Chapter 48 CHAPTER 48

Chapter 48 CHAPTER 48
Dmitri's POV
The silence came first.

One moment, the carriage was filled with the soft sounds of movement—the rustle of Tessa's dress, the gentle creak of the wheels, the steady rhythm of the horses' hooves against the packed earth. Her breathing was still slightly uneven from our conversation, the echo of her tears hanging in the air like a delicate mist.

And the next—nothing.

The birds had stopped singing. The wind had died. Even the horses seemed to hold their breath, their hooves faltering for just a fraction of a second before resuming their steady rhythm.

My beast stirred.

Danger.

The word rose from somewhere deep in my chest, primal and absolute. It wasn't a thought, not really. It was instinct, honed over a century of violence and survival, a sixth sense that had kept me alive when everything else had tried to kill me.

And right now, it was screaming.

I had learned to trust that instinct. It had never failed me, not once in all the years since the Great Disaster had shattered my world. When the beast spoke, I listened. When the beast warned, I prepared.

My head snapped toward the window, my nostrils flaring as I scented the air. The trees pressed in on both sides of the road, dense and dark, their ancient branches creating a canopy that blocked out the morning light. The gorge we were passing through was narrow, the walls rising steeply on either side, creating a natural chokepoint.

Perfect terrain for an ambush.

I catalogued the details in an instant—the way the shadows pooled beneath the trees, the faint glint of metal where there should have been only leaves, the almost imperceptible shift of movement in the underbrush.

They were there. Waiting. Poised to strike.

My eyes flicked to Tessa. She was still recovering from our conversation, her cheeks flushed, her eyes slightly red-rimmed. She looked fragile in the soft morning light, vulnerable in a way that made something fierce and protective surge in my chest.

She had no idea what was coming. No idea that death was lurking just beyond the carriage walls, waiting to claim her.

And then I heard it.

The whistle of arrows cutting through the air. The sound was unmistakable—a dozen shafts, maybe more, all aimed at the same target.

At the window.

At where Tessa was sitting.

No.

The word exploded in my mind, and I moved before conscious thought could catch up. My body reacted on pure instinct, the beast surging forward with a speed that defied reason. One moment I was across from her, and the next I was beside her, my arms wrapping around her small frame and pulling her against my chest.

I twisted, putting my body between her and the window—

And felt the impact.

Two arrows slammed into my shoulder, the force of them driving through muscle and lodging deep in the bone. Pain lanced through me, hot and sharp, radiating down my arm and across my chest. I felt the poison immediately—a cold, creeping numbness that spread from the wounds, trying to seep into my bloodstream.

But I didn't let go. I held Tessa tighter, absorbing the shock, keeping her safe.

A grunt of pain escaped my throat before I could stop it.

"Dmitri!" Her voice was panicked, her small hands pushing against my chest, trying to see what had happened. "Dmitri, are you—"

"Stay still," I growled, and I heard the beast in my voice—low, wild, dangerous. "Stay close to me. Don't move."

She obeyed, her body trembling against mine. I could feel her heart hammering, could smell her fear, but she trusted me. She stayed still, stayed in my arms, stayed safe.

The poison was spreading, but I forced it back, my Lycan blood burning through the toxin with the ferocity of a wildfire. It would take more than a few poisoned arrows to bring down a king.

I reached back with my free hand and grabbed the first arrow. The shaft was slick with blood, but I ignored the pain as I pulled it free. The barbed tip tore through muscle, and I felt the hot trickle of fresh blood down my back.

Tossing it aside with a clatter, I reached for the second. This one was deeper, lodged near the bone, and I had to grit my teeth as I wrenched it free. The sound of it leaving my flesh was wet and sickening, and I heard Tessa's sharp intake of breath.

"Poison," I muttered, examining the dark residue on the arrowhead. The substance was viscous, almost black, with a faintly sweet smell that was somehow more sinister than any acrid odor. "They wanted to make sure I didn't get back up."

"Poison?" Her voice was barely a whisper, laced with terror. "Dmitri, you—"

"I'm fine," I said, cutting her off. "It takes more than a few poisoned arrows to kill a Lycan King." I tossed the second arrow aside, the metal clattering against the carriage floor. "But those arrows were aimed at you, Tessa. At where you were sitting."

She shivered in my arms, and I felt a fresh surge of rage course through me—white-hot and blinding. Someone had tried to kill her. Had come this close to succeeding. Had sent assassins with poisoned weapons to end her life.

The thought made my blood boil. Made my beast howl with fury.

Whoever did this will pay. They will all pay.

But I pushed the thought aside. There would be time for vengeance later. Right now, my only priority was keeping her alive.

I looked out the window, assessing our situation. The gorge was narrow, the trees pressing in on both sides. The sky above had darkened, thunderclouds rolling in with unnatural speed, their undersides bruised with the promise of a violent storm. Rain was beginning to fall, fat drops that splattered against the glass and ran down in rivulets like tears.

Ominous, I thought. Perfect terrain for an ambush.

And then I heard it again.

The whistle of arrows.

"More are coming," I said, and I braced myself.

The barrage hit like a storm. Arrows slammed into the carriage from all sides—through the windows, through the wood, through the roof. I heard the screams of horses, the shouts of men, the chaos of a convoy under attack.

But I didn't move. Didn't falter. Didn't let go.

I wrapped myself around Tessa completely, using my body as a shield. I felt each impact—the shudder of my muscles, the burn of arrows finding their mark in my back, my arms, my legs. The pain was sharp and immediate, each new wound adding to the chorus of agony.

But I didn't flinch. Didn't make a sound.

She was safe. That was all that mattered.

I could feel her trembling against me, could hear her soft whimpers of fear, but she stayed still. She trusted me. She believed I would keep her safe.

And I would. No matter what it cost me.

The barrage seemed to last forever, but in reality, it was only seconds. When it finally stopped, the carriage was a wreck—splintered wood, shattered glass, arrows embedded in every surface. The air was thick with dust and the sharp scent of blood.

But Tessa was unharmed.

I pulled back slightly, my eyes burning with a fire that had nothing to do with the wounds I had taken. My beast was roaring in my head, demanding blood, demanding vengeance, demanding the destruction of everyone who had dared to threaten her.

Through the window, I saw the attackers emerging from the trees—a dozen of them, maybe more, their faces hidden behind dark masks. They moved with the precision of professionals, fanning out to surround the convoy. Their weapons were raised, their eyes cold and calculating.

They had no idea who they were dealing with.

I opened my mind to the mindlink, my voice carrying to every soldier in the convoy with the force of a thunderclap.

"Guards. Two of you, to my carriage. Now."

The carriage door opened moments later, and two guards appeared. Their faces went pale when they saw me—at the shredded coat, the blood soaking through my clothes, the red fire blazing in my eyes.

"Your Majesty," one of them stammered, his voice trembling. "Are you—"

"I am fine," I said, and there was no room for argument in my voice. "You will protect her."

I gestured to Tessa, my eyes never leaving the guards. The intensity of my gaze was enough to make them flinch.

"You will guard this carriage with your lives. You will not let anyone near her. You will not leave her side for any reason. Do you understand?"

"Yes, Your Majesty," they said in unison, their voices shaking.

"If she is harmed—" I paused, letting the threat hang in the air like a blade. "If any harm comes to her, I will feed you to my beast. Slowly. I will make sure you suffer in ways you cannot imagine. I will tear you apart piece by piece and make you watch as I devour you. Do you understand?"

The guards exchanged a terrified glance, their faces draining of what little color remained.

"Yes, Your Majesty," they said again, their voices barely audible.

I turned to Tessa, and I forced the beast back, softening my expression for her. The red fire in my eyes dimmed, replaced by something closer to warmth.

"Tessa. No matter what happens, you stay in this carriage. You stay with these guards. You do not leave, do you understand?"

She nodded, her green eyes wide and fearful. Her hands were trembling, but she held my gaze.

I started to move toward the door, and then I felt it—her hand on mine. Small and warm, trembling slightly, but holding on.

"Be careful," she whispered. "Please. Be careful."

I looked at her, and for just a moment, the red fire in my eyes was replaced by something else. Something that looked almost like wonder.

She was scared. She had every reason to be terrified. And yet her first concern was for me.

"I will," I said quietly. "I will come back to you. I swear it."