Page 115 of The Lands Defying
I cough up more blood, choking on it, and the massive wolf pauses, looking down at my chest, then back up to my face.
There is something in his eyes, something I’m not sure what it means.
But then he opens his mouth slightly, positioning himself so I can see all of his many, many teeth.
I can’t move, I can’t tell him to stop.
I’m frozen as I silently cry.
It’s only when a purple glow comes from his mouth, only when he growls and releases it, do I then make a noise.
It’s only then that I scream.
Thirty Two
Darius
“Where’s the kid,” I dare to ask Leo as I enter Rhea’s cabin, making my way to the kitchen.
My men and some other Elites have set up here, restoring it as best as we can to what it was before we destroyed it.
I want something Rhea can come back to, some comfort.
I don’t think she will get that at Vokheim so I’m making sure things are ready for her. Most of the cabins have been repaired and the gathering will have new benches soon. We replaced all pots, cutlery, and mugs, made new furniture and even brought in protection crystals which have been placed next to the dead lilk trees.
It’s been nearly fourteen days since I last saw Rhea. Fourteen days of this dead thing within my chest beating cold blood around my body to keep me moving.
“He’s been put in a cabin on the outskirts,” Leo replies, and I grunt, crouching to put the last of the table together. “Brother, you need rest.”
I shake my head even as my shoulders slump. I haven’t stopped in two weeks, searching day and night for any sign ofher. Fuck, the only reason I’m here now is to finish off the table, and to make sure my Elites are doing what they were ordered to, even though my brothers are seeing that they do.
I just needed to see it for myself. Needed to see that when she’s back, she sees comfort and not destruction.
“The lands?” I pick up the large piece of wood, placing it on the four legs and adjusting it.
“Chaos,” Leo replies on a sigh. “From last we spoke, there have been more hangings, more trials, but the Highers have been silent apart from that.”
“They must know by now that something is wrong.” First Aiden, now Frederick and Mathew are missing? Charles must know something is wrong. “What else?” I demand.
Leo huffs, knowingIknow he’s stalling. “You received a letter to attend Wolvorn and take your place as Higher.”
My body locks up, and I hammer a nail in with a bit too much force that I have to physically restrain myself. “That won’t happen.”
“I know, brother, but you need to reply.”
“No.”
“Darius.”
“No. I won’t reply, and I won’t give them what they want.”
“We don’t know if someone ported out in The Deadlands and told the Highers what they witnessed, but if you don’t at least respond with a letter, they will be suspicious.”
“Let them,” I grunt. “Let them fucking come. And while we wait, have those posters released into the lands.”
I can feel his tension instantly. “Do you think now is the right time?”
“Are you questioning me?” I ask, body tense.
