Rayner was confused. “Why have you not passed your helmet on?” A warrior as renowned as Segreti should have passed his mantle on centuries ago. Segreti was only a few centuries older than Khalon, but he had seen much more battle, and, rumor was, had even been captured and tortured, escaping through sheer will and determination alone. Since Pavoni was crowned, it seemed the Orso were always at war with someone.

  Segreti’s heavy sigh revealed a bone-weariness Rayner felt down to his soul. The man had given more than any warrior should be asked. He deserved peace.

  “Pavoni will not release me from my pledge. He says I am to lead his army until my demise, either at the hands of my enemy, or my own.”

  “That insufferable bastard.” Rayner shook his head in disbelief. Did the man’s disgrace know no bounds?

  Khalon put his hand on Segreti’s shoulder plate. “If only your king were as noble and honorable as you, my old friend. I do not wish to bring you or your men any harm, but I cannot leave here without Toka.”

  “The foxling.” Segreti moved his gaze to Rayner. As if realizing, he cursed under his breath. “The foxling is yours. That explains his obsession.”

  “Pavoni is not walking out of this alive,” Rayner said. “I will make him pay for what he’s done to my beloved. All I ask is that you see for yourself the devastation your king intends to bring upon us all.”

  Far and wide Ezra was known not only for his healing abilities but also for the power he wielded as the voice for the all-seeing Eye. Khalon motioned for Ezra to approach.

  Ezra bowed. “Your Majesty.”

  Khalon turned to Ezra. “Show him.”

  Ezra pressed his lips together. “Khalon, I do not—” At Khalon’s pointed look, Ezra sighed. “Yes, Your Majesty.” He stepped up to Segreti, who frowned down at him. Ezra was a Soldati, smaller than Rayner yet bigger and taller than most humans, but Segreti was an Orso, a huge wall of muscle as hard as the mountain behind him. In his armor, he eclipsed Ezra’s much slighter frame. Ezra reached up, and Segreti had to hunch over so Ezra could reach him. “This will be quite painful.”

  “I’m well versed in pain, cub.”

  Ezra glared at Segreti. “I am not a cub.”

  “Ezra,” Khalon warned, and received a huff in response from their gentle companion.

  Closing his eyes, Ezra summoned the power of the Eye. Rayner had seen him do it many times, but very rarely did someone get to see what Ezra saw. The power of the Eye flowed through Ezra, evident by the way he stiffened, a gasp escaping his lips. He opened his eyes, his irises and pupils disappearing into a glowing bluish white light. Segreti gritted his teeth, and Rayner knew he was beginning to feel the pain of their fate. Through Ezra’s touch, his vision could be shared, but so would whatever pain the victims in his vision suffered. In this instance, the whole of humanity.

  “Should you and your men wage war with the Soldati,” Ezra forewarned, his voice echoing as if there were another being speaking through him, “millions upon millions of innocent humans will perish, all for the sake of your king’s ego. Feel their pain as they lose their loved ones. As they watch their world fall to ash.”

  Segreti’s eyes filled with tears, and he clutched Ezra’s shoulders as a pained cry tore from his lips. Ezra released Segreti, and the man dropped to one knee, head hung, hands fisted around the hem of Ezra’s tunic.

  “I can’t…” Segreti’s voice was a hoarse whisper. “Please. No more.”

  Rayner couldn’t stay here any longer. He couldn’t wait for Segreti to make up his mind. Toka needed him. He was about to say so, when Ezra placed his fingers gently beneath Segreti’s chin and lifted his face. He smiled warmly at Segreti and brushed his thumb over Segreti’s cheek, wiping away a tear.

  “Please, General. Do not damn your beautiful soul for a man so undeserving of you.”

  Segreti swallowed hard. He searched Ezra’s gaze. Rayner could not hope to know what Segreti was looking for, but a heartbeat later, he seemed to find it. He stood, squared his shoulders, and met Rayner’s gaze.

  “Go find your foxling.”

  The secret passage was small, which meant Pavoni would never fit, thankfully, as it only went in one direction. At the end of the narrow passage, it split into two paths. Toka sniffed the air, catching a faint whiff of some flowery scent coming from the left. He headed in that direction and found himself out in the hall.

  At the end of the long corridor, Pavoni thundered out of his bedchamber, a colossal brown bear with slobbering jaws. His black gaze landed on Toka, and he released a terrifying roar that shook the rafters. Toka darted off, running as fast as his paws would take him, dodging the guards who dove for him. He pounced on their heads, his barks shrill and alarmed as Pavoni released another thunderous roar behind him. The floor shook with the beast’s pounding steps as he loped after Toka. He couldn’t let Pavoni strike him. One swipe of Pavoni’s claws, and Toka would be slammed into a stone wall. His slighter frame wouldn’t survive the impact.

  “Rayner, please help me.” If Rayner wasn’t in his tiger form, he wouldn’t hear Toka’s thoughts, but Toka had to try regardless.

  Using his brush to help his balance and his claws to help his grip on the flooring, he dashed from place to place, scurrying under furniture and hopping over anything that crossed his path. Foxlings were skilled at bounding and jumping. The Orso guards who didn’t rush out to meet the Soldati remained to give chase. The castle was so big, and Toka didn’t know where he was going. Through the windows, he heard the roar of Orso warriors. It was odd and not the sounds he expected to hear when two fierce armies faced each other. It was more like arguing, the voices of several furious Orso reaching Toka’s ears even with the annoying little bell jingling around his neck and giving away his position. Toka barked, hoping his cries reached Rayner.

  Toka spotted the front gates and headed for them, but his path was blocked by half a dozen Orso. He took a sharp turn. There was only one place left for Toka to go. He darted up one of the wide winding staircases. It was a great risk, and he might have just sealed his fate, but there was nowhere left for him to run. He sped up, careful not to trip on any of the steps or he would lose the distance he’d managed to put between himself and Pavoni. At the very top, Toka saw an archway leading out into the light. Darting through, he found himself on one of the parapets between two towers. At the far end, two guards slowly approached, and behind him, Pavoni emerged from the doorway.

  Toka barked, his foxling cries echoing in the air. He had nowhere to go. As Pavoni loped toward him, Toka arched his back, his fur bristling and his brush lashing back and forth. He bared his teeth, his ears pressed back against his head, his angry gekkering aimed at Pavoni. The guards behind him let out a series of strangled sounds, but Toka would not take his gaze off the giant bear looming over him. Pavoni rose onto his hind legs, massive paws up in the air ready to strike Toka dead, but the fierce roar of a tiger drowned out his bellow.

  A shadow soared over Toka’s head, and he scurried back as Rayner plowed into Pavoni, sending him stumbling back. Rayner snapped his jaws, sharp fangs plunging into Pavoni’s neck. He tore at Pavoni’s flesh as the giant bear flailed and swiped its paws at Rayner, catching him on the flank. Rayner roared at the pain, and Toka darted in, snapping at Pavoni’s ankles and feet, tearing into the flesh and shaking his head fiercely to cause as much damage as possible. Toka might not have the deadly fangs of a tiger, but he could easily tear through flesh.

  Pavoni screamed and roared, batting at Rayner and Toka, who did their best to stay away from his claws. Pavoni faltered, and Rayner reared on his hind legs, slashing at Pavoni with his razor-sharp claws. Rayner’s body was sleek and powerful, his ears flattened against his large furry head, and his heavy tail thumping against the stone floor. Parts of his white fur were sprayed with Pavoni’s blood. Toka rushed in again, twisted himself between Pavoni’s back paws, and tripped Pavoni. The huge bear fell back toward the ledge of the parapet. Toka watched, stunned, as Rayner soared through the air and struck Pavoni with all four paws. He used Pavoni’s body as a springboard, pushing off and twisting in midair to land on his paws as Pavoni tumbled over the stone edge.

  Toka shifted and ran to the ledge in time to see Pavoni hit the stone bridge outside the gates. He gasped in horror and was pulled into a strong, warm embrace. Toka turned and buried his head against Rayner’s jerkin. It was over. Pavoni was dead.

  “Are you all right?” Rayner pulled back enough to inspect Toka. He ran his hands over Toka’s head, neck, and shoulders. “Tell me you’re all right.”

  “I am, now that you’re here.” Toka threw his arms around Rayner and hugged him.

  “Thank the Goddess,” Rayner said, breathless, holding Toka so tight he could barely breathe. Toka didn’t care. He was in Rayner’s arms, and Pavoni would never hurt them again. After what seemed like an eternity, Rayner pulled back. He looked frightened. “Did he…?”

  Toka shook his head, the bell tinkling around his neck. Rayner seemed to notice it for the first time, and rage flashed through his eyes. He reached behind Toka’s neck. Carefully, but with force, he snapped the collar’s clasp. He pulled it off Toka, and with a sneer of disgust, he snapped it in two before tossing it over the side of the parapet. His expression filled with concern once again, and Toka took Rayner’s hand in his.

  “Princess Verity gave me a potion that made me ill for a day, and I faked the rest until today. I had no intention of letting him have me. I’m yours, Rayner. Only yours.”

  Rayner kissed him, and Toka relished the taste of him, his scent, the joy that overflowed from his heart. He could barely believe it. Rayner had come for him. His king had come for him, along with an army. They had risked everything… for him. Toka looked up at Rayner, his fingers needing to touch his lover’s face, afraid this was all a sweet dream.

  “How did you get Khalon to change his mind?”

  Rayner took Toka’s hand in his and brought it to his lips for a kiss. “Come. I will tell you everything.”

  A roar resounded, and Toka smiled. “Princess Verity has surrendered.”

  “She feared for her people, and with General Segreti refusing to shed the blood of his men for Pavoni, surrender was imminent.”

  Toka stared at him. “Pavoni’s general surrendered?”

  “General Segreti is an honorable man and an old friend of Khalon’s father. I believe he’s been at war with his own heart over his allegiance to Pavoni for some time. It took a little gentle persuasion, but Segreti knew as well as we did that Pavoni’s arrogance would have led to countless deaths.” Rayner led Toka through the archway and down the steps to the front gates. There the Orso kneeled before the Soldati in surrender.

  Khalon approached, huge and imposing in his black armor, his black cape flowing in the breeze. He addressed the Orso, including the court and servants who were all flooding out of the castle. Khalon’s voice carried far as he spoke.

  “People of Dell’Orso, your king is dead. His reign of tyranny is over. As per Orso law, my victory allows me to claim your kingdom as my own.”

  There were gasps and murmurs, with nervous glances going to Prince Merlo, who stood to one side, appearing terrified.

  “I, Khalon, King of the Soldati, have no need for the Kingdom of Dell’Orso and hereby declare Princess Verity your new queen. May your kingdom and its people prosper under her noble and just rule.”

  The people cheered, and Toka could have sworn Prince Merlo appeared relieved by the decision. Even the Orso warriors seemed relieved. Some looked less pleased. They were most likely those closest to Pavoni, and the Orso Toka had heard arguing as he sped through the halls. The princess approached her warriors, who pledged themselves to her. She held her head high, her gaze intense as she addressed the Orso warriors.

  “Under my rule, there will be honor and integrity. I will restore the good name of our people. If there are any who believe they cannot comport themselves in the manner befitting their great Orso birth, may I suggest you find another kingdom in which to do harm, for you will not be welcome in mine.”

  The people cheered again, smiles on their faces as they entered the castle, all chatting excitedly with one another. The sun’s rays broke through, and Toka gazed up at the clouds. Even they seemed to have brightened.

  “Toka!”

  Toka could barely contain his joy at the sight of his prince. Riley, looking dashing and dangerous in his black-and-gold armor, scooped Toka up in a tight embrace, making Toka laugh.

  “Your Highness.” Toka beamed as Riley placed him on his feet. “You came as well?” Tears welled in his eyes, and he quickly wiped them away. His prince had taken up arms and readied himself to face a war of shifters and magic the likes of which he’d never known, all for Toka.

  Riley huffed. “Like I was going to stay home.”

  “Believe me, I tried,” Khalon grumbled, a smile tugging at his lips when Riley planted a kiss on his cheek. “Your prince was most indignant at the mere suggestion of remaining in our realm.”

  “Toka?”

  Princess Verity’s soft voice caught his attention, and she approached him, a handsome Orso warrior at her side. He was great in stature with warm brown eyes. “Had I stood up to my brother, you would not have suffered at his hands. Please, say you forgive me.”

  Toka hugged her. “I forgive you.” He pulled back and smiled up at her. “You’ll be a wonderful queen.”

  “Thank you, my dearest. You are braver than any warrior I have known. Rest assured that my brother, Merlo, will answer for the part he played in the deception.” She kissed his cheek and turned to face Khalon, her fingers laced with the Orso warrior at her side. “I shall forever be grateful to you, Khalon. I hope the Soldati will come to see me and my kingdom as allies.”

  Khalon kissed her free hand. “I have faith in you, Princess Verity. If anyone can return glory to the Orso, it’s you.”

  “Thank you.”

  “I have one request,” Khalon said, as a very large Orso warrior approached. His hair was as black as Khalon’s but longer, reaching below his shoulders. His jaw was chiseled, filled with coarse stubble and various nicks, and a leather patch rested over one eye. Toka would have been frightened, if it weren’t for the gentle sadness in his near-dark eye. Was this General Segreti? He seemed like someone of importance, or perhaps merely carried himself as such. A proud Orso for certain.

  “You have but to name it,” Verity replied, smiling warmly.

  “Release General Segreti from his pledge. Allow him to pass his helmet on to the next worthy Orso. He has fought fiercely for your kingdom for centuries. Grant him rest.”

  General Segreti appeared stunned, his eye wide. He turned his gaze to Verity, who reached out to him. He quickly dropped to one knee, accepting her hand in his.

  “Your Majesty.”

  “My dear General, you have been as steadfast as the great Orso mountain. If you wish to be released from your pledge to live out your life in peace, it is done.”

  Segreti’s head shot up, and he opened his mouth to reply, but no words were forthcoming. The man appeared to be stupefied.

  Verity laughed softly. “Simply nod if you wish to be released.”

  Segreti nodded.

  “Then you are released. Choose your successor when you so desire. We shall discuss your royal bounty once my affairs are set to rights.”

  “Yes, of course, Your Majesty.” Segreti bowed, eye glassy. “Thank you so much.” He rose and turned to Khalon. He gripped Khalon’s arm as his hand came to rest on his shoulder. “I am indebted to you, old friend.”

  Khalon shook his head, his smile wide. “You owe me nothing. Perhaps a visit to our kingdom instead. Should you wish to spend your days in the Soldati realm, know you are always welcome.”

  Segreti pressed his lips together, and Toka tried his best not to let his emotions get the better of him. The light and joy in Segreti’s expression was overwhelming.

  As Khalon, Riley, Segreti, and the new queen of Dell’Orso talked, Toka turned to Rayner, speaking quietly. “I can’t believe you came for me.”

  “Forgive me for not coming sooner. I—”

  Toka placed his fingers to Rayner’s lips. “No more regrets or remorse. I am in your arms once more. That is all that matters.”

  “That’s not all that matters,” Khalon stated, coming to stand beside them. He placed his fingers under Toka’s chin and lifted his face to meet his gaze. “Rayner was willing to give up everything for you. You may not be a Soldati warrior, young foxling, but you have proven yourself just as noble. You showed great courage, sacrificing yourself for the good of the realm, for your love. I believe it’s time I revisit some of the realm’s old laws. Until then, as these things take time, there is one change I can make now.” Khalon wrapped his fingers around Toka’s upper arm, and Toka flinched at the fire burning beneath his skin. When Khalon removed his hand, Toka was stunned by the Soldati markings left behind. His head shot up, and he stared at Khalon. “So that everyone may know your bravery. Soldati warrior.”

  “A Soldati warrior? But… I’m a foxling.”

  Khalon shrugged, his lips quirked in a cheeky smile. “And I’m the king.”

  Toka’s happiness bubbled up inside him, and he couldn’t help throwing his arms around Khalon and hugging him. When he realized what he’d done, he gasped and quickly pulled back.

  “Forgive me, Your Majesty!” He quickly bowed, and Khalon chuckled.

  “All is well. You’re a Soldati now. I’m certain your mate will aid you in the responsibilities of your new role.” He tucked Riley against his side and kissed his cheek. “Come. Let’s all go home.”

  Everyone said their goodbyes, and Khalon opened a portal to their realm. Rayner took Toka’s hand in his, and they stepped through to emerge in front of the Soldati castle.

  Toka blinked back his tears of joy at the sight. He was home, with his beloved at his side. With his mate. Toka could barely contain the happiness in his heart. He shifted into his fox form and pounced around Riley’s legs in sheer joy, making him laugh. He barked cheerfully when Rayner pounced beside him, chuffing.