Page 22 of The Dark War

“The lot of you.” I growled, pointing to the large group of fae soldiers shaking in fear. “You bears, stay with them. The rest move on to the palace.” The bears roared back, standing on their feet in agreement as I mind-linked the pack to follow.

Taking the shortcut through the forest, wolves jumped over streams, logs, and the underbrush. More bottles we found just two days before littered the ground. “You see that?” Marcus linked, nearly tripping over the bottles. I grunted, continuing to run.

“I’m starting to think Cosmo was on the tip of the iceberg on this. He was getting help elsewhere. What do you think?” I grunted again, not in the mood to talk. Torin was screaming for more blood as we approached the palace walls. Sets of red eyes and a male with a black cloak jumped over the wall before I could catch a good look.

“There.” I pointed to them. “I smell them.” Marcus took half the warriors, almost questioning my hand movements for him to take the shifters around with him to find the gate while I scaled the wall. My claws were so sharp that they seeped into the brick, leaving white marks on the pristine white granite. I’d leave my mark all over Bergarian, and Osirus wouldn’t have any say over it.

Once I reached the top of the courtyard, I stood and held the pointed spire, leaning over the grounds. The courtyard was bare. No sign or smell of any vampire or witches. There was no way that I imagined it. Torin sniffed as well, not doubting what we saw. But there was no smell, not even a shred of hair on top of the wall.

“See anything?” Marcus called out. I grunted, piercing my palm with my claws.

“No.” I huffed, jumping from the wall. Landing in front of him, I eyed the bloody mess of warriors. “Check the palace. Bring all servants and anyone wandering the castle for questioning by their true king.” The shifters behind Marcus stormed the steps while I continued to scout the courtyard.

Marcus shifted, walking in the buff. “Great job, done by lunchtime. I guess we really got them all. Maybe one of the scouts was mistaken when they linked me.” Torin’s claws lengthened more, hair standing on the back of our neck. “Uh, not done?” Marcus looked up at me as we climbed up the stairs. Howls inside the palace doors had me run halfway up the stairs. Shifting behind me, Marcus hurled in front, sliding to burst through the decorative palace doors as we watched the shifters continue to pull on the legs of the fae.

“Can none of my warriors mind-link and let me know what the fuck is going on!?” I howled, scratching the perfectly polished floors. Marcus whined, pawing my leg. His eyes flashed with his wolf and back to his blue-colored eyes. Holy shit, they really can’t mind-link.

Chapter Twelve

Clara

Thelionsbehindmehad been stalking me all morning. Their movements were fluid, very much catlike and their quick reactions to things falling beside me, such as leaves, a canteen or any sudden movements by others, never went unnoticed. The glares they sent to other shifters daring to speak with me left them cowering.

Lions, if they were anything like the animals of Earth, were dominant creatures, very alpha-male and very territorial. I wondered how these three male lions could stand to be around each other. In my time here in Bergarian, I had not spoken to many shifters other than wolves.

“If you don’t mind me asking,” I questioned while we went to the next group of captured fae soldiers, “I was wondering, with such powerful auras you have”—they puffed up their chests as I turned around to stop them in their tracks—“how do males get along since you are lions? With wolves, they just accept the head alpha and live among the pack, the same as a full animal. How does it work for lions?” One lion scratched the blonde scruff on his chin, thinking how to word his answer.

“Well, you see,” he muttered, “we don’t have large packs like wolves do. We can inflict enough damage with just a few lions. Wolves like to hunt in packs, while male lions do not.” I hummed, begging him to continue. “We have a head alpha lion that is in control of the pride land territory, but there are several other sub-communities within the said territory. We can usually handle each other in small groups, but too many male lions cause trouble.” I hummed in agreement.

“And all the males get along with the head lion?” The one lion with white hair and red eyes that I had seen in his shifted form of a beautiful albino lion stepped back. “The head alpha lion earns the title. He is not born into it. He fights for the right. Every five years, we hold a ceremony, and lions fight for the head position. The strongest male gets to rule over us all, and we do not question unless ethical issues arise.”

“Ethical issues?” I questioned, having them follow me to the fifth group of fae to question.

“Yes, ethical. Such as taking on a mate that is not your destined, fighting for rutting rights if a female is in heat and refuses you. Most males cannot control themselves, especially the head alpha. It is required to gain permission from the female for the male to tend to her during her heat. The head alpha has a strong desire to want to plant his seed to continue his line, true mate or not. If the alpha cannot control it, he is deemed unworthy and has to be fought with the rest of the males.” My face formed into disgust. I was glad wolves didn’t act like that.

“It’s a very thought-out process, not as barbaric as it may seem. Lions are strong, and the animal can overpower the human form rather quickly. Females and males both drink a special tea to ward off pregnancy, so our animals do not bear young of those we are not destined to. Wolves have done a better job when working with their animals. That is why wolves are the royals.” The albino shifter shifted into his lion. He let out a fierce human scream turned roar while the fuzzy mane fluffed on his head. I paid no attention to him, continuing on my walk until I felt him rubbing his fluffy head on my hip.

It was so fluffy!

I restrained myself, gripping my fingers into a fist so I wouldn’t dare touch him. “Better watch out, or Kane will be after you,” I warned. The shifters behind me chuckled.

“He is scenting you as his queen. His animal wants to show his support.” I stiffened until he was finished, unsure if I should keep walking while he assaulted my leg with his excessive purring. The blonde chuckled. I trudged on seeing the last group of fae in the tent.

Lifting the flap, the three lions stood behind me as I walked in. Fifty fae stared back at me with wide eyes. The tent was not only filled with worried looks but those of anger with the panther warriors staring down at them. “That’s enough.” I waved for the panthers to leave. “I think they are out of their trance now. Go help the other tents and get those fae fed and suited up. They all want to help if it is called for.”

The panthers left the tent, but the lions stayed by my side. “I know you all are scared right now, not understanding what’s going on. I’m here to help.”

One fae shouted in anger. “How do we know that? I woke up with a wolf gnawing on my ankle!” His fist raised, and the albino lion lashed out and pinned him to the ground with a heavy pounce. The lion’s breath was so heavy that it had the fae rearing its head deeper into the dirt.

“That’s enough!” I yelled as he let the fae sit back up. He turned, bowing his head to return to his place by my side. This was going to get annoying so fast. At least Kane knew when to calm down. Rubbing my eyebrow, I looked at the shaken fae in the room.

“Look, you all have just healed and are confused, but this happened,” I began explaining. I told them about the heavy fog that was over their eyes and their disregard for King Osirus as they tried to shoot arrows into his heart. Their faces of confusion went to horror, all the same looks that had appeared in the other tents. None of them had any idea what they were doing, and they were all ashamed.

“Listen, it isn’t your fault. There has to be something that connects the dots here of why you can’t remember.” I pulled out the decorative vial that I had kept in my pocket. The witches found a few more scattered around the battlefield where the generals had sat on their horses. Still, they could not find what ingredients sat inside. The vials were small enough for anyone to contain in a pocket and contained a highly concentrated dose to work on so many.

“Does anyone recognize this?” I wasn’t expecting an answer. The other fae did not know, but I saw one lonely hand raised at the far back of the tent. This fae woman was smaller than the rest. Her darkened skin and deep purple hair had me picking her out instantly. “I… I recognize it.” Her voice shook.

Rushing to her, I had her stand up, only a head taller than me but shorter than the average fae. I begged her for answers. Some fae scoffed when she stood, sending unapproved glances. My face contorted in confusion as I held out the vial to her. “Don’t mind them,” she whispered. “I’m a bit of a klutz and not the most graceful.” Her hand traced the vial, and I growled warningly at the fae that dared look at her. Giana didn’t like the idea of these fae disrespecting her.

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