Page 72 of Seized to Sacrifice
‘Liathmor.’
With that one word, Rye was wide awake and sitting up before she could blink. ‘Can’t be.’
He and Nyx shared a look and drew the swords that lay next to them.
Elle frowned. What did they know that they weren’t telling her?
* * *
Thorne
Thorne could hearthe others and turned on his side away from them. They could act like the loving family if they wanted, pretending as if the last few millennia hadn't happened, but he couldn't.
How could they forgive her so easily? Perhaps it was because she was giving them what they secretly yearned for; companionship for Nyx and magick for Rye. Cunning bitch.
He closed his eyes, intending on going back to sleep, but his ears perked up as he heard Nyx say a name he hadn't heard in a very long time. He got to his feet, drawing his own sword.
‘They’re long dead,’ he muttered.
‘Can you not feel it?’ Nyx said.
Thorne could; an unnatural terror that made him want to curl up and hide like a child under the covers. He thought he’d felt something at the keep yesterday, but it had been gone before he could be sure.
Something whispered in his mind.
Hide them.
Thorne shivered, holding the voice at bay.
Stay the fuck out of my mind.
Nyx got to his feet and Thorne did the same.
‘We can’t win against a Liathmor here. Hide us.’ Nyx demanded.
Thorne shook his head. ‘I can’t.’
‘Enough, Brother,’ Nyx ground out low. ‘We know the Beast has returned. We know that he is very close to the surface even now. Do it or those things will take Elle and kill us in ways it will take years to come back from.’
Thorne shook his head again. He couldn't do it. He didn't have that kind of power without the—
* * *
The Beast
The Beast stretched.He looked around, hiding his unit and his mate’s scents and presences from the Liathmor. He already knew what was happening. He’d been watching closely.
He could feel them nearby. More than one. Ancient and powerful Dark Realm creatures that shouldn’t exist anymore. They couldn’t be fought here. They couldn’t be seen in this realm.
‘It is done,’ he said, wondering if his Brothers were going to attack him, try and take him back to the keep to lock him away.
But they just looked relieved. He regarded them from across the fire and they did the same. The last time they’d seen him, he’d been in the dungeon, caged for trying to kill them in the rage that had lasted for so many years.
Elle stepped forward, and Nyx grabbed her by the shoulder.
‘No,’ he said, but she shrugged Nyx off, coming to him.
She practically threw herself into his arms. He hugged her back and kissed her, put his forehead to hers.
