Page 48 of Fated Unkindness
Kait and I make eye contact, her eyes burning with fire as determination for revenge savages her. She grits her teeth in an attempt to hold back the shift. I close in on her in two strides. Placing my hand on the scarred side of her face, I drop my chin, so our eyes level and our foreheads press together.
“You are a warrior, Kait Divins. Don’t let your emotions get in the way of what needs to be done. Do you hear me?” She jerks her chin in a tight nod. Steel settled over her features. “Let's go fuck up some assholes then.” A wicked grin breaks across my face, thinking of nothing else but finding Cano and making him pay. I have no doubt in my mind that he is behind this attack, and regardless of how much of a coward he is, he wouldn't want to miss the show. Kait’s shift erupts from her, fur replacing skin as the magic ripples, and she lands on four paws. Her deep blue eyes narrow on me as she growls her agreement, turning to the fight ahead of us. I watch as her cream wolf form takes off at a rapid pace.
Before I take flight, I risk a look over my shoulder in the direction that Melani ran off to. She is long gone. I run my hand over my face as I turn back toward the castle and take a deep breath. My worry settles into my stomach, but I push it away as I launch myself into the sky. I easily catch up to Kait just before she reaches the courtyard.
“Stay safe, beautiful,” I yell down to her as she launches herself into the air, crashing into another wolf that was about to attack unarmed guests. Her teeth sink deep into the shifter's throat. Sherips her head back, blood bursting from the Fae, before magic ripples and the female wolf shifts back into her Fae form, dropping dead at Kait's large paws. Her pale fur is stained crimson as blood runs down her chest from her dripping jowls. She barks up at me, and I know she's telling me to get on with it. I laugh as I continue further into the fight.
I recognize the guards attacking Loema, and the realization makes my rage boil to the surface. Fire ignites along my arms as I bring my feet to the ground and pummel one of the traitorous bastards in Cano's regime. My fire element engulfs his body in flames as I punch his sorry face in. With one hit, he is down, burning to a crisp.
Bodies are running in every direction, and the guards of Loema and Ravendene, once allies, are batting relentlessly. Blood and magic spin around me like a torrent of endless fire. I don’t waste any more time as I run to the center of battle with a cry of fury. Unsheathing my broadsword from my belt, I swing the heavy metal in a wide arc. I take two Ravendene guards' heads clean off. They roll in opposite directions before their bodies fall to the ground. I pivot as a soldier aims to plunge his dagger into my chest, narrowly avoiding the blow. I bring the hilt of my sword up into his nose hard. Bone crunches under the force, and blood pisses down his face.
“Take that motherfucker!” I grind out as I take a step back and sink my sword into his belly. His eyes whip up, meeting mine wide with shock as his life is ripped away. I pull the blade free, kicking him to the ground. I don’t spare an extra second before I take off again, cutting down Fae after Fae on my mission to find Cano. Eventually, as I make my way out of the castle and into thesurrounding city, I see someone who would know where to find the bastard I'm searching for. Flynn stands in the shadows of a building just before the tree line, a clean sword in hand.
Sheathing my large blade, I pull the dagger from my belt, and I storm the fucker. He begins to back up when he sees me approaching.Coward.
“Trent, wait… It’s not what you think, I'm loyal to you. To your brother. The Ravendene line. I swear it!” He rushes out, closing his eyes and putting his hands up in defense in front of his scrunched-up face.
“Tell me where he is,” I growl, placing my blade under his chin. His eyes open, and looks up to meet mine.
“He's in the trees just east, but Trent, he's got help. You need Dax. He is the only one who can face them and win. Please trust me.” He begs. A snarl builds in my throat, and I push him back against the wall. He sucks in a sharp breath as I hold him there with my dagger to his throat, his eyes round with fear. I could easily cut his throat for being stuck up Cano's ass all these years, but if he's telling the truth? Fuck. I pull my blade away from his neck and take a step back.
“I will end your sorry ass if I find out that you aren’t telling me the truth.”
“It’s the truth. I swear it.” He wipes sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand.
“Then go. Fight for Ravendene against those who attack Loema.” I order. He nods once, then takes off into the battle. I don’t have time to look for Dax. I’m going to find Cano and end the fucker who has caused all our lives to be upturned. Then I’ll drench myself in the blood of whoever stands in my way.
Chapter forty-six
I got to thecastle of Loema just moments before I heard the echoing screech. My head whips up as an enormous beast flies over my head. My eyes go round at the sight in front of me. I've heard stories, but that’s all they were. Tales of a time when Dragons lived in Aldramani and the Fae who could command them, but to see them with my own eyes? Claws so sharp they could cut a man in half and wings that cut the clouds like blades. All blood leaves my body at the sight of them. Then I see Cano and his men stomping forward in formation, ready to attack the Loema castle. I knew Cano’s plans to attack the castle, but I had no clue the length that he had gone. I had no idea that he would have this sort of power.
I was too late. It’s not enough time to warn anyone. I race through the chaos of bodies running in every direction. Screams erupt around me, and my heart thunders in its cage. A sea of guards flood into the cavernous space of the ballroom I'm aiming to reach. All are armed and ready to unleash their magic or shift as needed for them to protect their territory and its leader.
The leader of Loema is nowhere to be found… There shouldn’t be this amount of chaos. He had to have had wards in place; he would have been notified of my entrance, and warning bells should have been going off at the vast number of Cano’s group. Not to mention the dragons.. Some of his regime is shifted, and I’m guessing they likely have the Lord of Loema in their captivity already. With the protective wards up, the shifters would not be able to do so otherwise without the mark or special permissions from the Lord himself.
I need to find Raelle. I duck into a shadowy alcove and try to focus my mind on seeking Raelle out. I have a pull to her, so I should be able to single her mind out.
Visions of flying rubble and fire spilling from a dragon's mouth come to me. Flashes of death and blood spilled by a dagger that shines of the moon's light gripped in my hand. An arm reaches out and pulls me from the ground as a wolf shifter lunges for me, but I'm lifted clean off the ground, and I'm soaring through the air held by a man with black wings. Dax.
I blink, and the sight shifts to what’s in front of me. I must be seeing these visions through Raelle’s eyes. They are alive, for now. My eyes snap open just as a guard is thrown into the alcove I’ve hidden myself in. Using my air magic, I cast a barrier between us, protecting myself from the impact of his body. He falls to the ground, limp. I reach down, checking his pulse and as I suspected, he's dead.
Shifting my head back and forth, I scan for a way to get out of the castle. My need to reach Raelle is the most important, though I'd give anything to help these people who don’t deserve this vicious attack led by Cano. Bodies push past me in every direction,and finally, the sea of people drifts apart. I see a clear shot through one of the archways leading to a garden, and I waste no time as I take it. I charge a path through downed bodies and rubble caused by the large shifters. Out of the corner of my eye I see something charging at me, and I spin toward it. Before they reach me, the wolf shifter is pummeled by a Loema guard, just inches from taking me down too. I unsheathe my brother's twin blades, readying to defend myself. I'm almost to the archway when a harpy in Cano's group comes for me, her talons reaching for me. I run and slide across the ground, through the arch, just before she tears me to pieces in her deadly talons.
I hop up and press my body against the wall at the edge of the garden; most of the fight is still inside the ballroom or on the outer walls of the castle. A shadow falls over me before a male and female land in the garden in front of me. Raelle jumps out of Dax’s arms, dressed in a long white silk gown and war maiden armor with a crown atop her head. She knows.
A smile breaks across my face unabated. “RAELLE!” I bellow, gaining her and Dax’s attention. Their thoughts immediately blasting me with questions.Who is this? What is going on? Who is attacking Loema? Cano? Dragons?
Blocking out their torrent of questions from their minds, I dart forward, but Dax moves to intercept me, believing I'm a threat to his mate. I slow my pace and hold my hands up. “I came to warn you! I'm not the enemy. I didn't make it to you in time. You don't know how sorry I am about that, but there isn't time to explain right now. We need to get out of here.” Dax’s eyes narrow on me, and I understand that he would not trust me given the situation. “Look, my mother was part of the queen's war maidens. We are friendsof the crown. We need to either win this battle or get the fuck out of here, so I can explain what I know. You can trust me.” I plea with him.
“Fine. Fight with us. We don't retreat until it's a sure loss. Do you know Cano? Because I know this is him…” His words trail off as he scours the ruin around us.
“It is.” I agree.
“Find a way to get him to me. I want him alive.” His lip curls back as his gaze meets mine. Raelle stares at me, eyes wide. I feel her trying to get a read on me. I can sense that she has some empath abilities too, and I send over all the friendly vibes I can to ensure she knows that I'm no threat to her or her people. She seems to accept what I'm putting off, turning to face her mate.
“We need to find Trent and the others too. Keep your eyes peeled. It sounds like the fight is moving outside of the castle.”
Dax gives her a curt nod and then moves, keeping his twin short swords unsheathed and ready. He begins to make his way through the sea of blood and gore. All of these innocent souls were taken by Cano, and for what reason? Revenge? Greed? I could never get a solid read on to his why for all he was doing.
