35. Renowlf

My mind reelsfrom Mia's declaration and the fear on her face, and a burst of renewed strength surges to my muscles.

Mia needs me. She loves me. I cannot fail her.

With my chest heaving from exertion, and my injuries burning with white-hot pain, I continue to fight back. Each breath is a struggle, but I will not give up. Not now. Not when everything I have ever wanted is within my grasp.

With a roar, I attack with the last of my vigor, driven by my mate"s words. Surging forward, my blade forces Dolphus to defend the attack. For the first time in this fight, I hold the position of offense. I want to glance at Mia, to assuage her fear and return her declaration of love. Yet taking my eyes off Dolphus would be deadly.

When I finally see an opening, I strike with all the strength I have left. The tip of my sword plunges into Dolphus" chest, piercing his heart.

A killing blow.

Dolphus" eyes go wide with shock as he collapses to the ground, his blood spilling around him on the cabin floor. Across the room, Bayliss shrieks at the sight of her mate losing the fight. She rushes over to him and falls to her knees beside him.

Panting, I step back from my fallen foe. My wounds scream in agony, although knowing Dolphus will never threaten Mia again makes the pain tolerable. Still, my injuries are grave, and I sway on my feet.

Mia hurries to my side, tears streaming down her face. I pull her into my arms, into a fierce embrace. Then, I capture her lips with mine. Our kiss of relief and longing speaks without words.

When we break the kiss, I stumble slightly. Mia is there, her arms around my waist, supporting me. I drop my sword and lean against her small frame, draping my good arm across her shoulders, letting her carry some of my weight.

As Dolphus takes his dying breaths, each more labored than the last, we watch the would-be lovers say their good-byes. Yet the scene does not unfold as expected.

Bayliss takes Dolphus" hand, but her face shows little grief or regret. When she starts to pull away, Dolphus clings to her hand. "Do not leave me," he rasps with blood-stained lips.

"There is nothing more I can do for you, my love," Bayliss says without emotion. "You have failed me. Therefore, I must save myself."

"What in the fuck?" Mia swears as I growl in disgust. Even now, Bayliss only thinks of herself. She is no true mate.

Dolphus" pale face twists in anguish as he realizes Bayliss" final betrayal. There is a disturbing intensity in his eyes, a clarity that puts me on alert.

"I will not go to the gods without you, my love," Dolphus says, his gurgling voice thick with the pain of Bayliss' betrayal.

A surprisingly steady hand goes to his belt and, in one swift motion, he draws a dagger and savagely slashes it across Bayliss" throat. She gulps in shock before falling across Dolphus' chest, her lifeblood mixing with his. Only after Bayliss is gone does Dolphus take his final breath, his lips twisted into a gruesome smile.

Mia trembles in horror against me, her hands clutching my waist. Leaning heavily on her, I limp over to the traitors and kneel beside them. I press my fingers to their necks, one at a time, feeling for a pulse and finding nothing. They are truly gone.

With the danger passed, the last of my strength leaves me. I sink to the cabin floor, pulling Mia down beside me, wrapping her in my arms. She truly is my strength, my light, my hope.

"Did you mean what you said?" I ask her. "Do you love me?"

"I don't understand it, but I do," she says softly. "I love you, Renowlf."

I smile weakly. "And I love you."

Overwhelmed with emotion, Mia begins weeping again. I cradle her face gently, brushing away her tears with my thumbs. "The fight is over," I tell her. "You are safe now."

Yet even as I speak those words of reassurance, I hear a noise outside. A small group of orcs enter the cabin, and I am too weak to retrieve my sword, yet alone wield it.

Mia tenses in my arms and points to one of the orcs. "That"s one of the guards from the dungeon. Dolphus killed the other two."

Relief washes over me when I see the concern on Jalloe's face, the dungeon guard Mia pointed out, and he bows in my direction. "We have come to save you, sire. Yet it seems you were able to save yourself."

Mia laughs while still weeping, which makes me laugh as well. Soon, Jalloe and the other orcs are laughing with us.

Then, my laughter turns into a cough, and I wince in pain. Mia looks at me with concern. "We need to get you to Gantok."

"Get the travois," Jalloe tells one of the orcs. "We will carry you to the palace, sire."

"Someone needs to go to the dungeon and let Dorlok go," Mia says.

"Over my dead body," I growl. "He must pay for threatening you."

Mia places her hand on my cheek. "We talked things out and came to an understanding. He's on my side now."

"Sire?" Jalloe says. "Your orders?"

I sigh, unable to deny my love's request. "Send someone to release him."

"Is that all?" a surprised Jalloe asks.

"No. Tell him to visit me tomorrow, after the midday meal. I wish to come to an understanding with him myself." Just so it is clear to Jalloe that my orders do not come from a place of weakness or blood loss, I add, "Let him know this is his last chance for redemption."

When I am secured to the travois, I spare a final glance at Dolphus and Bayliss. I no longer feel anger toward my traitorous second and the female who betrayed me.

Instead, I feel blessed that my perfect genetic match, a beautiful human female, is also my true love.