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As a tall, dark-haired woreeted her, coave a nod "Lyon"

All took their seats around the table, each eyeing her with avid curiosity Was it so unusual for theer into their ar softly

"Paenther’s the only one not here"

Goddess, no wonder they were so desperate to retrieve the two from the spirit trap He’d said their nu Five Feral Warriors in this room when once there had been more than two dozen

"The Wind?"

"Dead His son is one of those in the spirit trap"

The breath went out of her with the unwelcome ache at the losses he’d suffered "I’m sorry"

When everyone had taken a seat, the chief, Lyon, turned to Kougar "The Shaaze flicked to Ariana, then back again "What’s this about?"

Kougar re up to stroke his beard once, twice His hand returned to his chair’s arm while those around him watched And waited

Finally, he spoke, his voice low, yet as rich and hard as any "This is Ariana, Queen of the Ilinas"

Gasps and other sounds of disbelief erupted like scattershot around the roo her to her chair

Kougar turned to her, his eyes like flint "My mate"

As quickly as the noise erupted, it receded as if Kougar’s words had sucked the rooue The only sound was her heart pounding in her ears

Every eye widened, every jaw dropped, the silence growing thicker, heavier, until it bruised her skin, until it pressed against her rib cage and threatened to crush her lungs

Still, they stared

"Holy shit," Jag exclai the awful tension "You’reat once

"The Ilinas have been extinct"

"Did you know?"

"Is she the only survivor?"

"Silence!" Lyon took control Though the talking stopped, the roo but quiet as the Ferals leaned forward, their expressions confused, wary, excited

Kougar’s voice slid into the void "A o, the Ilinas were attacked by a sorcerer’s ic, a poison that killed many of them" Quickly and succinctly, he relayed what little she’d told hiy head, his expression ripe with disbelief "You’ve known all along the Ilinas were alive?"

"No" The as hard, clipped "Like everyone else, I thought they were dead I only learned the truth twenty-one years ago"

"Thebond?" The scarred aze "Severed, Wulfe"

The sy of the other Feral’s eyes stabbed Ariana with guilt

"That shouldn’t be possible"

"She’s Ilina" Kougar’s tone said they orse than dirt

"You left Harpers Ferry to find her," Lyon said "You think she can help us save Tighe and Hawke"

"I did"

The brunette’s eyes widened as they locked on her "Dear God"

By the fragile hope in the woman’s desperate eyes, Ariana knew one of those Ferals was herto deliver the blow "I can’t help the battle-hard "You have to"

A war as familiar as the beat of her heart No The scent of pine wafted on the air, the scent of the Crystal Realar must have smelled it, too, for he shot to his feet "Attack!"

Even as he roared the word, the room exploded with the flash of steel, the splatter of blood, and the roar of fury and pain

Melisande and half a dozenthe Ferals with their knives, flinging painful energy Attacking without provocation though Ariana doubted Melisande saw it that way Brielle had no doubt felt Ariana’s agitation Her fear And Melisande had led the cavalry to the rescue

But if Feral blood spilled, Ilina blood would soon follow

And Feral blood was spilling

Kougar pulled his knives and started swinging even before the six mist warriors turned fully solid and launched their attack

Led by Melisande, the Ilinas were out for blood, ai for hearts and heads as the Ferals drew blades to parry the attack Vhyper took a knife to the shoulder,an instant before Melisande’s blade pierced his heart Lyon took a knife to the back, but it didn’t see and Wulfe shifted into their animals, their teeth bared

"Cease!" Ariana yelled, on her feet beside Kougar Her general’s tone shot through the roo her maidens’ blades as the woh which a blade would pass and never find purchase

The Ferals faced off with the wraiths, the jaguar and wolf snarling, the others’ blades ready to attack the moment the women returned to flesh and blood

Only one battle persisted Melisande continued to fight Lyon, blade to blade The hatred in the blondfor the right y blast on the Chief of the Ferals The savage light in Lyon’s eyes said she was about to die for her efforts

Kougar wouldn’t care, except that Melisande’s death would devastate Ariana "Don’t kill her, Roar"

Ariana lifted her bound ar to fire a pistol Kougar was about to stop her when he realized her aim wasn’t on Lyon but on her own out-of-control lieutenant

Melisande flew off her feet as if she’d been launched, turning toan instant before she slammed into the wall A neat trick

Silence descended except for the loling and snarling in the throats of the wolf and jaguar

"How the hell did they get in here?" Lyon roared

Kougar eyed the re Ilinas, satisfied they were firo as they please"