"Wait your turn, Lion, or I'll be wearing your eyeballs as jewelry."
The lion backed down immediately.
Savitar snapped his fingers, and Fury appeared before his throne in chains.
Angelia started for him, only to have Vane stop her.
Fury did a doubletake as he saw her. "Dammit, Vane, I told you not to—" A muzzle appeared on his face.
Savitar glared at him. "Next person or animal who interrupts me is going to get gutted."
Fury's gaze was locked on hers. Don't speak, he projected to her. It's better this way. Trust me. You can go home and have your life back.
Was he out of his mind?
That thought died as she saw Dare appear next to Fury.
Savitar eyed Dare with contempt. "We have a witness who swears he saw Fury in the act. Since that corroborates what Fury has said, I suppose your vote on his fate will be an easy one. Unless someone in the room has something more to add."
Sasha stepped forward. "Fury didn't do it. He's protecting someone. I know him. I might not like his ass, but I know he's innocent. I was there at Sanctuary when he saw the lion and he knew nothing about it."
"It's true," Nicolette Peltier said. "I, too, saw him. He told me he would find the one responsible and make them pay."
Savitar stroked his chin. "Interesting, isn't it? What do you have to say about that, Fury?"
The muzzle vanished. "They're on crack."
Savitar shook his head. "Anyone else on crack?"
Tears stung Angelia's eyes at the sacrifice Fury was willing to make. But she couldn't let him do this. Looking down, she traced his symbol in her palm.
It would have been her greatest honor to be his mate and have his children.
If only it could have been.
"Fury's innocent," she said, stepping forward. "He confessed to save—"
"Me."
Angelia froze in shock as Dare cleared his throat.
"What was that?" Savitar asked.
Dare glanced to her, then looked at Fury. "I'm the one who fired the shot that maimed the lion. The one who killed the other is already dead."
"And the others?"
"Also dead."
Fury shook his head at Dare. "Why are you doing this?"
"Because it was my wrongdoing, and I refuse to have an animal show me up by being noble. Fuck you."
"We had a bargain," Fury said under his breath.
"I'm altering it." Dare looked back at Angelia. "It's time for once that I did the right thing for the right reasons."
Savitar folded his arms over his chest. "We have another confession from Dare Kattalakis. Going once, going twice. . . are there any more confessions in the room? Anyone else want to admit to shooting a lion?" He paused. "Didn't think so."
The lions moved forward. "Then he's ours."
Savitar shook his head. "Actually, he's mine. Sorry. You've already taken the heads of two Arcadians. Be glad I don't demand justice for their families. We're going to assume they were guilty, but without a trial. . ."
The lions looked less than pleased, but no one dared to question him.
"As for this little toy they used, don't worry. I've already made sure the inventor doesn't invent anything else. I have my people tracking down the handful he sold and we should have them destroyed soon. In the meantime . . ."
Dare vanished, and Fury's shackles melted.
"Omegrion is adjourned."
The council members flashed out.
Except for the wolves and Nicolette. Fury walked over to where they were standing. He held his hand out to Sasha. "Thanks."
"No problem. And we're still not friendly."
Fury's eyes danced with humor. "Yeah, you prick, I hate your guts." He looked at Nicolette. "It was decent of you, too, to speak up."
"You are still banned from my house . . . unless you're wounded." She teleported out.
Fury shook his head, then looked at her. All humor died. "You were going to turn yourself in to save me."
"I told you, Fury. I will always stand at your back."
He took her hands into his and then kissed each one in turn. "My back isn't where I want you."
She arched a brow. "No? Where would you prefer me, then?" She expected him to say under him—it was what an Arcadian male would say.
But he didn't.
"I want you at my side. Always."
"Ugh," Fang groused. "Wolves, get a room."
Angelia smiled. "Sounds like a great idea."
The next thing she knew, they were home.
Savitar didn't move as he watched the last of the wolves clear the room. The moment it was empty, he felt a power surge next to him.
It was Zarek.
"Sasha went home, Z."
"Yeah, I know. I was checking with you about our earlier discussion."
"My demons got most of the weapons." "But. . ."
"There are still a few out there."
Zarek cursed. "If Sasha gets nailed with one, Astrid will lose her mind."
"Believe me, Z, I know." Savitar looked out toward the clear horizon, but inside, he knew the same thing that Zarek did. There was a storm brewing. Fierce and violent.
They'd stopped this minor bout. But it was nothing compared to the one that was coming.
Fury lay in bed, naked, with Angelia on top of him. Their palms were still pressed together from their mating ritual.
"I still can't believe you would have died so that I could go home."
"I can't believe you were going to call me a liar and take my place under the guillotine. Next time I try to save you, woman, you better stay saved."
She laughed, then nipped at his chin. "I shall promise to behave, on only one condition."
"And that is?"
"That you bond your life force to mine."
He scowled at her. "Why is that so important to you?"
She swallowed against the lump in her throat. "Don't you know?"
"No."
"Because I love you, Wolf, and I don't ever want to spend another day in this life without you. Where you den, I den, and when you die, I die, too."
Fury looked up at her in disbelief. In all his life, he'd only ever wanted one thing.
And Lia had just given it to him. A woman he could love and depend on.
"For you, my lady wolf, I would do anything."
Anglia smiled as she felt him growing hard again. Kissing his hand, she knew that this time they wouldn't just have sex. This time they would be joined throughout all eternity.