Page 23 of A Spark Of Revenge

“As you have said a million times before, Credence. Now stop your bitching, and let's see if we can figure out where the hell Razar went,” a deep voice responds in irritation, making the other man huff in annoyance.

Cloaking myself even more, I pull on my magic, using an excessive amount as I turn and run further down the corridors. The distance I put between myself and Meyer is almost painful, but when I hear a curse and a sharp inhale of breath behind me, I grin.

“You feel that?” the deep voice asks.

“What the hell?” the softer one questions, just as footsteps thunder after me, their voices raising as I turn right, then left.

“Stop!” the deeper voice roars, and I chuckle, feeling the command run over my skin like oil on water. My step falters, and instead of fighting the impulse, I do as I’m told, molding myself into the corner of a darkened hallway and wait, nervous anticipation building as two sets of footsteps rush toward me.

I let the bigger of the two men rush past me then dart out, striking the smaller one in the side the moment he comes into view. He curses as I stick my foot out, catching his ankle and sending him careening forward into the other man's back with a shocked shout. I twist out of view as the other man turns, catching the one falling with a growl of annoyance, his dark eyes flaring as black magic sparks at his now taloned fingertips.

I smirk, shaking my head in disapproval. He has control issues and needs to sort that out, or he’ll never win in a fight against someone with more magic than him. Tossing a burst of magic down a connecting hall, I almost laugh as the Prince snarls and twists after it, but it surprises me when the smaller man doesn't follow. Instead, he turns, eyes narrowing as his hand falls on the hilt of a rather impressive kalis blade strapped to his side. I really want to stay and play our game a little longer, but I only have twenty seconds left to get back to Meyer. I refuse to be late. So I lash out, hitting the man in the chest with a burst of magic, making him grunt in surprise, but it’s me who is taken aback when his fingers light with blue sparks, sending his own burst of magic at my shoulder. It strikes me and sends pain radiating down my right side.

My magic shifts with his spell, something I hadn't realized he was strong enough to cast, pulling my shield down.

“Fuck,” I snarl, jumping forward and kicking the man's ankles out from underneath him as his green eyes widen in shock and surprise.

“You!” he shouts, mouth agape as I smirk down at him. I want to stay, but I have ten seconds to get back, and it will take me eight if I sprint there—no time for pleasantries. Winking, I toss him a wave, then turn and run, casting a shield of magic that should hold him back long enough for me to retrieve Meyer and her friend and make it to the main levels of the castle.

“Valen!” the man shouts before a long string of Demonic curses leaves his lips. The frustration and shock are evident in his tone, making me wince a little as I turn and skid to a stop outside the holding cell Meyer is hiding in.

“Mi Sol?” I whisper, rushing in, then pulling up to a stop, my heart stopping cold in my chest as I take in the mess of blankets on the empty bed in front of me. “No, no, no, no!” I whisper, lurching forward as a cold sweat breaks over my body. Fisting the blankets, I yank them back like Mi Sol will somehow be under them, even though I know she’s not. Panic and anger war within me, and I grit my teeth together as my hands shake.

The soft crinkle of paper has my eyes snapping to the side, eyes widening as I see a small note fall from the blankets I clutch desperately in my hands. Releasing the fabric, I snatch up the small note, then curse and shoot to my feet, my worry and anger replaced with frustration and annoyance at one man in particular. There’s no way he had the time, let alone a paper and pen to write that note while here, he had come with a pre-scripted message. That scary bastard knew that Meyer would be here.

“Very well. I’ll play your stupid little game. But you had better be prepared to accept the consequences,” I mutter out loud, even though I know the man I’m speaking to is long gone from here.

ELEVEN

Meyer

Ihold my breath, heart pounding so hard it rings in my ears as feet thunder past the holding cell I’m in, Lennox bellowing for Valen to stop as they go. The urge to jump out of this cold, hard bed is strong, and I have to fist my hands at my sides to keep from doing just that.

“Count to eighty-five,” I mutter to myself, knowing that it might help me from having a full-blown panic attack. I shiver as I start counting, straining my ears when I hear a few shouts from further down the hallway. When I get to twenty, my heart begins to calm, and I try to relax my fingers. As I reach forty-five, my breath hitches when I hear something scuffing the floor nearby. Holding my breath, I get to fifty, then release it when feather-light footsteps come into my cell, the brush of magic in the air calming my nerves instantly. Sighing in relief, I toss the blanket back and sit up, glad to be rid of the scratchy, thin fabric.

“That was only fifty seconds,” I point out to Valen, then frown when I realize Valen isn't in the cell with me. I look at the cracked cell door, far too narrow for someone to have come through, and stand up in confusion, staring around the empty cell. “What the hell?” I whisper, fear slowly creeping back in as the hairs on my neck stand up, as the feeling of eyes on me becomes impossible to ignore. Excitement blooms in my chest, and I clench my eyes shut as I slowly look into the cell's darkest corner. I brace myself, but nothing prepares me for the dark green eyes that lock with mine from beneath a thick black hood.

I gasp and take a step back as the tall, cloaked man moves forward, his steps graceful like he’s floating over the floor. “Razar,” I breathe, voice raspy as I stare at him. The burst of excitement melts as fear and a sense of something warm lights me up like a damn Christmas tree, setting my teeth on edge. I freaking hate how I respond to these men; just because I like them close doesn't give them the right to treat me the way they have.

I take another step back, bracing myself to run for Valen; hell, even Creed or Lennox would be better at this point. Razar must sense what I’m preparing to do because a dark smile graces his face as he slowly lifts his hands and pushes back the black hood, bringing his startlingly beautiful face into view. Our eyes clash, and heat builds, the surrounding air becomes almost stifling as Razar tsks under his breath. His dark eyes drink me in as he stalks forward, one hand clasping around my wrist before I realize he’s even moved.

“Ligare,” Razar whispers in a husky voice, magic sparking in the air before my wrists suddenly pull together, with what feels like an invisible rope binding them together.

“No!” I shout just as he suddenly bends, planting his shoulder into my stomach and heaving me up in the air, stealing my breath as he spins on his heel. Razar’s hand fastens on my thigh closest to his face as he strides out of the cell, keeping me pinned to his shoulder like a sack of potatoes, and begins to sprint in the opposite way his brothers had just run. “You fucking bastard!” I scream, kicking my legs and pounding on Razar's hard, muscled back as he runs. I scream in frustration when my efforts to break free do nothing. “Valen!” I shout, or rather, I try to. Razar’s shoulders dig into my stomach as he runs, making it hard to breathe or talk. A dark chuckle comes from the man holding onto me as he sprints up the winding stairs, taking them two at a time before bursting out of the crypts into the castle's entry and taking two Drakos Hunters by surprise.

“He can’t hear you,” Razar growls, shaking his head as he tightens his hold on me.

“Umbra Regalis?” one of the Hunters murmurs, his dark brow furrowing when he sees Razar. He dips his head respectfully, and then his eyes move to me in question as Razar ignores them, striding past without a single glance in their direction. The other Hunter quickly steps back, eyeing Razar wearily while keeping his mouth firmly shut.

“Help!” I rasp, pushing my bound hands to Razar's back as I look at the Hunters standing there, gawking at us. The one that had greeted Razar looks conflicted, and the other one shakes his head, refusing even to consider helping me.

“They help you; I kill them,” Razar snaps, raising his voice so that the Hunters can hear, making their faces pale as they turn and dash out of the castle. I snarl in frustration, trying to flip the hair that has fallen in my face out of my eyes as Razar moves to the second flight of stairs and runs up them as fast as the first. His shoulder digging into my stomach makes me grunt, and I wince when it makes my already sore muscles cry out in pain.

“You’re hurting me,” I snap, shifting to my left to relieve the pain on my right side as Razar moves through the castle halls, prowling past open-mouthed Rangers and Hunters without a care in the world. I keep my mouth shut, unwilling for their deaths to be on my hands. If I know one thing, it’s that Razar doesn't make idle threats. I’m pretty sure Razar would kill any of these Hunters just so I would feel awful about it.

In a matter of minutes, Razar is bursting through the door that leads outside to the Ranger barracks, the bright sun making me squint and curse under my breath. “Why are you fucking running?” I growl, confused about why he took me in the first place. Honestly, I figured the next time I came face to face with Razar, he would simply try to kill me for stabbing him. Not toss me over his shoulder and sprint through the castle like a madman. Razar ignores me, shouldering his way into the barracks, using the shoulder he conveniently threw me over and knocking my head on the door frame as he goes.

“Ow!” I grit out, my head throbbing in response as I glare at his back, trying hard to ignore the whispers of the few Rangers sitting in the cabin's common area. A quick glance around shows that only a handful of DeLuca and Drakos Rangers are there, and I huff in disappointment when I don't spot Billy or someone else who may be willing to help me. Razar continues his race up the stairs, bouncing me with more force than necessary, and I grind my teeth together, refusing to say anything else about how hurt my body is right now.

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