Claimed by Her Mates(48)

“But plans changed.”

He gave a curt nod. “Yes, plans changed. It would have been simple if you had taken a Viken bride, easy to sway one sector against the others. But a matched bride and your mutual cooperation? That ruined everything.”

I didn’t know where Tor had taken Leah, but I hoped it was far, far away. If Gyndar showed his face, that meant he wasn’t alone. Surely there were more enemies in the woods. Waiting.

“And then we disappeared.” I needed to keep him talking, to give Tor a chance to take Leah to safety.

“Correct, but I have supporters everywhere.” Gyndar glanced down at the injured doctor. “Everywhere.”

So, our plan to hide Leah had been working until the medical examination. Our concern over Leah’s health was what brought the danger to her. Stupid. We should have sent for my personal physician from the sector. I trusted him with my life. If we’d been more careful, we wouldn’t be in this situation.

“Where is your lovely mate? I’m afraid I need her to come with me.”

“No,” Lev said with finality. “We are taking our mate to Viken United where we will jointly rule until our daughter is old enough to lead.”

I glanced at my brother. His eyes flicked to mine as he continued to taunt our enemies. “The baby’s a girl, isn’t it, doctor? One of your men—before he died—let slip that he wouldn’t be ruled by a woman. He wasn’t referring to Leah. He was referring to the one true leader.”

A girl. We were going to have a girl. If she looked anything like Leah, the three of us were in trouble. My fists clenched now. How dare this man put both my mate and my daughter in danger?

Gyndar made a simple gesture with his fingers and the men I knew to be hiding stepped out from the woods. There were at least ten of them, well-armed and prepared to kill us all.

Gyndar nodded to one man who was two steps ahead of the others, their apparent leader. “Kill them all and find the woman. I need her alive.”

“We will see you in hell,” I growled, leaping toward the man who would destroy my family.





Chapter Ten





Tor



I had to drag Leah away from the scene playing out before us. I place my hand over her mouth and dragged her back, farther into the cover of the trees as she fought me with all her might. Apparently, being tossed onto the floor and shielded by Drogan as Lev and I fought the men who’d come to kill her hadn’t been enough to scare her. My heart swelled with pride at our mate’s fierce spirit even as I knew I had to drag her away from the coming battle.

With blades slicing through the air, along with men’s fists, it hadn’t been the time to work out the details of who was attacking us in the hut, or why. It all became clear when the doctor had been discovered as part of the group. The thought that a man entrusted with the health and well-being of so many brides had tried to kill our mate made me sick. But not as angry as the knowledge that Gyndar wanted to steal our child and kill us all.

I grabbed her about the waist, my hand over her mouth and carried her as quietly as possible around the side of our hut and into the woods. I was in warrior mode, but that didn’t stop me from reveling in the feel of her breath against my palm, her heartbeat against my forearm, the soft weight of her. They proved that she was alive and safe. I was used to fighting the enemy—the two men I killed lay dead on the floor of our hut—but now I had a more important job, keeping Leah safe. Lev and Drogan would deal with Gyndar. They could focus on this menace and trust me to keep our mate safe.

As I reached the cool shade of the trees, I didn’t put her down, only lifted her carefully into my arms and whispered in her ear. I did not know how many men Gyndar brought with him, but I doubted he had revealed all of them. I doubted we’d killed even half of his assassins. “Remain silent.”

“But Drogan and Lev!” she whispered, her eyes wide and etched with fear, not for herself, for my brothers.

Heat spread in my chest that had nothing to do with lust and everything to do with the softness, the genuine worry I saw in her eyes. If she loved my brothers, surely there was also room in her heart for me.

“Don’t argue with me. Have faith, love. They are warriors, not pompous politicians who grew up wearing robes.” I smiled down at her, amazed by her strength of spirit. “Be silent. They are trusting me to keep you safe, Leah. Don’t argue.”

She nodded and didn’t fight me again as I shifted her into a more comfortable position in my arms. She didn’t cry out as I carried her away and I was amazed by the calm set of her beautiful face. One minute she was asleep between us, the next she was under attack, learning that the Viken regent had been murdered for personal and political gain… and she was next. She was truly the only person on Viken who could waylay Gyndar’s plans. If my brothers and I were dead, the child she carried was the man’s only completion for power. Sure, Drogan, Lev, and I could unite forces and lead, but the various sectors wouldn’t stand united as we desired—as the regent had wanted—without the future leader that was the physical embodiment of all three sectors. The one true heir.