Shadow Queen by Cyndi Goodgame

knew they were not Cas’.  Cas was in front of me.
                  Kissa .  He’s not dead .  Cord is alive .  Turn you heard . 
                  I turned my head into the hands that held my face.  Cord’s blue as the ocean eyes pleaded matching the voice.  It wasn’t in my head.  “Let go, Anastacia.  He’s not worth it. We need him alive.”
                  We do?
                  Like that, I fell back into Cord's arms and watched the man I nearly choked to death crumble forward.  He didn’t get back up. Did I kill him?
                  Scrambling out of Cord’s arms, I dropped to my knees and to Borgon.  I felt his mouth, watched his chest from the side where he crumbled.  Hot air hit my fingers.  Then again. He was alive.
                  I turned to the Were who lie there dead still in animal form.  I thought they changed back when they died.
                  They do . 
                  I turned my head to Cas like it was a conversation.  “Then why is he not?  Who is it, Cord?”
                  Cas’ pulled me up and wrapped his arms around me.  My head against his chest, I watched Cord rub his hand across the top of the Weres head like you’d pet a dog, but never actually touch.  Like some kind of magic, the beast transformed into the body of a man.  Naked and dirty, I knew who it was. 
                  “I’m so sorry, Cord.  It’s Jarod.  The guy from the porch.  Your second.  I’m so sorry.”
                  Cord’s eyes were sad, but they weren’t what I’d term as hidden in remorse.  He glanced up at Cas’ who let me go only to hand me off to Cord.  I felt like a girl but I felt like I’d caused it.  Jarod’s death happened because of me.  I looked around the cabin knowing I should have done this already.  Nara was still lying there.  Elves were dead everywhere, but I saw a few others lying still whom I knew to not be Elves.  They were all dead to save me.
                  “They are all dying because of me.”
                  Cord pulled me close, closer than he’d ever been to me.  “No, they are not.  We will protect you, Stace.  But it’s not all about you.”
                  If that didn’t wake me from the blubbering, his next statement would. 
                  “They fight because it’s the right thing to do.  They are destroying everything around our lives and we stand behind you because you’re strong and have no fear.”
                  I cocked my head, “What do you call this then?”
                  “Admiring.  Caring.  Loyalty.  You don’t see us as just pawns.”  His hands were gripping my hips too tight.  “I don’t know what to say to your strangling the man because you thought he killed me.  I didn’t think you cared quite that much.”
                  I took a step back searching for Cas.  I needed him near.  He stepped up like he was answering the request.  His hands didn’t touch me, just his shoulder.  The tip of his boot caught in my peripheral.
                  “I care.” 
                  Cord's icy blue irises turned down to me.  His hands fisted open and closed.  “I know that...now.  I’m sorry if I didn’t before.  You just never—
                  “How dare you accuse me of not caring, Cord Ryan.  I never gave any indication of anything else.” 
                  Yelling pointedly and leaning over, “And you never once said any of us were worth saving other than your precious Thorn here.”
                  “How dare you—
                  “You said that already, Princess.  Try expanding your vocabulary.”  He was all the way in my face now. 
                  Hands gripped my shoulders and led