Miss Knight and the Throne of Death by Vered Ehsani

Author:Vered Ehsani [Ehsani, Vered]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Sterling & Stone
Published: 2017-12-04T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter Sixteen

Recognizing a kindred spirit, my wolf energy bounded around Drew, wagging its tail and behaving like a puppy. If anyone else had witnessed the scene, I would have been mortified.

Holding my breath so as not to inhale the stench of wet dog, I hugged my brother.

“Drew, what are you doing around here?” I asked, holding his shaggy head in my hands and staring into his yellow eyes. “And is this how you prepare for your wedding? By running amuck? You’re filthy.”

Whining, Drew nuzzled his snout under my chin before loping away. My wolf energy trotted after him. Both creatures paused in unison to stare back at me, their eyes issuing a challenge.

Flinging up my arms, I said, “Why not? I wasn’t planning on actually sleeping tonight.” Standing up, I brushed off a few crumbles of dirt from my house coat and trudged after the canines.

“How I get into these situations is beyond me,” I grumbled as I pushed past overgrown bushes, their thorns snagging at my coat. “No weapon. Atrocious walking shoes. And no tea in sight. What a predicament.”

Fortunately for my feet, we didn’t have too far to go. Just outside the Hardinge Estate, a river flowed from the forest toward the savannah. A section of the river had created a pool which was used by humans and animals alike. For that reason, it was also a favorite hunting area for lions and other carnivores.

As I stumbled out of the brush and into the clearing near the pool, several pairs of eyes glittered at me before turning away. Drew and my wolf energy sat on either side of me, watchful but not nearly as alarmed as I was.

“Really?” I hissed, tugging at one of Drew’s ears. “You could have warned me, suggested I bring a weapon or, better yet, not come here at all.”

Drew yawned, licked his snout and flopped down onto the well-trodden, hardened earth. Crouching by his side, I studied the scene. A full moon illuminated the clearing and glittered off the sluggishly moving water which formed the river’s pool. Colors were muted to silver, blue and charcoal black.

A small pride of lions was near the pool, circling a downed zebra, reasserting their hierarchy as they prepared to feast. The large cats appeared as ghosts covered in a dull gold sheen, slipping between shadows as they silently padded around, waiting for the male lion to grant permission. Shaking its great mane, the male roared and swatted at the zebra carcass yet didn’t sink its teeth into the waiting meal.

“Why are they hesitating?” I asked Drew as I absently scratched behind his ears.

In answer, the zebra began to twitch. Its jaw hung open, revealing yellowed horse-like teeth. Snorting and rolling its eyes, the zebra scrambled up, despite having large chunks missing from its hindquarters. Grateful I hadn’t eaten recently, I clutched my stomach as the partially devoured zebra spun about on its three good legs. Startled at the liveliness of their supper, the lions sprung away, hissing, snarling and growling, their tails snapping, their ears laid flat against their heads.

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