Page 71 of Conflicted Fate
Everyone nodded in unison. The plan was set. We all knew what was at stake. Clive, Andi, and Gare headed off on their mission, leaving me alone with Kiel. The two of us against a monster.
“Anything more?” Kiel asked as we stared at the streets littered with bodies.
Bodies that would’ve been spent in vain if I couldn’t come through with my end of the bargain.
“Not yet,” I said. “She’ll be there, though.”
“How can you be sure?”
“Because she has to be!”I shouted, not wanting to think of the alternative.
We set out, following our army up the tiers of Nycitum as we battled Lycaonus’ forces level by level, until finally the doors to the Grand Forge lay open before us.
Inside was a giant courtyard. Outside was our remaining army. The city secured. Only one thing left to do.
Kill an unkillable Alpha.
Kiel and I walked in through the final set of gates. There, at the far side of the courtyard, awaited Lycaonus, standing at the top of a set of stairs leading deep into the mountain. He held a sword in his right hand, tip resting on the ground, and a dagger strapped to his waist, a pointless backup given the power he already controlled.
“I always knew it would come down to you,” Lycaonus said. “All these years, my old friend, and it’s come back to you.”
“I’m not your friend,” Kiel spat. “Maybe once, a long time ago. But we are not those people anymore, are we?”
“No, I suppose we aren’t,” Lycaonus agreed. “I see you’ve got yourself a woman now. About time.”
Kiel shook his head. “She’s far more than ‘my woman.’ Not that you would understand.”
“You can’t stop me,” Lycaonus cackled, resting one finger on top of his sword’s hilt and moving it in a circle, the tip still resting on the stone stair. “Not with this in my hand.”
“We’ll see about that,” Kiel growled, looking at me. “Anything?”
“Not. Yet.” I said stiffly.
“So, uh, what do we do, then?”
Lycaonus abruptly stopped twirling his sword and snatched it up, leveling it at us.
“You die,” he said calmly as a bright green spear of light shot from the tip.
Chapter Thirty-Six
Kiel and I leaped away from one another as the beam swung through an arc proscribed by Lycaonus’ arm.
I landed, rolling into a ball and looking back as the beam melted through stone and metal wherever it touched it, boiling it away into nothing. If that touched either of us …
Where are you?I called into my mind.I could really use your help right about now. We’ve got Lycaonus in the open. We can do this. I just need your help!
Only silence greeted my plea.
You can’t sit this one out, damnit! We’re doing this for you, Fate. Stop cowering in your temple and help us!
Lycaonus laughed from the top of step as Kiel and I got to our feet, looking at each other warily, our gazes on the sword. For all the power it held, it was a thoroughly plain piece of metal, unadorned by any jewelry or markings. A simple steel blade, with a black wrapped handle.
“Your army will be as nothing before me,” the Alpha said. “You’ve sentenced them all to death, I hope you know that. Their blood will be onyourhands.”
“Says the guy who intends to kill them,” I growled. “That’s the thing about people like you. You don’t realizeyou’rethe problem. You intend to kill them. That means their blood is onyou.Moron. You don’thaveto kill them. You could surrender and—”
“Never!” Lycaonus screamed.
