Love's Curse Ch. 12

Lilandra spun around and counted the creatures. There were seven and they looked like the lizards on the farm, only bigger and much more dangerous. "Let me pass!" she tried to sound regal but her voice quavered.

Syn shook his head, his tail whipping out to wrap around her. Ignoring her screaming, the group began walking deeper into the forest.

She attempted to struggle but every movement hurt as Syn's tail constricted in warning. Finally she gave up and settled for screaming in the vain hope that someone would hear her.

Syn ignored her cries. He felt the vibrations of the approaching local wolf pack. Hissing irritably, he and his men drew out their knives and spears ready to battle the animals for their captive.

Aries's sensitive hearing picked up the piercing screams of his runaway female. He swooped to the right, diving low above the trees to quicken his pursuit.

Suddenly the wolves sprang from hiding and the men began striking out but the wolves were hungry and aggressive and the battle was violent as two lizard men went down under the snapping, salivating jaws of the pack. "Kill them now!" Syn yelled as his talons sank into a wolf pulling it brutally apart.

A dark shadow passed over the group as the swoop of leathery wings was heard. The group trembled as the prince landed. A low growl of territorialism came from when he spotted the group.

"You!" Syn growled, his fangs lengthening. "She is ours, you cannot have her!" Casually he swatted aside a female wolf that leaped at him.

Lilandra squeaked in relief. He was here. She would be safe.

The wolves still crouching in the shadows snarled at the beast even as they began advancing on him, bringing the number of the pack to fourteen. Six wolves lay dead nearby.

Aries glared and flexed his claws, his own fangs glinting in the darkness. "Well, well. I've been looking for a new rug." He snarled at Syn, daring him to challenge him. "Put the girl down and let's finish this."

"I think not, beassst. Ssshe isss my prey. Find your own."

A wolf slunk closer to Aries, intent on taking a bite out of him. Aries turned to the wolf barking out a warning before returning his attention to the lizard. He was curious how Lynn would like him carved up for dinner tonight.

The wolf disregarded the warning and launched itself on to Aries's back, clawing and snapping as it attempted to rip into his skin.

He flinched as the wolf's claws sliced his skin and wings. Reaching back, he grabbed the beast and tossed it to the side, moving forward towards Syn, hoping to end the fight before the wolves proved to be a distraction.

The wolf hit a nearby tree with a thud, falling to the ground unmoving. The other wolves howled and slunk closer, some of them taking on the lizard men and the others heading for Aries who posed the bigger threat.

Lilandra kicked wildly, hoping to distract the lizard into dropping her. "Look out!" she cried, fear almost closing her throat as five wolves rushed the Beast.

Aries swatted the wolves away from him; however he was forced to stop as three leaped at him, sinking their fangs and claws into his flesh once more.

"Let me go! Please we have to help him!"

The wolves grew frenzied in their attack at the smell of blood. The pack took down two more of Syn's males, leaving only four. Syn debated his next move. He could leave with the girl but something about her made him want to honor her pleas. What to do, what to do, he mused.

Aries slashed one of the wolves, splitting it neatly in two. The second he chose to throw towards the other who was advancing on him. To dislodge the third he flapped his wings with a grunt, sending the last one tumbling across the ground.

Syn issued a series of hisses and instantly his men backed away from the wolves and disappeared into the woods. Syn watched Aries for a long moment and then set Lilandra on her feet. "I leave you to your fatesss." With an incredible leap and twist he was airborne and landing in a tree. He threw Aries a mocking salute and vanished into the foliage.

Aries quickly moved towards her, keeping himself between her and the wolves. "What did I tell you about running off into the woods at night?"

"S-sorry! Look out! " A wolf sprang at them and behind it four more.

Aries slammed his fist into its body, sending it sprawling across the ground. He was forced to take a step back as the last four dove at him, his wounds bleeding heavily now as their sharp fangs and claws cut him.

She didn't even think about what she was doing. He was hurt, the wolves scared her and she didn't want him to die. Deep inside her a fire blazed up and the heat scorched her very nerves, pulling a scream of pain from her right before four lines of fire erupted from her hands, hitting the ground, and racing toward the wolves who were oblivious to their impending deaths. The first line of fire struck the lead wolf, setting its fur ablaze. Its dying howl of agony filled the air and was joined by three more. The wolves fell off Aries and fell to the ground writhing before going still.

With the exertion of fighting off the wolves and the massive blood loss, Aries swayed as the wolves turned to charred corpses. His legs gave way beneath him and he toppled over, crashing face first into the ground.

The silence was instant and unnerving. The pain stopped and she sank to her knees gasping in shock. What had just happened? "Beast? Beast?" She crawled to him and timidly reached a hand out to him.

Nothing was heard from him at first, but after a few moments, deep breathing could be heard in his massive chest. His wounds were slowly beginning to close, although it would be several days until they were fully healed.

She touched him and recoiled when the sticky blood coated her hand. She burst into tears. "This is all my fault. I, I was afraid. Please, please don't die!" She frantically looked about. "Help! Someone help me please!"

"Don't fret child. You can help him. Just believe in yourself and imagine in your mind's eye where you wish to go." Lilandra looked around. She didn't see anyone but the voice was female and very clear to her. Gently she cradled the Beast's head in her arms, closed her eyes and visualized the layout of his room and Lynn. She didn't notice the change of scenery, nor did she glimpse Lynn's startled look. The tiredness overtook her and she passed out on top of Aries.