THE BURDEN OF BLOOD

Chapter Two: The Shadowed Hall

Against the dawn sky, Shadowed Pine's gates jutted up like black fangs.

With a straight back and a scarred jaw that gleamed in the dim light, Heath rode at the front. Twenty horsemen trailed behind him, with Vance on his right and Scarlett on his left. The other riders were gaunt shadows in patched leather. The few farms that still had food were the source of their borrowed horses, which appeared embarrassed to be carrying such worthless individuals.

Beyond the gates were a dozen guards in armor trimmed in polished silver. Eagerly, their wolves pressed near under the skin. One took a step forward, leveling their spear.

He snarled, his voice dripping with venom and honey, "State your business, Crimson Howl."

Heath did not slow down. The iron tip of the spear kissed his chest as his steed charged at it. He did not stop until then.

Calm as deep water, Heath remarked, "Tell Beau his guests have arrived." Inform him that Alpha Heath is demanding an audience. Right now.

Eyes darting to the crimson look that had killed tougher men, the guard swallowed. He moved out of the way.

They cycled through river-stone-paved streets. Along the route were actual houses, two and three stories high, with windows gleaming with colored glass. Round-cheeked and inquisitive, children dressed in clean wool observed from doorways. Vance's hunger growled as loudly as thunder when the scent of roasting venison lingered on the wind.

Only Heath could hear Scarlett's words as she leaned in close. "They are making fun of us."

Heath whispered back, "Good." "Wolves that are angry fight harder."

Built from old pines, the enormous hall, which was wider than three men, loomed ahead. Snarling wolf-shaped iron sconces held burning torches. The steps were lined with at least fifty more guards. Beau was at the top.

He was as lovely as a blade laced with poison.

Broad shoulders beneath a cloak of midnight wolf pelt, golden hair held back with a silver clasp, and a vicious, chiseled face. While the rest of him did not smile, his eyes, which were pale amber, nearly yellow, did.

"Welcome, welcome!" Warm as new blood, Beau's words echoed. Finally, the mighty Crimson Howl joins us. Before you accepted my kind invitation, I thought you had all gone hungry.

In a single smooth motion, Heath dismounted. The crack of boots hitting stone silenced every guard. He went up the stairs by himself. Scarlett began to pursue him; she stopped as he raised one hand without looking, but her fingers twisted into claws.

When Heath got to the top, Beau opened his arms. "Observe yourself. Still quite tall. Scars are still relatively attractive. Cousin, you should be ashamed of the exposed ribs.

Heath paused at a distance of an arm's length. You could smell the dark, delicious, and wrong scent of the stolen power as it rolled off Beau in waves.

Heath declared, "I'm here for the valley." "And for the girl."

For half a heartbeat, Beau's smile remained frozen. Then, shark-bright, it widened once more.

"Directly to dangers. How revitalizing. With his cloak whirling, Beau turned and marched inside. "Come on. Let us engage in civilized Alpha-style negotiations.

The hall engulfed them.

The wealth struck like a fist inside. Antler and crystal chandeliers. Tables creaking beneath steamy dishes of bread, fruit, and meat. Garnet-colored wine was poured by servants, some of whom were from subjugated packs. With their tummies full and their claws well-groomed, Beau's inner circle relaxed on carved seats, laughing excessively.

At the head of the hall, Beau sank into a black oak throne and made a lazy motion. "Take a seat. Consume. You appear to have forgotten the sensation of food.

Heath remained upright. Behind him, his twenty filed in, scorching and silent.

Scarlett looked around the room, counting heartbeats, weapons, and exits. Vance's hand, knuckles white, was resting on the hilt of his sword.

Beau raised a silver goblet. "To long-standing friendships."

Heath remained still—Beau, the valley, as well as the girl.

The sound of Beau's wolves laughing.

After taking a sip, Beau licked a drop off his lip. "There is no girl. The only person who attempted to rip out her own throat on her first shift was my poor, irate sister. I protect her. Yes, chained. For her safety.

"Liar," Heath said.

There was no more laughter.

Beau squinted his eyes. "Be careful, cousin. Words like that spark wars.

"Then begin one." Heath moved forward a step. "You took away her authority. With it, you took the valley. I am here to reclaim both.

Beau slowly got to his feet. The wolves on both sides tensed, their claws falling free as the air thickened.

"You demand my land while riding in here with twenty scarecrows." The sound of Beau's voice faded to silk over steel. "Before the moon rises, I could have you flayed and fed to my hounds."

For the first time, Heath grinned. It was not polite.

"You might give it a shot."

The silence was as tense as a bowstring.

Beau then let out a brief, piercing, and joyful laugh. "Gods, you were missed." Take a seat. Just one drink. After that, we spoke like guys.

Heath did not take a seat. A servant brought him a goblet, but he did not accept it. After taking a single, subtle, but noticeable, nightshade smell, he slowly spilled the wine onto the floor in a red ribbon.

Beau's grin disappeared.

From behind Heath, Scarlett whispered in a slack yet deadly voice. Beau, poison is a coward's toy. I felt you were superior.

Beau gestured with his hand. "A harmless joke."

With a clink that sounded like a death knell, Heath put down the empty goblet. "These are my conditions. Crimson Howl is at the bottom of the valley. You give me custody of Savannah, the girl. Not hurt. Tonight.

After staring, Beau threw back his head and laughed till the chandeliers trembled.

"My sister is what you want?" He dabbed at his eyes. "The one who, should her chains slip, would level this hall? The one whose blood makes my foes shudder and my pack fat? He lowered his voice to a purr. Heath, get her if you are able to locate her.

Heath's hand moved more quickly than he could see. One instant was empty, and the next encircled Beau's throat, removing the golden Alpha from the throne with ease. Scarlett and Vance met the guards in a clash of snarls and steel as they lunged.

With enough force to shatter wood, Heath hurled Beau on the oak throne.

With his face inches away, Heath growled, "I already found her." Through fifty feet of stone and silver, I could smell her tears. Beau, you are done stealing. You are done lying. If she has one more bruise, she is done breathing.

Beau choked, his amber eyes wide with calculating rather than terror. His claws raked over non-bleeding flesh while his fingers scraped Heath's wrist.

Then, despite the choke, Beau grinned.

He wheezed, "Kill me, and she dies with me." My heart is keyed to the chains.

Heath's hold became firmer. Beau's neck has noticeable veins.

Through the confusion came Scarlett's voice. "Health. We must keep him alive.

Heath's knuckles turned white. Murder flared in those red eyes for a single, unending second.

Then his hand opened.

Gasping, Beau rubbed his throat and fell. However, the smile persisted.

"Astute," croaked Beau. "Now. Fresh proposal. Would you like the valley? Fight me for it. Individually. Right now, here. The winner gets everything, including the girl and the land.

Heath did not flinch. "Compared to six years ago, you are weaker. I would snap you like a kindling stick.

Beau's smile went wild. "Am I?"

Dark, dense, stolen power erupted. Except Heath, every Crimson wolf was knocked to their knees as it flowed off of him in waves. With a grunt, Scarlett fell to the ground, blood dripping from her nose.

Beau stood up, taller somehow, his eyes a horrible green glare.

"You feel that?" he murmured. Her blood has been in my veins for six years. Cousin, do you really believe you can take me?

Heath's crimson eyes blazed brighter as he stood motionless amid the tempest of power.

"I don't have to take you," he muttered.

With a purposeful insult, he turned away from Beau and proceeded to the hallway doors.

Confused, all the Shadowed Pine wolves froze.

Heath stopped in the doorway.

Without turning around, he stated, "I came here to give you one chance to do this clean." "You simply pissed it off."

With a wolf-like smile after tasting blood for the first time, Scarlett stood up and wiped blood from her lip.

Vance's neck cracked. "So, this is how we're having fun?"

Heath took a step into the light.

"If you must, burn it down," he called over his shoulder. However, the girl joins us. Alive.

Beau's howl of rage shook the rafters behind him.

Savannah opened her eyes for the first time in years, deep beneath the hall, amid silver, stone, and sadness.

She sensed him.

He had arrived.

Suddenly, the chains felt incredibly thin.