The Wolf Prince

CHAPTER 14

Excoria paced the back room in the dusty, dingy warehouse they had chosen for their base of operations. If her suspicions were correct, then she would have good news to tell Nivla as soon as he arrived.

If he arrived.

He’d better arrive.

She was having second thoughts. Nivla frightened her. He was much older than her thirty years, at least sixty and his eyes were big and buggy. He also sweated a lot, and grunted when he moved. But he was still the second in command, now that Zerod was confined on New Symtaria, and she had to respect him, even if she didn’t like it.

She sucked in a deep breath when she heard someone approaching. Her hand automatically rested on the weapon holstered at her hip. She didn’t relax until the door opened, and Nivla walked inside. She immediately bowed her head, touching the back of her hand to her forehead in respect. “Oh, Great Leader.”

“Excoria, this had better be good.”

She looked up, then regretted meeting his gaze. His cold gray eyes bored into her. She quickly downed her head as fear trembled through her. What if she was wrong? If that were the case, Nivla would make her pay for her mistake.

“Well, are you going to tell me or make me guess?” He walked behind the desk and pulled out the chair, dusting it lightly before sitting.

“I have found Prince Surlock.”

“And the impure. Have you destroyed her?”

“No, Great Leader.”

He clamped his lips together, slapping his gloves on the desk, stirring a small cloud of dust. “Then your mission isn’t complete. Please, tell me exactly why you called me here, and it had better be good.”

“Prince Surlock doesn’t know who he is,” she blurted out.

Silence.

She shifted her weight from one foot to the other.

“Explain,” he said, then mopped the sweat that dampened his face.

“He’s staying with the impure. Today I followed him as he walked down a path to the woods. He made his way through the brush until he came to a clearing. I watched as he seemed to search for something. When he didn’t find what he was looking for, he raised his face toward the sky and called out in a strained voice, ‘Who am I?’ I don’t believe he has his memory.”

“No memory?”

She shook her head. “No, Great Leader.”

Nivla began to tap his fingers on the surface of the desk. Excoria dared to look up. Nivla didn’t look angry. Maybe the news was worthy of his attention.

Nivla laughed. A deep rumbling sound that sent tingles of excitement down her arms. She knew then that she had gained his favor.

“This is exactly the break I’ve been hoping for,” he said.

“We could ransom him for his father’s great wealth,” she eagerly suggested, then wished she’d kept her mouth shut when he turned his stony glare on her.

“It’s more than wealth, you idiot. When we capture Surlock, we can trade him for Zerod’s release. The true leader will rejoin our ranks.”

Great. Excoria would rather have had jewels to drape over her beautiful body. It didn’t look as though that would be happening anytime soon. While she had watched the impure, her envy had grown for the finer things that life had to offer.

That was one of the reasons she had joined the ranks of the rogues. The rogues wanted to wipe out all the impures—Symtarians who had mated with other species and created abominations of mixed blood. Not that she really cared one way or the other, but the rogues had promised her great wealth. Except she hadn’t seen any of it yet. She was beginning to think joining their ranks had been a big mistake.

“You will watch them and report back to me. See if you can get closer and discover more.”

“There will be a party in a few days’ time. A masquerade ball.”

He frowned. “What is the purpose of this masquerade ball?”

“People dress up in costumes. They can be anything they want.”

He nodded. “You will go to this party.”

“I’ll need money for clothes to wear so I can blend in.” If Nivla had a database he could easily produce a magnificent wardrobe, but only those of royal blood owned them. It was not fair everyone else had so much while she had so little. It would be a great pleasure taking down one so mighty as Surlock.

“You say you can be anything you want?”

“Yes, Great Leader.”

His laugh held no mirth. “Then go as an alien.” His gaze swept over her. “It’s the perfect costume.”

Anger swept through her. She’d brought him vital information and this was how he treated her—as if she was worthless.

“I see you’re upset with me,” he said in a silky voice.

She quickly hid her expression, becoming meek once again. “No, Great Leader, my reward is your pleasure.”

“I’m glad you feel that way because I’ve journeyed far to be here.” He grunted loudly as he came to his feet and unfastened his coat, tossing it on the desk. “I will mate with you. That will be your reward.”

She cringed. No, she didn’t want to mate with him. He sickened her.

“Well, hurry and remove your tunic. I have other pressing matters to attend.”

Excoria was going to seriously rethink her role with the rogues. This was not what she’d been led to expect.

Nivla jerked her into his arms and planted his big wet lips on top of hers. Her stomach rumbled as he slid his humongous tongue inside her mouth.

She’d eaten what they called a burrito that she had bought at a small dingy store. It was all she’d had money to buy, and it hadn’t smelled good. Now her stomach rumbled. She tried to push away from Nivla as fear raged through her. She couldn’t shame herself.

“You taste good,” he said as he pulled slightly away. “Being on Earth suits you.” He grunted as he reached for the fastener on his pants.

She belched and the area around her filled with the sour smell of the burrito she’d eaten—that, and Nivla’s strong body odor.

Her mouth opened and she belched again.

He grimaced. “You would make this noise when I offer my skills as a lover? Do you mock me?”

“Oh, Great Leader, I’m sorry. I haven’t felt well all day,” she lied. Her stomach rumbled and she belched again.

He waved his hand in front of his face, glaring at her. “As soon as your mission is over, I will see you punished for this!”

“Yes, Great Leader.” She bowed her head, but smiled when he stomped out of the room, slamming the door behind him. There was nothing like loud belching to cool a man’s amorous advances. It served him right.

As she straightened, she belched again. Her stomach churned and she had to run to the bathroom, where she got rid of the offending food.

She would definitely rethink staying with the rogues when she finished this mission. It wasn’t quite the romantic experience she had imagined. Nor were there riches and jewels to be had. But if she returned to New Symtaria, they would surely lock her away. Her life was ruined.

And now that her stomach was empty, she was starving. As she trudged toward the makeshift bed in the other room, she thought about her mother’s cooking and how it had warmed her belly on a cold day. She missed her family. She missed New Symtaria.

She listened as Nivla’s craft took off, then lay down on the lumpy cot. She wrinkled her nose. It smelled funny. She’d had to share her bed at home with her older sister. At the time she’d hated it, but at least it had been comfortable.

She closed her eyes as self-pity washed over her. Fasta, are you there? She spoke her thoughts to her animal guide.

Yes, I’m here but I’m still angry that you have put us in this position. No good will come of it.

I’ll make things right. I swear this to you.

And Excoria would do exactly as she promised, because she hated this life. She only had to come up with a plan.