an unnatural creature masquerading as human. He couldn’t detect the taint on her, but if she made herself convincingly human to his other senses, she may have had the ability to disguise that as well. His hand sought his sword, a rush of wariness flowing through him, igniting his aggression. She was seeking to manipulate him. He would not allow it!
“Lucomo,” Raskyuil rasped. Unlike the female, his guard wore several deep gashes running over his body, among them four furrows bisecting the left side of his face just shy of damaging his eye. They were half-healed and ugly, but at least no longer bleeding. It was the obvious work of one of the healers rushing to tend to all those who were injured as a number of beings had converged on the palace to help the wounded from nearby villages.
Despite the male’s obvious pain, his hand remained planted on the female’s shoulder as he addressed Selvans. “We need to leave. Cacus has fled. He’ll carve a path of destruction, leaving nothing but death in his wake. We must put an end to the threat at once.”
Selvan’s gaze focused on the offending hand, growling. “You’re right,” he said. “Step away from the female.”
Raskyuil stiffened, his expression turning calculated. Damn troll was too observant. “Would you not prefer that I help your uxorem?”
Selvans stiffened. Impossible. This was not his uxorem. He would never have set a barrier between himself and his mate. She had to be a seductress, a beguiling weaver of enchantments and illusions. She must have tricked his guard by some magic designed to convince him. That had to be how she gained entry, and how Cacus had made it through the palace’s defenses. Arx was a deadly fortress to any who forcibly enter.
“Move,” he hissed. “She has clouded your mind. I will deal with the betrayer.”
The female startled, her mouth gaping open, no doubt surprised that he caught onto her lies. Without waiting for a response from Raskyuil, Selvans strode forward, fury filling him. He would tear the male’s hand away and disable him if Raskyuil dared get in his way. Nothing would stop Selvans from terminating the creature who brought death to his forest. As an ally of Cacus, she was no better than an unholy consort of the Tainted One. She was the vilest of females in his eyes.
His upper lip pulled back from his fangs at his advance, his stride breaking at the sudden grief that flooded him. He stumbled, his body shaking with emotion until he wrestled it back under control. He was a god! He was not subject to such weaknesses.
“No!” Raskyuil shouted as he stepped in front of her and brought his ax up against Nocis.
The clang of metal striking shook the cavern as the troll-forged ax splintered at the head. Selvans glared at the male over their weapons, a menacing growl vibrating in his throat.
“You would dare raise your weapon against me?” he rasped.
The troll met his eyes, regret shining in his gaze as he inclined his head. “I’m sorry… I can’t. I must protect the ati. You are not well, lucomo.”
“I am myself again,” Selvans snarled as he pulled his sword up once more, the darkness of the blade seeming to absorb the light around them. Good. Let his adversaries fear him. Once more, Nocis would be put to the use for which it was forged. “I am the god of this forest and all within it, and I will see to it that all threats to it are vanquished!”
Raskyuil raised his ax once more. The broken metal made one of the double blades lean at an angle, the gouge a blazing scar against the metal. Still, he did not submit, even with several wounds weeping from where they were reopened. He dared to raise his weapon, though his arm shook, the muscles strained from the last blow.
“Diana… is no threat… to you or this forest,” the troll rasped.
Selvans shook his head. “It is a pity that I cannot risk believing that. I take no pleasure in what must be done.” He grimaced. “Truthfully, it pains me inexplicably, and I see no reason why it should. I have no memory of this female.” He ignored the pained gasp from his faux mate. “All I know is what I must do, even if it means going through you, my friend.”
“So be it,” Raskyuil mumbled as he swung his ax.
He still possessed enough strength that its edge whistled with the force of its