Page 145 of A Debt of Darkness

Of course, it’s a fucking trap. It was far too easy to track Ivy down. Far too easy to find out Marcus and Rowan were both inside. It’s too convenient and little else about tonight will be. We’re walking into one of Marcus’s traps, and we’re in for one hell of a fucking night.

I’ve roused the coven. All of them. And Emmanuel’s called in every member of the Brotherhood he trusts. We’re all armed, all forewarned. We’re as ready as we’ll ever be, but you can’t prepare for the unknown. Not in any way that’s meaningful and we’re going to accept that. You can’t change the unchangeable and delaying this only weakens Ivy. Only heightens my desperation to reach her and I’ll be less clinical, less calculating. I’ll take more risks, even if I know we can’t afford to and we need to stop talking and get the fuck on with this.

Now.

“I know.”

“Good,” he replies. “We’re going to get her back, Henry.”

My teeth grind so fucking hard they rub against the bones in my jaw. He’s got fuck all right to talk to me, given he was with her when she was taken. Admittedly, it wasn’t exactly his fault but I’m hardly rational and I’m only calm out of necessity, aware fighting among ourselves will make adangerous position worse.

And we’re in a weak enough one as it fucking is.

“Her father gave us some useful information,” Ryan says, taking his position at my shoulder. “She’s strong and she’ll survive, Henry.”

Maybe not if Marcus and Rowan have their way. Even if she does, they’ll do everything they can to kill the part of her that experiences joy. That knows happiness and love. They’ll try to take that from her and whatever happens, my wife has a long recovery ahead.

One we’re making longer by waiting and my patience runs out when Emmanuel suggests going over the plan one more time.

“We’re ready, Emmanuel. We go now or we don’t go at all.”

“She needs to survive, Henry. You and she, you both need to survive. Unless she’s pregnant. Then you’re expendable.”

Gods, the man is an irritation I’m looking forward to being rid of. He’s beyond annoying, and the reminder of the prophecy is the last thing I damn well need. Every fucking member of my coven knows Ivy’s life comes before their own. They’re commanded to give theirs without hesitation to save hers. Including Matt. And Ryan. And my-fucking-self and the presumption I wouldn’t sacrifice my life to save my mate—regardless of what some fucking stupid prophecy decrees—is an insult to my devotion.

I’m fucking done.

And I move.

So fucking fast even Ryan’s late in seeing it happen and races to catch up with me as I charge toward the fucking castle walls. Rowan’s a pretentious cunt and his home looks like a fairy tale’s wet dream. Its ivory towers and flagpoles gleam in the moonlight, hiding the darkness inside beneath theirshimmering sparkle. There’s a nightmare inside the dream it portrays, and Ivy’s still enduring a night of terrors conjured from unspeakable horror.

I don’t slow, ignoring Ryan and Matt’s calls as they command the coven behind me. My speed and strength are both a weakness and an advantage, and I ignore the risks as my stride lengthens and my pace quickens. My heart would race if it were beating, but it isn’t and my eyes narrow, focusing on the wall I’m about to climb.

It's probably rigged with traps. It’s going to fucking hurt.

And I don’t give a single fuck because Ivy’s inside and my thoughts of self-preservation evaporate, losing all meaning, as I have only one reason left. Only one conscious belief and my focus is absolute, my will unbreakable and my resolve determined.

I reach the base of the wall and leap, surprised a barrier doesn’t prevent my ascension. It’s a mistake to leave the wall unprotected and my claws grip the hard granite stone, easily finding purchase. There’s no pain, no searing heat. No repulsion and no explosion. Nothing happens and it’s a fucking warning. One I heed as I scale the wall.

Even Rowan isn’t stupid enough to leave his castle this defenseless. This is a fucking trap, and Marcus wants me inside this goddamn fortress, baiting me with Ivy’s pain while drawing me in with the promise of an easy victory.

This won’t be easy. It won’t be quick. It’ll be fucking painful for all involved, and my eyes scan the ground beneath me as my feet hit the ramparts.

There’s nothing.Not a fucking thing.

No sentries. No guards. No movement and no inner defenses. Not one fucking unit stands ready to defend the castle and the only thing I see is a wide-open door, daring me to race through it and into what I presume is a fucking disaster.

Ryan moves to my side and his body tenses, aware this is still too fucking easy. He’s spotted the gaping door and his jaw bones grind against each other, sounding his fury as the cunts inside dare to test our intelligence. He waits, letting the others arrive and soon the castle wall is lined with my coven while priests flood through the opened castle gates.

“You know what happens next?” he asks.

“We walk through that door and all hell breaks loose?”

He nods and glances at Matt, worried. “Or it doesn’t, Henry. Marcus might be saving his forces for one big stand.”

Marcus is a cunt of epic proportions and he’ll throw cannon fodder at us to weaken our numbers, choosing to strike when he thinks the conditions are right. He’ll pick his moment, making damn sure he’s lined everything up to maximize his chance of winning.

“He’s a cunt,” I hiss, stepping forward and waiting for my coven to line up with me. “But so am I.”

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