wolves didn’t give him a chance to make another move.
They plunged forward suddenly, jaws snapping, clearly enraged. One went for his shoulder, while the other leapt up, sinking its teeth into the joint of his wing.
Pain shot through him, and Rowan screeched in anger, whipping himself around. The wolf biting his shoulder was bowled away, somersaulting in the snow, but the one on his wing wouldn’t be so easily dislodged.
Rowan could feel the delicate joint of his wing being damaged as the wolf bit down – and then, from the corner of his eye, he saw Curtis’s lynx leap forward.
Turning, he managed to swipe his clawed foot, forcing Curtis to dodge at the last moment. But he wasn’t turned aside for long, and soon Rowan felt the lynx’s claws sinking into his side.
Snapping his beak, Rowan managed to grab hold of the wolf on his wing, hearing it snarl in pain before at last releasing his wing. Swinging his head, Rowan sent the wolf flying, where it joined the boar in a heap on the ground.
Rowan could feel blood dripping through his feathers, pain searing through him. But now, there was only Watts and Curtis to deal with...
Letting out a deafening bellow, Watts charged. Curtis himself was only just quick enough to let go and drop to the ground, before Watts barreled into Rowan with a bodily blow that was enough to shake him down to the bones. Watts’s teeth were in his shoulder, just next to his wing, before Rowan could escape.
Rowan tried to shake himself free, but Watts would not let go – not even when Rowan buried his talons in the bear’s side, digging into his flesh. The pain was so intense that his eyes began to blur, his usually crystal-clear eagle’s vision growing fuzzy at the edges.
Watts pounded against Rowan’s sides with his paws, clearly trying to break Rowan down – but still, his strength didn’t fail him.
I have to protect my mate, he thought. I have to protect her home...
The thought of Emilia renewed his strength. As long as Watts was here, attacking him, he couldn’t carry out his plans for Emilia or Fairhill.
Now if only I can hold on – just a little while longer...
That, however, was going to be the problem.
Rowan could feel his legs shaking, threatening to collapse beneath him as Watts beat at him with his paws. He was already bleeding from the dozen or so wounds the wolves and Curtis had given him, but somehow, he continued to draw on the well of strength the mated bond had given him.
But his vision grew darker, the ache in his body becoming unbearable. Blood fell on the earth at his feet.
Rowan closed his eyes.
Emilia... I’m sorry...
“Rowan!!”
Rowan’s eyes snapped open at the sound of Emilia’s voice. Instantly, he felt new strength flowing through his veins.
Our mate? Why is she here? We must protect her!!
The griffin surged up, resplendent once more. With a screech of fury, Rowan pushed at Watts, forcing him backward. The bear grunted, straining to keep his balance, clearly shocked at the sudden renewal of the fight.
Rowan’s entire body shook with pain, but he knew he couldn’t give up now. Not now that his mate was – for some reason – here.
Pushing forward, Rowan forced Watts to stumble back. His teeth in Rowan’s shoulder left deep gashes as he fell, but Rowan didn’t care. He could barely feel it now. Lifting his clawed foot, Rowan slashed his talons across Watts’s face, leaving it bloodied.
Watts stumbled back, blinded by the blood in his eyes. He shook his head, but Rowan was ready – in the bear’s momentary distraction, he leapt forward, pinning the bear beneath him, trapping him on his back in the snow.
Lifting his head, Rowan screeched in triumph.
“Rowan!!”
Emilia’s voice sounded again, louder this time – and for the first time, Rowan realized there were other people here too.
Raising his head, his vision still blurry and his body still shaking, he looked around.
Standing beside Emilia was a massive white horse with expansive golden wings, its nostrils flaring as if it had just landed from a swift flight.
Hardwicke.
Besides Hardwicke, there were other Shifter Patrol agents – some of whom Rowan recognized, but others of whom were unknown to him. He recognized Sally Mason’s leopard, Beau Harris’s elk, and now, just landing, Maris Jackson’s harpy. They quickly surrounded Watts and his men, cuffing the ones who had become human once more, and securing the others with their claws and teeth.
Still slightly dazed, Rowan watched, wondering if this was truly happening, or if it was just a hallucination.
It wasn’t until Emilia called his name again – softly this time – and ran toward him that he knew it was real.