Page 134 of The Aurora Marelup Complete Saga Omnibus

The surrounding area was once a lively, prosperous town, where the joyful laughter of children echoed through vibrant streets and the enticing aroma of freshly baked bread filled the crisp air. Now, only remnants of a bygone era remain, faint whispers carried by the wind. Decrepit cottages with sunken roofs and weathered walls, adorned with scars of forgottenconflicts, crumble into the embrace of encroaching vines and thick undergrowth.

The once bustling town square, a center of mirth and trade. Now lies hidden beneath a tangle of thorny bushes and suffocating foliage, as nature relentlessly reclaims its territory.

Evidence of the war of yesteryear is still visible in the cracked cobblestones, bearing the marks of long-forgotten battles. Worn and weathered, the cobblestones display the scars of conflict. Rusty, shattered weapons lie scattered across the landscape like grim reminders of a bygone era, their jagged edges and faded colors speaking of past violence.

Tattered banners of the fallen Marelup Empire flutter weakly in the breeze, their faded colors barely visible against the gray sky. The tales of bloodshed and valor have been consigned to dusty, neglected tomes in the annals of history, but the land itself refuses to forget.

The forest surrounding the castle seems to hold its own secrets, its ancient trees whispering stories of lost souls and long-forgotten mysteries. The towering trees, their gnarled branches reaching towards the heavens, cast eerie shadows that dance beneath the dense canopy. The occasional hoot of an owl pierces the silence, the haunting sound echoing through the gloom.

The air is thick with a sense of foreboding, as if the land itself has become a keeper of the past, guarding the tales of tragedy and triumph that play out on this forgotten stage. The scent of damp earth mingles with the musty smell of decaying leaves, adding to the atmosphere of history and decay.

The cracked cobblestones, worn underfoot, tell a story of countless footsteps that have trodden upon them. The rough texture of the shattered weapons, once instruments of destruction, now serve as reminders of the violence that once ravaged this land.

As the fiery sun sinks beneath the jagged silhouette of the horizon, its dying light casts elongated, spectral shadows across the land. A shiver dances down my spine, as if the very air is electrified with the awakening of the ancient castle and the crumbling remnants of the once-vibrant town.

In this ethereal twilight, their eerie beauty is illuminated, drawing me in with a magnetic pull. The dim light paints a haunting tableau, where the past and present intertwine, leaving an indelible mark on my senses.

The air carries a faint scent of moss and decay, mingling with the distant echoes of forgotten voices. The dark, foreboding forest envelops the scene, its ancient trees standing tall as solemn witnesses to the passage of time.

The castle, now reduced to a haunting ruin, stands stoically, its walls weathered by the ages. Together, they bear the weight of forgotten memories, their whispers echoing through the annals of history, reminding me of the fragility of our existence.

The day of reckoning is finally upon us. I stand beside ten of my kin, ready to wage war in the name of my mate and my fallen queen, Anca. The Polar Bears are getting restless, waiting for their part in this master plan. Alaric and the dragons line the forest surrounding the castle. Nothing will get in or out without our knowledge.

Under my command, the Dire Wolves have searched the perimeter, stopping at the edge of where the next group takes over. It’s twilight and so far, all we have seen is the occasional Lycan raiding party break free of the walls to test our strength and numbers.

The dragons are under strict orders not to shift until nightfall and not to engage with anything other than swords until told otherwise. Ellis looks uneasy as he leans against the tree, not far from me. Damn, marshmallow is scared because there’s no snow to hide his beast.

“Dimitri.” I turn to face Alaric and walk towards him.

“Da? What’s on your mind?” I keep searching the woods and looking back towards the castle.

“Aurora took a team with her into the tunnels. Klaus, Jayce, and Arnulf are with her as well as two other Lycans and Dires,” Alaric says, the relief evident in his voice.

I nod my head slowly and crack a smile briefly. “Good. I feel better she’s not in there alone. Why is Arnulf with them?”

Alaric looks around then leans in close to me. “He’s going to bless the graves if they can find them. That’s their primary objective. Vladimir is in one of the remaining towers with the Elder Dame, from what we can tell. We are saving them for last. Besides, I’m sure Aurora would love to unleash the full fury of her pain and anger on him.” Alaric has that wicked look in his eyes. It is the same kind of look that Aurora and Nicodeamus get just before something gets destroyed.

I look thoughtfully up at the two remaining towers. “Vladimir always favored the north tower; it has the best view of Widows Lake, where he loved to go hunting. I believe there’s a cabin there, if I’m not mistaken.”

I ponder what I just revealed and reach out through the bond to Dominik.“Dom, to the north, there’s a cabin near the lake. Vladimir used to like to hunt there. Send your most stealthy scouts to go check it out.”Dom agrees, then I go back to focusing on the forest around us.

Most of my clan is in their bear form, ready to take down the southern wall so the Polar Bears can lead the enemy straight to the dragons to get roasted. I keep looking at the sky, watching the sun move slowly. Soon it will dip down low enough for the Strigoi to emerge, and the real fun will begin.

It’s just about dusk, and the alarm is raised by the eagle shifters flying overhead. It’s about to get real interesting quick. On the other side of the wall, the location screeches of the Strigoistart. Their calls fill the night air and send a slight chill up my spine. The first of the Strigoi have risen. If my suspicions are correct, there’s a mass grave in the courtyard and a second one somewhere deep within the castle. Hopefully, Aurora and the guys are safe and ready for the evil they are about to face.

I shift and rally my clan and roar the order to bring down the wall. We charge, hitting the broken section with our shoulders, the full weight of our eleven bears hitting at once. Stones begin to fall around us and we back up quickly. We take turns in pairs, rearing up and pushing at the stones with our paws. Slowly, we make progress and the wall begins to tumble down. On the other side of the barrier, we hear howls and screeches from the stones hitting Lycans and Strigoi. I send my clan mates back and hit the wall one last time, making most stones fall in toward the courtyard. I haul ass back to where Alaric has shifted and is waiting for them to chase me.

The screeches and howls are getting louder; they’re closing in on my position fast. Ahead of me, I see Alaric behind a small grove of white ash trees. Quickly, I slide between the trees and under Alaric’s dragon. The Strigoi and Lycans break through the tree line and come to an abrupt halt. The click of Alaric’s ignitor is deafening in the sudden silence. The roar of fire fills the air as he unleashes the full magnitude of his breath weapon.

In the distance, the clicks of other dragons’ ignitors can be heard. The roar of flames and the screams of the Lycans and Strigoi fills the air. So many voices are being silenced. Hopefully, we have thinned the numbers enough to make it easier on Aurora and her team inside.

About a hundred yards behind us, the Black Dragons have set an acid perimeter. The plan is if there’s a way in or out of the castle we haven’t discovered, the acid will kill the reinforcements.

During the dragons’ recharge time, I reassemble my team to head back to the wall. I look back at the wall in time to see more Strigoi pouring out of the breach. I tilt my head back, roaring, raising the alarm. The answering roars fill the woods before we charge the breach. I stand on my hind legs and swipe my talon-like claws at the Strigoi. I guess my claws got an upgrade from my mate. Game on, leeches!

At least a dozen or more Lycans climb out of the breach and begin attacking my troops in sync with the Strigoi. Natural enemies fighting on the same side? It must be the work of the Elder Dame.

I am so busy pondering what is happening at the breach point that I don’t notice the Lycans sneaking up on me. Thank the Gods for Alaric. He shifts back to his human form and grabs his sword, decapitating a Lycan.

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