Page 38 of The Dark War

The palace was in an uproar when we reached the top of the stairs. Marcus was ordering wolves to check our bed chambers and extra guards in front of Raine and Dean’s room that now held our daughter. My body stiffened, watching everything in front of me flash back and forth between the seams of dreams and reality.

Blood dripped from the steps of a fallen warrior was one of those bodies we could not find. Its head lay at the bottom of the steps, eyes staring at me. A lion was calling my name as he was pushed back into a corner with three bears. Kane, ripping one of the bear’s throats as I ran to help.

“Goddess,” I whispered.

“Luna!” The cry was distinct and familiar, the beautiful dark fae that laid lifeless before me in my dreams now full of life.

Jumping from Kane’s arms, he growled behind me, bellowing me to stop. I couldn’t stop now, not when I was almost there, returning the memories from which we had all lost. The heat of Kane’s breath had my scruff stand on end as I tried to follow the darkness.

Once swallowed whole by darkness, Skye reappeared, her sword taken from her sheath as the vampire leaped in front of the cloaked figure. His fangs sparkled against the setting sun, pushing it into her chest.

“Clara!” Kane roared behind me, gripping me, and feeling the strange repeating scene all over again had me whimper. The dream sequence faded, the darkness falling around me until my green eyes met back with my mate. “Fucking hell, baby, what are you doing?! We don’t know if the palace is secure!” His half form hovering over me, something about the strength in his arms had me melting away Giana’s wolf. My body shifted so quickly that I barely felt a crack in my bones.

“Fuck.” Kane gripped me tightly, the warmth of his fur enveloping me again. How many times had he saved me in the last few weeks? Far too many. I seemed to keep putting my nose where it shouldn’t belong, trying to put things together all on my own.

“I’m sorry.” I pulled on the thickness of his fur. His piercings also shifted with his beast, rubbing against my cheek.

“We are going back to the room.” He growled at not only me, but soldiers standing by, watching in curiosity.

“Alpha.” One fae soldier dared approach. Kane’s eyes glared at him in a warning.

“Osirus has another room for the both of you. Your room was too close to Princess Melina. It has been compromised. Please, follow me.” Kane growled, his fangs dripping with his saliva. If I wasn’t in so much trouble, I’m sure I would have a snarky comment to go with that.

I whimpered, feeling Kane’s anger. I couldn’t recall him ever being this mad, and this time I was sure it was directed toward me. His furred eyes softened as my heart raced deeper in my chest. My body tensed up as his large, padded feet and claws clicked against the surface of the floor.

“His Majesty gives his thanks. Melina will take a few days to heal, but overall, she’s in good health.” The soldier bowed, opening the door for Kane. Kane’s tall stature warranted him to bend over to get in the room.

“I should go check on Evelyn.” I tried to wiggle free, but Kane’s grip tightened.

“Raine just linked me. She’s fine, sleeping in their room.” My body slacked as Kane leaned over the bed and placed me delicately on the fluffy white comforter. Kane’s body cracked. I looked away, knowing I would see the disappointment in his eyes.

I didn’t usually run when he called for me; I stopped and listened to what he had to say because it was important. But this memory, the one that could link me back to all the other memories of the days battling against Osirus’s rogue soldiers, could have been a key to something greater. I couldn’t let it slip away. Giana was so close to sewing in that last piece.

Kane’s body, now completely in his skin, let out a breath. He walked over to the only small window in the room. It was less luxurious than the previous room, but it was homey and made me feel safer than having a massive suite. The room was dark, having to use my enhanced vision to see Kane’s face.

It was contemplative, not the normal face my mate would have. His mouth would open and close to say something, but he immediately rubbed his face with his calloused hand.

“Clara, I—” His once prideful stature faltered, and his shoulders slumped. “I don’t know how to fix it.” His hand ran through his hair. “I know you are going through a lot, and I can’t fucking fix it!” His eyes glowed bright gold, Torin seeping forward until his fist went right through the wall beside the window. I gasped, scrambling off the bed to run to him.

His hand flew out, having me pause until he took another swing, this time ruining the lamp beside him. I didn’t wait anymore. My arms were slung around his waist in an instant.

“I’m sorry you are mad at me. I’m sorry I ran!” Kane winced when I began to plead for forgiveness. It was all me; I was screwing things up. Trying to be a princess, a luna, a mate, a mother—it was all so much. On top of it all, this magic made me forget. I was losing it. I couldn’t be all these things.

“Mate.” Kane pulled me up, making me wrap my legs around his body. “I am not mad at you.” His nose trailed my mark, automatically licking it. Thrumming in my clit was felt, but I tried to concentrate on him. He needed me. He needed me to sate him. “I’m mad I can’t make things better, easier,” he grumbled. Rubbing my nose on his shoulder, I sniffed.

“Did you just… wipe your nose on me?” I snorted, shaking my head. “No,” I mumbled. Pulling me back, his fingers gripped my chin. Kane was too darn handsome for his own good. Any woman would be happy to do whatever this wolf said to please him, and here I was running off.

“I know you are strong.” Kane gulped. “You are strong here.” He pointed to my heart. “Here.” He pointed to my head. “Here.” He pulled up my arm, making me flex my bicep. “And most of all, here.” He pulled me forward, having me kiss his lips. His lips were soft as he massaged them. The heat of his breath fanning my neck.

“And I know you follow through when you have a mission.” I hummed, putting my head back on his shoulder. Leading me to the bed, he sat at the headboard, making me straddle him. “I want to protect you, keep you safe. You want to protect everyone else and bear the weight on you.”

“You are getting awfully philosophical on me,” I muttered. He chuckled, rubbing my back. We were both completely naked, but the gentle hums in his chest had me feeling more at ease. “It isn’t like you.”

“Maybe you are just rubbing off on me,” he defended. I felt the smile on his lips as he grazed his mark. “Now tell me, what did you see, not unless you were just wanting me to spank the shit out of your ass for running away from me.”

“I might like that,” I whispered. His deep chuckle went straight to my lady parts, but I had to tell him.

“Two figures? One covered with a cloak and the other a vampire with crazy ass rings?” Nodding my head frantically, I played with my own fingers. One finger in particular held a ring that Kane gave me. It had magical properties to change sizes when I shifted. It was one of a kind, passed down from his mother.

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