Hunted (War of the Covens 1)

“Well, Atia. You have been a naughty wife, haven’t you?” Devlyn murmured as he circled her like an animal. His eyes raked over his beautiful wife as she dangled by her arms, arms that were clamped in chains attached to the ceiling. A long time ago, he’d thought Gaia had created this enchanting creature just for him. Now his stomach turned thinking about whom she’d allowed to use her body. “How was it? Sex with a dirty animal? Not even an influential Pack Leader … some small-time piece of filth who has the audacity to call himself an Alpha.”

He watched as her eyes filled with tears of rage and frustration. She pulled at her chains, her body swinging with the motion. “I told you I killed Mikhail! It’s over, and there is one less lykan in the world!” she cried, her tears mingled with blood as they ran over the wounds he’d inflicted. “Please, Devlyn …”

He laughed humorlessly. “What? You think I’m happy with the death of just one of those mutts? More of them must know that my wife had an affair with one of their kind. If the coven ever found out …”

She pulled again at the chains. “They’re strong, husband. Small-time they may be, but they can’t be killed easily.” Her eyes widened as she thought of something, licking her lips in excitement. “Yes, you won’t be able to kill them unless you infiltrate them. I can help. I can find out their weaknesses, and together we can destroy them.”

Devlyn stared, amazed that she would think he would fall for that. “My dear, why would I ask for your help to take out this pack when you’re the reason I have to undertake an assault against them in the first place?”

“Devlyn,” she begged.

It was the last thing she said.

His name.

A plea for his mercy.

He felt nothing after he killed her, just stared in disgust and turned from her body. His son stood in the doorway, his hand protectively on his elder sister’s shoulder, even though he was three years younger than she.

“The coven is never to hear of this,” Devlyn commanded. He watched as they nodded, their faces belying their own disgust at what their mother had done. He felt their anger hit him like a heat wave and smiled at their loyalty. They were furious their mother would dare betray him, let alone with a lykan.

“Adriana,” he called to his young daughter. She stepped forward from the shadowy harbor of her brother Ethan’s side. She was just as beautiful as her mother, and the perfect weapon. “Your eighteenth birthday is in what … three months?”

“Yes, Father.”

“I want you training intensively until then.”

“Of course, Father.”

“Don’t you want to know why?”

“Yes, Father.”

He smiled. He had raised his children well. They hadn’t been poisoned by their mother’s weakness. Adriana would make a fine head for the coven once he was gone. “I’m sending you into the pack.”

“You want me to infiltrate the pack, Father?”

“Yes. I don’t want anyone other than my children knowing of this.” He strode toward her, putting his arm around her small shoulders and leading her to Ethan. His other arm around his son, he guided them from the room in which they’d watched him punish and execute their mother. “If the coven were to find out, children, this family would be stripped of its title. We’d go from royalty to traitors.”

“We understand, Father.” Adriana nodded. “I will infiltrate this pack of mangy dogs and find out what we need.” She stopped and stared at him with determination in her eyes. “Who their strongest warriors are, their relationships with one another, and thus where their weaknesses lie.”

“Good.” Devlyn was pleased. She’d been well taught. He looked upon his son. “Why is Adriana’s plan the best we have, Ethan?”

The fifteen-year-old pulled himself up straight, his eyes blazing with a hatred that would see him through the worst of the war. “Because there are only three of us, Father, and many more of them. If we can understand their weaknesses, we can exploit them. An emotional lykan is one that we can take by surprise, before they make the change into their … disgusting animal forms. In animal form they are protected from our magik. But as humans …” Ethan smiled wickedly. “They’re as vulnerable as a litter of puppies.”

Devlyn laughed and squeezed his children closer to him. “Exactly.”

“Albus,” Rafe said, placing his hand on his friend’s shoulder. “I’ve returned.”

Albus looked at him, anguished. “You look well. I take it that last rogue didn’t give you too much bother.”

“No. Not really.” Rafe took a seat beside him. “Ella says you are adjusting to your duties.”

Albus shrugged.

“Al …” Rafe sighed. “It’s been months. I wish you would stop blaming yourself for Mikhail’s death.”

“I should have known that bitch would come back for him.”