by G. K. DeRosa
“I see.” I paused, eyeing the Celestial’s blade and my lack thereof. “Then we fight.” I leapt back as Araton brought his sword down, nicking my shoulder. The angel’s weapon pierced my flesh, and I gritted my teeth to keep the curse from tumbling out. From the corner of my eye, a rusted-out fire hydrant flickered across my vision as I dodged blow after blow.
Darting behind it, I bent down and yanked. The old thing popped out, taking a few yards of piping along with it. Breaking the metal pipe across my leg, I assembled my makeshift weapon. The steel tubing was heavy and awkward, but at least I managed to deflect a few blows.
As we danced around the deserted streets, sweat dribbled down my forehead into my eyes. The pipe was beginning to crumble; the strength of Araton’s angel blade no match for the old tubing.
I hadn’t tested my firepower since losing my emotions, which was a big mistake on my part. I’d been so consumed with the loss and its effect on Sierra, I hadn’t focused my attention on this trial.
Here goes nothing.
My wings snapped out, and I thrusted into the sky. It was time to test how far up the wards went. Araton followed after me, his feathery alabaster appendages only slightly smaller than my reptilian ones. I paused about twenty feet up, when the oppressive weight of magic halted my ascension. My incisors lengthened and I blew out a breath, focusing on my approaching attacker.
A wave of dragonfire exploded from my mouth, and Araton banked to the left, avoiding the brunt of my flaming fury. But not all of it. The scorching green and blue flames licked up his right wing and a scream tore through the silence. He plunged back to the ground, the flames lighting up the night sky.
Good riddance.
I flew just about ten feet over the dank earth, leveling out. As I flew across the skeletal remains of the Darklands, I scanned the bond for Sierra. All seemed quiet. I angled my wings toward the street and slowed my pace. Once I was certain I was clear of Araton, I landed along the main avenue.
Without the sun blasting across the sky, time blurred. The deeper I moved within the Darklands, the more frequent the attacks came. Wave after wave of starving vampires made their move, hunger driving them toward me. They were weak and sloppy, but still after the night I’d had the strain was taking its toll.
After a few more hours of trudging through the barren landscape with no sign of Sierra or Ransom, I decided to stop for the night. I’d kept a constant eye on my mate through the bond and spoke on numerous occasions to Ransom. I almost laughed at the irony. Him with my mate would’ve driven me mad before, but now I was just relieved she had the company. She was angry, but most of all she was hurt and that hurt raked through my insides every passing moment. Sometimes I thought it was my own, but deep down I knew it was only an echo.
I convinced myself she’d be safe with him for the night. Besides if I really planned on leaving, I needed to allow her to fend for herself. Through our bond, I could tell she was close-ish. Close enough that if she needed me, I could get to her quickly.
I passed a down-trodden one-story house and double backed. This was as good a spot as any. I kicked down the door and entered the dark abode, summoning a ball of fire in my palm. The small house coalesced before my eyes. Bare walls and sparse furniture were all that was left. I trudged toward the corner of what must have once been the living room and settled down on the floor.
With one last check on Sierra, I leaned my head back and closed my eyes.
Hours later, I muttered a grunt as I pushed myself off the floor. Murky darkness blanketed my vision, and as the sleepy haze withdrew, memories of the night before came flooding back. Dammit, I was in Nocturnis. From the heaviness of my eyelids, I couldn’t have slept more than a few hours. Sierra’s fleeting emotions had kept me awake most of the night. They were safe, but they’d been attacked overnight twice. It had taken everything in me to keep myself from rushing to her. But she was strong, and those vampires were no match for her powers. Ransom on the other hand wasn’t faring as well. I could feel his anguish leaking through the pack link if I focused on him.
Shaking off the thought, I pried the front door open and headed back out into the streets. I’d have to fly today to gain some time even if I was forced to keep low to the ground. My wings extended and I groaned, my muscles sore after yesterday.
I propelled myself upward and continued on.
After what felt like hours, I could just make out the river a few blocks away and from there, Royal Castle wasn’t far.
As I trudged across the desolate streets once again, I searched for my reluctant wolf. I had to find a way to coax him out. Living without him wasn’t an option. I was the alpha heir, and I was nothing without my inner beast.
A pang of fear lanced across my chest, and my heartrate skyrocketed. Definitely not from my unfeeling heart. Shit, Sierra! The tether that bound us together pulsated, and a rock sank to the bottom of my gut. Opening my mind to our mate bond, I searched her thoughts. Sierra? Sierra, are you okay?
I held my breath as I awaited her answer. Five, ten, fifteen seconds passed, and my wings snapped out again. Forget this. I didn’t care how angry she was at me. I wouldn’t let her go through the rest of this alone.
As I shot into the air, her answer finally dribbled through the bond.
I’m fine. Her voice was shaky, and the words came more slowly than normal.
She wasn’t fine. Her unease rocketed through me, the first real echo of intense emotion I’d felt since we’d arrived in Nocturnis. My wings flapped harder and faster as I followed the link to find my mate.
I’m still with Sierra, and she’s okay. Ransom’s unexpected voice rushed through the pack link. We had an incident but we’re fine now.
Keep her safe until I get there. I propelled my body forward, an overwhelming need to find her trickling through the void.
Always, Aristaeus.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Sierra
* * *
“How’s your leg?” I glanced at Ransom from the corner of my eye. He’d started limping again, and I’d noticed the trickle of sweat lining his brow; something I’d never observed on the peak conditioned vamp-wolf before.
“It’s been better, Violet, I’m not going to lie. Broken bones take time to heal, even for the strongest of us Royals and this little jaunt across miles of vampire territory isn’t exactly helping.”
After a few more attacks, we’d only slept for a few hours in turns, huddled at the back of an alley behind a nasty smelling dumpster. Ransom had insisted it would keep the vamps at bay, and he’d been right.
I squinted, calling on my enhanced vision to make out the river a few blocks ahead. “We’re almost out of the Darklands at least.” I threaded my arm through his and tugged him toward me, playing it off as a friendly gesture. I knew the proud wolf wouldn’t willingly let me shoulder his weight.
He shot me a sidelong glance as he leaned into me. “Thanks,” he finally muttered.
“Don’t thank me, I need you healthy for purely selfish purposes. How are we going to take on the next coven of vampires if you’re all sweaty and limpy?”
Ransom let out a strained chuckle. “You’re right about that.” His teeth were clenched, and the tendon in his jaw tensed each time his foot landed on the asphalt.
“We should take a break.” I hauled him toward the sidewalk to a patch of dirt in front of a rundown building. I helped him sit and ignored the hiss that escaped through his pressed lips as we settled down. With a flick of my wrist, I summoned two bottles of chilled water.
Ransom rewarded me with a big smile as he took a long pull. “These little tricks come in handy, Violet. I was pretty damned lucky to team up with you, little witch.”
I shrugged as I took a big gulp. “It goes both ways, buddy. At least you have a better sense of direction. I would’ve been hopelessly wandering around the Darklands if I hadn’t found you.”
“I appreciate the effort to stroke my ego, Violet, but we both know I’m only slowing yo
u down.” He winced as he stretched out his leg. “I can’t even shift like this. The bones wouldn’t align properly, and it could cause permanent damage. After this little break, you should continue alone.”
My head whipped back and forth. “Absolutely not. I’m not leaving you out here with a broken leg and a bunch of starving, blood-crazed vampires.”
“Relax, sweetheart, the worst they can do is drain me. I doubt they’d go through all the effort of staking me or severing my head. They’re just hungry.”
A chill skirted up my spine, and I shook my head again. “I just got you back, Ransom. I won’t risk losing you again. As insufferable as you may be at times, you’re my friend and I’d like to keep you around a little longer. Besides, who else is going to stand up for me when I’m the new high alpha?”
He let out a rueful laugh. “Touché.”
“So finish up that water and let’s get moving. I’d like to reach the arena before nightfall—in Moon Valley anyway.”
“Logistically speaking, there is a small issue.” He cocked his head and arched a brow. “Only the top two will advance. If I return with you, what happens to Hunter? More than that, you and I would then be forced to battle it out for the top spot. Are you ready for that?”
My stomach roiled as nausea clawed up my throat. I didn’t want to fight Ransom any more than I wanted to combat my own mate. “I haven’t been ready for any of this, Ransom. And yet, here I am.”
He nodded, understanding flickering across his dark irises. “Fine. We’ll take things one step at a time then.”
“Deal.” I pushed up off the cracked sidewalk and Ransom attempted the same. A groan vibrated from deep within his chest as he got to his feet. A swell of unease filled my gut. “Is there anything else I can do for the pain?” I cursed myself for not being talented at healing potions like Cass. “More blood?” I offered him my wrist. My skin had already healed over, two tiny white puncture wounds the only evidence of the bite.
“As tempting as that sounds, it probably wouldn’t be a good idea for either of us.”
My brows arched. “Why?”
“Because your mate might murder me and then you’d have to live with that guilt for the rest of your life.” He shot me a mischievous wink as he began hobbling down the street.
“Ransom…” I started, still holding out my arm.
“I’d need more than you could offer right now to heal this. Let’s just keep going. Maybe we’ll find another willing donor along the way.”
I sucked my lower lip between my teeth and gnawed on it, indecision tearing at my insides. I wanted to help my friend, but I couldn’t risk losing too much blood and weakening my powers. Neither of us would survive then.
I shoved my shoulder beneath his armpit and draped his arm across my back. “Fine, but at least lean on me a little or else I’ll have to drag your sorry Royal butt across the finish line.”
Straining to hear the faint lapping of water from the river ahead, I tried to pick up our pace. Fatigue was setting in, not only from my own body but from the two-hundred-pound vamp-wolf I was toting. I tried to put on a brave face for Ransom, but the truth was there was no way we’d make it back to the arena like this.
A pair of dragon wings sure would come in handy right about now.
I flipped through my mental catalog of spells and incantations I’d memorized at Arcane. Nope, nothing about sprouting wings. Dammit.
The heavy slap of approaching footfalls sent both our gazes swiveling over our shoulders. Ransom muttered a curse as the pack of vampires coalesced a few blocks behind us. Dammit, I should’ve kept the cloak up for longer. The truth was that keeping us both hidden had put a major drain on my powers, so I’d been forced to drop it.
Now they’d scented us, and it was too late.
“Run, Sierra,” Ransom whisper-hissed.
Hearing my real name instead of my typical nickname squeezed the air from my lungs. “I’m not leaving you,” I growled.
“You’re being stubborn and reckless. You deserve that throne, and it’s almost within your reach. Don’t let me slow you down.”
“I could never live with myself, or enjoy my crown, if I left you here. So just stay back and be careful.” I shoved him behind me and splayed out my hand at the pack of starving vamps. “Fuocem incerem!” I shouted, and a wave of witchfire exploded from my palm.
Screams and the stench of burnt flesh tinged the air, but I didn’t stop to assess the damage. “Go, go, go!” Wrapping my fingers around Ransom’s hand, I tugged him forward. The river was only a few blocks away and behind it, I could just make out the soaring turrets of Royal Castle.
I scanned the banks of the river for a bridge, but there wasn’t a single one in sight. Guess we were swimming then.
“Sierra, watch out!” Ransom’s voice registered a second before another horde of vampires darted out from an alley to our right. He released me, and his fangs lengthened. “I’ve got this.” Gritting his teeth, he vamp-sped into the mass as I summoned a wooden stake in one hand and my witchfire in the other.
Thankful for all my training sessions with Vander, I ducked and jabbed at the oncoming vampires. After sinking my stake into the heart of an emaciated blonde one, I scanned the chaos for Ransom. His dark head weaved between the crowd, throwing punches and twisting necks. The snap of bones echoed across the commotion and sent a wave of goose bumps down my arms. My wolf nudged at my ribcage, eager to get out and join the fight, but I needed my magic for this one. If Ransom couldn’t shift, I had to stay close.
A pair of vampires surrounded me and unlike the other staggering, decrepit ones, these two looked strong and well-fed. The bigger one thrust his leg up and kicked the stake right out of my hand. Son of a vampire! Splaying my other hand, a ball of energy filled my palm. I tossed it at him, but he ducked, and I only managed to singe off the tips of his spiky, blonde-tipped hair.
His buddy attacked me from my behind, wrapping his arm across my throat. His hot breath grazed my neck, and my heart stuttered. A deep growl vibrated in my chest, and my incisors lengthened. I chomped down on his forearm, digging into his flesh and with a squeal, the bastard released me.
Suck on that, immortal douchebag.
“Violet, run!” Ransom’s panicked tone sent my head swirling in his direction.
My brain barely processed the vampire hurtling at me with my stake clutched in his fist. A dark form zipped in front of me, shoving me out of the way as the pointed wood drove home.
I staggered back, barely regaining my footing as I slammed into another vampire. Refocusing, my gaze landed on the dark form splayed out on the asphalt.
Ransom. “No!” A cry tore out of my mouth as I slid to the floor beside him. My stake protruded from his torso, buried deep within his chest. “Ransom, Ransom, please!” I cradled his head in my lap as the scene blurred all around me.
I barely registered the flap of mighty wings and Hunter’s voice a few feet away. Blistering heat warmed my back, and a torrent of flames danced across my peripheral vision. But none of that mattered, not when my best friend’s head lay limp in my arms.
Blood soaked my legs, pooling beneath me. “Ransom, please open your eyes.” My friend was pale, his skin two shades lighter than the crescent moon peeking through the clouds. I compelled my mind to go back to the day Hunter had explained all the Lunar Packs and their special abilities. A wooden stake to the heart killed vampires, but was it the same for Royal wolves?
My heart ached, my lungs refusing to function because a deep, dark part of me knew the answer. No one would survive that.
Ransom’s lids fluttered, and a flicker of hope ignited. “Ransom? I’m right here. You’re going to be okay.”
“No, I’m not,” he panted, his breath coming out in ragged spurts. “But that’s okay because you are.” His fingers tightened around my hand. “Don’t let my sacrifice be in vain, Violet. I’m not usually the hero in these stories.” The shadow of a smile curled his colorless lips, his skin no longer pa
le, but ashen. “You win this, win it for me.”
“Ransom, no, don’t leave me, please. I need you at my side, on the council.”
A glossy sheen blanketed his eyes, and for a second I wondered if Hunter was speaking to him through the pack link. But the haze never lifted. And soon his fingers fell loose around my palm.
“Ransom! No!” I cried, hugging his head to my chest. Rocking him in my lap, I prayed to all the gods to bring him back. No one listened.
Shrieks and cries echoed around me for so long I barely noticed the sudden silence as I clung onto Ransom. A soothing presence coalesced behind me, and I sank into a firm chest, still clutching my fallen friend.
“I’m so sorry, Sierra.” Hunter’s hushed voice at my ear alleviated the heartache, dampening the fierce pain to a dull roar.
“He saved me,” I whimpered.
“I know.” His arm came around me, but I refused to release Ransom.
We remained like that, Hunter holding me and me holding Ransom for a long time. Or maybe it was only minutes, but the moment felt never-ending.
When a couple curious vampires appeared, sniffing through the carnage of their fallen brethren, Hunter’s grasp on me tightened. “We can’t stay here, Sierra. It’s not safe.”
“I won’t leave Ransom,” I hissed through gritted teeth.
“Okay,” he breathed. From the corner of my eye, I caught his gaze on Royal Castle in the distance. “We can bring him to Carmen Rosa. She’ll keep him safe until we can retrieve his body.”
I nodded numbly, barely recognizing the vampire queen’s name.
Hunter began to rise, and I scrambled out of his lap while keeping Ransom held tight against my chest. His wings unfurled, the massive reptilian scales a deep gold in the murky darkness. He held out his hands, and I begrudgingly released my friend. My mate tossed his lifeless body over his shoulder before offering me his palm. “I’ll fly us to the castle, then we can return to the arena to claim your win.”