Crasii some comfort, she supposed, as she drifted into death.
âOnce upon a time, sheâd have been able to avenge herself,â Jaxyn remarked.
Arkady glanced over her shoulder at him. âWhat are you talking about?â
âDoesnât Crasii legend claim that if a feline died in battle, the Tide Lords would bring them back over and over again, to keep on fighting? Nine times was the limit, wasnât it, before they couldnât revive them any longer?â
âPlease donât mock their beliefs, Jaxyn,â she asked, wondering how heâd learned of that particular legend. The Crasii didnât share their lore with humans readily. But Jaxyn had a habit of surprising her with little snippets of information like that. Things sheâd taken years to coax out of the Crasii, even those who trusted her.
âI wasnât mocking anything,â he protested. âI was just wondering why you can never seem to find a Tide Lord when you need one.â
Arkady cursed his callous flippancy under her breath, turning her attention back to the dying feline. Moved by the Crasiiâs silent fortitude, she stroked Tipsyâs forehead gently, feeling the cold settling under her soft pelt. Tipsyâs breathing was increasingly laboured. Arkady feared she would be dead before Mitten returned with another lantern.
âIt would be kinder to put it down,â Jaxyn repeated behind her.
âThat would be murder.â
âDo you think itâs more humane to watch it suffer?â
Arkady rose to her feet and turned to face the young man, wishing Stellan was here now. This was the Jaxyn Aranville her husband never saw. He was all sweetness and light when his lover was nearby, but this side of him, this cruel, unfeeling wretch, was something only Arkady knew. Jaxyn probably realised she saw through him and figured there was no point in pretending otherwise.
âGet out!â
âTemper, temper, my lady. Youâll upset your patient.â
âSo help me, Jaxyn, Iâll do more thanââ
Arkady never got a chance to finish the sentence. The door banged open in a flare of light just as Tipsyâs strangled breathing fell silent. Jaxyn forgotten, Arkady dropped to her knees beside the Crasii but it was too late to do anything. It had been too late before they got here. Mitten, the feline whoâd brought the extra lantern, raised it high, glaring at Arkady, as if she was personally responsible for the death, a low growl building in the back of her throat.
Choking back a lump, inspired by fear as much as grief, Arkady pulled the covers over Tipsyâs still form and rose to her feet. âYour blood-sister will be avenged, Mitten,â Arkady promised, trying to ignore the Crasiiâs unsheathed claws and threatening stance. âTell your sisters Iâll have Boots declared outlaw. Sheâll be found. And made to pay for what sheâs done.â
Mitten said nothing, her twitching tail the only indication of her mood. Her silence was enough to make Arkady sweat. An angry feline was something to be feared and once word spread of Tipsyâs death to the other warriors, the problem would only get worse. It was a long way from this hut to the gate, with several hundred angry felines between them and safety.
âBack off!â Jaxyn warned.
To Arkadyâs amazement, the Crasii lowered the lantern, bowing her head in acquiescence. âForgive me, my lord.â
âNow thank the duchess for her concern,â Jaxyn ordered. âAnd for her consideration in coming all this wayâin the middle of a dinner partyâto see to a mere slave.â
âThank you, your grace. We appreciate your sacrifice and Iâm sure youâll see to it that Boots is made to pay.â
âNow leave,â Jaxyn added. âAnd tell your friends out there to return to their quarters.â
Without question, the feline did as the young man ordered,
Legs McNeil, Jennifer Osborne, Peter Pavia