"Azrel?"

Azrel stopped looking at his changed form and saw that he was alone again save for one dark-haired girl; she held her hand to him. He tried to remember if they had met before.

"I am a monster." He shied away from her but she stepped closer regardless.

"Azrel take my hand." She spoke with the voice of a thousand women before her. Being close to her made him feel more at ease. He felt human again.

"Please?" She spoke softly and he felt his heart buckle for her.

He reached for her hand feeling like he might crush her with his new claws. When they touched, he felt calm for the first time since he was a child.

***

Anaya and Azrel are hiding secrets. She is a spy for the rebels against her own will. He has a new power that changes him into a beastly creature. Posing as siblings, their love becomes another secret they bare. Together they must find a way to save the kingdom and each other. 

Spoils of War is created by Jo Thromby, an eGlobal Creative Publishing signed author.

Spoils of War

“Come, your highness, let us get you back to the castle.” 


Azrel heard Trager's voice and felt Anaya’s hand start to leave his shoulder. He reached out for it, the need to be near her too great.


“Azrel I'm right here.” She whispered to him. 


They half dragged, half carried him the entire way back to the castle.


“The wound doesn't seem that deep.'' He heard Kinth to his right side.


“Perhaps it was poisoned,” Trager said. “In any case, let's get him inside and look at the wound there.” 


Azrel allowed himself to be carried. Taking on the crow had drained him of all his strength. It had taken over him on its own; he seemed to have no control of it at all.


“I need Father.” He managed to say and hoped that they heard him. He needed to talk to him about the spirit. 


“He is in a war meeting,” Trager said gently, helping him onto a table where a doctor could examine his wound. The sleeve of Azrel’s shirt was cut off exposing the bloody mess on his shoulder.


Chapter 22: The Infirmary