The scent of death reached Anton the farther they descended into the dungeon. He’d never been down this corridor. It led to the Yuran brothers’ private chambers. They’d modified a network of natural caves, adding some modern conveniences like electricity and carving out manmade tunnels and rooms.
While Anton wouldn’t have chosen to place their most precious belongings in the dungeon, these were Tsar’s preferred conditions. He’d argued that they’d been chosen by the goddesses to protect their species’ greatest artifacts. If their goddesses trusted them, the Council should too. That reasoning had never felt right. Anton should’ve listened to his instincts.
Tsar had betrayed them all. Anton couldn’t help but wonder how many of their other books had been altered in translation.
Two Yuran males stepped out of a room near the end of the hallway. Wearing kilts with their long hair braided and leather guards on their forearms, they appeared to be warriors of a time long gone. Their strung bows held casually in their hands and the quiver full of arrows at their hips added to the impression.
Only the eldest of shifters carried weapons. Then again, every Yuran brother living on campus was old. Without mates, there couldn’t be any younger males on Council grounds.
“Where is Tsar?” Kade demanded.
“Outsiders aren’t allowed back here.” The darker-haired brother stepped forward. “You need to leave.”
“Where is Tsar?” Kade repeated.
“Dealing with an unexpected death.” The other guard with blond hair motioned behind him. “Surely you can smell it.”
There was no missing it. Even with the underlying incense in the air, the putrid stench was unmistakable. Not only had someone died, the body had begun to decompose. “Who died?”
“A visitor to the dungeon. It’s been quite unnerving having the body here for the past couple of weeks too, but preparations had to be made to dispose of it. According to Tsar.” The blond guard’s anger twisted his words.
Kade took a step forward. “Why haven’t you reported it?”
“Tsar forbid us to do so. And he’s eldest. We obey him, as is expected.” The dark-haired male rested his hand on the quiver. “You need to leave now. I won’t ask again.”
“Council members can access the dungeon.” Anton stepped in front of Kade, shielding him with his body, an automatic reaction Anton couldn’t help. “Now tell me where to find Tsar, or I’ll tear this place apart looking for him.”
“Why do you need to see him?” the blond brother asked.
“We found an error in translation.” Kade moved around Anton. “I’m sure Tsar would like to know he made a mistake in one of our forefathers’ books.”
Tsar turned the corner. Instead of his usual khakis and polo shirt, he wore jeans, no shirt or shoes. Streaks of blood covered his chest. Dirt covered his hands. And sweat slickened his hair. “Have I now?”
“Yes.” Kade flexed his hands. Sharpened nails tipped his fingers. “You have.”
“I find that hard to believe after all these years.” Claws emerged from Tsar’s hands. “Which book did you supposedly find a mistake in?”
“The first Alexander’s book.” Blond hair pushed through Kade’s knuckles. Although not fully lost to his half-man, half-beast form, Kade’s control was slipping. “Show me the original so I can prove it.”
“I don’t think that’ll be possible. We’ve had a break-in this afternoon. It appears the book has been lost. Fortunately, I was able to copy it first.” Tsar smiled, revealing feline fangs. “But don’t worry. The intruders were found and are being dealt with.”
“Dealt with how?” Anton focused on the blood on Tsar’s chest.
“Councilman Mercer was killed on sight.” Tsar took a step back while the kilted guards moved forward. “And Ms. Mercer and her young companion will meet their fate shortly.”
Rage pulsed within Anton. The colors of the world faded, replaced by the shades of gray his felines viewed their surroundings in. His cats’ instincts and senses became his. He didn’t slip into his werecat form. He didn’t have to. He was the ultimate warrior, one with his primal side. Nyx had given him this gift by coming into his life. He’d use it for her. For Molly.
“You don’t get to make that decision, Tsar.” Anton’s voice sounded more animal than man. “Only active Council members can decide who dies and who doesn’t.”
“Oh, didn’t you hear?” Tsar tilted his head to the side while the kilt-wearing shifters on either side of him nocked arrows in their bows. “I’ve decided to relinquish my position as eldest guardian of our treasures to Zaheer. I’ll instead be assuming the role of eldest on the Council.”
Tsar nodded to the blond guard. He drew the bow and released the arrow. Flames burst from the tip of the arrow as it cut through the air. Anton ducked, avoiding the flaming arrow. Three more flew at him in rapid succession.
Relying on his instincts, Anton dodged each arrow.
The two guards ran forward while Tsar turned tail and fled the way he came.
The blond male swung the warrior’s bow at Anton’s head. Anton whacked the curved limb. It snapped back, hitting the other male in the face. A deep gouge cut the shifter’s cheek. He snarled, then spit blood in Anton’s eyes, temporarily blinding him.
Instead of giving in to the urge to wipe away the blood, Anton rammed his head into the blond male’s chest. The guard tipped back. Anton grasped the center of the bow as the guard fell. With a lurching motion, Anton broke the bow, then grasped one piece. He turned it and impaled the other shifter with the shattered edge.
The Yuran male hit the ground with the bow sticking out of his chest, right over his heart. His mouth opened on a silent groan. But he still breathed. As long as he did, he’d heal. Once he did, this male would go after Nyx. He’d hunt Molly.
He needed to die. For a Royal, that meant one of two things—he lost his head or his heart.
Anton yanked the wood from the shifter’s chest. Blood pumped in rhythmic bursts from the hole left behind. With his partially shifted clawed hand, Anton rammed his fist into the blond male’s chest, cracking ribs and crushing his heart. Anton curled his fingers around the beating organ and tore it from the Royal shifter’s chest.
Death slipped into the blond guard’s eyes, ending his ancient life.
The sounds of fighting behind him registered. Kade’s curse rang out. The dark-haired guard screamed. Then silence reigned for the briefest of moments.
Anton glanced over his shoulder. Blood covered his pride leader, but he was alive. Not a mark showed on his body. He stood in his human form over the fallen, headless male.
Anton met Kade’s eyes. There was no need to speak. They both knew what they had to do.
Hunt.
Anton took his jaguar’s form, Kade his lion’s. Then they ran, faster than they could in their human or werecat’s body. Rage built as Anton moved through the tunnels leading deeper underground. Any male who threatened Nyx or Molly would die. If saving them meant they lost the book again, so be it. The laws it outlined wouldn’t mean anything without their most precious females here on this earth to protect.