Free Ondrej by Saranna DeWylde Page A

for Ondrej to keep control.
    For Krysanthe. He had to keep control for her.
    The dreaded compound came into sight and a cacophony of howls lit up the darkness.
    Her grip around his neck tightened and he circled the property, checking all the defenses and strategic points before he landed inside the gates on the front lawn.
    Werewolves in their warrior form ran at him from all directions and he inhaled deeply, ready to breathe fire.
    Krysanthe’s hand stayed him, but only barely.
    She slipped from his back and the walkway turned to gold with every step she took.
    That woman knew how to make an entrance.
    “Stand down, it’s Borgia’s mate,” a voice called.
    Ondrej wanted to rip him apart just for daring to speak those words. He folded his wings against his back and huffed smoke at anyone that got too close to him or to Krysanthe.
    Even when Borgia himself came out to greet her, Ondrej lowered his giant head and eyed the wolf.
    “You’ve arrived days early without your convoy. What’s happened?” Borgia asked her.
    He seemed sincere.
    Ondrej sniffed him, and aside from smelling like wet dog, he smelled sincere.
    “We were attacked by ghouls.”
    “Are you okay? Have you been bitten?”
    Borgia was a provincial pack Alpha, but he was also Grigori Remus’s son. Grigori was the Alpha of all Remus, their progenitor, in fact. So Borgia’s almost motherly concern for her safety was a bit off putting.
    He didn’t like it.
    Of course, Ondrej had already decided he didn’t like anything about this guy.
    “No, I wasn’t bitten. My escort took very good care of me.”
    “I didn’t know you were friends with dragons,” Borgia said, a bit reproachful.
    “One can never have too many friends, can they?”
    “Mister Dragon, kindly take your biped form so we can discuss what’s happened like civilized creatures.”
    “I’d rather wait and see your witch first.”
    “Our witch?” Borgia seemed confused. “We haven’t had one for some time. She passed. We’re still looking for her replacement.”
    “Has your father sent anyone to fill in?”
    “Not as of yet. How does it concern you, dragon?” Borgia asked.
    “Because Krysanthe of the Orlaith was trusted into my care. Before I leave her in yours, her father asked me to make every inquiry into her safety.”
    “I want this war finished as much as Krysanthe does.”
    “Then why not tell your people it’s over without this archaic nonsense? Marrying someone who is not your mate for what?”
    “Come inside, so we can talk away from my men.”
    Ondrej narrowed his eyes and sniffed him again. There it was, that’s what he was looking for. The underpinning of rot and corruption with just a dash of magick.
    This creature was not Borgia Remus.
    He wondered if any of his men knew it or if they were under some sort of spell as well.
    His guess was that the witch had killed Borgia and faked his own death. Borgia was a known libertine and nothing about him smelled of any well-loved vice, only magick. Even the wet dog smell had been part of the ruse, but now that Ondrej recognized it, he could see through it.
    Did the witch know he could see through it and was this witch the only player who’d teamed up with Dezo, or were there more?
    “Ondrej?” Krysanthe asked.
    “Come outside, Borgia Remus.”
    The wolves had started to gather around them, curious as to why the dragon would not enter. It was an insult to refuse to Change back to bipedal form and enter a shifter’s home when invited.
    Borgia looked bored. “Very well.”
    Only instead of walking back out amongst his people, he grabbed Krysanthe and held a glowing knife at her throat.
    “One move and she’s dead.”
    “Well, that would be stupid, don’t you think? Then what do you have? A dead nymph and no gold.”
    “You don’t care about that. My spies tell me you’ve mated her. You’ll do anything to protect her. You were never going to leave her here.”
    “That’s where we’re different, witch. Of