Page 44 of Foretold

Bane stands in front of me, my brothers taking my sides, with August flanked at my back, creating a protective wall. One that I don’t need. With them all towering over me, I can barely see what’s going on, and need to peek around Bane.

“The princess won’t be going anywhere,” Bane replies, thunder booming outside. “But you’re welcome to try. You and your men can die trying.”

“Enough talking, Rion,” a man to his right says, his red eyes narrowing. “You grab her. We will handle the rest.”

Rion steps forward with a smirk, his eyes on me as I step out from behind Bane and get ready to shield. “What do you want with me?”

“The only succubus born in a century,” he murmurs, giving me a once-over. The tightening of his lips makes me think he finds me lacking. “What every incubus male wants, I suppose.”

Bane’s fangs elongate as I release my shield while Axe puts up another barrier.

“What’s that?” I ask.

“A sound barrier,” he replies, turning to face me. I then realize I don’t know what magic Axe holds. He’s always so chilled out and quick to smile, and it’s easy to forget that he, too, is badass and heir to the kingdom. I think that fact gets hidden behind Bane’s overbearing dominance and power.

“Astrid, you zip home. Now. We will deal with this,” Axe relays.

“I’m not going anywhere,” I reply, my eyes returning to Rion, and the bastard smirks. “I’m fighting.”

“If they get their hands on you, they will teleport you,” Bane growls, moving closer to me. “We can’t risk it.”

“They won’t get their hands on me,” I promise.

Laurel said something will happen tonight that will change things. Is this what she was talking about?

August’s hand touches the small of my back, and Kai’s hard bicep presses against me. They would die for me. I know Rave hates me coming here, but aside from being with him, I don’t think I could be any safer.

Rion throws out a bolt of electricity, sparks trying to break my shield to no avail. He will need to try much harder.

“Fuck!” Bane mutters, eyes on me. “Keep your shield up for yourself, but drop it for us.”

“Are you sure?” I ask, frowning.

“Yes,now!” he demands in a commanding tone that is accustomed to being obeyed.

I listen, dropping the shields on the men but keeping them up for me. Not wanting to be totally useless, I let Rave’s shadow magic seep from my pores, imagining the darkness suffocating Rion, who is currently fighting hand-to-hand with Bane. Sparks flicker up from Rion’s fingers and onto his sword, pushing Banebackward with a jolt. I drop my shield so I can focus solely on the shadows. I’m uncomfortable using them, but it’s the only way I can think to help right now.

Rion’s red eyes pin me, his eyebrow arching as I start to choke him, just as I’ve seen Rave do to August.

I’ll have to thank him for the inspiration.

“If you wanted it rough, you should have asked.” Rion smirks, my fingers tightening like I was cutting off his air with my hands.

A sudden bolt of power hits me, and I drop the shadows, turning to the man who spoke to Rion earlier. He has air magic, which I feel pushes up against me. “Just come with me, Princess, and none of your men here have to get hurt.”

Pulling out my ruby-encrusted dagger, I point it out in front of me. It’s then that I notice more men approaching behind them. At least twelve more. Okay, now I’m a little fucking concerned.

The man rushes at me, and I throw the blade at him, hitting him in the chest. His eyes dart down to it, his teeth flashing as he bares them. He reaches out for me, and I step back, kicking out at him and making contact with his torso. He gasps but stays upright just as two of the newcomers come to his side. He pulls out the short sword at his hip and points it at me. “Come with me, now.”

“Astrid! Get out of here,” Bane calls, running over to me. “Or put your fucking shield up.”

I put up my shield because I’m not an idiot, but I feel something inside me. Something that wants to get out.

Darkness, but not the kind that Rave has shared with me.

No, this darkness is all me.

I look around at the men I care about and realize that we are severely outnumbered, no matter how strong they are. Bane can’t even use his weather magic without destroying the whole fucking place. The man attacks my shield with his sword, tryingto penetrate it, but it’s impervious. I have Bob to thank for that. Zoning out, all I hear is a beating sound. A heart. The sound pulses louder and louder in my ears until it consumes me. My fingers clench, making a squeezing motion.

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