Southern Wolf Queen (Complete)

I'm Back

Tau's POV

Hawk met me downstairs at the front door to the castle when I arrived in the middle of the night. I was not surprised to see him, I figured he would want to get me filled in on what transpired while we were out.

"Strong was it just a dragon ward or did you place another?" Hawk's voice was low as I walked down the steps to meet me.

"I did the dragon ward and a blood vow spell to seek out any who would hurt Jewel." I was curious how he knew I did more than the dragon one.

"That one saved Jewel's life tonight." Hawk's voice seemed relieved and proud.

"What happened?" I about dropped my pack.

"I charged into her room, she told me that the air was difficult. It was a succubus hired by the same head of the family that tried to kill her last time." He paused, I saw he was talking in his head. "We will finish this in Athens study." his words clipped. Shaman appeared, stiff until he saw me. His face softened. Then he placed a hand on our shoulders. In the study, I noticed Athens freshly showered and without a shirt. I had never seen that. I think what surprised me more was he has a body like a martial artist. it was corded but lithe. The scars looked crazy. "They came from a fight I had killing my brood mate." He glanced down at his chest and back up.

"Ah, they just look crazy." I looked back up to see a flash of regret and pain. "Sorry," I turned to make myself a drink. I was happy I was going to sleep in a bed.

"Elder Braun and Pinky are watching her currently," Hawk said as he finished filling his glass.

I nodded. "So what have I missed besides the attack tonight?" I heard Athens snicker.

"There was a breach in the perimeter of the castle grounds. A were-cat and a group of wolves tried to get in the castle." Hawk started. "Logan, Mike, and Athens here took care of the wolves. Gael, the head of security captured the were-cat." Hawk looked at Athens who took over for him.

"Gael's father was killed by that cat, around the same time that happened, the text in the Southern wolf Laws changed and it gives the oldest head of father control over proceeds and decisions. That was not there before. Lobos the man who has been trying to kill Jewel must have enough power to get people to change these things. I have no idea what else he may have changed. We are still searching other text."

"It is getting super boring." groaned Johnny Athens mate.

"So, tomorrow we are going to let Jewel intercept this proceeding to let Gael control the trial and place a claim that Lobos is interfering in government without the ruler in power. Likely will be a direct challenge." Athens leaned back, he eyed me a moment.

"What do you want me to do?" I knew he was trying to come up with a plan. that had me NOT sleep in my blasted bed again.

"Stay in the woods near the training grounds. Make sure there is no one there. I have a gut feeling he is gonna hide someone that will need to be killed." Athens grinned then. "I have got to kill a ton in the last 48 hours. It's awesome!" He giggled like a little school girl.

"I get my bed after this, yeah?" I didn't want to sleep outside again but if it helped the plan I would do it.

"Deal," He chuckled. I watched him sip his drink as he eyed Hawk over the rim of his glass. "You want him guarding her tonight?"

"I am hoping there is not another attack," Hawk grunted.

"You think another will come so soon?" Shaman asked.

"I am not ruling it out." He glanced at me. "He put a blood vow protection on her. That is why she felt the succubus's spell started." Again there was a proud vibe in his words.

"Then I will take him there, Hawk gets some sleep." Athens stood, slapping a hand on my shoulder he didn't wait. We were in Jewel's room. I had the urge to walk to the side of her sleeping and slid my knuckles along her jaw. I had started that when she didn't wake up after that run to Zuni Rock.

"Why did you bring me here?" I whispered yelled at Athens who had a massive grin on his face.

"I knew you wanted to check in and make sure yourself." He grinned back at me.

"Ok, she is going to smell me and wake up." "I whispered again with a little force.

" Ok," he chuckled. Then we were in a smaller room. He walked straight to a side door and opened it to show me it was Jewel's room. "This is a guard room, that was built for one of the Queens," Athens informed me. "She was always having to worry about attacks. They made this room so that she would have a guard night and day." He closed the door quietly. "She managed to live another year before they moved her across the hall. She was killed there as they stopped the treats whilst a guard was always nearby." He patted my shoulder and left. I sat down on the bed and sighed.

It felt damn good to be laying down on the bed. I yanked my shirt off opened the bathroom door and took a much-needed hot shower. I am not sure how long I just let that water roll down off me. I had pushed hard the last but to get done and be here tonight.

I looked at my forearm, I had sliced my arm so that the blood vow would work. Griffin blood had many properties. One is the blood vow. I would know as long as I was within seeing distance who was the greatest danger to her. I wasn't sure how it fully worked, but I figured tomorrow I would find out. I dropped my towel slipped on some sweats. Flipping on the bed, I sighed releasing all the pent-up tension from having slept outside in new territory. This right here was my new favorite place to be.