I slammed the doors open with a crack, my eyes blazing with the presence of my wolf, Alpha aura let out in full force. I saw several men in the room shrink back as soon as they felt my silent domination although I did not pay them any heed, scanning the room for my Council members. I spied Akeila standing at her full height next to who I was assuming was Mikael's brother Adrian, although her head was bowed low in submission and respect. She was no stranger to me letting out my aura to make a point.
I spotted Marcus and Antonio in a corner surrounded by guards, my heart lifting momentarily at seeing them alive. My blood began to boil when I saw fresh blood dripping out of Marcus' nose onto his shirt, his head to the side. He was unconscious. Antonio had a swollen eye, blood trickling down his face from a cut above his brow, his eye blazing as he stared at me intently.
Luna, he weakly mind-linked me, you're alive.
I'm alive and well, when did they last hit you? My heart ached seeing bruises begin to develop across his face, snaking down his neck and under his shirt.
A minute or two before you entered, my lady. I pursed my lips, my hands curling into fists.
Rest a moment, Antonio. I'm glad you are alive. I severed the link and looked around the room, surveying the varying expressions. Most were still cowering from my aura, so I released another wave and watched them cringe.
"Ezra." I snapped.
"Yes, my lady?" He said hurriedly.
"Did I not say I require them unharmed? Brought here gently?" I saw him look to Mikael in my peripheral vision but chose to ignore it.
"Yes, my lady, I instructed our warriors to bring them here gently and to not use any force against them." His tone was threatening on its own, but I had more in plan for them. I nodded sharply and made eye contacts with the guards surrounding my two Councilmen.
"You five. Come here." They looked to everyone else in the room with varying expressions, from incredibility to fear, and even an expression of anger. "Did I stutter? Do not make me come over there. You won't survive it." After a heartbeat, I took a step forward but halted when Mikael's voice rang out.
"She said come here. To not obey the order of a Lunar Princess is to sentence yourselves to death." They rushed in front of me, standing in a line. Temira rumbled in pleasure at our mate backing us up, while I internally scowled at their disobedience. Clearly, women weren't highly respected in their pack.
"Kneel." I ordered curtly, taking note of who followed immediately. The one who hesitated the longest had a thinly veiled mask of anger on his face. Good, I can make my point with him.
"What order did Ezra give you?" One man, slightly older than the rest, spoke up.
"To bring the prisoners to the Council room without harming them in any fashion." I nodded, beginning to pace in front of them. Stopping in front of the one who had spoken, I tipped his chin up so he could meet my gaze. He visibly shrunk back, struggling to keep himself from cowering in a corner.
"Who hit my men?" I said softly and sweetly, a nail running along his jaw as it elongated. His eyes went as wide as saucers, a noticeable tremble running throughout his body. He glanced to the side then back at me rapidly. I nodded once, releasing his chin enough for him to look over. The angry one, oh how perfect.
I walked over to him and grabbed his chin, forcing him to meet my eyes. He handled my release of my aura far more easily than the other, but I still saw the tremor in his shoulders. I leaned forward, narrowing my eyes, concentrating my aura on just him, causing him to gasp as it hit him in full force. A concentrated aura release was an assault on your senses, and a robbery of all free will and less than desirable fronting.
"You hit my men? After specifically being ordered not to?" He nodded far too quickly, and I stood with a sigh. I allowed Temira forward enough to whip a slap against his face, my claws raking against his face and tearing open his flesh. Blood splattered against my robes, the floor, and even the wall. He let out a strangled cry of surprise and pain, his hand whipping up to hold his freshly clawed open face. I made Temira step back before smoothing out my robes with a tsk.
"You got blood on my robes. I will let everyone know in this room, and you will pass the message on to all of your subordinates," I looked around, making eye contact for a fleeting second before moving my eyes to the next person, "I do not allow for the harm of any of my citizens. From a mere farmer to a Council member. If there is a single incident of harm, I will take your subordinate's life, and then yours for allowing them to act in such a despicable manner."
My eyes briefly met Antonio's which blazed with pride, before continuing my scan of the room.
"Who commands this man? This entire team?" A slight man stepped forward on shaking legs, bowing his head.
"Please m-my lady, ta-take it out o-on me." I strode over to him, having to look up to look him in the eye. I let out another concentrated blast of my aura and was rewarded by the sound and scent of urine. What a weak "general".
"I dare you to allow this insubordination again. I am not someone who rules with fear nor an iron fist, but I will protect my people to the death. And I can assure you, I do not mean my death, rather I mean yours. He has learned his lesson; I hope you have learned yours. That goes for everyone here; harm my people and you will die by my hand." I walked past him, briefly making eye contact with Akeila who brimmed with pride, then her mate's who nodded deeply in respect. I went to Antonio and Marcus, who had gained consciousness, untied them both and began reviewing their injuries.
"Get those men out of here and send for two of my healers. I expect them to come to me unharmed, is that understood Ezra?" His deep voice rumbled in an affirmation I paid no attention to as I focused on my Councilmen's injuries. I barked out orders for towels, water, bowls and ice, telling whoever was listening where to find them. I cleaned up Antonio's face of the blood, pressing a towel to his cut to staunch the bleeding so his wolf could handle the rest. I rested my hand on his shoulder, discreetly allowing some of my healing energy flow into him.
He kissed my fingers and murmured his thanks while holding the towel to his face before I turned my focus to Marcus. He had received a harsh beating, that much was clear. His warm brown eyes were filled with pain that he would never speak of, although he leaned into my hands as I prodded and tested what was broken. His nose, his cheekbone. I worked my way down, registering his injuries as I went. Both collarbones, his right shoulder was dislocated, multiple ribs, his right wrist and several bones in his right hand. I blew out a breath I didn't know I had been holding.
"You know if I don't set these, they won't heal correctly." I spoke softly, making eye contact with him.
"I know my lady," he whispered hoarsely, "I can wait for the healers." I shook my head, unclasping and removing my robes. I balled them and he opened his mouth before biting down on my robes, his eyes never once leaving mine as he understood what I was going to do without me needing to communicate it. I pushed his nose back into place and he hissed in pain, breathing heavily through his nose despite the pain. I pushed down on his cheekbone, setting it back into place which elicited another muffled sound of pain.
I moved systematically, quickly pushing his broken bones back into place, not stopping long enough for the pain to ebb. I ribbed apart a towel and fashioned a makeshift loose splint for his wrist that would do the job until the healers arrived. Once I was done, I cupped his cheek and once again discreetly let some of my healing energy flow into him, mouthing a silent prayer to the Goddess. His eyes were heavy from trying to handle the pain, but still alert. I set him down on the floor, propping his head up on my robes just as the healers arrived.
They chittered that I had done most of their work for them already, which stoked the flame of pride in my chest. It felt so foreign given the situation although I couldn't help it. I continued to hold Marcus' cheek as they worked quickly and efficiently to handle the smaller bones that I had not yet mastered. I heard a growl across the room from my mate, which made anger flare within me.
"Do you have a problem Mikael? Because that problem shouldn't be with me caring for my people that your warriors brutalized when I strictly said to not touch them. Or perhaps it's because you reassured me that my civilians were unharmed, and my warriors were delivered the least amount of damage possible?"
A chuckle drew my attention, making me stand and turn to look at the source. The mastermind behind this entire invasion, the man who I gladly would've killed in the temple hours ago. He smiled and gestured to the men being treated behind me.
"What is your relationship to that one, little princess?"