Page 58 of Dark Captivation

Sunny.

Leaving the dying demi-god behind, I raced through the trees and back towards the cars. Every inch of my battered body screamed out to me, begging for rest and a chance to heal.

I’d lost a lot of blood and had sustained multiple wounds, fractures and strained muscles. Still, my body moved on autopilot, fighting the forest to get to the car.

I didn’t know what was happening or who dared attack the school and endanger my bride and sister. As Lucile and Sam’s faces peeked out from behind the trees up ahead, I only knew one thing to be true.

Today’s battle had only just begun. Tonight, my fury would see my enemy’s blood rain down on Demon City like a hurricane. After today, no one would ever dare question the lengths I would go to protect what was mine.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

MALEK

Ihit the gas. My jeep’s right-side tires came off of the road as I took a sharp turn. Traveling at breakneck speed, I watched the vast northern territory roll by. Even if I could fly there, it would still take at least another twenty minutes to get to the center.

I still hadn’t gotten the full picture from Sam. We’d been too busy mapping out the best route to the center for Sam to explain exactly what was going on. All I knew was that Sunny needed me and I had to get to her as soon as possible.

“Take the next left, Your Grace. The Quester app says it’ll shave ten minutes off the drive,” Sam said from the passenger seat while tapping his phone.

I took the left and it led us down a lonely and dilapidated road. I glanced in the rearview mirror, seeing Logan, Lucile and Paul sitting in the back. They look like they’d been chewed up and spat out by a rabid dog.

“I see your fights went well,” I mouthed, not hiding my disappointment.

“My King, we had two of them on the ropes. They were cornered and badly wounded. If we only had a few more minutes, we could have finished them off-” Lucile persisted, shame high in her voice.

“Lucile, you don’t need to apologize. None of you do.” I changed gears, and we drifted down a steep hill. “If I’m being honest, I fucked up in every sense of the word. I let my mark toy with me, nearly killing me in the process. I underestimated them and it won’t happen again. But what’s important now is getting to Lady Sunny and Princess Ferina. Now Sam, tell me again exactly what happened.”

“The driver and security team we sent with the princess and Sunny went offline soon after they arrived at the school. I think it was because they were attacked. I tried calling the center administrator, Lady Sunny and the princess. I even tried calling the special forces. But no one would answer. I soon realized the entire city’s telecommunications network went down a few minutes after the security team stopped responding,” Sam said in a hurry.

“They must have known I was supposed to be there. I rarely make public appearances. The attack must have been meant for me. Probably some disgruntled thraxies stirring up trouble again,” I hissed, fisting the dashboard.

“No, my King. This is the most sophisticated attack we’ve seen since the ‘Hightower Incident’. Whoever did this has resources and access to intel no civilian should,” Sam argued.

My gaze narrowed as the trees dwindled, giving way to a suburban neighborhood. I considered what Sam said and it chilled me. It couldn’t be who I thought it was. He’d been in hiding for years, knowing too well what I’d do to him if I ever found him. Why would he choose to resurface now?

“Everyone, prepare yourselves for battle. We’re all still pretty banged up but we haven’t got any better options.” I instructed and my team nodded in eager agreement.

“We could be walking into an ambush so keep your eyes peeled,” I overtook a slow-moving SUV and took a sharp turn ignoring a red light.

A few minutes later, I pulled down the winding community center driveway. I expected to see something unusual. Maybe a concerned parent or two who’d tried texting their child and didn’t get through. But the lawn in front of the center was empty, there was no calm or sign of alarm.

I’d almost thought it a false alarm when Lucile lurched over and pointed at the front door. They’d been blown clean off their hinges and my guards lay splayed out next to them.

“Dammit,” I griped, stomping the brake close to the building.

“Everyone out of the car. We have to hurry,” I ordered, fresh panic biting into me as thoughts of Sunny twisted in my head. Had she been injured, killed? If anyone laid a hand on her, there would be no act of revenge too cruel for the perpetrator to suffer.

I barged into the building with my men trailing close behind me. My nose had never led me astray and with the building as quiet as it was, I would have to sniff them out.

“Follow me.” I nudged my shoulder forward and bounded down the first-floor hallway.

In my current state, shifting to my full beast form would be impossible. All I could do was hope that my strength in normal form would be enough.

I couldn’t hear anyone. The center was supposed to be full today. This was a very bad sign. We checked the administrative office and several rooms on the first floor, all empty as a ghost town.

Flying up the staircase to the second floor, my nose was hit by an assortment of smells. Tears, smoke and a hint of blood.

Closed doors dotted the path all the way along the second hallway floor.

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