The Lost Alliance (Rise of the Drakens Book 2)

by Raven Storm

  I whirled around, my mouth dropping open. “WHAT?” I stomped the ground, fuming. “I’ll just shift there. You can’t stop me.”

  Benedict’s eyes flashed, his lips tightening into a thin line. “Don’t make me order you. I don’t want to.”

  Thad moved closer to me and I hissed at him. He put his hands up and took a step back.

  “Give me a reason. I’m not one of your subjects; I don’t blindly follow you.” Kieran’s words rang in my ears, and I held them close to my chest. Benedict’s own words from my coronation came back to me, ringing in my ears. Queen in my own right.

  “I am your queen.”

  Thad sucked in a gasp, and I could see it was on the tip of Benedict’s tongue to argue I was one of his subjects and his queen, but I didn’t give him the chance.

  “Is this how it’s going to be?” I pleaded, trying to make him understand. “I do what you tell me so that you trust me, I acquit myself in battle, and you still don’t trust me? Next time I will simply go off alone, since your regard is a lost cause.”

  He snarled, knowing I had him.

  “Please, let me do this for you,” Thad said softly

  My head twisted painfully fast as I sneered at him, incredulous that he’d abandon his men so easily—the people who relied on him.

  “And what would you know about any of this? You should be with your men!”

  His eyes shot to Benedict who stood slowly, sighing.

  “Tell her—it may convince her.”

  “Tell me what?” I shot back.

  Thad’s mouth opened, but then a large boom was heard further down the tunnels.

  “Shit,” Thad said helpfully. Benedict growled.

  “I knew Davos was a filthy little traitor.”

  “You don’t know that—”

  “RUN!”

  A wall of flame rushed towards us. Benedict threw himself in front of me as a shield and grabbed Thad’s hand at the last moment. We disappeared in a wisp of dark shadows, reappearing further down the passageway, in a different set of tunnels. My ears strained, trying to tell if more flames were rushing towards us.

  The flames bellowed down the next corridor, and Benedict grabbed us again. We vanished and appeared in the alley with the sewer entrance we had used our first night in town.

  “Move!”

  We dove out of the alley at the same moment the tunnels exploded, heat sizzling against our backs as it demolished everything below the city.

  “Guess I can’t stay back now,” I noted to no one in particular. Benedict looked torn, but Thad put a placating hand on his chest.

  “I’ll watch her and keep her safe. You fight. Besides, she has magicks and can shift like you, can’t she?”

  Benedict knew he had no real argument or place to stash me, so he simply huffed and took to the air, snatching Thad in his arms. I scoffed and flew after him. The city below us was chaos. vampyres and demons were running, human slaves were screaming, and there were only a few lykos. Everyone was making their way to the palace—the large, sandstone building that rose from the center of the city. We landed just inside the outer wall, crouching in a well-kept garden. The palace was massive, though built mostly favoring an open-air concept. It was easy to see the advancing human army spilling out onto the rotunda, entering from a forgotten dungeon passageway.

  “Well, sounds like Davos isn’t that much of a traitor if the rebels got in.”

  All of us ducked as another explosion rocked the building, sending debris and bits of rock flying. Benedict whipped around, pinning Thad with a fierce gaze.

  “I order you to protect her, even over your own life.”

  He seized me in a crushing kiss before vanishing into the shadows. I cursed and pumped my wings.

  “Hey!”

  Thad grabbed a hold of my leg, pulling me back down.

  “Let go!” I snarled

  “No way—I promised to keep an eye on you!”

  I kicked at him with my clawed feet, hissing.

  “You OWE him nothing! What about your promises to your men? I don’t give a fuck what you promised Benedict, I’m going in there!”

  He grabbed my wing, twisting the delicate skin. I screeched and fell back to the ground in agony. His sword met my neck, even as I bared my fangs at him.

  “Benedict said a draken’s wings are the weakest point.”

  My daggers were in my hands moments later.

  “Why would he tell you something like that? What else did he tell you?”

  Thad lowered his sword.

  “He told me you’re the most incredible female he’s ever met. That he’s treated you like complete garbage, and that you love him anyway—keep giving him time to love you back. He trusts you to take care of his people if anything happens to him.”

  I lowered my weapons, caught off guard.

  “Benedict said that?"

  My voice wavered, almost daring him to say it was all a joke. Thad moved closer, putting his hands delicately around my wrists. This close, I was startled to see his eyes were true black, his irises indistinguishable from his pupils

  “I knew all of that already, though. I knew it from the first time I laid eyes on you five nights ago.

  I groaned in frustration.

  “Now is not the time, Thad. Confess your undying attraction to me later.”

  Another large boom reverberated through the ground, but from much further away. A cloud of black smoke rose from the distance, in the direction of a place I was all too familiar with. I grabbed his arm and we disappeared, emerging right in the middle of smoking ruins. I double checked the landscape to ensure I had the right place, and I did. The breeding manor I’d grown up in looked like someone had taken a giant fist and pummeled it, splitting the building into two halves with debris and possessions scattered everywhere. The women were gone, as well as the staff.

  “I don’t understand,” I whispered to no one. There was no rebel plan to take out any other lords as far as I was aware. Thad stepped cautiously out, lifting beams and frowning in confusion.

  “No bodies or any sign of struggling. It’s almost as though the manor was completely empty before it blew up.

  “That’s not possible, we weren’t ever allowed to leave.”

  He stopped, swinging back to face me.

  “You grew up here?”

  I turned away, blinking back tears. I hoped all the women were ok and got out before any of this happened.

  “What?” I demanded, as Thad took off through the wreckage, picking his way quickly and carefully through the rubble. He ignored the sharp edges of wood and glass as they dug into his skin, intent on whatever it was he had seen.

  “Is someone alive?” I asked.

  Thad slid his fingers underneath a pillar and grunted, using all his considerable strength to lift.

  “Help me, I can’t pull him out and hold it.”

  I flew over the wreckage, landing roughly as I tried to stay clear of nails and other sharp bits of wreckage. A leg emerged as I peered underneath the pillar, and I gasped as I recognized the fine tailoring of the suit. Only the glass behind me kept me from scattering backward as Thad grunted with exertion.

  “Wren, I can’t hold this much longer. Pull him out and I’ll do the rest.”

  “But, I—”

  “WREN!”

  My muscles were rigid, my mind frozen in terror. I was intimately familiar with the material of these pants. I had frequently clutched at it in agony, begging for a break as blood ran down my back, making a mess on the floor that I would later have to clean. I knew the sight and texture of the shoes that were below the pants better than I did my own face.

  “Please, Wren. We need to know what happened.”

  Before I lost my nerve, I grabbed Crullfed’s legs and pulled, ignoring a pained gasp from the not-so-dead figure. With a yell Thad dropped the pillar, sending dust and ash flying. He gripped Crullfed by his collar and touched my shoulder. We disappeared and reappeared in the relative safety
of the meadow. Thad threw him roughly to the ground.

  Crullfed’s skin was completely translucent, his veins empty and eyes red with starvation. As I stared down at him, a myriad of emotions flooded me. This was the man who caused me nothing but pain and suffering for twenty-two years...longer, since I had allegedly lived multiple lifetimes under his roof. And yet...this man had also found a way to free me; to manipulate events so that Benedict took me that night, a night which wasn’t that long ago but seemed worlds away compared to the person that I was now.

  “What happened?”

  I focused on Thad; on the coldness of his voice as he put one foot on Crullfed’s chest, not a drop of mercy in his gaze.

  Crullfed’s eyes rolled his head, his hands weakly clawing at empty air.

  “Stop...I don’t—”

  Crullfed moaned as Thad pressed down harder on his chest. Part of me wanted him to stop, but the other part was vengeful, and wanted Crullfed to suffer.

  “I saved her!” Crullfed rasped. “You think I didn’t know what she was? My daughter told me the day she brought the girl here, still covered in Rhyfel’s blood!”

  Thad had no idea what he was talking about, but I froze, inhaling a sharp breath. Thad eased his foot slightly and Crullfed panted heavily, trying to take in as much air as possible during the brief reprieve.

  “No one knew…”

  I shook his head. “Why then? Why did you wait so long?”

  Crullfed coughed, foamed flecked with blood leaking from the corner of his mouth.

  “It is time for the drakens to rise again.”

  Thad grabbed Crullfed’s collar, hauling the dying vampyre up so that they were eye-level.

  “You beat me,” I whispered. “You manipulated the draken king.” Crullfed’s head lolled to the side.

  “The Overlord manipulates all of us. What he is doing under the mountain is wrong, unnatural. Stop it and figure out how we can all live together. The Overlord has no need for us any longer—the vampyres will die out.”

  Thad snorted. “And that’s a bad thing?”

  Crullfed ignored him, his eyes on me.

  “I forged you through fire. Your pain is your strength. Find what is being created under the mountain and stop it before it is too late. The balance needs restored. The hordes have no balance; only white...that is why they cannot survive long. The darkness must survive, or we will be lost to the light.”

  He went limp, and Thad shook him hard.

  “Crullfed! What do you mean?”

  It was no use—he was dead. I stood, pacing frantically in the meadow.

  “If rebels didn’t do this, who did?”

  I was asking myself mostly, jerking when Thad responded. I’d nearly forgotten his presence.

  “The explosion feels magickal. That is all I can tell.”

  I sank down to the ground, my head in my hands.

  “I hope the women are alright. I wouldn’t call them friends, but they were all I had.”

  Thad sank down next to me, empathy in his dark eyes.

  “I had no family growing up either. I understand what it’s like to cling to those you do have.”

  My hands balled into fists, my rage needing an immediate outlet. Now I know how Benedict felt.

  “Let’s go kick some ass.”

  “It’s Davos! The poison wasn’t strong enough! It just made them sick and pissed!”

  Spike was taking cover behind an upturned banquet table, a wound on his cheek dribbling blood.

  “We have the advantage of numbers for some reason, and that draken of yours is something else with his magicks!”

  The sound of squealing demons split the air before going silent, until new ones took their place.

  “He’s going to burn himself out. The magick is limited.”

  I rolled from the protection of the table, slashing a demon across the throat as I went. His black blood spilled across the floor. Thad cursed, and scrambled after me. Humans fought demon hordes, and it was clear to see who had the advantage. The lesser demons were cannon fodder, easily cut down by a human who could wield a weapon with skill. The higher demons and vampyres were massacring, their superior strength and agility no match at all despite the rebels’ superior numbers.

  “Plug your ears, I’m going to try something.”

  Spike gave a sharp whistle, and every human hit the deck with no hesitation.

  I sang.

  My voice soared high, piercing the air as I stretched my range to reach as many demon ears as I could. The clatter of metal dropping to the floor almost startled me enough to stop, but I kept pushing. Rebels were stuffing clothes in their ears, and taking advantage of the stunned vampyres, hacking them down while they stood motionless, transfixed with gazes swung in my direction. Something hit me hard, knocking me to the ground and ending my song.

  The lykos turned and growled, his one golden eye flashing with a feral rage. The silver one stared upwards, unseeing from the scar across it. His fur rippled across his muscles, saliva dripping from his teeth. A golden earring flashed from his left ear

  “I thought I smelled wet dog,” I hissed, drawing my sword. Then I opened my mouth, and he pounced. I couldn’t sing while dodging for my life, and the lykos knew it. Thad lunged, distracting the lykos long enough for me to get under his guard. His yowl echoed off the stone walls as I drew a red line across his side, blood quickly matting his fur. Thad kicked him hard in the head while he was down, and the creature slumped, unconscious.

  We ran into the next room, following the tail of shouting rebels. Vampyre bodies were strewn behind us, the floor slick with black blood. Benedict stood surrounded by a dozen vampyres, who quickly fell under the onslaught of human rebels who jumped for them. I reached Benedict just as he slumped over, deep gouges and lacerations covering his body.

  “You’re going to get yourself killed,” I lectured, offering my wrist. He shook his head emphatically, refusing to heal.

  “Where is Kieran?” I asked in frustration, not understanding where he could possibly be. A new wave of vampyres rushed at us and I belted the same high, piercing note I had at the armada. They collapsed to the ground, unconscious. I turned towards Benedict, sticking my nose in the air.

  “Look out!”

  A pack of lykos burst through the door, growling and snarling. The brown-haired one at the front stopped short when he saw me and Benedict, immediately barking orders to the others. They stood down; golden eyes veiled with confusion.

  We do not forget our alliance.

  Benedict hid his shock well, approaching slowly with his hands out.

  “We ally with the humans to take back Dorea.”

  Benedict had to negotiate quickly, and efficiently.

  And what of the lykos?

  “I offer a home for your kind; your own lands free of humans and free of their fear.”

  The lykos barked, an odd yelp that could have passed for a laugh.

  Impossible. The humans—

  “Are not allowed on Lyoness. The witches seek shelter there temporarily, even as the human refugees sail to Aldur. Get word to any human in Cantrada to flee. I offer the lykos a home on Lyoness, permanently, if no human grants you your own lands when we have purged the hordes. I hope to convince the Cantradian descendant to give you what you desire.”

  I could have kissed Benedict; I was so proud.

  I do not have the authority to agree to the amended alliance, but will pass your offer to the one who does. We will send word.

  The lykos gave a harsh bark and his pack spread out, ignoring everyone as they shot down the next hallway.

  We will free the humans here and send word to any others to flee.

  Benedict bowed, and then the lykos were gone. We ran from room to room, nodding to the other rebels we passed. We ran towards the sound of fighting, finding the main group of rebels and demons on the rotunda. We emerged into the sunlight and immediately ducked, white magick sizzling over our heads. I hissed in pain as a knife sliced thro
ugh my back, falling to my knees as my hands felt nothing but blood and torn flesh

  Severn jumped down from the roof to land in front of us, his clothes torn and still dripping with seawater

  “Draken filth,” he hissed, his hands reaching out and snapping the neck of female vampyre running by. White energy formed between his hands as her body hit the blood-slicked tiles.

  Benedict blocked his blow with his arms, blood welling from his body. Severn laughed, his eyes tracking me as Thad dragged me behind him.

  “Black magick is so weak. How long before your body gives out? One more blow? Two? Let’s find out!”

  My dagger found his chest before he got his next spell off. He grunted and fell back. Benedict was there, standing over Severn with his sword poised at the vampyre’s throat. Rebels all around us were cheering, the remaining vampyres and demons fleeing back into the city, and the woods beyond.

  “It doesn’t matter if you kill us all; better soldiers are coming. When they are here, you will be powerless against him.”

  The tip of Benedict’s sword kissed Severn’s pale throat.

  “What do you mean? I heard your vampyres are fleeing—abandoning the Overlord.”

  “They are weak,” Severn hissed back, “and know they will be culled. Our new soldiers will have powers you can’t even dream of...and we have you to thank, really.”

  I cried out as Thad pressed down on my wound, trying to staunch the bleeding. My draken blood covered his hands, his eyes widening as his body shook with sudden stress. I needed to drink some blood, and quickly. My body wasn’t healing from Severn’s blow, and for some reason Thad looked ready to have a seizure.

  “What do you mean?”

  I wanted to cry out—to tell Benedict that Severn was just playing games. His cruel words were all he had left.

  “We killed your father, turned your uncle to our side, and had even sunk our claws into young Bair. Where is he, by the way? He promised us so much if we just got him out of that mountain. Hilarious they weren’t actually chained to it that whole time. What would your people think if they knew?”

  Benedict stabbed his sword down just as I reached forward and swept his legs out from under him. Severn flipped and dove over the rotunda walls.