She never thought of them as she did her goat or even Willow, Arabelle's lovely mare, for she knew they were intelligent creatures with magic of the forest in them. Yet, she'd-
"Good God," exclaimed Sienna. "I've ridden on your back a hundred times."
Allora laughed that tinkling laugh of hers. This even cracked the grim expressions of the three men behind her. Sienna saw that they were devoted to Allora.
"I'm very strong in my wolf form. I never minded at all."
Sienna squeezed her hand. "Thank you." She stared up at the men behind her. "Thank you for all you've done for me. And especially-especially for taking me to the hartstone."
Dane cut in at that point, his voice a rolling growl. "That was not us, Sienna. The stone summoned us. We sensed you and your vampire drawing near." His sun-gold eyes flicked to Nikolai behind her.
"Still. " She reached up and took Nikolai's hand. "We both thank you." Though she was still unsure what the stone had transformed or awakened inside of her, she could feel a stirring of energy singing along her veins.
Nikolai said nothing but gave her hand a reassuring squeeze. Suddenly, he stood at attention, his chin up. Then the others. Allora dropped her hand and stood.
"What is it?" asked Sienna.
"Vampire," said Connell next to his bigger brother.
"On horseback," added Bron, a frightening growl rumbling from his throat.
"Wait," said Nikolai, nose on the wind, stepping forward. "It's my cousin. Riker."
Sienna heard nothing for moments as they stood and watched the trail from the direction of the Glass Tower. Finally, she heard the steady pounding of hooves.
"Only one horse," said Connell. The others said nothing, watching like the predators they were toward the sound drawing closer.
"No," muttered Nikolai, voice quaking, as he walked forward into the clearing. He watched the trail as a horse trotted forward bearing a shirtless and bloodied Riker, hunched forward on his mount. "For fuck's sake," he swore, grabbing the horse's reins.
Dane leapt forward and steadied the horse while Nikolai leaned up to help him down.
Riker bellowed in pain when Nikolai tried to pull him over the saddle. "My legs," he rasped, his voice thick and hoarse as if he'd screamed till it was lost.
Riker's leather pants were soaked with blood. One of his legs twisted abnormally. A bone had torn through the tough fabric on the other side. His chest had been carved and sliced in cross-hatches.
"Oh God," gasped Sienna, her hands to her mouth as she realized what they had done. They'd carved the word "traitor" in his chest.
They'd also cut one of his eyes out and slashed his face, several gashes bleeding and smearing dark crimson on one side.
"I'm sorry, Nikolai. I tried not to tell them where you were," whispered Riker, leaning down to him. "I fought it. But it's true … King Dominik's elixir … it's true."
"Quiet now," said Nikolai, gripping him by the nape and his shoulder. "Just quiet for now. It's all right."
"They're coming … for you." He glanced up, his one blue eye piercing Sienna. "For her."
"Dane. Help me," growled Nikolai.
Together, they pulled him off, keeping his torso level. Bron and Connell jumped in and held his legs. Riker screamed, his pain echoing through the woods, then he fell unconscious. His right leg was broken nearly in half, held together by his pants.
"Inside," said Nikolai.
Sienna rushed to the door and held it open. After they carried him through, she jostled around them. "Here. Put him in the bed."
Gingerly, they eased him down, but he felt no more pain at the moment. As soon as they had his head on the pillow, Nikolai sunk his canines into his own forearm then pressed the puncture to Riker's lips. Riker's throat worked slowly as he took in Nikolai's lifeblood to try and heal the wounds.
"Who is he?" asked Dane.
"He's my cousin," said Nikolai, opening and closing his fist to work the veins and pump more blood into Riker's mouth. When it started to dribble off the sides, he pulled back. "He planned to help us. To help the Black Lily."
"What did he mean?" asked Sienna softly. "About King Dominik."
"It is said his elixir has the power of persuasion. He must've bitten Riker." Nikolai looked up at her with desperation and fury marking his face. "He wouldn't have given up information about us unless he couldn't resist."
Sienna rushed forward and clasped his shoulder. "I know that." She stared down at the unconscious soldier, mutilated and broken. "They did their worst and he still survived."