Page 21 of A Spark Of Revenge

“You can't climb?” he asks softly. I frown and shake my head, still pissed at him.

“Does it look like I climb mountains?” I ask in frustration, gesturing down to my body, which is much thicker than every other girl on this god-forsaken mountain. Valen's eyes move from my face and slowly drag down my body, making my cheeks heat as I suddenly wish I had never brought up my body.

I always liked how I looked. I know I’m not the perfect size and should lose some weight. I actually have. The pants I first came in are too big now, and I had to ask Jordan to help me get some new sweats for bed. But I like my curves and feel confident about them most days. It wasn't until I came here and saw all the freaking Amazonian women that I started to question my appearance.

“Stop it,” I mutter under my breath, whacking Valen on the arm again and making him laugh.

“You have anger issues,” he points out, pouting while rubbing at his arm. I instantly feel bad, and my anger and embarrassment lessen.

“Sorry. It's been a long twenty-four hours,” I admit, making Valen chuckle and nod in agreement.

“Yes, it has. Okay, then. What is the second best choice?” he asks, and I nod to the opposite side of the castle.

“Honestly… There are only three other doors, two on the front of the Castle, and the other on the far side. So unless you want to wait until dark and sneak over there, I would suggest going through a window,” I mutter, looking up at the thick glass-paneled windows that sit about ten feet off the ground. However, the castle has much larger grooves in the stone work that I should be able to climb, and ten feet is an easy and less deadly height to reach.

“Shattering the glass could raise unwanted attention,” Valen muses, looking at the windows.

“Yeah, it could, but that one there”—I point to the fourth window tucked almost completely against the mountain—“is in an alcove of the entryway, and as long as someone doesn't hear us breaking it, I highly doubt they’ll discover it broken until after we find Jordan and leave. No one ever uses the entryway, anyway. It's always dark and dusty,” I add, nodding, liking this new plan. Valen looks to the window, pondering my words before nodding as a thought strikes me.

“Wait… why not just magic your way into the castle like you did with the wall?” I mutter, tilting my head in confusion. Valen smirks and walks over to the castle, motioning for me to follow him as he pulls himself up toward the first window. When he gets there, he turns and looks down, waiting for me to climb up after him and extending his hand when I finally find a safe way up. There's a lip that winds around the castle foundation that is about three inches wide; not wide enough to walk on, but just enough to perch our toes on while holding onto the window ledge for balance.

“Look,” he whispers, his hand wrapping around mine as he pulls me up next to him, then places our fingers on the window ledge where tiny runes are carved into the stone walls. Green sparks glimmer to life under our hands, making me shiver as his magic courses over my skin. A slight sting follows, making me gasp in shock and tear my hand away from the stone. It hadn’t hurt, not really. It surprised me more than anything.

Valen chuckles again, his hand dropping from the ledge before winding his arm around my waist as I lean back a little, staring at the castle with wide eyes, finding hundreds of tiny runes carved into the stone. “It’s warded, Mi Sol. Only physical strength can breach the walls, doors, and windows,” Valen murmurs, and I nod, reaching out to trace a symbol I had seen on Jordan’s kalis. “And even then, you need to be able to read where it is most vulnerable, since several exits are magically enhanced with protective spells.”

“How did I not see these before?”

“They are carved on the exterior of all the Umbra Hunter Strongholds and are designed to blend into the stone to avoid detection. Unless you were studying the stone of the castle up close, you would never know of their existence,” Valen explains, his hand tightening on my waist for a moment, making sure I’ve got a good grip on the wall before he starts to sidestep, peering into the windows that we pass, ensuring no one is there who might see us before waving me to follow.

“This one,” I confirm, whispering even more as the courtyard becomes far too quiet. “We should have grabbed a rock to—” I cut off my rambling as Valen presses his fingertips to the window and applies enough pressure that a small crack forms under his hand. “Right. I forget that you all are crazy strong,” I grumble, rolling my eyes when Valen shoots me a smug smirk, then presses a little harder, breaking the window slowly to not draw too much attention. Ten seconds later, the rest of the window lets out an ominous crack before the glass shatters inward, making me cringe and peer inside to ensure no one hears.

Valen grabs the small glass shards still clinging to the window frame, snapping them off like twigs and tossing them to the ground before he puts a finger to his lips and holds a hand up, telling me to wait here as he jumps through the window. I bite my bottom lip as I wait, casting a look over my shoulder, the sound of voices drawing closer, making my eyes widen in fear.

“Shit,” I whisper, sliding closer to the window to peer in and warn Valen just as his white-blond hair pops back out the window, his smile wide as he grabs my wrist and pulls me in, making me squeak in surprise. “Jesus! Valen, a little warning next time,” I grumble as I try to regain my footing, letting Valen support me as I glare up at him. His large hands move to my hips as he keeps me steady, my back pressed against the cool stone of the castle wall.

“Three Rangers were coming around the corner,” he explains, voice low and rough as I peer up into his eyes. I hold my breath when I see how close he is to me, our bodies practically glued together, his warm hands holding me even though I have regained my footing.

“Right,” I whisper, then clear my throat when I hear how breathy I sound. I push at his hands, needing a little space to cool my freaking libido and remind myself there is a time and a place for getting turned on, and it's not while breaking into a castle full of Demons. “Let's find Jordan,” I mutter, peering around Valen into the entryway before doing a shocked double take at what I see. “What the hell?” I whisper as I take in the large, pristine entrance.

The enormous wooden chandeliers were dusted and have several white candles lit, flickering in the soft morning light and giving the room a gold hue. The floors, which were dusty and bare before, are now shining with navy blue and burgundy rugs adorning their surface. Large mahogany tables line the entry, each with hurricane lamps and candelabras glittering with golden light, softening the castle and giving it an almost magical glow.

“What? When?” I stutter, shaking my head just as the heavy wooden doors swing open, their hinges no longer creaking at the lack of use. Valen hooks an arm around me, pulling me back into the alcove while murmuring a few words under his breath. A burst of Valen’s magic erupts around us as Lennox strides into the castle, bloody ax resting on his shoulder, with Umbra Monroe at his side.

“Shhh. They can’t see or hear us, but let's not press our luck,” Valen murmurs into my ear, and I nod, watching Lennox frown at whatever Monroe says to him. I shouldn't be surprised that Lennox strides freaking half-naked through the halls like he owns the damn place. Damn man has way too much confidence for his own good. Creed follows after a moment, talking to a few Regalis Rangers, and I see one of them is hurt and leaning on Creed's shoulder for support. My heart thumps painfully in my chest as I watch him whisper to the other Ranger to help his friend up to the med-wing of the castle.

Finally, Razar prowls through the doors, his blood-slick paws leaving prints on the freshly cleaned floors. I feel Valen tense as everyone moves past the tiny alcove we are hiding in, his arm banding tight around me like he’s bracing for an attack, but Lennox, Creed, and the others pass without a single glance in our direction. Just when I think everything will be okay, Razar pauses, his jagged black fur looking almost like thin porcupine needles this close and I slam my eyes shut when I hear the sharp intake of breath from his beast.

Valen’s fingers tighten almost painfully on my waist, and I hold my breath as Razar’s heavy steps slowly draw near. Shit, shit, shit! This isn't good. Cold sweat clings to my brow, and I shiver in Valen's hold, praying to whatever God who will listen that Razar will leave and not discover us.

“Razar!” Lennox clips out from where he stands on the main staircase. A growl vibrates from Razar, who stands only feet from us, his black soulless eyes narrowing a little as he inhales once more, then draws back, his monstrous face twisting into something I can't pinpoint. Oh, we are about to die! I cling to Valen, heart racing as stars burst in my vision from lack of oxygen, and then Razar sneezes! It's loud and makes me startle in Valen’s hold as the Beastia steps back and shakes his head like the sneeze hurt.

Valen chuckles in my ear, and I shoot him a disbelieving look as Nox shouts for Razar again, gaining the monster's attention enough that he turns and stalks toward his brothers.

“That man is terrifying,” Valen grumbles, glaring after Razar while I simply stare up at him in shock. After a moment, I shake my head and look back to the stairs, finding them empty. “Okay,” Valen whispers, not letting me go as he leans around the small wall of the alcove to make sure the coast is clear. “Where is your friend?”

TEN

Valen

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