A Winter Fox

Contents LOOK FOR THESE TITLES BY J. C. OWENSA WINTER FOXCopyright WarningCHAPTER ONECHAPTER TWOCHAPTER THREECHAPTER FOURCHAPTER FIVECHAPTER SIXCHAPTER SEVENCHAPTER EIGHTCHAPTER NINECHAPTER TENCHAPTER ELEVENCHAPTER TWELVECHAPTER THIRTEENCHAPTER FOURTEENCHAPTER FIFTEENCHAPTER SIXTEENCHAPTER SEVENTEENCHAPTER EIGHTEENCHAPTER NINETEENCHAPTER TWENTYCHAPTER TWENTY-ONECHAPTER TWENTY-TWOCHAPTER TWENTY-THREECHAPTER TWENTY-FOUREPILOGUEABOUT THE AUTHORMORE GAY ROMANCE LOOK FOR THESE TITLES BY J. C. OWENSNow Available AtoneThe Emperor’s WolfThe Ice PrinceDragon ForgeBetrayalThe FallingSoulseekerThe ChosenWishesFarfallDeepwaterA Winter FoxThe Siren’s Call Series Siren’s Call (Book One)King’s Bane (Book Two)The Gaven Series Gaven (Book One)Gaven: The Bonding (Book Two)Draconian Measures (Book Three)Parting Truth (Book Four)The Anrodnes Chronicles Dark Rain (Book One)Night of Rain (Book Two)Drums in the Rain (Book Three)Rainfall (Book Four)The Taken Series Taken (Book One)Out of the Darkness (Book Two)The Wings Series Wings (Book One)Wings 2: Dominion of the Eth (Book Two)The Tarsus Series Tarsus (Book One)Fire and Ice (Book Two) The Poplar Ridge Ranch SeriesAway in a Manger (Book One)Stormborn A WINTER FOXJ. C. OWENS Copyright WarningEBooks are not transferable. They cannot be sold, shared, or given away. The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is a crime punishable by law. No part of this book may be scanned, uploaded to or downloaded from file sharing sites, or distributed in any other way via the Internet or any other means, electronic or print, without the publisher’s permission. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000 (http://www.fbi.gov/ipr/).This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents are fictitious or have been used fictitiously, and are not to be construed as real in any way. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locales, or organizations is entirely coincidental.Published ByWolf Hill PublishingA WINTER FOXCopyright © 2023 by J. C. OwensISBN: 978-1-949719-93-2All Rights Are Reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.First Wolf Hill electronic publication: May 2023 CHAPTER ONE General Albion Rasendin glanced up wearily as he heard the sound of swift hooves and beheld a scout galloping into the outskirts of their camp.He forced himself to his feet, seeking the reason for the haste, his heart sinking. This couldn’t, in any way, be good news. They’d been in a forced march since their last diversionary skirmish had failed to throw the Tarlantin army off their trail.Moments later, Captain Harnly strode towards him after speaking with the scout, his expression grim. No good news, then. As if good news even existed in these times.“Prince Treynar found us. His army is right on our heels. Ten miles, no more.”Already the news was out, men hastily packing up what they could before they would flee. As they had so often.Albion felt cold settle into his bones, into his thoughts. This was enough. It had been enough for a year or more.It was time for the war to end, the bloodshed to cease. He knew what had to be done.Captain Harnly must have seen something in his expression because he was shaking his head before Albion could even voice what he planned.“General… No. You will not. Please…” There was almost panic in his eyes. He took a step closer, a more personal plea in his body language.Albion put up a hand, his movement only a slow mimicry of his old grace. “I want you to take the men west. Cross the mountains into Zebatere.”Harnly’s eyes went wide. “They have no love for strangers, my lord. They’ll never allow an armed force of men across their borders.”“Then give up your weapons if you must. Our men have fought long and hard enough.” He managed a tired smile. “But there is more hope than you know. Zebatere might take you in for my sake. We share bloodlines from the past. Or there are towns far to the south of here just within our borders, too far for Tarlantin to bother with. Those towns could use the protection and will welcome you, no doubt. Start a new life. Don’t come back. Not for anything. Not for me.”Harnly stood rigid, tears rising in his eyes, protest in every inch of him. But he had been at Albion’s side for eleven years, long before the war. He well knew the futility of urging his commander to saner measures. They were both too versed in reality, in the knowledge that fate held no surety, no mercy. They had seen too many die, watched their country fall beneath the blades of the invaders. Their king was dead, and Albion’s own sword—and soul—was stained with that blood. A kinslayer and a king killer. Yet, it was nothing he could or would regret.Ever since their king’s death, Albion and his war-ravaged army had been on the run until they were nothing but ragged, grim shadows of themselves.“Let me stay with you.” The tears were in Harnly’s voice now, a choked rasp that made Albion’s own emotions rise. “I will face our enemies at your side.”The men nearby had come closer, sensitive as always to their leaders’ actions. There were rising mutters of protest as they began to realize what their commander planned to do.Albion looked out over their pathetic numbers. So many familiar faces missing, lost along the way. His gaze returned to Captain Harnly.“No, my friend. Not this time. I need you to take them to safety and see this ended. You are needed.”“You are needed. You’ve always been needed. You’re the only reason we yet stand—”“I’m the reason we still battle instead of finding peace elsewhere.” Albion’s voice held no expression. The truth was the truth. It should have come to this long ago. “My name is cursed. Their bloodlust is for the Winter Fox. When I’m gone, they’ll let our people be.”Albion had held out, unable to believe that his country, his beloved Vasnaq, could fall. That their kingdom would tear itself apart before any enemy even set foot