Page 70 of Vows Forged in Blood

“Fuck, I guess everyone will soon enough.”

Elias rubs the back of his neck. “I’ve been trying to spread the rumor that you’re just so gods damned unstoppable and amazing that you fought silver powder all on your own, but…there are some who will assume the truth, yes. Perhaps it’s time you write to your brother? Before word somehow spreads all the way to Astoria’s Keep.” I exhale roughly and brush Dahlia’s cheek gently.

“The battle?”

“Rages on. We’re pushing back as hard as we can but the whole of their forces attacked after you were taken from thefield. It’s been brutal. Reinforcements from the camp have already arrived and are marching to the Plain now. It’s…it’s not looking good, Alaric. Between the sheer number of them and the hit your rumored death made on the morale of the men…A retreat may be necessary.”

“No,” I growl, fury burning hotly in my chest. “My armor,” I demand. “NOW.” The rage boils inside of me, every muscle tensing and bulging, my fangs and claws already sharpening and craving destruction. Elias eyes me but nods, calling for a squire to come and assist me. The blood has been cleaned away, but a hole remains over my chest, a reminder of how close I’d come to losing everything. Elias dons his own armor quickly and I bend down to place a soft kiss on Dahlia’s forehead.

“Sleep, my love. I’ll return for you soon.”

I give her guard instructions to watch over her and if they receive word from me, they are to take her from this place immediately. If it even looks like the line might fall, I want her as far from this place as possible.

“Of course, sir,” Malcom says, inclining his head. The other two are already standing on either side of the entrance to my tent, hands on their sword hilts, ever ready. I nod at them all, give Xerxes a loving pat and a thank you where he rests beside his brother. I mount Xanthus and ride into battle.

I hearmy name being whispered in reverence…or yelled in terror as I cut a bloody path across the battlefield. I’m stronger and faster than ever before, though I still haven’t been able to teleport again, and I slice through the Revenants as if they’re nothing but parchment. The sight seems to energize our men, my strength seeming to flow into them as well, and they pushthemselves into the fray with renewed life. I stab and slice with Night’s Fury, the blade completely coated in thick, black blood and begging for more. I punch a hole through one Revenant’s chest, and tear another’s head from his shoulders with one hand. Those closest balk at the sight and retreat. I grin a bloody, blood-thirsty grin and give chase. I’ve never felt battle lust like this before, it’s like a thick, red haze has settled over my vision and I’m not sure if it will ever fade.

I look for Kilgren among the chaos—I know for a fact I saw him after I was shot—but it seems like the coward has already turned tail as word of my miraculous return spread through the lines. We push them back. Against all odds, we come back from this near defeat and push the bastards back. The Obsidian Plain is littered with bodies now, piles of them. Not only did we push them back, we fuckingdecimatedthem. Those Revenants left call for retreat, running for their lives, and we roar in victory in the middle of the carnage. Elias claps me on the shoulder and we share a moment between brothers, one that needs no words spoken.I love you. I am proud to fight beside you. I will always be here.

Now that the battle is done, there is only one thing I want. One thing Ineed.

My fucking mate.

Chapter 35

DAHLIA

Iwake, groggy and a little weak, but overall fine. Alaric is alive. The thought fills my chest with an incredible warmth, chasing away the cold terror that had gripped me since the moment I felt his pain in the camp.It had been so close. I’d almost lost him…

I push myself up and Takara is there.

“Easy, now. You might be a bit dizzy. Drink this.” She hands me a tankard of something sweet-smelling and I don’t question her, just down the entire cup. It’s crisp and cool and bitingly sweet. I hand it back and wipe my mouth with the back of my hand.

“What was that?”

“Something similar to the tonic you’ve taken in the past that replenishes your blood, but think of this as a…stronger proof.” I huff out a small laugh, but whatever it is, it starts working immediately. The bit of lightheadedness I felt when I sat up disappears and a wave of strength and energy slowly crashes into me, starting in the center of my chest and working its way through every inch of my body.

I glance to the bed and panic grips me. I jump to my feet.

“Where is Alaric?? Is he ok? What happened?” I rub the heel of my hand against my chest, trying to stop the thunderous beating, trying to tell myself that I would know if something had happened, if he’d taken a turn after I’d passed out.

“He’s fine, Dahlia. Look at me,” she says, putting her hands on my shoulders and making me meet her eyes. “He’s fine. More than fine, I’d wager, with that much of your blood in him…” She eyes me for a moment, and then adds quietly, “legends say a mate’s blood is exceptionally powerful…” There’s a question in the words. My eyes fly wide and I swallow hard. I still can’t quite believe that it could be true.

I’d been frantic but also somehow numb when I’d arrived in the tent and found Alaric on the bed, wounded and bleeding and writhing in pain,screamingin agony. The sounds of the strongest man I’ve ever known screaming as he burned alive from the inside is something I will never forget.

“What do you mean nothing can be done?” I’d asked, somehow pushing the words past numb lips.

“It’s spread too far, my Lady. There’s no way we can stop it,” one of Alaric’s men had answered. Hastings? Hawkins? Something like that.

“Bullshit!” I’d screamed, something inside me breaking, pounding and clawing against the words like a caged animal fighting to escape. I’d been frantic, my mind desperately clutching at anything it could think of. “Bloodletting! Or…or…leeches! That’s what human healers do! Use fucking leeches to suck the poisoned blood away!”

“It’s too late,” someone had whispered. I think her name was Collins.

“No. No! Don’t touch me!” I screamed when Elias laid a gentle hand on my shoulder. “Therehasto be something. He’s the High General. He’s a fuckingprince! You have to dosomething!” Everyone had simply looked away from my pleas, my agony, already having accepted the inevitable.

The High General would die this day.

The thought had stopped my own heart, my world coming to an abrupt halt all around me.

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