Page 77 of Veiled

A few of them laughed and Kalen smiled and shook his head, “Right, well after that great introduction, men, this is Hudson and her mates. I’m interested to see how she fares against at least one of my top soldiers.” I scoffed and peered around the room, taking in the bright walls full of weapons I previously missed from when I walked in. Punching bags and gym equipment took over the other side of the huge area and the now spectator area that just kept filling with people. I felt the burn of eyes on me and I couldn't pinpoint them, but there were a shit ton of eyes on me right now.

“Cool, sounds like fun so who is first? And am I allowed to kill them?” They laughed like it was the funniest joke, but I was not joking. Why did everyone always think I was joking? Kalen rolled his eyes and shook his head very subtly.

“Zane, Ryder, Grayson, Hunter and Remi - grab a ring and,” he pointed at the warriors, “you all grab an opponent. They will choose the form of combat; nothing more nothing less.” My mates each took a spot, their faces blank.

Hudson- Quick theory, we are all connected, two fae and four not, so we share the same base of power now, right? Pull on it and fight, no fucking mercy. No weakness.

They subtly nodded, too focused to speak, with their opponents already talking shit. They smiled in return. I loved them. Ha.

“Talon, since you seem so eager, you and Hudson, front and center.” He nodded his head at us before continuing, “everyone, listen up! First to a knock-out, blood doesn’t count,” Kalen’s voice echoed over a now quiet room. My group stayed near the rings. “Talon, you choose this time. Magic, weapons or hand to hand?”

Talon smiled, “Weapons, sir.” I laughed and I took off my belt and shoulder holster and threw it to the side, but I kept my scythe and short sword. I'll switch it up next time; no patterns. He laughed like I was an idiot, keeping his belt with several daggers. Something in my gut told me this Talon would be quick to get the draw on you if you have extra weapons, I needed to be fast and there was no need to weigh yourself down, unless necessary.

Kalen nodded and the room grew quieter as opponents advanced,; I focused on mine. He advanced slowly like a cat chasing his prey. I pulled from my core and blocked everything out but all possible situations. I have never fought a Fae until I fought Remi, and we were evenly matched, but that was before I got my full power.

He took a deep breath then grabbed and shot several daggers in quick succession at varying heights. Everything went slow in my eyes as I knocked each dagger to the side with a spin of my short sword, one hand behind my back in case of an incoming attack. He pressed forward, trying to stay on the offensive, arching a broad sword straight down with enough speed and strength to cleave me in half. No idea what possessed me, but my magic shot me towards him, faster than his swing. Crouching before swinging myself between his legs, I turned, catching his ankle with my right leg before jumping back on my feet.

Right before he hit the ground, he was able to catch himself and turn on one knee but as he pivoted, I was already in front of him, straddling his neck, using my momentum to flip him on to his back as I rained blow after blow to his temple. I smiled as he reached up to dislodge an arm from my position to grab my neck. I let him pull it out and I grabbed the arm and spun, breaking it. He grunted, and I admired that, because that must have hurt like a bitch. I backed up from his now broken arm and smiled at him. He had a bit more respect in his eyes, and I cut that look short because when he went to get up from the floor, I threw all my weight into an uppercut and followed with a combination to his face; I spun and roundhouse kicked him in the collar bone, which cracked, and then kicked him in the middle of his chest. He fell back and didn’t get back up. One down, who is next, bitches.

Scail

When I walkedinto the combat zone and settled myself into the shadows, I expected to see Hudson. I just wasn't prepared to see her. Watching her walking in, in that outfit, all her marks on display, I was completely blown away. Her head held high, she walked up to men who all towered over her, coupled with hundreds of years of experience, and she barely gave them any consideration. She was either very stupid, or very confident, but after last night I knew she was far from stupid. I still felt her lips on mine. I had no idea what came over me, but it just felt right. After so long, I finally felt more peace within myself than I had in centuries.

That day in the forest, I recognized her recklessness; her desire to protect above her own self-preservation. I had been there, trailing the attackers, a little birdie telling me the new Queen was crossing into the Veil. I couldn’t miss that. But what an opportunity that turned out to be. I didn’t have to take care of them myself at that point, even though I killed several before they reached their group. I saw how they noticed the winds change, the quick way they deviated from the path, the snarky way she challenged and then killed them. I found myself chuckling during the attack, surprising myself. The prophecy was clear, however, I don’t think the Veil leaders quite understood who would be walking into their camp when informed of their arrival. Hell, they didn’t bother to show up to the training facility to see her in action, although they will soon catch whispers of it through the winds and through the chatter of the Fae.Hudson was not just a Queen, no, she was change.

The fight had begun in the middle of my musings. I was enraptured, just like that day in the forest. She moved like something I have never seen. No words had a comparison that held a candle to her speed and her prowess. Yet, I felt like she was holding back, she was toying with Talon and despite all of that she bested him each time. When she broke his arm and followed up with a combination, rather a flurry, of punches, my mouth dropped.

Holy fucking shit. This five-foot five-inch girl just took down Talon without a fucking scratch. She was incredible! Every hit, every pivot, every move, beautifully executed with a flex of her abs and keen intellect. It’s like she knew exactly what would happen and how it would happen. I shook my head from the shadows, I knew she felt me looking at her earlier. It was something I couldn’t stop, looking at her, that is. She was beautiful. Last night, just hearing her voice was soothing; a balm to the soul of someone who has been so lonely for so many years. Even this morning, I heard her defend me to her mates, and friends and for the first time in a long time I felt something other than emptiness; I felt warmth and true acceptance. After hundreds of years, maybe it was time to stop hiding in the shadows. But before anyone can gain that respect, even the girl who sang with the breeze, they needed to do a bit more to earn it.

Without realizing what I was doing I stepped out of the shadows, something telling me that with Hudson, my time hidden in the shadows was long over.

Hudson

I lookedover as my mates traded hits with their opponents; Remi and Grayson already standing to the side, their men passed out. Zane and Hunter used this time to get out their frustrations and anger and toyed with the warriors. Although I admit, they were fortunate they had the connection; Kalen didn’t train these men for years without serious advancement. They just wanted to feel blood on their hands. Remi and Grayson must have finished because they used magic fighting and they were damn good at it. Ryder, having infused his weapons, was giving and taking hits at dazzling speeds. Fuck, who knew my jokester could move like that? It was fucking impressive. Then Hunter exploded and picked up his opponent and slammed him into the floor while Zane stomped on his opponent’s chest. Well, they coordinated that, and I shook my head. All eyes were on Ryder who was moving with a grace that belied his magical upbringing. Finally, there must have been an opening because Ryder brutally cut down his opponent, drawing blood and shocking his opponent at the same time. The room was silent. Five newcomers, Remi not being counted, came in and kicked the ass of warriors trained for years. These same people were mated and connected to the most marked Queen ever seen. If this wasn’t a testament to our abilities, I'm not sure what could be.

Interesting words. Because of course then I heard clapping. Yet, I recognized that clap. I turned around and smiled widely, “Scail, we have to stop meeting like this. What would our guardians say; I am but a chaste maiden!” He started laughing and the crowd gasped low and started whispering, goodness he wasn’t fucking Jensen Ackles coming back from hell for the 29th time, people.

“A chaste maiden indeed, Queen, but I find myself intrigued. Talon hasn’t been bested in a long time. Yet you have not even a scratch. That’s not even touching your mates’ abilities.”

“What can I say, there is something to be said about underestimating a woman. It’s always going to be my advantage. Something tells me you wouldn’t do that.”

“No, I wouldn’t. Those worthy of my time are my equals. Want to know who is worthy of my time? No one… yet…” The way he finished that last part, like a promise, I swear I felt my body catch on fire. My magic liked him; my magic loved my mates, but my magic liked him. This was going to be interesting; I clearly needed a heart-to-heart with King again.

“Hmm, sounds like a challenge…” I teased.

“No, it's...a warning wrapped in a promise,” he whispered. I shivered, fucking sex voice. He started to take off his hood and cloak, and my breath caught. Holy suffocating vagina. This man was a fucking specimen. How? Oh gods, I’m going to faint, and I’ll need him to perform vaginal CPR. He stood to his full height and he had to be a good foot taller than me. Much like my men, his muscles bulged with every move. All golden skin and long white hair and ice blue eyes. I have no idea where this pale Fae shit humans came up with, but his skin looked like warm melted sugar. How a cloak can hide the lethal gait he possessed as he continued to walk towards me was astounding, let alone that body. Wow. Guess Harry wasn’t the only one with a magic cloak.

I cleared my throat, “Well I don’t make it a habit to turn down worthy opponents.” He raised an eyebrow. “Okay, okay, I don’t turn down anyone, alright?! I’m a bloody gore whore okay?!”

He shook his head in awe, “I literally have no idea what is going to come out of your mouth next.”

“Join the club,” my guys and even Kalen chorus behind me. I flung up my middle finger and they chuckled. How dare they? I was clearly a gem. They didn’t realize my worth. No sex for them. I scoffed.

“Okay Scail, which I’m almost positive isn’t your name, what are your terms? Weapons? Magic? Rock, paper, scissors? I’m flexible- ever heard of Kama sutra. Yeah, I’m an expert at that too.” Kalen groaned and the guys choked a laugh, Remi straight up laughed along with King, Jensi and Luca. The warriors were staring at Scail in awe, eyes flitting back and forth between us. They really weren’t kidding; he didn’t often show his face, nor did he interact or speak to many.Aww, my poor Scailsnugglekins, he needs cuddles.

“All variations of combat are fine Hudson, which isn’t your real name either.” I smiled and brushed by him to collect my weapons. No patterns, but damn it I really wanted my pretty scythe. I took a gander at all the pretty sharp weapons and I closed my eyes and let my magic decide; it just felt like the right thing to do at the time, let the first guide me and shit. I settled on two battle axes and tested their weight in my hands. They were certainly well made and incredibly light for being such brutal weapons to wield during battle. I walked to the center of the combat zone area where Scail was already waiting with two short swords. He liked to get close. I like that.

I didn’t wait for a nod, and I infused my weapons and crossed my axes in front of me before gathering enough magic to blow up a building, but he spun and crossed his swords behind his back deflecting. I smiled,show off. I reabsorbed the magic and my skin started to glow as I spun one of the axes in my hand like a parlor trick, however the faster I spun the more magic I fused into the ax, like a wind-up toy of sorts. I threw the ax straight at him, but he was able to move out of the way. He smiled, thinking I was down a weapon, and pressed his advantage and attacked with a speed that took my breath away. I parried each of his strikes with my remaining ax, then I pivoted to the left, then quickly to the right. Using my instincts, I found myself summoning the magic I had infused into the ax, bringing the thrown ax back into my waiting hand, which I then used to strike down, with the blunt edge, on the left side of his ribs. I was Thor, motherfuckers. Fae-or? Tho-ae? Whatever.

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