The moment Osiris saw Zara standing too close, holding her bleeding wrist toward Kian's mouth, fury shot through him hotter than the brand on his back.
"This bitch," Osiris snarled. "What is she doing outside?"
The words cut across the battlefield.
Kian's gaze snapped.
The fog tore for one second.
His jaws opened, but instead of drinking her blood, he caught Zara by the cloak and shoulder with his mouth. Zara screamed as he lifted her and flung her hard to the side. She hit the snow and rolled, her body scraping across the frozen ground.
Kian spat out blood and staggered toward her.
His eyes were deadly.
Zara's face went white.
For the first time that night, she seemed to understand that she had miscalculated.
"Kian," she cried, crawling backward. "Kian, wait. It is me. It is Zara. You know me. You promised me. You said you would protect me."
Kian stalked toward her, huge paws pressing into the bloody snow.
