Page 16 of Of Flame and Fury

The creature is neither afraid nor appears to feel pain. It spits, fraught to form words with what remains of its face. “Nyte comes for the tigress. Nyte is here for her.”

“Nyte won’t have her,” Aric snarls. He slams his hands together, crushing the head like a rotting and smelly watermelon.

Aric tosses the head over his shoulder. “Let’s go,” he says. “Braeden, make the call.”

Braeden shakes his head. “The phones aren’t working, Aric. We already tried.”

Aric’s movements walk a fine line between human and animal. He reaches Celia and takes her from my arms. She remains in shock, barely registering more than her baby as she cradles her stomach.

Tye drills forward and blocks their way, earning a deafening growl from everywerewith Aric. Tye ignores them, holding his ground despite the large strips of flesh missing from limbs and side.

“Where are you going?” Tye demands. “Didn’t you hear me? Destiny says to stay in the house.”

“I heard you,” Aric bites out. “But where is Destiny? She should be here with Celia like she promised.”

Tye balls his fists. “Aric, Celia and this prophecy surrounding your children mean everything to Destiny. If she could be here, she would.”

“Then where is she, Tye?” Aric counters.

“I don’t know,” Tye shouts. “I…I can’t feel her anywhere.”

It’s a big deal forweresnot to feel their mates. It doesn’t look good for Destiny, and it sure as hell doesn’t look good for us.

Aric rights his stance. As a matedwere, he can sympathize with Tye. Bottom line, Destiny is not his priority, Celia is. His granite-hard expression is unreadable as he works through the situation. “Destiny isn’t dead, Tye,” he tells him. “If she was, you’d know it.”

He cuts Tye off and looks to me. “Tell me what you know.”

“Not much. I can only tell you what happened to me,” I reply. Mouthing-off aside, I generally have more to offer, even when all the crazy rains down like acid. Except, for the magic to turn against us like it did, someone must have allowed the enemy in. I don’t want to say more than I need to.

Aric nods slowly, understanding when my attention flickers to Celia. Gemini understands, too, although he doesn’t keep it together like Aric does. His dark gaze sweeps over my torn dress and the contusions and scratches littering my skin.

Gemini edges closer, ready to make someone pay. “If Taran is this injured, we’re not safe in the manor.”

“We’re worse off outside,” Tye barks. “If the grounds were safe, Destiny would be back by now.”

“Maybe. Maybe not,” Aric adds. “Either way, we can’t just stand here.” He motions to Gemini. “Let’s go.”

At Gemini’s order, severalweresform a blockade in front of Tye. Tyechangesinto his beast form, his chest rumbling.

Aric leads Celia away, but Tye is determined to reach her. Koda shoves Tye before he can get close, sending the white lion sailing.

Shayna rushes forward as Tye rebounds off the wall and uses his powerful legs to barrel through the Warriors who charge. She presses her hands on Koda’s arm when he growls a challenge, demanding Tye face him.

“Koda, please don’t fight him. He’s our friend.”

Tye loses his mind the closer Celia is led toward the exit. He means to help, except I can’t be certain this is the right way.

Urgent mumblings spread through the crowd. Many of the attendants are gathering their belongings while others argue whether to remain or leave with theweres. Genevieve addresses her witches, sending guards to different parts of the manor to check for breaks in the wards and alterations to the spells.

There’s disarray from all sides despite the way the leaders work to calm their subordinates and reinforce the strategies and alternative plans each has in place.

Celia disappears within the legion of Warriors guiding her toward a doorway that appears with a power word from Genevieve’s second in command. Several witches take places on either side of the doorway, keeping vigilant as the first of thewerespass through.

I don’t leave my spot, watching as they leave and wishing I could tell her goodbye. There’s a brief pause, and then she’s suddenly visible, pushing through the bodies who swarm her.

“Taran, come on,” she says, slipping from Aric’s hold. “We have to get out of here.”

“I can’t,” I reply. I don’t have to yell across the room. She can make out my speech through the turmoil.

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