Page 22 of Her Immortal Mate

"Dark elves - they found us." I grab Eike's arm, my words tumbling out. "Raina and Dominik are holding them off, but-"

"How many?" Raziel materializes from the shadows, wings unfurling.

"I saw at least five, maybe more in the trees."

Brinda's lips curl into a predatory smile. "Perfect. I was getting bored down here."

The three vrakken exchange glances, some unspoken communication passing between them. The wildspont's energy crackles through the air, making my skin prickle.

They dive back through the portal, and I follow on their heels. But they don't have to go far before they find the dark elves. The veins of light in the cave walls pulse faster, almost like a heartbeat as the first scream pierces the air.

Rounding the corner, I see Raziel move like liquid shadow, faster than I've ever seen a vrakken move. His wings snap out, catching one elf across the chest and sending them flying into the cave wall with a sickening crunch.

"Behind you!" Brinda calls out. Her magic manifests as crimson threads that wrap around two elves, yanking them off their feet before they can complete their spell.

Eike tears through their ranks like a force of nature. The wildspont's energy flows through him, turning his usual calculated movements into something terrifyingly graceful. An elf raises their hands, violet magic gathering - but Eike is already there, crushing their throat.

"Is that all?" Brinda sounds disappointed as she kicks a fallen elf. "I expected more of a challenge."

"There's another group coming," Dominik says as he rushes in, Raina on his heels. But already, I see the magic of the caves helping heal him as wounds stitch closed before my eyes. "I count eight."

"Good." Eike's wings stretch wide, silver light dancing along the edges. "Let them come."

The next wave crashes against them like water on rocks. The vrakken move in perfect sync, the wildspont amplifying their natural abilities to devastating effect. Bones snap. Blood sprays. Magic flares and dies.

It's over in moments. The tunnel floor is littered with broken bodies, their violet eyes now dull and lifeless.

And I see now how the wildspont could save all the vrakken.

11

MAE

The flight back is a blur of wind and stars. Eike's arms cradle me against his chest, his wings cutting through the night air with powerful strokes. The wildspont's residual energy still hums beneath my skin, making every sensation sharper.

We touch down at the edge of camp. Torchlight flickers between the canvas tents, casting long shadows across the packed earth. Guards patrol the perimeter, their wings dark shapes against the star-filled sky.

"We need to move quickly," Raziel says, running a hand through his disheveled hair. Blood stains his sleeve - not his own. "The dark elves will send more scouts once they realize what happened."

Brinda nods. "I'll gather the commanders. We should have everyone underground within the next few days if we move fast enough." They stride off toward the command tent, already discussing logistics.

My legs feel shaky as I start toward my tent, adrenaline finally wearing off. Eike's footsteps follow close behind. When I glance back, his usual mask of cool indifference has slipped. His brow furrows, jaw tight with tension.

"Mae." His voice is rough. "Wait."

I duck into my tent, but he's right behind me, wings folding to fit through the entrance. The small space feels even smaller with his presence filling it.

"What's wrong?" I ask, setting down my satchel of herbs. "Besides the obvious dark elf problem."

Eike paces the small space, his wings twitching with agitation. The silver membrane catches in the dim light, and for a moment, she has to resist reaching out to touch it.

"Going underground changes things." His accent thickens with emotion. "The tunnels, it'll push us in closer proximity." He rakes a hand through his dark hair. "And I worry it will affect how vrakken and humans interact."

"How so?" I fold myself on the edge of my bedroll, watching him stalk back and forth.

"We don't know if there will be food. Or how everyone will react to the magic." His silver eyes lock onto mine. "And I don't know how long we'll be down there…"

"You think some might lose control?"

---