Free Pursuer (Alwahi Series) by Monique Morgan Page A

stew and a flat looking bread. She was surprised when Anessa headed directly for the table that she wanted to sit at the least. They sat down and the blonde girl hissed.
     
    “ What’s a person from above doing down here? How dare she disrespect our hold? Only Pursuers belong here,” she fired, and Anessa sighed.
     
    “ She has come to join our clan, Desstina,” Anessa replied, taking a bite of her bread. Zanas lifted the bowl to her face when she heard Desstina respond.
     
    “ You are too weak to be here. You are going to die trying what comes easy to the chosen.” She glared at Zanas from across the table. Zanas knew the girl was trying to scare her, but instead, she felt a rush of adrenaline. She imagined what it would be like to smash the girl’s pretty face into the table, and she found herself smiling defiantly.
     
    “ If you say so,” Zanas replied softly. Desstina let out a small exhalation of fury and Zanas heard a chuckle across from her.
     
    “ You’ll have to get use to her, Desstina,” he said in a low voice. “She is to join our team for her trial.” Desstina threw her bread on the table, slamming her hand down with a loud smack.
     
    “ I will not hunt with an abomination,” she said angrily. Anessa finally looked up from her food and gave Desstina a look that halted her.
     
    “ You do what I tell you to do. I am clan leader here, Desstina,” Anessa said with a dark growl. Desstina collected her plate and left the room in anger, saying nothing more. Zanas heard that low chuckle once again and looked up into his emerald eyes.
     
    “ Welcome Zanas,” Her name coming from his lips made her shiver. “I’m Dressdon; I look forward to hunting with you.” His voice took on that predatory hum, buzzing through her ears and her veins. He winked at her, and then he too collected his plates and left.
     

Chapter 8- First Blood
     
     
    Zanas was taken back to her room where she deposited the food that she had brought Maleek on the floor in front of him. He opened one eye as he glanced at the food. He quickly gobbled it into his mouth, licking his lips, and expressing that he was very happy. The fire had begun to die down. She walked over to it and added some of the logs that had been piled in the corner, and as she walked back to the bed, a window caught her attention. Finding it hard to imagine why there would be a window in a room created in rock, she pushed the window open, and gave a small gasp of astonishment.
     
    She was looking at the city below. The Pursuer’s hold was cut into the high walls of the mountainous cave. Zanas glanced up at the sky that was above her. Although, it was much more beautiful than any sky she had ever seen. It twinkled and blinked before her eyes and her vision began to blur.
     
    Zanas realized that she was very tired. She closed the window, blocking out the soft glow of the light, and crawled into the furs on her bed. She found that the furs were very thick and extremely comfortable. She was just starting to doze off when she felt a movement beside her, and then the warm body of Maleek.
     
    Zanas awoke to pounding on her door. Maleek was standing on the floor growling. The door was suddenly thrust open and Dressdon came striding in. Maleek raised his fur and it vibrated a blue color. Dressdon came to an abrupt stop.
     
    “ Well, well. Aren’t you full of surprises?” he said narrowing his eyes at Maleek. “I’ve never heard of any one taming a wanwalf.”
     
    “ I wouldn’t call him tame. So I would think twice before barging in here again,” she replied, her eyes narrowing. Dressdon immediately launched into laughter.
     
    “ Feisty,” he said with a grin. “I wouldn’t have dared to enter your chamber my lady,” he said with a mocking bow and then straightening himself in seriousness. “I was banging on your door for forever,” he added with a shrug.
     
    “ Where are we going?” Zanas asked. Dressdon stared at Maleek for a moment and