Primal Bounty_Pendragon Gargoyles

by Sydney Somers

  The pair exchanged insults as often as they traded blows, always laughing. The blonde definitely did need to pay closer attention. The dark-haired one kept opening herself up…

  The blonde took her sister down. “Magic doesn’t make a hero,” she agreed. “But sometimes it certainly helps.” She held out a hand, helping the dark-haired one up.

  The meadow vanished so fast Elena’s stomach rolled.

  She spun to find herself in a courtyard not unlike the one she’d been in during the Gauntlet. Ancient trees loomed above, their branches weighed down by the same flowers that grew in the catacombs, their bright blue, pink and yellow petals pulsing with power.

  What the hell was going on?

  “You don’t need to do this,” a voice called out.

  Drawing nearer to the fountain in the middle of the courtyard, Elena spotted two women.

  The same girls as before? But both were closer to twenty now, no longer children.

  “You don’t have to do this alone.” The blonde one burst across the stones, rushing to keep up with the dark-haired Fae, her face angled in Elena’s direction. Titania?

  “I don’t need your help.”

  “Yes, you do,” Titania argued. “You need someone. No one is meant to save the world all on their own.”

  “I am.” The boast came from a younger image of the Iron Queen.

  They were…sisters?

  Titania grabbed her arm. “We both know you don’t believe that.”

  “I believe I’m strong enough to make everyone bow down before me. Maybe even Rhiannon herself.”

  “I know what losing them cost you—”

  “You know nothing!”

  “More magic isn’t the answer. Just let me help—” Titania cried out, sinking to her knees under the weight of the Iron Queen’s magic.

  The Iron Queen hovered above her. “I don’t need you or anyone else.”

  Once more the world spun, Elena’s vision swimming. She reached out for something to steady her and stumbled into a wall.

  Where the hell were they now?

  A scene identical to the two girls sword fighting in the meadow unfolded before her, only Titania and the Iron Queen weren’t exchanging blows with toys anymore.

  Blood dripped from both their faces, their clothes sliced and drenched in more blood as they circled each other.

  “I can’t let you hurt anyone else.”

  “Hurt them?” The Queen laughed. “I’m saving them. I’ve been saving them. On my own.”

  “They need your guidance, not your—”

  “Enough!”

  Again another wave of magic took Titania to her knees. “It’s not too late,” she gritted out.

  The Iron Queen’s face softened so fast Elena might have imagined it. A beat later, grim determination settled her face into a cold mask. She raised a hand in the air, and Elena wanted to look away, knowing a death blow was coming.

  But Titania beat her to it. She lunged up, sinking a small blade into her sister’s stomach at the same time she released a pulse of magic that made Elena’s heart jolt in her chest.

  The Iron Queen stumbled back, shock returning emotion to her eyes. “What have you done?”

  She withdrew the blade and let it fall to the floor, staring at the blood on her palm. She shuddered and pitched forward, and once more Titania moved impossibly fast, catching her sister a moment before she hit the ground.

  “I’m sorry.” A shudder went through her. “I’m so, so sorry. Forgive me.” Tears fell from the Fae’s eyes as she clutched her sister.

  The Iron Queen visibly trembled. “It’s all right.”

  “No.”

  The Iron Queen grabbed Titania’s wrist. “You are still not paying attention, Tanya.” Her eyes drifted shut. “It’s all right.”

  “I didn’t want this.”

  “Do a better job of making me listen to you next time,” the dark-haired Fae whispered, a sad smile curving her lips. “Or I won’t give you the chance to get this close again.”

  “Elena?”

  The world around her snapped back into focus, and she was back in the hall outside her rooms in Titania’s castle. “Oren?”

  “I believe you were about to tell me you were feeling better. Perhaps you should sit down.”

  “I am…feeling better.” Or she would be just as soon as her head stopped spinning.

  She wasn’t picking up on the crown’s presence at all, and yet she’d had a vision. A vision of Titania, the Iron Queen’s sister.

  Titania who used the exact expression Rutger did. A saying she remembered from childhood, though she’d never been able to remember where it came from. She’d thought it was a coincidence that Rutger had echoed the same sentiment, but it wasn’t a coincidence at all, was it?

  That’s why Leah had thought Titania left the box with the dress. She’d recognized her mother’s handwriting.

  Her eyes drifted shut and the world swayed. She bumped into the wall, and Oren reached out to steady her.

  “Perhaps I should call someone.”

  Unless it was her grandmother she wasn’t interested, and she had the feeling Titania was waiting for Elena to go to her.

  Gods, was she losing her mind to even consider…

  Vaughn. Vaughn would know. He’d been working with Rutger far longer than she had. He would know if Elena had completely lost her mind.

  “You’ve only been back in the castle an hour and already you have an admirer?” Oren interrupted her thoughts. He nodded to the box.

  “It’s my gown for the ball.”

  “Well then, you must be feeling better.”

  She was pretty sure she’d never felt worse. “I’m sure once I find my grandmother and have her remove the brand, I’ll feel more like my old self.” Which meant Oren’s window to make his move was closing.

  “I don’t mind waiting to escort you downstairs.”

  Of course he didn’t.

  “There you are,” Emma said from behind her. “I won’t be letting you off the hook for that one for a long time.” She nodded hello to Oren and threaded her arm through Elena’s. “We’re getting you ready in my room before I have to answer one more question about giving birth to kittens.”

  ***

  “Titania!” Vaughn roared, rattling the bars in his cell, the wolf pushing against his skin.

  No way was she leaving him here to twiddle his thumbs after dropping that bombshell.

  He didn’t know what her angle was, didn’t know if he could trust her—if he ever should have trusted her—but he wasn’t going to let Elena be caught up in the web of lies Titania had been spinning.

  “Titania or whatever the hell I’m supposed to call you,” he continued, fury driving the wolf into his voice. “Get your ass back here.”

  “Probably not the best way to impress your mate’s grandmother.”

  Vaughn didn’t know whether to be grateful to hear Mac’s voice or not considering the other wolf had all but disappeared right after Elena collapsed. But he was no longer alone, so at least that was a step in the right direction.

  Mac let out a low whistle as he surveyed the cell, his wolf never far from the surface. He shoved his hands in the pockets of the suit he’d changed into since they’d last seen each other.

  “I do believe I warned you what would happen if you got involved with Elena.”

  Vaughn’s eyes narrowed. “You knew?”

  Mac shrugged. “Did I know what?”

  Vaughn wasn’t sure if he had ever wanted to punch someone as much as he did right then. The wolf would prefer to take its frustrations out on Titania, but Mac would do.

  “Did you know about Elena? About her being the Shadow’s Angel?”

  The other gargoyle didn’t betray a thing. “Elena is the Shadow’s Angel? What have they been feeding you down here? The Fae are well known to favor poison.”

  Vaughn sighed. “No one poisoned me. I’m in my right fucking mind.”

  “Does that make
her a better Shadow then you?”

  “How about I let you decide that for yourself with a round in your fighting ring at a later date. In the meantime…” Vaughn trailed off, gesturing to the door.

  “Releasing you could certainly upset a few people, not the least of which is the queen of the Fae.”

  “She’s also the leader of the rebellion.”

  “Rutger?” He mulled that over with the same casual acceptance he expressed hearing about Elena.

  Mac had his finger in just about every Avalon pie an immortal could touch while still running a primary base of operations from Vegas. If anyone had heard whispers of Titania playing two sides, it would be him.

  Mac gave him a blank look.

  “You didn’t know?”

  Mac shook his head, his utter lack of reaction driving Vaughn a little crazy.

  “You hate the Fae.”

  “Not all of them it seems.”

  “And you really didn’t know?”

  “Nope.” Mac inspected the cell door.

  “But you’re not surprised.”

  “After the last few months it would take a hell of a lot to surprise me.”

  “Surprise,” a feminine voice called out.

  Mac tensed, clearly choosing not to acknowledge the huntress who strolled up to them.

  Vaughn sighed. He really didn’t have time for their drama.

  He needed to get to Elena. They hadn’t had nearly enough time together. One minute he’d been fighting to keep her hands off the crown, and the next he’d been fighting to put his hands all over her.

  And just like that night in Vegas, it had taken him apart. Touching his mate, kissing her until she made that breathless sound against his mouth, until his heart damn near stopped in his chest, wasn’t something he was ever giving up.

  And he’d claw through the fucking walls to get to her if he had to.

  Nessa regarded him through the bars.

  “If you’re here to taunt me,” he warned.

  “Maybe I wanted to offer a long overdue apology for saving me in the catacombs?” Nessa said.

  Vaughn stared at her.

  The huntress burst out laughing. “Yeah, I wouldn’t buy that either.” She stopped opposite him, keeping a careful distance between herself and Mac.

  Apparently Mac wasn’t the only one trying hard to pretend the other person was not in the room.

  “I need to get to Elena.”

  “What? One mark on her wasn’t enough?”

  Mac gaped at that, his first genuine show of emotion. “You marked her? No wonder Titania locked you up. What did her father say?”

  Vaughn ignored the question. “Titania wants Elena to put on the Iron Crown. She set her up.” At least that was the assumption he was going with until proven otherwise. “And I can’t warn her if I’m stuck in here.”

  Nessa leaned toward the bars. “Do you all get that feral looking when your animal comes out? Cause, it’s kinda hot.”

  “If you’re not going to help—”

  Nessa held up a key. “Hold your tail a minute.”

  In a blink Vaughn went from wanting to punch someone to wanting to kiss them. “Hurry.”

  Mac snatched the key from Nessa’s hand and shoved it into the lock. He yanked the door open.

  Vaughn bolted past them without even knowing where he was going. Following the sound of voices would work until he caught Elena’s scent.

  He moved through the lower corridors, not encountering a guard of any kind. Where the hell was everyone?

  “Go right,” Mac said from behind him.

  Apparently Mac had made up his mind to help him after all. No doubt it was another favor the other gargoyle planned on collecting at some point.

  They made another series of turns, the soft music growing louder. They rounded another corner that spilled out into a massive great room. Dozens of soldiers all dressed in gray, stood with their backs to them.

  Sensing movement, a few of them turned. The emblem on their armor bore the same crescent shapes as the scar on his face.

  “I don’t think these guys were invited to the party,” Nessa said.

  She withdrew her sword from the scabbard strapped to her back just as the first of the soldiers rushed toward them.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

  “Maybe you’re really not up for this,” Emma said, catching Elena staring off into space for the third time in a few minutes.

  “I’m good.” She forced a smile that might have fooled most people.

  Emma wasn’t most people, but she also let the lie go this time, focusing on running the brush through Elena’s hair.

  Elena had briefly contemplated going to the ballroom in search of her grandmother dressed in her own clothes. Her tracings were going to spark quite the reaction on their own, but wearing the stunning silver dress with her tracings on full display would spark a bigger one. She had a feeling her grandmother was counting on that.

  She just couldn’t piece together why. No matter how many times she ran through the last few days, she couldn’t figure out Titania’s motivations and whether or not they had anything to do with the Iron Queen.

  Was it possible Rutger—Titania—had wanted her and the crown to cross path’s from the start?

  If that was the case, she could have sent Elena after it on her own without ever involving Piper or Vaughn.

  She hadn’t. A miscalculation on Titania’s part? Or was there another piece of the puzzle Elena needed in order to see the full picture?

  “I’m making a list,” Emma said, finishing running the brush through Elena’s hair. “It’s an All The Things Aunt Elena Is Not Allowed To Do list.”

  “Harsh,” Elena teased, doing her best to ignore the growing sense of dread that twisted her stomach. “I can’t wait to meet him or her.” She turned and placed her hand on Emma’s stomach, still not even sure how she’d known her twin was pregnant. “I get your clothes when you blow up like a house, right?”

  Emma swatted her hand. “I’m not blowing up like a house.” She walked around in front of Elena, surveying her quick work. “You can talk to me, you know.”

  It was the perfect opening to tell her twin about her cloak and dagger lifestyle, but no way would Emma settle for half an explanation, and there was no time for more than that right now. “I know.”

  “Do you?” Emma smoothed out a few strands of Elena’s hair. “I’ve got your back. Every time.”

  “Right now you need to worry about having the little one’s back.” And staying far away from Elena’s mess. There was no way of knowing how the rest of the evening would play out.

  It was on the tip of her tongue to tell Emma to skip the party altogether, but it would only make her sister more suspicious and give her a reason to stick even closer to Elena.

  As if sensing Elena wasn’t going to say anything more, Emma nodded in approval. “I’d say you’re as ready as you’re going to be. We should go.”

  Elena rose, and they made it as far as the door before she turned back to face her sister. “I’m sorry.”

  Confusion drew Emma’s brows together. “Elena?”

  “I’m sorry for all the times I dragged you into trouble. I never meant for you to get hurt. I thought I was doing the right thing. Maybe some of those times I wasn’t—hell maybe most of them. But I did it because I love you.”

  Emma clutched her hand. “You’re scaring me.”

  “What? A sister can’t apologize for years of putting her twin through hell.”

  “It wasn’t hell, it was eye-opening,” Emma settled on, her smile not quite reaching her eyes. “And I look forward to being able to tell this little one all about it.”

  Emotion tightened Elena’s throat. This was not going to be the last time she saw her sister. She wouldn’t let herself believe that, but she couldn’t shake the feeling everything was about to change.

  Emma didn’t let go of her hand.

  She gave it a reassuring squeeze. “I’ve got this.”


  “I’m not sure if I’d feel better or worse if I knew what you meant by this.”

  Elena shrugged. “Oh, the usual.”

  To the power of a hundred maybe. Gods, what if she was wrong? What if she didn’t have this at all?

  She needed to see Vaughn. Needed that moment of absolute rightness she found only in his arms. It should have been ridiculous that it was his face she ached to see, his touch she craved, especially after everything they’d been through.

  She’d executed dozens of missions before he came come along, never needing anything from anyone else at all. But this time…

  It was almost like she’d just been going through the motions, seemingly content with her life, and never realized it until their paths crossed in Vegas and something inside her woke up. Something she hadn’t even realized was asleep.

  How had she ever believed her feelings for Vaughn made her weak? Loving him gave her strength, made her believe in something she couldn’t see or touch, a connection that burned inside her so hot and fierce it could light the world on fire.

  She knew she could walk into the lion’s den without seeing the playfulness in his eyes, without feeling her heart race with no more than a graze of his fingers.

  But she didn’t want to. Not anymore.

  She wanted her mate.

  Stepping into the hall, Elena ran through a mental list of excuses she could use to slip away from Emma, and they all came to a grinding halt when she spotted Oren waiting for them.

  No doubt he’d been there the whole time, determined to keep track of her.

  He offered an arm to each of them. “Shall we?”

  Emma waited until Elena moved forward to tuck her arm around Oren’s arm, then followed suit, not nearly as good at hiding her hesitation.

  It was on the tip of her tongue to suggest Emma find their parents in case Oren intended to prevent Elena from finding Titania. However, her parents rained on that particular suggestion parade by stepping into the hall moments later.

  She hadn’t expected her father to attend the ball at all. No doubt he wanted to keep an eye on her. At least their presence lowered the odds of Oren pulling anything here.

  She still didn’t sense the crown and the dead immortal’s voice had grown suspiciously quiet. At any other time she’d take that as a good sign. Now it merely felt like the calm before the storm.