“When I was told you’d cut all ties to our world and made a new life here I had no idea you’d changed so drastically,” Rouke said, eying the growling fluff ball at his feet.
“For hell’s sake, it’s a spell, Rouke. That’s why I’m here. I’m helping him,” Alina snapped.
“You didn’t have permission to come to this world.”
Drawing herself up, Alina stared at him with icy rage. “I need no man’s permission. I was a Clan Lady. None dare to stand in my way.”
Rouke took a threatening step toward her. “How do you think it looks to have my betrothed running off to her old lover?”
“Betrothed?” Mikayla demanded.
Ciar snarled at their feet.
Alina arched an aristocratic brow, not looking the least bit ashamed. “Nothing is set in stone yet, Rouke,” she declared. “Ciar needed my help and I came.”
“And I am here to bring you back,” he snapped. His eyes drifted down to the dog at his feet. “However, since I’m in this cursed realm anyway, I might as well eliminate the competition. Especially as it comes in such an easily breakable package.”
“No,” Alina cried. With a growl, she launched herself at her betrothed. Her nails sank deep into his biceps as she physically blocked his way with her body. “I won’t let you hurt him. Leave it alone, Rouke. Ciar is doing no harm in the human world.”
“No harm?” he demanded. “Even from this world he consumes your thoughts. Did it even cross your mind not to run to his rescue when you were asked? Did you never consider your loyalty should be to me?”
Regret shone in Alina’s expression. “He needed me.”
Rouke’s eyes narrowed with rage. “I can barely count the number of years I have waited for you,” he snarled at her. “And now when I finally have you, he crashes back into our lives. I won’t allow him to do it a second time.”
“Rouke, no!” she yelled, trying to hold him back.
“Let go, Alina,” he ordered, ignoring the blood running down his arms from her attack.
“No.”
With a growl, he pressed his palm to Alina’s forehead. Mikayla winced at the dark magic that flooded the air. It coiled around Alina, dissolving into her skin. Rouke caught his betrothed as she dropped like a stone. He lowered her to the ground before stepping over her prone body.
“Alina,” Mikayla said, jumping forward. She might not like the woman, but Rouke’s trick was underhanded at best.
Before she could get near, however, Rouke appeared in front of her. His hand shot out to wrap about her throat.
“This is all your fault, isn’t it?”
Mikayla’s lungs contracted in protest as she tried to draw in a strangled breath. Clawing at the arm holding her, her nails scored deep grooves in his skin but Rouke didn’t even flinch.
A vicious growl sounded from the poodle on the ground as the dog rushed them. Mikayla would have called out a warning had she been able. As it was, she was helpless to do anything but watch the tiny dog barrel toward a full-grown demon.
Ciar launched himself into the air, teeth bared, but the flying fur ball never made contact. Instead the black mist enveloped him in midair. It wasn’t a dog that emerged from the smoke but a fully formed Ciar. The two men collided and Mikayla wrenched free from the hand at her throat.
Tearing away from Rouke, she sprang clear from the fallen men.
“Ciar,” she breathed. He was back, which meant the spell had to be broken. But had he realized his feelings because she’d been threatened or because Alina had?
Rouke thrust Ciar away from him, pushing to his feet. Ciar tried to follow suit but his arms gave out under him. He fell back to the ground with a groan.
“Oh hell,” Mikayla whispered, watching as he tried again to rise with a body too exhausted to move.
“What’s this?” Rouke demanded, triumph already ringing in his voice. “Helpless as a babe.”
Ciar rolled to the side, his eyes seeking out Mikayla. She’d never even considered the reversal of her spell would have such an impact but obviously she should have. The curse she’d laid on him was a powerful one, bound deeply to his very essence. It had been taking him longer and longer each time to recover from his shifts. Obviously this last one had used up more of his energy than he could afford to lose. He needed time to recover.
And time was something none of them had.
“If I had known you’d be this easy to defeat I’d have come after you years ago,” Rouke declared, grabbing the dagger at his waist.
Mikayla sprang into action. Twirling before Ciar, she struck out. Her foot caught Rouke in the chest and he stumbled back.