Page 63 of A Spark Of Revenge

“They’re not attacking…” I breathe out through panting breaths, watching as the monsters below stand eerily still, their soulless eyes black and unblinking. Venom drips from their open maws, the thick black liquid dripping on the dirty snow under massive taloned paws.

“They’re being controlled,” Razar hisses, eyes flashing black as his anger crawls to the surface, showing the beast that lies within. “Stay next to me,” Razar mutters, and I nod, having no plans to move from this spot until told otherwise. I’m too busy gaping at the amount of Beastia in front of me to notice Valen until his arm hooks around my waist, and he tucks me into his side, his angry pale green eyes on Razar.

“Why is she out here?” he grinds out, looking down at me for a moment, his stern expression softening before glaring back at Razar. I step out of Valen's hold and move closer to the high edge of the wall, leaning on it with my hands and going up on my toes to get a better look at the monsters below.

“Because I’m an Umbra Hunter, and this is technically my job,” I tell Valen with a small smile, making his scowl deepen as he shakes his head.

“No, you're a Dream Walker, and I don't want you near these beasts. They are incredibly dangerous, Mi Sol,” he rasps. He reaches out his hand and twines his fingers with mine as he steps to my side. I look up at him, his white-blond hair ruffling in the winter breeze as he frowns at the terrifying scene below.

“She’s a Hunter as well, Valen. Her blood wouldn't have popped Regalis without having at least something in there,” Nox grumbles, stepping up next to Valen, his green eyes falling on our clasped hands for a moment, lips pursing before he nods at Razar.

“Aren't all Hunters basically Demons if you lot created us?” I ask, trying to distract myself from the dread pooling in my belly. Razar scoffs, and Nox shakes his head.

“No. Just because Hunters were created with our blood and magic doesn't mean they are Demons. They were human, but we made them more. Now, they are their own race who were supposed to protect this side of the Veil. Mortal, like a human, but with an extended life expectancy and abilities. The stronger their connection to the magic we infused to their DNA, the stronger the Hunter,” Nox explains, grumpy expression firmly in place as he looks over the courtyard of Hunters and Rangers. There are more here than the previous attack on the castle. Like, a lot more! Where did all these people come from?

The sound of someone running up the stairs behind us finally has me tearing my gaze from the army of mindless Beastia. I find Creed sprinting toward us, taking the steps two at a time until he reaches the top.

“Report,” Nox clips as Creed nods at Razar and Valen, then walks over and presses a kiss to my forehead, shocking me enough that I forget to pull away from him.

“They are surrounding the entire wall. I just sent Senior Rossi and five Units to the look-out to ensure they're not closing in above us as well,” Creed mutters, grabbing a bundle of rolled-up leather he’s tucked under his arm as he pushes Razar out of his way. “Arms up, Lemon Drop,” he instructs, gesturing for me to lift my arms above my head.

I do as I’m told, curious about what he’s doing, as he slides the leather over my head and pulls it down over my chest. Creed’s big fingers slowly lace up the strings of the fighting leathers he’s just put on me, but they aren’t like any armor I have seen since coming here.

“What is this?” I ask, dusting my fingers over the small scale-like fabric Creed just slipped over my head. It covers the majority of my chest, stopping at the knife belt Razar clipped around my lower waist.

“Dragon scales. They are one of the only things the Beastia needles can’t pierce,” Creed mutters as he keeps tying me into the fabric that practically covers my body. It’s form-fitting and protects all my major organs, even going up and over my shoulders, riding high on my neck.

“Dragons are real!?” I whisper shout at him, a giddiness rushing through me at the thought. “That's awesome.”

“They are awesome,” Valen murmurs with a chuckle as he watches Creed and me. He has the same black clothes he had on when I woke him in the church, and there is a darkness lingering in his eyes that sends shivers down my spine. “And incredibly dangerous,” he adds, making me roll my eyes in response. It seems that Valen thinks everything is dangerous.

Nox leans in, his fingers moving to the back of my neck and pressing against the fabric right under my hairline. He grunts in approval as he looks down at me, dark eyes emotionless and cold like they used to be before I found out who he was. An armor of his own, I suppose?

“I like that it covers the back of my neck,” I admit, tearing my eyes from Nox, shivering a little when I remember the last Beastia attack that Nox and I went through together, and Creed nods.

“Nox made sure I added it after his dream,” he admits as he pulls the strings tight, then moves on to the smaller pieces that he straps to my forearms and shins. My eyes fly back to Nox in surprise, but he’s no longer looking at me. “There! Snug as a bug in a rug,” Creed says with a smile, acting like it's no big deal that he just suited me up for battle with an army of deadly poisonous monsters.

“A bug in a rug?” Valen questions, and I grin up at him as Creed chuckles.

“It's a human thing,” he tells his brother, who arches an unimpressed brow.

“What are they waiting for?” I mutter as I look back at the still army before us.

“Their command to attack,” Nox mutters, his thick black cloak hanging heavy around his shoulders, covered in freshly fallen snow as he stands tall on the rampart. He glances over at a Hunter about fifty yards away and nods. Seconds later, the massive braziers lining the walls of the castle ignite, the flames shooting toward the snow-darkened skies, adding extra light to the dark, cloud-covered day.

“Whoever is controlling them must be strong. I’ve never seen them so… quiet,” Razar growls, then freezes and nods to the far line of pine trees so far back I can't see much. “There,” he rasps, and Lennox leans forward, one hand resting on the stone wall, the other bringing his enormous ax up to his shoulder where he rests it. I blink at the massive weapon in surprise, not having realized Nox had it this whole time.

“Wraiths,” Nox growls under his breath as Creed curses, leaning so far over the castle wall to look at whatever Razar has pointed out that I’m worried he's going to fall over. My hand immediately latches onto the black leather of his belt, and I yank him back, letting him go when he turns and gives me a surprised smile in return.

“Six?” Razar mutters, his voice unsure. Nox shakes his head as Valen casts a calm look around the castle, not looking even the slightest bit worried about whatever these Wraiths are.

“Nine in the trees, along with a few Therion; but they are holding back, probably to be sent in as a distraction,” Creed murmurs, his eyes flicking from one side of the clearing to the other as his shoulders tense. “Valen?” he asks as Valen nods.

“Nine Wraiths. Fifty-seven Beastia and a dozen Therion. But there is a presence I can’t quite figure out. It's lingering on the south boundary, several miles out,” he mutters, and Nox frowns.

“Elaine has recalled the rest of the North American Units. Could it be a Hunter with cloaking abilities?” he asks his brother as he turns and steps to the other side of the eight-foot-wide wall and nods down at a waiting Monroe. The red-headed giant curses and then starts shouting orders, making the Regalis Rangers scatter in different directions.

“It's a possibility. Though the magic seems too strong for that of a Hunter,” Valen says, twisting his lips to the side as he tries to figure out what he’s sensing.

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