Chapter 81: The Frenzy Flower Accusation!
Sorin made sure Neve was safe in Ryker’s arms before he turned his attention back to Popi.
He knew he had to keep her focused on him. If she looked away. If she shifted her attention back to Neve. If she remembered who she was supposed to attack, she would charge at Neve again.
Ryker would protect him, but Sorin did not want to risk it.
There was nothing more he could do except try to end this one-sided fight. He was bleeding heavily already. His arm was not working properly. His movements were becoming slower and more sluggish.
But he had to keep going.
"Hey! Popi!" he yelled her name loudly.
She growled and looked at him immediately.
Without waiting for anything else, she attacked.
She moved fast. Unnaturally fast. But Sorin was an eagle. He had speed of his own. He dodged her first swipe. Then her second. Then her third. His wing movements were quick and precise even with an injured arm.
But he could not keep it up forever.
His movements were slowing. His reflexes were dulling from blood loss. He could feel his consciousness getting fuzzy around the edges.
.
.
Neve watched from where Ryker had placed him.
The other beastmen were standing around watching like this was entertainment.
Some of them were even betting. He could hear them talking to each other, placing wagers on how long Sorin would last. Talking about Popi’s strength. Talking about Sorin’s flying ability.
Like this was a sport.
Like Sorin’s life was not in danger.
Neve frowned so hard his face hurt.
Ryker’s arm tightened around him.
"Don’t do anything crazy, Neve," he said carefully. He placed Neve down by his side, creating distance. He clearly wished Kael or someone else was nearby to watch Neve. To make sure he did not try to jump into the fight.
"Don’t worry," Neve said, his voice shaking. "I’m not going to move an inch. Just save Sorin. Please."
"I will," Ryker said.
He adjusted what he was wearing so it would not fall off when he shifted. Then he ruffled his hair once and charged forward.
His form shifted mid-run.
The transformation was fast and fluid. One moment he was human and the next he was a massive tiger. His fur was white and gold. His claws were sharp. His teeth were lethal.
He looked absolutely beautiful and terrifying all at once.
.
Neve could not do anything except watch and pray.
He held his hands together in front of his chest and prayed to whatever god might be listening to him. He prayed for Sorin to be okay. He prayed for Ryker to be strong. He prayed for this to end without anyone else getting hurt.
He lifted his eyes slightly and his mind was already running through questions.
What had happened to Popi? Why was she attacking suddenly? Had the villagers done something to her? Had they caused this on purpose?
So many questions.
But safety came first. Understanding could come later.
A loud growl cut through his prayer.
Popi fell to the ground hard.
She was breathless. Panting. Struggling to catch her breath. Her body was twitching from exertion and adrenaline.
Ryker landed close to her in his tiger form.
He was massive. Huge. Beautiful in a dangerous, predatory way. The bond mark on his wrist was still visible even in his beast form, shimmering with the light blue and silver colors.
"Oh, Ryker," Neve exhaled, his relief visible in every breath.
Ryker shifted back to his human form.
He grabbed something from nearby and adjusted it around his waist quickly, maintaining his dignity. His chest was heaving from the exertion. Sweat dripped down his muscles. His eyes were still bright with the intensity of the fight.
"Are you okay?" he asked Neve, walking over to him.
Neve nodded and whispered a yes but his eyes were already teary.
Ryker pulled him into a hug without being asked.
"Don’t worry," Ryker said, holding him close. "Everything is okay now."
"I’m so glad, Ryker," Neve said. He was staring at Ryker’s body without meaning to. At the muscles still tensed from the fight. At the strength that had just saved Sorin’s life.
He forced himself to focus on what mattered.
"Let’s take Sorin to see Gideon already," Neve said urgently. "I don’t want him to get hurt any more because of me."
Ryker nodded immediately.
"I will," he said. "Just wait for me here."
"Huh? Wait for..." Neve started to say. "Where are you going?"
"To see a relative first," Ryker replied.
He was walking toward the crowd slowly. Walking with deliberate, measured steps. The kind of walk that proved he was angry. The kind of walk that said someone was going to regret what had happened.
The beastmen who had been watching and betting immediately sensed the shift in the air.
They started backing away.
Ryker stopped in front of the group of elders who had orchestrated this attack.
"When I touched Popi earlier in the dungeon," his voice was low and deadly calm, "she had no scent on her. At first I thought maybe it was just natural. Maybe she was just like that."
He paused.
His eyes moved across the crowd slowly, landing on each of them one by one.
"However," he continued, "I could perceive frenzy flower from her. The scent was all over her skin. It was ground into her very being."
The beastman who had pretended to propose to her flinched so hard he actually fell backward onto his tail. The sound was pathetic and desperate.
Ryker stepped closer to the elder who had been speaking.
"How are you going to explain all of this, Elder?" Ryker asked. His voice was still calm but there was something underneath it now. Something dangerous. Something that promised consequences.
The elder’s face went pale.
Around him, the other beastmen who had been part of the conspiracy started looking at each other nervously. They had not expected Ryker to figure out what had happened so quickly.
They had not expected him to confront them directly.
They had not expected him to be this calm about it, which somehow made it worse than if he had been angry.
"Ryker, we were only trying to..." the elder started to say.
But Ryker held up a hand, silencing him.
"I don’t want to hear your excuses," Ryker said flatly. "I want you to understand something. That red panda you tried to hurt. That boy you tried to get rid of. He is my mate. And he is bonded to the dragon king."
He let that sink in.
"The dragon king who promised to burn your entire tribe if anything happens to him."
The elder’s expression shifted from pale to nearly white.
"You tried to hurt someone who is protected by the most powerful being in this world," Ryker continued. "You tried to use frenzy flower to drive an innocent girl to attack him. You tried to frame me and my decisions. And you did all of this just for what?."
He shook his head slowly.
"I don’t want to be your chief anymore," Ryker said. "You can find someone else. Someone who is willing to make decisions based on greed and power instead of love."
He turned to walk away.
"But know this," he said, looking back one more time. "If you ever try anything like this again. If you ever hurt Neve or anyone close to him. I will personally make sure you understand what real suffering means."