The Alpha King's Mind Reading Maid (Cecilia) novel Chapter 123

Chapter 123

“You need more endurance,” he told me, his voice even.

I let myself become more breathless than I was to keep the act going.

“I know,” I tell him.

Suddenly, my instincts flared, and I could feel Lora on alert. Something was coming.

The thought was so sudden, I barely had time to grasp what was approaching until it was too late. The loud growl stopped Leopold from saying anything more. He turned towards the sound, his stance changing in an instant.

Leopold vanished, and Warren took his place, a loud growl erupting from him. Another growl in the distant followed, but it was closer this time.

The underbrush several yards away began to tremble. And then a massive shape burst from the trees.

The beast was larger than any wolf I had ever seen. Its fur was matted with old blood, its eyes were wild and unfocused. The scent of decay clung to it, thick and suffocating.

Rogue.

Warren moved without hesitation, stepping in front of me.

“Stay back,” he ordered.

I didn’t argue, but I didn’t retreat either.

The creature lunged.

Warren met it head-on, the force of the impact driving both of them several feet across the dirt. They rolled, claws and teeth flashing in the morning light. The beast was fast; faster than it should have been. Faster than King Leopold.

It struck again, catching Warren across the shoulder. I heard the fear of fabric and flesh, and for a moment, I had no idea if it belonged to the rogue or Warren. I worried for both Warren and Leopold in that moment.

Lora was practically attempting to burst from me to protect them. I had to pull her back before she got us hurt. She was thinking clearly right now; her only instinct was to protect him.

Warren was out of breath, and blood was dripping down the side of his face He was no longer fighting in wolf form, but in his human form. He was naked, and his body was scratched up from the claws of the rogue. It must have taken a lot for him to remain in his wolf form.

“His claws…” Warren rasped as he fought to catch his breath. “Soaked in wolfsbane.”

My heart stopped in my chest.

Had I heard him correctly? The rogue’s claws are laced in wolfsbane?

But why?

I didn’t have enough time to think about it; Warren caught my eye again. He looked weaker than he had a moment ago. He was fighting the rogue off him still, and though he was getting a few good hits in, I knew it was taking everything inside of him to remain on his feet.

And then… I saw it. The fraction of a second where Warren’s footing slips on the damp earth. It was all the rogue needed, and I could tell from the look in his dark and stormy eyes that he wasn’t going to pass up the opportunity.

The moment Leopold was at his weakest position, the rogue lunged.

I moved before I could think better of it.

1/2

+15 Bonus

I grabbed one of the discarded training blades from the ground and drove forward with everything I had. The world narrowed to

a single point of focus as I slammed into the creature’s side, burying the blade deep beneath its ribs.

Hot blood spilled over my hands and across my clothes, but I didn’t care.

The beast howled, twisting violently. Its claws raked across my arm as it tried to turn on me, but the distraction had been enough.

Leopold finally got his footing, and the little bit of time was all he needed to start the healing process a little. He was flickering between Warren and Leopold at that point; his eyes changing and his breathing growing stronger.

The rogue was still whirling around with the blade in his chest, trying to get it out. Leopold’s eyes narrowed at the rogue before he lunged forward, using the last pit of strength he had in him to finish what I had started.

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