Chapter 78 You Have To Go!

With a deafening roar, Lazarus came out and before any shifter could even react, he had already decapitated one who was near him. Others got up, screaming at him, unsheathing their swords. They charged at him but he traced behind one of them and snapped his head. He was about to kill the third one when he shifted into his wolf. But Lazarus was faster. He grabbed the wolf by its snout and slammed it on the ground, breaking his skull. The last one was so terrified by this sudden attack that he began to run, but Lazarus traced in front of him. His hand went to his throat and he squeezed it tight, lifting the rogue up in the air. He bared his fangs and his eyes glimmered redder. "How dare you take my mate?" he snarled.

He was about to kill him when the rogue whimpered a word that he thought that he misheard. "Can't be!" he snarled and then snapped his head. He dropped his body on the floor of the cave. Stepping over it, he rushed to Emma and broke all the chains that shackled her. After removing the gag, he lifted her in his arms and then traced away back to his cabin.

Magnus and Olya were aghast to see her. He took her to the room, climbing each stair cautiously, tucking her tight against his chest. All he wanted was to hear her heartbeat close to his. She was so weak that her heartbeat was faint.

"What happened to her?" asked Olya as she rushed to sit by her side and Magnus rushed to light more fire.

"She was abducted by the rogues," he said through his teeth.

"Can you give her a bath with warm water?" she asked, rubbing Emma's hands in hers.

"Her body is cold. In the meantime I will go and prepare hot stew for her."

"I will," he said, unable to stop himself from trembling at the thought that she was unwell. He felt like his whole world was about to fall apart. He felt like he was going to go where she went. And this feeling was so strong even though he hadn't mated with her.

Magnus had lit the fire. He came to Lazarus and placed his hand on his shoulder. "We had come for lunch but you were sleeping. The three of us had lunch and then Olya and I left. Had I known…" he couldn't finish his sentence. "But I don't know how she manages to get in the clutches of the rogues."

"It's fine," Lazarus replied dryly. "I will give her a hot bath."

Magnus squeezed his shoulder and then walked out of the room, closing the door behind him. Lazarus ripped Emma's clothes and picked her up in his arms. "You can't leave me, Emmalyn," he muttered as he took her to the bathtub. He ran hot water in it and when it was full, he submerged in it with her in his lap. "Wake up…" he would murmur every time he would rub the soap bar on her skin.

There were many bruises. Her wrists were bloodied and there were angry marks on her skin. His heart ached with a strange emotion. He clenched his teeth to stop himself from breaking down. Never in his life had he felt so vulnerable. At least not after his mother had died.

Once he had cleaned her nicely, he took her back to the room and made her lie. He stroked her hair as he sat beside her. "Emma…" he called her. Willed her to listen to him.

She fluttered open her eyes. "Lazarus…" she murmured.

And Lazarus felt like he had conquered the world. He caught her hand. "I am here," was all he managed to say. He didn't know whether he was happy or angry to see her awake.

"You look like…"

He placed his finger on her lips. "We can talk later."

A faint smile came to her lips and she closed her eyes again.

Olya came back with rabbit stew with Magnus behind her.

Lazarus got up. "I have to go somewhere. Can you look after her in the meanwhile?"

Magnus nodded. "I will. When will you be back?"

"Soon," Lazarus said menacingly and then traced away.

---

Maeve was sitting with her maid and checking out all the new jewelry she had bought with the gold coins Lazarus had given her. She chuckled at him. Soon she was going to kill him and give all this wealth to her mate, Ailill. All at once, she heard wings flapping. She whipped her head to look outside. The moon shone brightly and, in a few days, it would be blood moon. She dismissed her maid instantly and opened the door of her room cautiously. As soon as she opened it, Ailill rushed in.

"Ailill!" she stifled a shriek. "What the hell are you doing?" She closed the door behind her and pulled the curtains. "How did you get past all the guards in the palace?"

Ailill tucked his wings and grabbed her by her waist. "I need to fuck you. Now!"

"Are you mad?" she said, feeling tense as hell.

"If they come to know that you are here, they are going to kill you!"

"I don't care!" he said. He had come after her from Vilinski. "Why didn't you come back? You said you would be back in a few days." He lowered his head to kiss her jaws.

"Things have been different. I have to manage!"

He pushed her to the wall and turned her so that her chest was pressed against it. He grabbed her hands and pinned them up with one hand while with the other, he lifted her dress. He lowered his trousers and slammed his cock inside her. She moaned and he slammed harder. "What can be more important than me, Maeve?" he said through his teeth.

"Ah!" she hissed. "There was a situation with Emma!" He slammed harder. "You need to leave!"

"I won't!" he groaned and then came inside her. His body slumped against hers. "You are my mate, Maeve."

"I am doing everything to get you here, but you have to go!"

Suddenly her magic hummed. Lazarus was in the palace.