Page 130 of Oath of Revenge

The man jumped back, but she started screaming. “You’re dead! You’re dead! You left me and died. Ten hellish years of running that godforsaken tavern by myself because you left.”

Another bookcase slammed down, barely missing him. He stumbled on the step to the circular staircase, his eyes wide and glowing.

“Trix? You—you’re here?”

“Oh gods,” she cried, tears burning down her cheeks yet again. His voice was like a stab through the heart. How many times had she thought she’d heard it in her dreams? How many times had she asked herself, “What would Da do in this situation?“ Only to be reminded that she was so utterly alone.

A book flew at his head, and she fisted her hands as she tried to control the magic. He dodged it and stepped over the scattering of papers and books toward her.

Her heart raced as she panicked. No, she couldn’t use magic on the books. The words would get mixed up, and all that knowledge would be lost forever. Just like Da was.

Her hands flew up, magic flaring out as she struggled to contain it. She cried out, staring at him and the destruction swirling around her favorite room. She had to leave. It was the only way to protect the books. And her father.

She turned on her heel and fled back into the hallway and up the stairs.

Chapter 42

Wulfric lunged to the door, yelling, “No, wait!”

She was here! His precious daughter was alive and here and—and dead.

He howled in anguish, but the hair on the back of his neck pricked in warning. He turned to see the two stuffed lynx’s on either side of the stairs begin to prowl toward him. Their eyes didn’t blink, taxidermied but magically animated as they were.

He tried to ignore them, turning back to the door to chase after her. One cat jumped forward to block the door, and the other flanked his back. His hands shifted into claws, and he barreled into the one in the doorway. Swiping left and right, he felt the lynx’s own claws dig into his forearms as it lunged for his neck.

The lynx behind him jumped on his back, knocking him to the side. The first one bit his shoulder instead, but the teeth stabbed deep into his flesh, and he howled in anger.

His claws became razor sharp, mercilessly tearing into the creature in front of him. With a single arm, he lifted the flailing beast and tossed it aside. He tried desperately to dislodge the one clinging to his shoulder. Reaching behind with his other arm, he snatched the second one by its neck and held both up high. They clawed and scratched at his arms, but he paid them no mind as he made his way through the hallway, searching for his beloved Trix. His stomach churned at the sight that greeted him instead.

Where mounted animal heads had formerly lined the walls, they now rattled against the wallpaper as they tried to pull away. A few had already made it to the ground where they waddled on their marble base toward him. Teeth flashed and snarls clearly showed their intent to attack him. But there was utter silence coming from their eerily open mouths. Their movements were jerky and uncoordinated, a result of being separated from their bodies and attached to these macabre displays. No legs or bodies, just mounted heads, except the seven foot tall bear that now lumbered awkwardly down the hallway.

Wulfric cursed, and the lynx in his hands redoubled their efforts. One particular swipe of the claw drew enough blood to sting, and he hissed as he threw it at the bear.

Shifting for the second time that day, he tore the one remaining lynx in half. It snarled and tried to crawl toward him on two legs. The creepy little fucker didn’t know when to quit.

The bear fought with the other lynx as it dug its claws in, trying to get off the enormous beast. A flash of light across the hall showed an office, dusty and decaying. With a quick glance at the bear, he knocked the closest of the mounted animal heads into the office. He shifted back, grabbing the two halves of the lynx and throwing them into the office too. He turned back to face the rest of the animated animals.

The other lynx launched off the bear and tackled him mid-air. Claws dug into his softer human flesh, and he roared as pain blinded him. His face stung and he felt the warm wet of blood pour down his cheek as he shifted and tore at the last lynx. Pain pulsed from his head, his shoulder, his torso, but he was relentless. He had to survive and find his daughter and his mate.

Finally, he tossed the shredded, limp lynx into the office with the others. They were crawling closer to the door, so he slammed it shut behind him and turned to face the bear.

It kicked a deer head as it stepped closer, and the antlers embedded in the wall. The glassy eyes were unblinking, and Wulfric waited in front of the door, swaying from blood loss.

“Come on, you hairy fucker,” he muttered.

The dead beast lurched the last few steps and lifted a paw to swipe. Behind him, he turned the knob on the door and rushed around the bear. He hooked his leg around the ankle of the bear and pushed hard in the back. It stumbled through the door, and he shoved again, sending it sprawling over the animal pieces. Then he slammed the door once more.

A pair of metal knights bracketed the door, and he took the lance from one, slipping it through the door handle. The animals hit the door, but at least he didn’t have to deal with screaming and roaring.

He sank against the door and wiped his brow, the sting of blood in his eyes burning as he blinked and turned to a noise down the hall.

Scarlet stumbled out of a door halfway down, her face contorted in pain and shock. When she saw him, she gasped and limped forward, her eyes roving over his face with clear worry. He raced to her, his legs shaky as he gathered her into the safety of his embrace. His entire body melted to feel her safe and sound in his arms. Not even the banging behind the library door made him tense because he knew—together—they could face anything.

“I never should’ve left you to put the horses up. Gods, love, are you alright?” His voice was choked with emotion, and he tightened his arms around her.

She ran her hands over his neck and upper back. “I thought... I feared...” she whispered, her voice breaking.

He pulled back and cupped her face, his thumb brushing away a smear of dirt mixed with blood on her cheek. “I know. Me too.”

---