Page 35 of Caged Love

“Leave now, Rion, or you’ll be the reason for many unnecessary deaths,” she says to him, a ruby-hilted dagger in her hand. “The rebellion died with Declan. Milana is safe with her mate. There is no reason for this to continue.”

“Hand over Milana, and we will be on our way,” he replies.

“She’s mine,” I bark, gritting my teeth. “She’s not going anywhere.”

Milana steps forward, bracing herself for a fight. Her legs are in a stance like I showed her, and her fingers clasp a blade. “It’s over, Rion. I’m where I’m meant to be. Please, just leave so no one else has to die.”

Rion laughs, and it’s an ugly sound. It’s only then that I notice his wrists. The once gold mating bands, like mine, are black. I remember noticing that when he was torturing me.

He lost his mate.

That explains the crazy glint in his eyes because no male would be sane after that.

Death would probably be a kindness to him.

“What happened to your mate?” I ask, and everyone goes quiet, the tension picking up.

Rion roars sparks flying in every direction. “She died defending her kingdom. She died when you all returned to the Demon Kingdom. It’s your fucking fault! Bane wanted to kill his brother, Xan, and in the process, I lost my fucking mate.”

Pain and torment radiate from him, and the thought of losing Milana sends a cold shiver through me. It would be the only thing capable of breaking me—and despite everything, a flicker of sympathy stirs in my chest.

“I’m sorry you lost her, Rion,” Milana says, tears gathering in her eyes. “I had no idea. But surely you can’t expect me to leavemy mate, to know that pain, to fight in a war I don’t want to be a part of. I’ve found my place, and now you need to find yours. Let all your soldiers go. Tell them to leave before they get hurt. Save their lives!”

Rion simply fires his magic at Milana, but Astrid’s shield blocks him. I zip in front of her, pushing her behind me.

When the shadows start drifting from the ground upward, I know shit’s about to get real dark.

Before they start to distort my vision, I rush forward at Rion.

I’m going to make sure my mate never has to hide again.

Chapter Nineteen

As the shadows close in, I watch August run forward with his sword in his hand and a warrior’s roar on his lips. Metal clashes against metal as they fight one on one. Rion slashes August across his stomach when he doesn’t move away in time, and my heart is in my throat.

I feel better knowing Astrid is here, and I never thought I’d be saying that, knowing she can heal him. Still, August doesn’t stop fighting until he gets the upper hand and slices Rion across the throat. Rion falls to his knees. And then, with familiar magic, August puts his hand on him and drains him until there is no life left.

It’s over.

He’s dead.

August killed him.

And he clearly got my booster magic from the bond.

I wonder if I can walk through any ward like he can. If so, that will come in handy.

The fight continues until their remaining army gives up and leaves, most of them zipping away from the chaos.

Bodies cover the grass, and with them, a sadness fills me.

Such a loss of life, and for what reason?

I now sit in our room, holding August’s hand as Astrid heals the deep cut on his abs. We won the war, but it’s hard to celebrate. I knew a lot of those people. We might not have been close, as my father kept me away and isolated, but they were familiar faces.

And now they are dead.

I hope some heard my warning and left, choosing to turn their back on Rion.

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