"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

Azrel had never been in battle before. He never realized how much noise there was. Projectiles rained down on them. 


“To the east!” A platoon leader shouted and Azrel turned to follow a small group that broke off. 


As they ran down the hill the men protecting the catapults came to meet them. The catapults turn their attention from the castle to the approaching men.


“Down!” someone yelled and Azrel hit the ground. When he rose back up he was inches away from a creator that would have killed him. 


“Let's go.” Someone pulled him to his feet and Azrel struggled to look away from the damage and focused forward. 


They continued to flank the enemy and Azrel let his instincts take over, weaving back and forth. He avoided arrows and the raining dust. 


“Look.” The man beside him screamed, his voice hoarse. 


Chapter 37: The First Battle