Moon Rise (Twilight Shifters Book 2) Read Online Free

the castle.  She had to keep calm, she reminded herself.  But all of the ramifications - if the spy revealed where they were off to, if the spy reached the bush before they did, if the people she knew were trapped as werewolves for the rest of their lives - ran through her mind.
    She hurried over to Lars's things.  He barked at her when she touched something he wanted and growled when she packed something he didn't. Finally, she slipped on her chainmail, strapped her breastplate in place, and grabbed her metal helmet.  She bent down to lift both of their bags and almost collapsed beneath the weight.  She took a deep gulp of air.  She hated that her body didn't respond the way it used to.  She hated that she was weak.  She called out to a page walking by the door.
    "You!  Take these things down to the stable and have horses prepared for me," she commanded.
    The page took one look at the packs and dashed outside the door to find help.  She cursed how they were making this escape.  It was supposed to have been done with delicacy and stealth, but now they were madly running around.  A hasty departure right after the disappearance of a spy?  Who would not leap upon such a juicy bit of gossip to discuss in the city's taverns?  But there was no helping it.  There was a spy.  He was on his way to report to Lord Arnkell.  And they needed to leave now.
    She strode towards Queen Gisla's private chamber, Lars at her heels.  The guards opened the doors as soon as they saw her coming.  Again, Aein found herself cursing, knowing that they must have been instructed to give her such ease of entry.
    She had never been in the queen’s bedroom before.  The walls were white plaster, painted with pink and indigo vines.  The room was round with alcoves for the canopy bed, prayer room, and fireplace. 
    But Aein almost ran into Queen Gisla as she entered the room.  Finn was at the far end and the she-wolf was blocking him from leaving.  He welcomed Aein with a look of frustrated relief.
    "Your majesty," said Aein, falling to one knee before rising, even though the wolf did not acknowledge her.  "We must be off or your life may be forfeit."
    Queen Gisla snapped, her fangs flashing at Aein in anger. 
    Lars began to growl. 
    "No, you two," commanded Aein.  "We do not have time for this."
    But Queen Gisla and Lars began to circle one another, their hackles raised and teeth bared.
    "We must go!"  Aein pleaded.  "Know if there was any other way, we would take it."
    Queen Gisla and Lars leapt at one another, fur flying.
    "Gods curse it!" Aein swore.  She and Finn jumped in to pull the two dogs apart.  The air filled with snarling and snapping as Lars and Gisla tried to find a way to get around Finn and Aein.
    "Your majesty!" shouted Finn as he tried to grab her by the scruff of the neck.
    The queen lunged towards Lars and as she did, her mouth clamped down on Aein's chainmail.  Aein instinctively cried out a terrified scream, the memory of when Queen Gisla's jaws broke that bone just a few months ago.
    Immediately, the wolves stopped, shrinking back as if they had been struck.  Queen Gisla cowered, as if suddenly remembering that her teeth tore at Aein once before.  Her animalistic fury was replaced with the horrified memory, or perhaps realization, that she was human and this was the behavior of a wild creature.
    "I am unharmed," Aein reassured her, still gripping her forearm.  "I am unharmed..."
    Queen Gisla hung her head.  She tentatively crept to Aein, the embarrassment spoken in every movement.  She lifted her snout and touched Aein's fingers apologetically.  Aein rested her hand on Queen Gisla's head and gently stroked her fur, letting her know all was forgiven.
    "Finn is your most trusted advisor and you must trust him in this.  He swears there are others who are loyal to you and can take his place until he returns.  But every moment we have wasted here has put our lives... his life... in danger."  Queen