Free A Feast of Souls: Araneae Nation, Book 2 by Hailey Edwards

from my face as I caught the murderous glint in Vaughn’s eyes. His threat was clear. Look your fill and it will seal your fate. His earlier warning hung clear in my memory.
    Vaughn was not a male who made idle threats. I pitied the guard for not realizing it.
    “Get on with it.” The guard shoved me. “Or a squat in the road is the best you’ll get.”
    I picked my way over ice patches and scrambled up the bank. Shadows fell across my face, a reminder to hurry. There were few hours left, and I wanted to return to Vaughn before night fell.
    Another shove sent me to my knees. “This is far enough.”
    “My hands are tied. How can I…? Can’t you release me for a moment?”
    His lips pursed as he debated my request. “If you try your tricks on me, I’ll sink a dart in that pretty backside of yours.” He withdrew a knife and sliced through my bonds. “Anything else?”
    I rubbed my hands to return circulation. “Turn your back.”
    His smirk returned. “Can’t very well turn my back on a prisoner, now can I?” His tongue darted out to wet his lips as I unlaced my pants. “Don’t be shy. You aren’t around the Mimetidae heir. I’ve seen how he looks at you—like he’s starving. You’re braver than me if you’re fucking the likes of him. You can’t play the role of delicate flower when your petals have been parted.”
    Fury made my hands clumsy as I shoved fabric past my hips down my thighs. I squatted and emptied my bladder while the guard adjusted himself. After cleaning myself, I stood and waited.
    “Have you looked your fill?” I asked.
    “For now,” he said. “There are many more days between here and Siciia.”
    A steady growl rose over his shoulder. He spun as I peered around him. A black canis stood there, his lip quivering. The beast swung its head my way, and intelligence brimmed in its golden eyes.
    “I think I’d like to return to camp now.” I took a step toward the road. The canis followed. It chuffed once when I froze and butted me behind the knees with its head. I let it herd me toward Vaughn, bumping my legs when I slowed, snapping at the guard’s heels when he came too near.
    Bracing on a fallen tree, I eased down the embankment. It— he —nudged my hand with his wet nose. I recoiled from his mouthful of sharp fangs, so he snuffled my legs with undue interest.
    The guard trailed us. His gaze locked on the canis, and his hand clasped a dagger’s hilt.
    Rare to own one canis, let alone a full hunting pack. My four-legged guard was too valuable for the Theridiidae to harm. He’d have to take cues from the beast too until its master intervened.
    Breaking through the forest’s edge, I spied Vaughn bound to a fallen tree. Shoulders coiled tight, he tested the strength of the rope. When his head lifted and his nostrils flared, scenting me, tension ebbed. His gaze locked on me, skimming down my body before narrowing on the canis.
    By the time he’d located the guard still several steps behind me, he grinned.
    “I see you made a new friend.” His voice was light, but his eyes were dark, tumultuous.
    “So it seems.” In Vaughn’s presence, I breathed easier. Even with his hands bound, I felt protected. “Get.” I shooed the canis. It swiveled its ears and stared up at me. “Find your master.”
    “I don’t think you ought to shoo him, Mana,” Vaughn warned.
    Its pink tongue lolled from the side of its mouth as it sat at my feet. I flicked my wrist, and it growled until my hand dropped. Perfect. Forget tying my hands, I had a personal guard on duty.
    “You forgot this.” The Theridiidae dangled a length of rope. “Back this way, nice and slow.”
    I laughed, the sound crazed. “You wish me to leave myself defenseless if he attacks?”
    The canis flopped over my feet, miring me in place.
    The guard cursed under his breath, then slapped his thigh with the rope. “Don’t move.”
    “I don’t plan on it.” Even when I teetered, off balance, the canis grumbled.
    Running