Page 21 of The Dark War

Gripping her ass, I lifted her, so her head hung over mine. As she looked into my eyes, I could see the fatigue that circled her. My little queen didn’t sleep well last night. “I was wondering if you could question the fae soldiers.” Clara cocked her head to the side, giving me the perfect view of my mark on her shoulder. Pulling myself together, I heaved out a breath. “It would be helpful to find out what they remember before they attacked us, don’t you think?” Clara’s heavy eyes lit up, nodding her head frantically.

“That’s a great idea!” Kissing her roughly, I put her down, gently nuzzling into her neck. “I want at least three warriors around you at all times. Panthers and lions are in charge of the encampment today. I’ll gather them so they will watch you.” Clara hummed as she reached for her pack to put on leather pants and a corset top. My mouth watered as she tightened up the front. Her breasts still looked damn delicious, and I couldn’t wait for more that was promised me.

“Remember Kane, I’ve got a tally going on how many soldiers you can bring back alive. Beat the pack, and you get your special surprises.” She giggled, wiggling her chest.

I was going to win that damn prize.

Flipping the flap over, hearing it smack against the leather of the tent, three lions stood at the watering hole, filling their canteens. “You have guard duty at the camp?” They grunted in acknowledgment, slinging the packs over their bare chests. “See that tent over there? That’s the future queen’s tent.”

They stiffened their backs and crossed their right arm over the chest. “Your duty is to guard her for the day, the three of you. If I come back finding one hair missing from her pretty little head, I’ll let my wolf rip your dicks off and shove them up each other’s asses, you hear?” Nodding frantically, they ran to the tent to wait for my mate to appear.

Proud of myself, I stomped over to Osirus. He was already in his battle armor, adjusting his gloves, getting ready to mount his horse. “Plans?” I eyed him while Marcus strutted up with his hair a mess and pulling up his shorts. He reeked of fairy fae cotton candy shit that I couldn’t stand.

“Ready!” Marcus gave a mock salute as Osirus walked us over to the small group of generals. Generals Storm, Alaneo, and Major General Finley stood around the table lit with lanterns as we waited for the light sources to rise over the horizon.

“Daphne said there is a bunker, just to the east of the castle grounds near the sea. It’s located here and has been sprayed with scenting sprays. There is no magic or wards, so they could not be detected by the few witches that are willing to help us. Should be a clean sweep.” Alaneo huffed, pulling at his sword’s handle from the sheath. “War should be over with by dusk.” He pushed it harshly into his hip.

“Excellent work, Alaneo.” Osirus grabbed his shoulder, giving him a squeeze. This was why you shouldn’t fall in love or have relationships before finding your mate, because when you lose that someone because of their mate coming around, it hits twice as hard when you are stuck alone.

“Wolves and bears come around from the south, cheetahs and fae from the north?” Grumbling in agreement, I gathered the shifters accompanying my command and walked to the edge of the encampment. The shifters not a part of my pack stood tall, trying to show their willingness to help our new allies, but I couldn’t care less if they wanted to impress me.Just don’t die, and don’t freaking get in my way.

“Same as yesterday!” I yelled. “Retrieve, no kill, maim only if needed. Leave the fae to deal with the nobles. If we fight right, we will be finished by dusk.” Growls and roars filled the encampment as shifting ensued. Torin howled with fury, bursting right out of our shorts.

The land to the south was a smooth run. The pounding of hundreds of shifters with their paws on the grasses as we traveled the long way around kept my heart light. Our speed was fast enough that we would meet the target at almost the same time the fae would meet the enemy’s hiding spot.

Growling, keeping our vocal cues to a minimum, we arrived at our destination ahead of schedule. We all sat in the shadows of the Fairy Forest until we were to be given word to attack. Marcus licked his teeth as he watched for the flicker of blue light we were seeking. My gaze goes back to the wolves, lions, and cheetahs that accompanied. Some were very young and shivered with fear. Those who shivered were the bravest among us or were just plain stupid.

The light flickered in the distance. Marcus headed the charge as I stayed in the middle of the pack. I kept my body crouched low until the hiding fae soldiers rushed from the other side of the cave-like bunker. Their eyes fogged over, just as Clara had seen yesterday. They kept their swords outward, ready to slash into the surrounding shifters. Many fell, feeling the blood pour from their wounds.

Fur flew into the air. The ripping of flesh beside me had me swipe the fae attacking a fellow wolf. I roared into the fae’s face, causing spit to paint his pointed facial features. Blood poured from the wound by gripping his arm and breaking it in half. Torin pushed for me to break his neck, but our loyalty was to our luna, our mate. We would not kill this day.

One fae dared to blow his sword into my hind leg. Dropping the screaming fae in front of me, my claws reared back, swiping the sword from his hands. His head pulled back in fear, falling to the sand.

Howling, I had the front line of warriors retreat far enough so they could heal. My claws ripped through flesh on the back of the fae in front of me. The fae couldn’t heal as quickly, leaving them stranded in the sand. They shrieked in pain, but as soon as enough blood pooled beneath them, the fog retreated from their eyes. Standing by one that shook their head in confusion, my half-beast form hovered over them.

“Please! I don’t know what’s going on!” The blood from my maw dripped on their leg. Trying to scoot away from the sandy area, I held out my claw for them to cease. “I mean no harm.” I panted. “Now that you are lifted from your magic.” Shifters dragged fae by the collars of their uniform with their teeth to the one I stood over, now protecting the small group of wounded fae that now lay in the sand. Many gripped their wounds, huddling together.

More and more fae were knocked out of the fog, questioning why they were on the beach in the first place. “Where is Osirus?” I mind-linked Marcus, who was in the middle of his own fight. His face was covered with blood, and his head jerked to the cave just beyond him.

Taking mighty strides to the cave, my paws sank into the hot sand as the sun had risen halfway above the water. My colossal form bent over to walk further into the cave. Lanterns hung in the dark, and yells and screams echoed in my ears until I reached a door at the end. The few fae farm folk stood at the door, holding their dull swords, eyeing inside.

“Alpha.” One bowed in the sign of the shifter. “His Majesty is inside, taking care of… them.” His eyes squinted shut, hearing a rip and an ear-piercing scream that made my own body shutter. Pushing the door wider, I saw Osirus and Alaneo hovering over eight members of the fae Court lying in pools of blood. Wings laying on the floor, throats gutted, and clothes hanging off bodies. Only one soul remained.

Cosmo.

Osirus’s heavy breaths could be seen in the firelight, the light in front of him casting an evil shadow on the walls. His body stiffened hearing my claws scrape the cave floor. “You missed the show.” Osirus chuckled. For the usual playful and damn right annoying fairy, he seemed creepy as shit. His head turned, slowly turning his body toward me. Blood splattered across his perfectly silver face.

“I left one.” His fangs glistened in the firelight. I hadn’t even known they had fangs. “I told him I’d feed him to the dogs, but I guess you will have to do.”

There he was, that cocky little piece of shit.

Growling, I stepped forward, gripping Cosmo’s throat. The fae pissed himself, screaming for his mommy like a little shit. My maw came close to his face, opening my mouth to let his eyes feast on the rows of sharpened teeth. Pulling my head back, I chuckled, dropping him to the ground.

“How about you do your little trial you fae like to do. Public humiliation?” Osirus grinned maliciously.

“Ah yes, delayed gratification.” He hummed as Alaneo wiped off his blade. Sheathing his sword, I nodded to the both of them, seeing they had things under control and left.

The battle outside was already over. The magical haze wiped away from the once enemy’s eyes. “More troops near the palace,” Marcus barked out, getting my attention. I howled, getting the shifters’ attention.

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