Page 50 of Moon Raven Rising
“Dick. Serves you right.” He says before leveling his eyes on me. “Let’s get the fuck out of here.”
“Where the fuck is Cano?” I ask, still cradling Kait’s head to my chest. Flynn shakes his head, swallowing hard.
“The guards took him elsewhere. Soren was with them.” He says.
“Ok, try to be as quiet as you can. You haven’t been captured for long. They could be down here still. Don’t engage unless you know you can win.” He gives me a quick dip of his chin, sheathing the blade he took from the guard at his hip.
My booted feet are nearly silent as I make my way through the dark tunnels under the castle. Kait groans in my arms, and my focus sharpens. I need to get us far from here. Corner after corner, these tunnels are like a labyrinth, and as I turn the sixth corner, I curse under my breath as it brings us to an opening where a guard sleeps on a stool. Judging by the ale, or lack thereof, in the tankard hanging from his grip, he will likely be out for a little while. This brings a smile to my face. Flynn reaches my flank and leans in close.
“I remember him. He will be an easy one to get past.” He whispers, and I nod.
“Sorry, sweetheart,” I say under my breath before adjusting Kait by throwing her over my shoulder. She protests weakly, but I have to get a better angle on getting this fuckers keys if I’m to get us through the door he’s supposed to be watching, and I sure as hell won’t be putting her down. The way that Flynn has been shuffling behind me, I know he won’t be up for the task.
Leaning in my nose wrinkles at the stench of the bastard. I’ve been a prisoner for weeks before without a bath, and I’m sure that this motherfucker has to be the smelliest I’ve ever encountered. The keys let out a slight jingle when I pull them from his belt, and he stirs from the noise, making me freeze with them in my fist as I hover above him with teeth gritted. Praying to the gods that Kait doesn’t make any sounds.
When the oaf starts snoring, I let out my held breath and begin backing away from him and to the door. Turning the key, the heavy lock clicks loudly, causing me to pause again. But when he doesn’t react, I pull the door open, allowing Flynn to leave and slip Kait and I through. My heart pounds furiously in my chest as I struggle to stay on my feet.
My power continues to wane from the way I had to use it earlier, sapping what little energy I had out of me, but I refuse to give up. I refuse to let Kait endure any more pain than she already has. Nothing will get in my way of saving her from this torture.
The door takes us to a long, narrow hall that is lit dimly by fire magic sconces burning and placed scarcely on either side. I don’t see any other doors other than the one we came from. This could be a mistake, but I’m following my instinct and taking the path anyway. Just as I get to what seems like the middle of the corridor, the fire magic goes out, and we are thrust into pure darkness.
I freeze for a moment, but when nothing else happens, I keep my feet moving. The stone path becomes softer just as warmth washes over me. The air changes and a salty heaviness fills my lungs as relief washes over me. It has to mean we are close to the end. Just as the thought enters my mind though, the ground shakes, and sunshine blasts into what I realize is an enormous space I’m standing in the middle of. Only a breath later to be blocked out entirely as a sulfuric wind—which I realize quickly is not wind at all, but the breath of a dragon. As it blows my disheveled hair away from my face, I hear Flynn curse at my side.
“Kait, baby?” I tap my hand on the back of her leg frantically, trying to get her to wake up but she doesn’t move. My wings burst from my back as fear for not just my own life, but for the female slumped over my shoulder as well. Grinding my teeth, Ilaunch us into the air, aiming straight for the gap beyond the enormous dragon that just landed, blocking out the only path I see that can lead us to freedom.
Chapter forty
As though I canfeel each step he takes toward me, my skin crawls with each resounding stomp of his boots. It’s not a nervous energy, but the magic of the moon and each of my bonds. It fills me with strength. That is coupled with the blood in my veins and the support from the man fate has chosen as my equal.
“My gods,” Soren’s jaw falls slack when he lays eyes on me. Although he’s not really looking at me. His eyes are wide with fascination as he takes in the shadow magic I let drape my body in an inky black waterfall.
The shadows caress my body in a way that I know is Dax’s doing. His gentle reminder that he is here and I have his support. I keep my face blank, regardless of the way my posture stiffens as he approaches me. He comes too close for my comfort, and when he reaches out to touch me, the shadowsstrike his hand, like a mother scolding a child. He rears back with a laugh. I would laugh too had I been the one who controlled the movement. Again, Dax’s doing.
“Lord Soren, the king is demanding an audience. The commotion has woke him, and he says his dragon senses—” The guard who is addressing Soren approaches and his words fail as his eyes finally land on me and my shadow gown. “Oh my gods,” His mouth moves, trying to dispel more words, but nothing comes. He looks to Soren, who only has a look of smug satisfaction painting his face. Soren ignores him.
“Oh little bird, how good you look bathed in darkness.” The low rumble of his voice makes me clench my teeth together as he comes in close, and I tilt my head at him, trying to keep my emotions tucked away. The shadows follow my command, as I put a barrier in place and put distance between us. His laughter fills the space and snaps the guard out of whatever trance he’s been stuck in seeing the magic I’m cloaked in.
“How are you feeling, pet?” Soren purrs in the same way that always makes me sick, but he does keep space between us, still studying each movement I make.
I don’t have to answer his question though, because soon after the words left his lips, there is a commotion of shouting, a deep rumbling voice demanding to know what is going on. King Phyrrohs storms the halls, barreling toward the doorway that will lead to us. My eyes flick up to meet Soren’s. He’s frantically looking around, panicked, and blotchy red skin is crawling up his neck with his discontent. My eyes narrow on him.
“Get her back to the tower. NOW!” He pushes the nearest guard. A man I have seen before. Mostly in passing, he has not been one to escort me or guard over my quarters before. Young, probably just barely ascended.
“Yes, sir.” He moves in to offer me an escort but thinks twice before approaching the slithering shadows that dance aroundme.Smart kid.“Follow me,” he says, swallowing hard and raising his chin, starting for the door.
“No! Not that way. Use the passages.” Soren barks in a hushed tone, pointing to one of the dark archways. The boy nods, quickly changing his path. Soren’s eyes never leave me as I pointedly ignore him. He catches my arm in his grip as I pass him and spins me, and forces me to look him square in his eyes. He leans forward, his lip curling the smallest amount.
“If you so much as try anything at all. The man that lays in that cave in Castenelle will be burnt to ash and let go on the wind.” He growls, his hot breath heating the skin on my cheek. Slowly, I let my face morph into something else. I soften my features and bring my hand up to his cheek, like a lover’s touch. The shadows around me quiver with Dax’s anger.
“I owe you everything and more. All of this is because of you. You have shown me what I didn’t know I needed to see.” I say gently before sweeping past him and approaching the weary guard who is to lead me back to my pretty prison. As soon as my face is turned away, my lips curl into a smile as a reaction to my words, like a double-sided blade. Each one of them was true… However, the only thing he will be getting from me is a Meraki-sized hole through his over-puffed chest.
Just as we slip from the room, I feel Dax at my side. Still hidden within the shadows, but his presence is unmistakable. The passage is narrow, but the guard doesn’t complain, though. I know he and Dax at my back must be cramped in the tight quarters meant for the usually much smaller waitstaff, not the hulking form of the soldiers in Aldramani.
The guard stops, peeking his head out of the next dark archway, and then steps through, grunting for me to follow him. I move to follow, but I’m tugged back by the shadows wrapped around my waist and pressed against the wall.
Dax slowly materializes; the twin flames in his eyes show first, then the rest of his face comes into view as his body presses into me. He leans down, his lips hovering over mine, and my heart flutters.
“Dax,” I say breathless. He silences me with the warm press of his lips. The chaste kiss threatens to bring me to my knees. We don’t have much time until the guard realizes I’m not right behind him. I press my hand onto Dax’s chest, pushing so I can see into his eyes.
