Page 91 of Vows Forged in Blood

“What in the seven hells…?”

“What are you doing here?!” Elias shouts, fury and fear rolling off of him in waves. He sheaths his swords at his back and strides to the horse. He reaches out to gently grasp her waist and ease her down to the ground. She holds onto his arms and the look they share is enough to make even my cheeks flush. She swallows hard and shakes herself, pushing her shoulders back and looking so like Dahlia that I almost smile.

“You’re meant to be half way to Astoria’s Keep by now, damn it!” Elias fumes.

Enid juts her chin. “She’s my sister, Elias. And you’re my…” She cuts herself off, licking her lips and glancing around quicklybefore continuing. “I couldn’t just run away and leave you to ride into death alone. I couldn’t let that be the end…” She angrily wipes tears away and Elias seems torn between terror and elation. I daresay that we don’t have to wonder if Elias will win Enid’s heart any longer.

My chest clenches painfully, feeling as if a blade is driving right into my heart. They’ve found each other, only to have it all end in mere moments. Elias cradles her face between his hands, staring at her like she’s the only thing in existence. They have some silent conversation and then he leans in to kiss her fiercely, pulling away after a few moments and resting his forehead against hers.

“Where you go, I go,” she whispers. He squeezes his eyes shut in pain, and I know that his instincts are roaring at him to get her as far away from this danger as possible, to protect her at all costs. But he finally nods, kisses her forehead, and mutters something about Clayburn women and stubborn asses.

He clasps Enid’s hand and we continue onward. After a few moments, Enid asks casually, “so, just how many wrong places has your cock been, Elias?”

Against all odds, I laugh. Lightly at first, but then harder, and soon we’re all clutching our sides. Enid grins and leans into Elias’ side and he kisses her temple, smiling. It’s a strange thing to be taking the final steps of this gallows march while laughing our asses off.

We break through the final line of trees, the laughter slowly fading, and then we’re on the Plain. Even the fresh snow can’t hide the eternal stains of this place, the blood-sodden ground seeping up into the gathered flakes and turning them a dark rusty-black color. Thousands of Revenants wait for us, armed and ready for battle—no, not battle. They’re ready forslaughter.

And just in front of them, in the middle of the clearing, Kilgren stands with Dahlia.

My heart explodes at the sight of her, my fangs and claws flaring in the need to destroy the one who dares to touch my mate. I study her and a growl rips free from my chest when I see her bruised cheek, the dried blood on her lip.

My vision goes red and I lose all sense of reason, not even thinking logical thoughts. All I know is that I need to get to my mate. I feel the squeezing sensation as I try to teleport to her—only to slam into something hard as stone and tumble to the ground still fifty yards away from her.

Dahlia screams my name, eyes wide with terror. I spring to my feet and try once more, only to be thrown backwards again. The others approach behind me, sprinting forward from the edge of the Plain at what they assumed was a call to battle.

Kilgren smiles widely. “Tsk, tsk, Alaric. Already disobeying the rules of this little parlay.”

I bare my fangs at him and reach out a hand, blinking in shock when it meets something solid, but entirely invisible. My brow furrows.

“What the fuck?” Elias breathes as he reaches my side. He puts out a hand, meeting that same invisible wall. I spare a moment to note that Enid is safely back at the very edge of the clearing, Takara beside her.

“What is this?” I demand, seething, though I know how foolish I’ve been. Of course he wouldn’t have relied solely on my word that I wouldn’t attack, but…how??

Kilgren holds my gaze, gloating delight sparking in those blood-red eyes.

“Come forward, leech. Show them all who you truly are.”

Leech? What is he talking about? Elias curses low beside me, tensing and then I see it: fuckingHighspearsteps from behind the first line of Revenants. Rage and fury burn through my chest. His palms are outstretched, faint blue light swirling around them.

“You fucking traitor!” Malcom roars, surging forward only to run into the invisible wall. He beats his fists against it, to no avail. A rumble of disgust ripples through the soldiers, disgust andpain. The fact that one of our own would betray us to our greatest enemy is beyond imagining and strikes to the very heart of all of us, the bond shared between us.

“How are you doing this?” I demand, clenching my fists so tightly the bones creak. I try to force my thoughts to calm, but all I want to do is rip his fucking head off.

“He’s a wielder,” Dahlia says from her spot beside Kilgren, trying to step forward, but he yanks her back, keeping a firm grip on her arm. She has no coat, so I know she must be freezing, but my mate doesn’t look cold. No, she looks like her very blood has been turned to fire, burning with indignation and fury and I don’t think she’s ever looked so fearsome or beautiful.Our firebrand. She glares at Kilgren but turns back to me and continues, not giving a shit about him.Gods, do I love this woman.

“He hid his family history so he could be turned, but apparently the prick had gifts all this time. He was the one who hid the Revenants that attacked the road.”

“I told you that I was worthy time and time again,” Highspear calls, a wild gleam in his eye. “But you wouldn’t listen! Now, I’ll make you regret it! Now, I’ll bring down everything you built!”

“Well, I thinkI’llactually be doing that,” Kilgren croons, looking both amused and annoyed. “I’m the one with the army, if you recall, leech.”

Highspear presses his lips into a hard line but nods. Fury and disgust roil inside me to see him obeying this monster, turning on his own people.

“Now, why don’t we get down to business, shall we?” Kilgren says loud enough for his voice to be heard across the whole of the field, echoing off of the sides of the cliffs that border either side.He tightens his grasp on Dahlia’s arm, so tightly that his claws dig into her skin and draw blood. She gasps but bites down on her lip to keep from crying out.

“Stop!” I roar.

“I will, if you give me what I want. If you agree to my terms, no harm will come to your littlemate.” A shocked murmur ripples through the gathered crowd. If I didn’t know better, I would say that there isn’t just surprise on some of the Revenant’s faces but…disgust—not at me or my mate, but at their own leader. I shake the thought off, knowing how ridiculous it is.

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