How to Tame a Beast in Seven Days (The Embraced #1)

Leo estimated it would take four more days to reach Ebton. The first day went smoothly, but on the second day it began raining just after noon. He eyed the sky carefully. There was no sign of lightning. This was nothing more than a summer shower, but still, they were soon drenched and miserable.

Jensen stopped at a farm to ask if he and his friends could have some food and take shelter in the barn for a few silver coins. The elderly couple was thrilled to earn some money with a barn they no longer used and happily sold him two loaves of bread, a wheel of cheese, a roasted chicken, and five bottles of ale.

Leo and his companions settled in the barn, taking care of the horses first. Edmund took the first tour of guard duty, standing outside under the eaves while the rain continued to pour.

Leo took his and Luciana’s saddlebag up to the loft where she was waiting in her soaked gown. They changed into dry clothes, then joined the others below to eat.

At sunset the rain finally stopped, and Leo used his lightning power to light an oil lantern so they could see inside the barn. Stanley took his turn as guard.

Leo was hugging his wife on a makeshift bed of hay in the loft when she suddenly sat up with a gasp.

“What’s wrong?” He shivered as frigid air surrounded them.

“Tatiana,” she whispered. “What are you doing here?”

“Your sister’s here?” Leo asked.

Luciana nodded. “She wants to see the court at Ebton. And she’s peeved that I didn’t pack any of her beautiful gowns.”

“We needed to travel light. I’ll have some new gowns made for—” He stopped when Luciana held up a hand to hush him.

She frowned as she listened to her sister, then she gave him a worried look. “She says Stanley ventured off into the woods nearby, and he’s talking to some strangers. It’s dark and they were wearing hooded cloaks, so she couldn’t see their faces, but Stanley called one of them Father.”

Leo stiffened. Father Rune? But that would mean Stanley was betraying him. “That can’t be right. Stanley has been with me for four years. He wouldn’t—” Leo fisted his gloved hands. Dammit. He knew from experience that many men would do anything for the right price. “Did your sister see how many?”

Luciana listened for a while, then said, “She didn’t count them, but she believes there are about a dozen.”

Leo glanced at the blank space where his wife was staring and bowed his head. “Thank you, my lady.” He handed one of his daggers to Luciana. “Remain here until it’s safe.”

She nodded. “Be careful.”

He descended the ladder and gathered Edmund, Jensen, and Brody to explain the situation.

Edmund’s mouth fell open. “Stanley? I don’t believe it.”

“I don’t want to, either,” Leo admitted. “Even so, we must be ready. Saddle the horses. Gather your weapons.”

Brody shimmered, then shifted into human form.

Jensen jumped back. “What the hell?”

Up in the loft, Luciana gasped. “Pirate?”

Leo moved in front of the naked Brody to block his wife’s view. “Nothing to see here.” He glanced back at Brody. “Now you decide to shift?”

“I can’t wield a sword without hands,” Brody grumbled. “Edmund, can you hand me my breeches?”

“Right.” Edmund rummaged through his saddlebags and tossed Brody’s breeches to him.

“What the hell?” Jensen repeated, still staring. “How come I didn’t know about this?”

“Because you were too busy snoring.” Brody fastened his breeches. “I’ve been shifting every night during my guard duty, but you always sleep through it.”

Leo glanced up at the loft where Luciana still looked stunned. “Throw down the saddlebags.”

She did. “I’ve never heard of people who can become animals.”

“Brody is Embraced like us,” Leo explained as he collected their saddlebags. “His gift is the ability to shift into a dog.” Or a seal, but he saw no reason to divulge all of Brody’s secrets.

Luciana gave the dog shifter a wary look. “But I’ve kissed him and rubbed his ears.”

Brody bowed. “Much appreciated, my lady.”

Leo groaned inwardly. At least she hadn’t rubbed his belly. “Jensen, snap to. We need to saddle the horses.”

“Aye, Your Grace.” Jensen went to work, and quickly they had all the horses packed and ready to go.

Suddenly a barrage of fire arrows shot through a window at the back of the barn and landed in a pile of hay. As the flames took hold, Edmund attempted to smother them with an old blanket. The horses reared, sensing danger, but Jensen and Brody caught their reins to settle them down.

Luciana ran to the ladder. “We’d better go!”

“You should remain hidden for now,” Leo warned her. “The assassins will be waiting outside for us.”

Another barrage of fire arrows zipped through the back window, forcing Edmund to retreat. The fire began to spread.

Jensen ran to the front door and slid the bolt. He pushed, but the door wouldn’t budge. “It’s blocked!”

Edmund dashed around the flames to the back door. “This one is blocked, too!”

Luciana gasped. “We’re trapped in here?” Her eyes widened with terror as she watched the growing fire.

“Not for long,” Leo called up to her. He removed his gloves and wedged them under his belt. Sparks flickered around his hands. “This will be over soon. Men, prepare for battle.”

Jensen and Edmund mounted their horses, while Brody took Luciana’s. All three men drew their swords.

Leo extended his hands toward the front doors. Two bolts of lightning shot out and blasted the doors open. He drew his sword and ran. “Charge!”





Chapter Thirty-two

Luciana gasped at Leo’s display of power. After sharing his bed for over two weeks, she’d forgotten how dangerous he could be. With his sword in his right hand, and his left shooting out lightning, he’d dashed through the doors so quickly, he’d become a blur before her eyes.

Jensen, Edmund, and Brody charged after him on horseback.

Tatiana whooped with glee. “This is so exciting!”

Luciana gave her an incredulous look. “Exciting? They could be killed!” She motioned to the growing fire. “And we could burn to death!”