Chapter 70: From The East
Rhea turned her head slightly to the head guard, her chest heaving as hot air escaped her lips in shallow puffs.
"Are your men ready?" she whispered, her fingers locking around her blade. "We strike first. We push them back out the gates."
The guard nodded, his jaw tight. "At your word, Luna," he grunted, his eyes fixed on the sea of black armor.
The sanctuary guards shuffled forward, inch by tense inch. The air grew thick with the metallic reek of sharpened steel and the sour stench of sweat and fear.
Inside Rhea, River raged against her skin. Long, curved claws pushed through her fingertips, pricking her own palms, and her upper lip twitched as white fangs threatened to bare. Her chest rose and fell in ragged gasps as the wolf surged closer to the surface than ever before.
Just as Rhea opened her mouth to order the charge, the armored line suddenly froze. The black-clad warriors halted in unison.
They glanced at one another, their brows furrowing, though their weapons remained raised and their shields locked tight.
"What do you want on these lands?" the head guard barked, taking a cautious step.
Silence answered him. Not a single enemy moved. Not a word was spoken.
Rhea’s brows pulled tight as she exchanged a confused glance with the guards beside her. If they came for blood, why were they standing like stone?
Two tall warriors broke from the front rank, stepping directly toward Rhea.
"One more step and I will paint these stones with their blood!" River snarled inside her head, her spirit clawing at Rhea’s mind.
The two men instantly drew their broadswords with a loud shing, and the sanctuary guards reacted, stepping back to take a defensive stance, blades pointed at the intruders’ throats.
Rhea’s eyes flashed a fierce, predatory silver as she studied the men closely. There, etched onto the hilt of their steel, was a mark that made her blood run cold: two snarling big cats crossed over an iron sun.
The crest of the most feared pack in the eastern territories. The Twin Tiger Pack.
Her breath caught in her dry throat. If they were here, the sanctuary was in grave danger. Rhea’s mind raced, searching for any tactical way out of a slaughter.
Before she could speak, the two warriors did something completely unexpected. They flipped their blades, placing the sharp steel flat across their open palms, and held them out toward her. Then, together, they dropped heavily to their knees in the dirt.
Rhea stumbled back a step, her brows furrowing deep. Even River went dead quiet, stunned.
Behind her, the sanctuary guards muttered in low, confused whispers.
"What is the meaning of this?" Rhea demanded, her eyes darting between the kneeling soldiers.
"Great Luna Rhea," the first warrior said, his head bowed low to the earth as he held his sword high. "Our Alphas offer their blades, their blood, and their protection."
Rhea’s face contorted in a dark scowl.
"We are ordered to escort you safely into the east, to the shelter of our pack," the second man added quickly before she could even process the first offer.
Anger flared hot in Rhea’s gut. "Tell your Alphas that I am not interested in their protection, and I am more than capable of protecting myself," she snapped, her voice cutting through the yard. "You have my answer. Now leave this sanctuary at once!"
The men did not move a muscle. The standing army behind them remained stoic, their cold, unblinking eyes staring straight ahead.
Rhea let out a harsh, frustrated breath. "I said leave!"
The head guard leaned closer to her shoulder, his voice trembling slightly. "Luna, if they truly carry the mark of the Twin Tigers, they do not obey rejections. They will not leave without a fight."
Rhea’s heart skipped a beat. She knew he was right, but she refused to show a single shred of fear to the army at her feet. Her jaw set hard. "They will leave, or I will kill them where they kneel," she gritted out through her teeth.
She stepped directly in front of the two men. "Get up and leave!" she commanded. They stayed frozen. A bitter scoff escaped her throat, and she reached out, shoving one of the armored shoulders with her boot. "I said, leave this place!"
The soldiers acted as if she were made of air. They simply adjusted their balance and kept their hands stretched high, offering their steel.
Rhea pressed her fingers against her forehead, trying to keep her temper from snapping. "Leave! Tell your Alphas that I do not need them!"
She turned to her head guard, exhaling sharply. "Tell them in whatever language these eastern wolves understand that I do not want their help."
The guard looked at her helplessly, remaining silent.
Rhea shook her head, her patience completely gone. "If they want to sit in the dirt, let them. I am leaving," she said, turning her back on the front line. "Let’s see how long they remain on their knees."
She took two steps toward the inner keep when the rhythmic thud of double boots echoed behind her. A brief wave of relief washed through her. They are finally marching out.
"Luna Rhea!" Two voices spoke in perfect, haunting unison.
Rhea froze, her eyes wide. Then slowly she turned back around.
The armored army had not retreated. Instead, they had parted down the middle, creating a wide path through the center of the courtyard.
Walking side by side down the lane were two identical men. They wore matching cloaks of striped tiger fur, their eyes bright amber, and matching, sinister smiles resting on their lips.
Rhea’s fingers tightened around the hilt until her knuckles turned white. The notorious, bloodthirsty Twin Alphas of the east had come to her gates in person.
The brothers stopped ten paces away, their gaze lingering over her like wolves eyeing a prize.
"Luna Rhea, formerly of Duskbane," one of the twins purred, his voice dripping with smooth venom.
"Now left completely helpless for the taking," his brother finished, his smile widening.
Rhea’s jaw hardened into stone, her fists clenching so tight her skin turned white. Inside her head, River bared her fangs and let out a vicious, blood-curdling roar.