The mark of the wolf

chapter 8

Cinaed tried to not worry about Alana and her job. She said she would be out of town for a while. He decided to give his sister a visit. Brigh stared and smiled at her brother it had been a few months since she had seen him. She walked over to him and threw her arms around him. He pulled away a little but and put his hand on her baby bump and said how is my little niece or nephew doing today? She smiled and said they are doing fine. Than pulled away to make him some coffee. So what have you been up to lately? He said I have been keeping busy. She smiled and said with a woman? His brows rose a bit and she said I smell her on you. Not just because I am pregnant. She smiled again her canines lengthening. He smiled back. So what her name ? He took a sip of his coffee and said Alana her name is Alana Rennet Stormborn. She paused and said the Alana Stormborn? The Queen's personal bounty hunter ? He nodded and said I think she is looking for a way to get out of that life. She nodded and said nothing . After a great meal of roast beef and vegetables he decided to spend the night. He tossed and turned not being able to sleep her scent was still on him he kept trying to calm his racing heart he needs to run and burn off this energy. He decided to go for a long run in the woods.

Alana put a ice pack on her nose and lay on the couch . As she lay there she sensed him watching her . She moved the ice pack and grinned he had a black eye and a busted lip his nose was swollen as well. He walked closer and said sorry again. She just smiled and said no harm done. He ran his hands through his long hair and tied it back with a strip of leather. He moved her feet off the couch and sat down next to her and grabbed her feet putting them in his lap. She stretched and relaxed again. Tossing him the ice pack he put it to his nose and winced. Where did you learn that move earlier when you had wrapped your legs around my neck? She smiled and said when I trained long ago with a group of killers on the contanent called Ciannait near the black mountains of Everline. His eyebrows inched up in suprise the Adders you trained with Conall the legendary Conall? She smiled and nodded and she said he is not as legendary as the stories say. She told him about the time he dropped her in the frozen waste land of Tanzianiva and she had to survive with just a cloak and a dagger. She said it was a long cold week but she had managed.

Than she told him about the contest with the fire drakes. How she had trained the biggest fire drake and named him Zenvah . She left Zenvah in the care of Conall in case she ever came back for him. Someday she would but not now. Erinarr started massaging her feet she smiled at him and didn't pull away so that was a good sign. She closed her eyes and he could have sworn he heard a groan escape. Than she pulled her feet from his grasp and sat up and walked to the bedroom shutting the door. When she did emerge again she was dressed in head to toe in all black. Black leather pants, black jerkin, black cape , boots, gloves and a mask over her mouth. She mumbled and said i am going out than stopped at the door and said you coming?

He threw on a black shirt and pants than grabbed a extra cloak and a dagger and walked out the door. They walked down the streets sticking to shadows and watching for any trouble. They walked across the golden city of Milasand it was beautiful at night and fully alive. The night market was legendary and you could find anything there. She walked to a old house on the corner of a dead end street. They climbed up until they got into the roof and waited. She pointed to the house across the street tadb said there that is where Lord Harrington lives. She sat down on edge of the cold wet roof and watched legs dangling off . The gaurds coming and going . Thanks. She saw a carriage pull up and Lord Harrington came out of the house he was young in his thirtys his dark brown hair was tied back under a hat and his green coat was embroaded with gold and hidden a little bit under a rich Navy wool cape. He walked with purpose and authority. He got in the carriage and she started to follow it roof to roof. Running and leaping over the gaps in the building . They eventually came to a spot that she couldn't jump but she came prepared and shot a grapling hook and swung over and walked up the wall. He stood their not sure what to do. She tossed the grapling hook his way he grabbed it just in time and repeated the action she had just done with it. He was breathing heavily and said I hope we don't have to do that again. She smiled and said what your getting tired? He shook his head and said he'll no I can keep up with you anyday Wolfy. She growled at him and turned and snapped good because we are here. She knelt and watched Lord Hamilton walk in the house. She started looking for a way in . There the window right below her was open so she dropped to the window sill and carefully crawled inside. Leaving Erinarr to stand gaurd. The room was quite but she heard talking in the next room walked into the hallway pressing her ear against the door. Lord Hamilton stood there staring at Lady kresidah and said we don't have time. She smiled and said yes we do have time. He shook his head and said we don't have enough time to get them out. She said if we try tonight maybe we can get them out but I don't think even than it could work. Get who out ? Alana wondered and kept listening. Lord Hamilton sighed and said the revolution is growing the threat is getting worse and the queen has now started the fighting pits again. You know where the rebeles will go to there death . Lady kresidah nodded and said we could try and warn them tonight. Lord Hamilton nodded and said I will try and get them out tonight or else they are going to the pits tomorrow. She heard someone coming down the hallway. Scrabbling out the window than crawled back onto the roof. Alana said we need to take him out right now. If we don't our lives are going to be hell from here on out. Erinarr nodded and said is there any other way? She tried thinking of a way to get around it somehow. But couldn't come up with one. She just checked her swords and started planning away to kill the Lord Hamilton. They followed him back to his house and decided the best way to get rid of him was make it look like a accident. She made the desicion to sneak in and break his neck and leave him at the bottom of the stairs. She crawled through a open window on the second floor and carefully made her way downstairs. She waited in the dark hidden pressed against the wall . He walked in through the front door and sighed pulling off his cloak and dropping it on the rack. She crept up behind him and put her hands around the back of his neck he tensed and said I knew you where coming. That startled her and he said do me a favor make it quick and don't have my death be in vain. She said she would make sure it wasn't in vain and than snapped his neck a clean break he didn't feel a thing. She layed his body at the bottom of the stairs his eyes staring up at her . She walked back up the stairs and crawld out the open window. She nodded to Erinarr and they beat a hasty retreat back to her apartment. She took off her cloak and mask and walked to her bedroom. She quickly changed and walked up the stairs to the second floor. Erinarr followed her she stood there under the moonlight her back stiff shoulders drooped. He walked up behind her behind her and put a hand on her shoulder she turned around. She said does it ever gets any easier? The killing? it never does answers Erinarr. He handed her a flask and she took a long pull than another one. Than handed it back to him. She ran a hand over her face and up into her dark hair. Than walked outside and sat on the edge of the roof staring at the city below. He sat next to her she leaned into his side and he put his arm around her as they watched the sun rise up over the mountains.

They where on their way back to the city by mid afternoon she lay back in the carriage sound asleep she slept all the way back to the city. Erinarr studied her this tiny package of crazy and smiled she was so beautiful long dark brown hair green eyes sharp cheeck bones and a sassy mouth. She may be short but she sure could hold her own. He touched his nose it was still tender but the swelling had mostly gone down thanks to his animals healing factor. She snored a little and had some drool now coming from her mouth. He tried not to laugh she snored so loudly she woke herself up and glanced around wiping a hand across her mouth. She glared at him and said what? He smiled and said nothing than turned to peek out the window. It was raining hard so there wasn't much to see. But he could tell they where getting closer to the city again. When they pulled up to the palace he grabbed his bag and smiled at her than shut the door and walked away whistling to himself like he didnt have a care in the world. She smiled and than tapped the roof she needed to go home and change.

Cinaed waited till the next morning to drop by . He walked into the living room and there she was reclining on the couch book in hand. He smiled and sat down on the overstuffed chair across from the couch. She shut the book and stared at him than got up and dropped into his lap and wound her arms around his neck. He smiled at her till he noticed the brusing on her face and gently ran a thumb over her still tender nose. She winced and he asked what happened? She looked down for a minute than back up at him and said I was training with a new partner and sparing got a little out of hand. His jaw tightened and a predatory gleam came into his eyes. His arms tightened around her waist and he said be careful and started kissing her neck she sighed and made a groaning sound when he started gently scraping his canines along her throat. She grabbed his face and kissed him hard. He scooped her up and dropped her onto the couch but soon joined her . She savored the feel of him his body on-top of hers. Her knees bracing him as his hands made tiny circles down her sides . She groand and felt how turned on he was but she was so tired from the trip and everything. His hands started wandering some more and she thought she was going to loose her dam mind. She kissed him deeply his tongue playing a dangerous game . She couldn't get enough of him and knew where this was heading if she didn't put the breaks on it. She pulled back and said Cinaed he just started kissing her jaw and than started kissing her throat again. She cleared her throat and tried again Cinaed. He answerd hmmm? She smiled and said you know I would love to take you to bed but I have had such a long day could we pick this up again later? He smiled and kissed her deeply she felt herself loosing control and pushed a little but . He smiled and said ok we can pick this up tomorrow. Than he stood up and gave her a wolfish grin.

She stood and let him out the front door that walked upstairs to take a cold shower.

She walked down the stairs the next morning and noticed a letter on the silver tray by the door . She slid it open with her dagger than began to read it was a invitation to dinner from yours truly Cinaed she smiled. Than decided to go into town to shop for something nice to wear to dinner and than dessert after. She ended up buying a backless dark blue dress with a neckline that whent straight across her front. The dress was light weight silk fabric that had a satin sheen to it. She put a gold jeweled belt with it. Her hair was curled and swept up into to giant combs. The combs where silver one a cresent moon the other a diamond studded star. She applied dark Kohle liner to her eyes and painted her lips a nice smug and waterproof brick red. Than sprayed a perfume that had cost her several months salary but it had been worth it. She looked at her reflection and nodded satisfied with the end result. Than slung a dark cape over her arms but tugged on gloves. She wanted to see his reaction to the dress and not have it covered up right away. The carriage rolled up and Cinaed got out and his jaw nearly hit the ground. He looked at her from head to toe and back again. Than leaned into her ear and said I am going to rip that dress to shreds. She growled at him and said you will do no such thing it cost her a fortune. Besides she smiled at him that's why they made zippers. He laughed and got in the carriage. He hauled her into his lap and kissed her . Thats when he tried to tangle his hands in her hair. She smiled at him and said it has taken me a long time to have my hair done and I don't want it messed up. He growled and she leaned down and kissed him thourly. They where so lost in eachother that they didn't even hear the carriage stop . She pulled out of his embrace rather reluctantly and stepped out of the carriage.