Page 43 of Protecting His Treasure

But he had to tell them. They had to avenge his father. The pack burst into the room. Hanami stumbled away from him and raised her hand.

“Onaku,” she cried, sounding breathless. “I don’t know how much longer I can hold him frozen.”

Onaku ran to her side. “Don’t release him, wife. He will destroy us all. He’s demented.”

“I can’t hold on much longer.” Blood dripped from her nose.

Gasps arose around the room.

“Kaede,” his father’s friend called to him. “Did you… did you do this?”

No, Kaede screamed silently. Yet, his head nodded up and down and a growl rose from him. His dragon was once again being controlled by the witch. That’s why her nose was bleeding. His beast roared loudly. Flames ignited within him, engulfing his body.

“He’s really demented,” one of the villagers shouted.

I’m not. She’s controlling my dragon. She’s doing this. This is the witch’s fault. She forced my dragon to kill my parents. But they couldn’t hear him.

“He must stand trial for this,” One of the villagers called out.

“A demented wolf can not stand trial,” another said. “He’s not in his right mind.”

“Then what do we do?” Another asked. They all looked to Onaku. This was exactly what his cousin wanted. Bastard.

“I can’t bear to put my own flesh and blood to death,” Onaku lied. “I don’t know what to do.”

“What if I use my magic to send him to a different plane?” Hanami offered. “It’s a plane where the most vicious criminals are sent. It’s the only place I can think of that’s strong enough to hold an immortal dragon alpha.” Back to the villagers, she winked at him.

He hated fucking witches. He would find a way to kill her and Onaku. He would avenge his family. He would make them pay for what they’d done.

“Do it,” his father’s friend said. “If he’s demented, then he’s no longer the Kaede we once knew. If you release him, he will try to destroy us all. Banish him.”

“Shouldn’t we vote?” Onaku said.

“We don’t have much time,” Hanami pointed out. “He’s fighting against my magic.”

“We don’t have time,” the villagers said. “Banish him. Banish him.” They started chanting those two words over and over again. Their betrayal added to the anger burning inside of him. The witch began her chant. Kaede could feel his beast calming down.

‘Sorry,’ his beast whispered. ‘The witch forced me. Forgive me,’ the creature said before falling silent, leaving Kaede alone. Kaede stared into the eyes of Onaku and his mate. Though this woman wasn’t his real mate, he’d sacrificed his treasure and allowed this witch, this demon, to occupy her body.

Kaede stared into his eyes and he vowed then and there that one day he’d make them pay. He didn’t care how long it took. He didn’t care who he had to destroy to do it. One day, he would make them feel the pain he was feeling. He would avenge his family and he would paint the village red with there blood. The witch smiled at him one last time just as a chill crept over him and darkness pulled him under.