book #3 DARK KNIGHT ***COMPLETE***

#10 changing the plans

the suns light was pouring into the entrance to the cave as the ocean crashed below them. Zara slowly woke up from her make shift bed on the cave floor. Leif was sleeping next to her with one finger hooked to hers. looking down she smiled. she didn't want to tell him last night as they talked that it had been her first kiss. she had never bothered dating anyone or messing around because she always felt she had to prove herself amongst the men as a warrior above all else. she didn't have time for dating and everything it entailed. she had known for a while she had no fated mate. at first it broke her. she was angry. royals were expected to mate and keep the royal blood line flowing but not having a mate made her work harder. she drove herself to achieve her goals. she was a survivor. a warrior. having a mate would have slowed her down and all she would have become was a possession. she had never wanted that for herself.

yet her she was. shyly smiling that he had reached out for her finger and locked his in hers. it was sweet like candy and she would have to find a balance between both duty to herself and duty to her Queen. the Queen she promised to protect and stand by her side always. women usually weren't given this honor. men usually were the warriors chosen to protect the royals. yet her she was chosen by Avaly herself. it was an honor and she would not let her down even if it cost her life. a small tingling spark zapped her fully awake. did she really just feel that? she looked at their fingers then up into Leifs now fully open chocolate brown eyes. nope she was certain he felt it too."what was that?" she asked curiously.

"it almost felt like a mate bond. a little less intense but like it is starting to form. it's the tingles when a fated mate touches the other. it's like little zaps of electricity that happen." Leif brought his hand across her bare arm leaving a wake of tiny little sparks dancing across her skin. "how is it even possible?" he was fully sitting now staring down into her green eyes. she slowly sat up as he looked at her deep in his own thoughts.

"maybe when our wolves accepted each other the bond started?" Zara got up and headed towards the entrance of the cave sitting down watching the sun shining across the ocean waters. in the distance she saw a figure sitting on a rock as the waves crashed around. "is that a siren?"

Leif rushed to her side. "sirens are tricky be careful. show me."

"there on that out crop of rocks. see that figure?"

Leif did see the person sitting there watching them from afar. "Zara, Come back from the entrance. with the sirens knowing we are here traveling along the shore is going to be extra dangerous. I'm not mated and neither is Finn or Vlad. Until Michael and Avaly seal their bond he is in danger as well."

"well you don't have to worry about Michael and Avaly. they mated last night. they already marked each other. which also helps when it comes to Jonathan since now he can't claim her and mark her. why men always want to possess a woman and not be her equal I will never understand." Zara threw her hands up in frustration. ever since she could remember men had tried to control her in one way or the other. it was one thing that helped her through knowing she was not fated to anyone. at least that way she was not someone's possession she was free to love the life she wanted and not what someone wanted for her.

Leif grunted roughly. "not all men want to have a woman as a possession." he got up walking back to the smoldering fire gathering up their things. he knew they would need to head out. "these caves always had an escape entrance. we can follow this until we find the escape exit. I'm almost positive it would lead us away from the ocean." he pondered the decision for a moment. it meant bypassing the town and thus bypassing valuable supplies they would need but it would be safer than risking their lives being too close to the sirens. "we could see what supplies we could gather from here. the shower was fresh water and filtered through the volcanic rock so it should be safe to drink and fill up our water supply with. I'm sure if we ventured further in we would find a make shift kitchen there may be food supplies we can grab and usually the nest is near an escape route."

"do we have time for another shower before we head out? you could join me this time." Zaras eyebrows danced up and down suggestively at him.

he let out a chuckle at the thought. "as much as I would love that, and trust me it was hard last night not to join you, I think we should go. that siren saw us and word travels fast." she nodded. she understood the urgency to keep Avaly safe. "but don't think that I will ever turn that down again. if the opportunity arises of course."

"aye aye captain." Zara pretended to salute him as she jumped to her feet placing her pack on her then moving towards Michael and Avaly still snoring. "rise and shine little sleeping beauties." Avaly looked around sleep still in her eyes. her white hair a tangled mess. "we have to leave soon. sirens have spotted us."

"if they have spotted us we need to get going fast. they are very dangerous Zara and very loyal to the king." Avaly's voice cracked slightly as she spoke. fear had creeped in for the first time.

"Leif thinks there is a back way. we will gather what we can from here in the way of supplies and bypass the town. it's a risk but I guess riskier if we continue the way we were." she stood up brushing off her pants. "by the way, nice mark." Avaly blushed her face turning a shade of red Zara had never seen before. Michael stirred next to avaly.

"it just happened."

"Avaly I am surprised it didn't happen the second you both realized you were mates. I have seen how mates work when they meet. come on let's go."

everyone was packed and ready to venture further into the cave. they made their way past the shower filling up on water. they came to a room. it's entrance was covered in furs like a make shift door. Avaly pulled it aside and saw what could only be described as a kitchen. pots and stone utensils were all over the place. it was like someone threw it around and left it. there wasn't much in the way of food to take. so they left and ventured further until another door came into view. this room was more elaborate. there were furs along the floor making a makeshift bed. the furs were thick and soft to touch. "this was a nest." leifs voice was just behind her. Zara looked up at him. nothing had been disturbed for years. it was like everyone had vanished.

"too bad we didn't see this last night." she felt accomplished when she saw him blush. "so where do you think their emergency escape route is?" Leif pointed up towards the only light pouring in. there was a small sky light in the roof of the cave. there were branches covering it concealing it slightly from the outside.

"it looks like that's how the occupants left this place. usually it would be covered by a Boulder to keep out the elements and anyone from finding this place."

"I'm assuming there must have been a rope there before. how do we get out now?"Zara followed Leifs gaze to Avaly and Michael. a sudden understanding came on her. Avaly was an ice dragon. she could mannipulate frozen steps and they could climb out. it was quite ingenious. especially since Michael could melt them after they were out successfully.

"nice. I like this plan." Zara patted Leif as she walked by him.

"but I never even got to say the plan!" Leif was faking irritation as Zara interrupted him. "now, Avaly you are an ice dragon I need you to build steps. if you do four blocks of ice one bigger than the other, then Michael smooth the surface you are fire. then Finn grab those furs off the nest. we will put those on the steps and use them so we don't slide off. then Michael when we are done I need you to melt everything. we don't want to be followed. then avaly will seal the entrance with ice." everyone nodded agreeing with the plan. it was their best bet to stay clear of the sirens.