Sword of Inquest (La Patron's Sword Book 1) by Sydney Addae Page A

Sensing the hybrid behind her, she leapt across Greggor and shifted to her hybrid. Cold anger filled her at the sight of her mate lying on the ground, before the hybrid attacked; she picked up Greggor and punched him in the stomach.
    He screamed.
    She tossed him aside for later. The puny man would pay with his life for what he did. First she needed to disable the hybrid and then the gun. Perhaps she’d shoot Greggor with a tranquilizer. That thought pleased her wolf.
    The hybrid charged. They always charged. Asia stepped aside and gut punched him, causing him to stagger. And then she punched him beneath his chin with her metal arm. He flew backward and hit the tree. She strode to the tree where the gun rested and grabbed it. One dart left, she watched Greggor rolling on the ground holding his belly, pointed and pulled the trigger. His eyes widened and looked down at the dart protruding from his leg. He grabbed at it with both hands and removed the tranq. The look of hatred he sent her would have scorched the sun. Pleased, she nodded her appreciation, broke the gun in half and went to finish off the remaining hybrid.
    “ I’ll kill you for this,” Greggor said, his words slurring.
    Neck broken and chip removed, Asia tossed the hybrid aside. She couldn’t talk well in this form and didn’t bother. Instead she went to her mate and removed the dart. Anger, pain and sadness filled her chest. Breathing became a major challenge. What if she’d remained asleep? They’d found him by his chip and he’d led them miles away from her to protect her. The realization stunned and shamed her. Something alien tugged on her heart, followed by guilt. If they had shared a link, Hawke would have heard her warning.
    Asia scanned the area, Greggor alone lived.
    Tempted to kill him, her wolf urged her to care for their mate first and return to kill the bastard after finding a secure place for Hawke to recover. She stared at his hybrid form in awe, the man was massive, she’d need to remain a hybrid to lift him and even then she hoped she could carry him. Caves hidden in the foothills of the mountains beyond the forest would be her first choice. It was a distance, and she risked exposure with the sun rising. But she could defend them better in the cave. For now safety ranked highest.
    “Hawke,” she whispered and touched his brow.
    His head rolled in her direction. The next moment his body morphed to human. She thanked the Goddess.
    Lifting him, she settled his weight in her arms and headed in the direction of the mountains.  The sun had just risen when she arrived at the base of the mountains, and she’d seen no humans during the long trek. That didn’t mean none of the locals saw them, she was certain the few who saw her carrying a large man like a baby created wild tales to be retold later. She re-scanned the area, and then shifted him in her arms a bit before trudging upward to the low entrance she had discovered by accident on her way to Lord Boris’ castle.
    After stepping inside, it became clear she wasn’t the only one who recognized the merits of the cave. Leftover food containers, cigarette butts, clothing items and a roll-out bed greeted their entry. She laid Hawke on the make shift bed and went to explore deeper. A small, child sized opening led into a larger cavern.
    Asia debated whether to break through the stone or continue her search for another entrance. Thoughts of others with easy access to the cavern made the decision for her. She continued searching for another way into the cave and after a series of dead ends, shifted into her wolf and squeezed through a small slit between stones. Her breath caught at the jagged rocks and smooth plateaus lining the sides of the large cave. She stepped over gravel and looked around, searching for water and game if possible. Water, she found and drank her fill. Her stomach grumbled. She needed to get Hawke situated and then go for supplies.
    How would she get him into this cave?