by Erin Raegan
I couldn’t go down the stairs for help and hiding would defeat the whole reason I had decided to do the brave thing instead of the selfish thing.
Mantu didn’t disappoint me. He was at the top of the stairs, his brothers flanking him.
Do you have the halfling?
I shook my head but didn’t dare answer out loud. But Mantu could read my mind and he immediately understood.
A foolishly brave thing you have done. Run.
He moved to the right and I fell through his two spider brothers, spinning around. Dahk flew up through the staircase, battling other Dahk the whole way. I saw Hylg trying to fight his way to me, his bald head gleaming with blood and sweat. He bared his fangs at a Dahk and lunged for him.
Three enemy Dahk ran toward me and Mantu skittered on his spider legs, leaping into the air. Fangs as large as daggers descended from his mouth and dripped venom as they sank into a Dahk’s chest.
Run, human.
The other two spiders leapt into the air and I spun back around, staggering into their domain. Shimmery webbing coated every surface. It snagged my hair and arms as I fought through the cavernous, pitch-black room. It was so cold, I immediately trembled. Just trying to lift my feet from the floor exhausted me. Every step was met with sticky webs.
I tripped and fell into a large ball of webbing. It was hard and nearly bigger than me. I nearly dropped my bundle of towels fighting to get away from it, stubbornly not thinking about what kind of creature could be caught in the web. I’d heard Mantu and his brothers weren’t carnivorous but yeah, that looked suspiciously like a wrapped something that was still wriggling.
I spotted a dim light and raced for it, hoping it was a door out of the room. The closer I got to it, the thicker the webbing became. I was crawling over mountains of it, my free hand clawing at it. The light was low, but I felt my way toward it, shoving my arm through a wall of web. Cool air met my hand and I frantically tore at the webbing.
Shouts grew louder behind me. I knew the Dahk could see in the dark. They might be right behind me and I wouldn’t know it. Once I got a hole as big as my head in the web, I lunged through it. Freezing wind smacked me in the face, and I gasped in shock. I wiggled, pulling my waist through the hole.
A hard fist wrapped around my ankle, pulling me back. Survival instincts kicked in and I lost my hold on the fake baby. I was dragged back, webbing invading my mouth, choking me.
Then the hand was gone and I used both of my hands to claw back through the hole. I tumbled out onto a thinner bed of web and stood on shaky feet, feeling around for the bundle of towels. Once I found it, I clutched it to my chest and staggered away from the webbed hole in the wall.
I stumbled on the webbing and my waist smacked into a stone bannister. I looked up and gaped at the night sky. I was outside. I was on a balcony at the top of the castle and I could see a ship below me, firing on the castle. Hundreds of Dahk fought in the air below me. My hair whipped around my face as I looked down and down to the ground. I was so high in the sky, the Dahk on the icy ground looked like ants.
Shouts and snarls had me spinning around. Several Dahk hacked at the webbing, fighting their way out onto the balcony. They were not friendly.
I panicked, looking around for anywhere to go, but there was nowhere. I thought about screaming for help, but the odds of one of the good guys getting to me instead of a bad guy were not in my favor.
I didn’t have long before the Dahk got to me, and I knew it was all kinds of stupid but I sat on the bannister and carefully dropped my feet to the ledge on the other side. I looked down, dizziness and fear so great, I nearly lost my footing. I looked back at the webbed hole and saw the Dahk trying to free their wings from the webs.
I was about to scream when another Dahk shot onto the balcony from the sky.
It was Ignyt.
He threw a dagger at one of the Dahk and swung his sword in an arc, severing the head of another. Several more Dahk leapt onto the balcony, fighting with each other. I scooted away, holding onto the bannister with one hand. They fought each other, both sides trying to reach me. Before I knew it, my feet had carried me to the other side of the balcony and I was grasping at the wall, moving away from the balcony completely.
The ledge I was precariously balanced on was barely a foot thick, and I had nothing to hold on to but smooth stone. I edged along the wall, getting farther and farther from the balcony. Dahk battled feet from me, reaching out to me but never making it all the way.
When a blast from the ship slammed into the castle, I lost my footing and slipped into the open air. Arms wrapped around my waist and I slammed into the chest of a Dahk warrior, but as soon as he caught me, I was violently ripped out of his arms by the enemy.
The enemy Dahk carrying me flew a few feet away and tossed me into the air on purpose. I screamed as I fell. Down and down I went, freezing wind whipping at me like thousands of tiny daggers.
My breath slammed back into me when another pair of arms caught me. I looked into Ignyt’s face.
He had wrathful snarl on his lips as he flew. I sobbed in relief, wrapping my free arm around his neck.
The moment my cool skin met his warm neck, he stiffened, shooting me a look of shock and primal hunger.
His arms tightened on me so forcefully, he knocked the breath back out of me. He snarled a curse and dipped, his wings snapping forward.
I screamed again and he shook his head, roaring into the sky. His wings shot wide and regained control of his flight. A Dahk barreled for us and Ignyt dipped, swerving to the right. Then Ohta was there and he attacked the enemy Dahk, wrapping his arm around his neck and tossing him through the air.
Hylg came to Ignyt’s other side, his knowing eyes on Ignyt His voice low with shock and worry. “Give her to me.”
Ignyt snarled and flashed his fangs at him. Hylg cursed and looked behind us. I followed his line of sight and saw dozens of Dahk following us. It was only then I realized how far away we were from the castle. I could see the ship still firing, but the Dahk in the sky around the castle were little specks.
“You have the babe?” Ohta shouted.
I shook my head, looking around. The Dahk were behind us, but I didn’t know if they could hear us over the howling wind.
Hylg swerved over, glaring at Ignyt as Ignyt snarled again, looking more closely at the baby blanket. He grinned at me. “Clever.”
My smile trembled.
Ohta pressed on the comm unit in his ear. “They believe we have the babe. We’ll lead them away.”
A ship flew at us from the side. Ignyt dipped down and the ship flew right over us and toward the castle. It released a blast into the other ship.
“Aryx,” Ohta shouted.
I didn’t know if that was Uthyf’s brother in the ship, but I would take their word for it. Whoever it was, they were kicking the other ship’s ass.
We flew into the icy night, the enemy Dahk dogging our heels the entire way.
Several warriors engaged the enemy over the course of Ignyt’s reckless flying, slowly dwindling the crowd down to only a few. When one got too close, either Ohta or Hylg took them out.
We flew past mountains—so close if I reached out, I could touch them, but so fast that if I did, I would lose my hand. We took sharp turns and dips, and more than once I thought I would lose my breakfast.
Over an hour I must have clutched a tense Ignyt, freezing. I could barely feel my toes, and the cold felt permanently imbedded under my skin. My teeth were chattering and I was trembling so much, Ignyt had to continuously adjust his hold on me.
Hylg pointed at something on the side of a mountain, and Ignyt banked sharply, veering for it. For a split second, the remaining Dahk behind us disappeared behind several skyscraper-sized stone formations. Ignyt arrowed toward a small dark patch on the tall rock and I nearly screamed. It looked as if we would smash right into it. But instead we went through the side of the mountain. Rock walls rushed past me, inches from my skin. It got impossibly d
arker before suddenly bursting with bright lavender light.
Ignyt circled inside a cavernous room, spiraling down and down. He landed harshly, jarring me in his arms. He stumbled over to a waist-high flat stone and carefully laid me down before staggering away from me.
He roared and plowed his fist into the cave wall. Hylg and Ohta circled him warily, keeping one eye on him, the other on the ceiling of the cave. I watched the ceiling, waiting for the Dahk to find us. Ignyt raged and smashed his fists into the walls. He was so loud, I thought for sure he would give away our hiding spot. But they never came.
“Igs,” Hylg said low.
Ignyt snarled at him and plowed his fist through a stalagmite, shattering it.
“Igs,” Hylg tried again.
“What’s wrong with him?” I whispered, watching Ignyt completely lose his cool.
Ignyt turned at the sound of my voice and lunged. Ohta jumped forward and shoved him back.
Hylg looked at me as the two wrestled. “He’s injured.”
I looked at Ignyt. His wings were bloody, as was his face and arms. He was dripping in Dahk blood. But— “Don’t lie to me.”
Hylg clenched his jaw and looked back at Ignyt. He didn’t lie again.
For long, long minutes, Ignyt fought with Ohta. They were both limping by the time Ignyt shoved him away. Hylg stood in front of me then. Ignyt snarled, panting. He threateningly spread his clawed fingers wide at his sides and his wings lashed back.
“Brother, you’ll never forgive yourself,” Hylg warned.
Ignyt looked at me, his gaze searing. I flinched away. He snarled again and leapt into the air, disappearing through the entrance of the cavern.
Hylg sagged back on his feet then rushed to Ohta.
“I’m fine.” Ohta grunted, shoving Hylg away. He stood and prodded at thick claw marks in his side. “Bastard.”
Hylg shook his head and pressed the comm unit in his ear. “Status?” Hylg listened, his eyes on the ceiling, watching for Ignyt. “They’re still tracking us.” A pause. “No. No, Ignyt is taking care of them.” Hylg looked at me. “She’s alive.” Hylg nodded and looked at Ohta. “We’ll wait it out then go north to be sure.” Hylg fisted his hand and pressed it between his curled horns. “Understood.” He dropped his hand from his comm unit and sat on another rock. Scrubbing his face, he looked at Ohta. “Aryx took down Wohn’s ship and the other.”
Ohta nodded. “Casualties?”
Hylg growled. “Many.”
My stomach rolled. Were Peyton and the baby okay? Roxy and Mona? What about the two females who’d bravely stood to guard Peyton? Who had done this?
I sniffled and rubbed my eyes furiously.
Ohta and Hylg looked at me in concern and horror, obviously baffled about what to do with me as my body bucked on a sob. My adrenaline was fading, and terror and shock were swallowing me.
I put the fake baby on the rock beside me and curled my knees to my chest, clutching them. “Is he coming back?” I asked through my tears.
Ohta looked at the ceiling. “He won’t be able to stay away for long.”
No, he wouldn’t. If what I thought was wrong with him was true, then he would be back and he would be claiming me. As his Pythe.
13
Lydia
Eventually my tears stopped, my cries quieted, and I sat on that rock in stunned silence. Barely feeling the low heat from the small fire Ohta had started.
Ignyt stayed gone far longer than I thought he would. Hours went by before he flew back into the cave. He looked significantly worse than he had before he left. He was coated from head to toe in dry and wet blood. The sword at his side was the same. He dropped onto the ground hard, cracking the stone.
Ohta stood slowly, watching him. “Do you have control?”
Hylg stood to my right and looked ready to lunge for me.
Ignyt’s chest heaved as he looked at me, but he nodded once, sharply.
“Did you leave any alive?” Ohta asked dryly, looking Ignyt over.
Ignyt cast him a stone-cold look and stepped closer to me.
“We need to head north,” Hylg muttered. “Did you leave at least one to track us?”
Ignyt nodded and sheathed his sword. He ran his eyes over my curled body and walked toward me. Hylg and Ohta watched in tense silence as he picked me up in his arms.
I didn’t fight him as he sat in my spot, cradling me in his lap. There would be no point. He was much bigger than me, and I knew how this went. I had seen it happen with Mona. The more I fought it, the harder it would be on both of us.
He had to be in immense pain right now, fighting the bond, and I was eternally grateful. Sealing the Pythen mating bond in front of an audience was common practice among the Dahk. It would be nothing for him to throw me down on the ground right here. But he didn’t.
I had seen Uthyf completely lose his mind to the mating rage. He had been chained for days—also tradition—before Mona completed the bond with him. During that time, he had been out of his mind in rage.
I didn’t know what it was costing Ignyt right now to fight his instincts. I knew it was possible to do so, but it was rare. Olynth had done it with Bailey. He had fought the bond for days and she’d had no clue. It could have killed him though.
For Ignyt to unleash all that rage on me, unchained and unchecked, was too dangerous. But we were on the run and now was not the time to restrain him just so I could mount him.
I curled my hands into fists on my lap. But that day would come. Soon. There was no escaping the Pythen mating bond. If it chose you, you were screwed, and it looked as though Ignyt and I had been chosen to share it.
Ignyt’s hand came up, and I stiffened as he shifted my hair away from my neck. He bent close, his mouth touching my bare collarbone, and he breathed in, scenting me. His lips then moved up my neck, tickling it and sending sparks down my spine, to my ear. There he heaved in a breath and rubbed his bottom lip against my earlobe.
“I won’t hurt you,” he rasped.
I sucked in a breath, shocked at the strain in his voice, my nails biting into my palms. “Promise?”
Ignyt whispered a curse and dragged his palm up my back, pulling me closer to him. “You’re safe from me, little song.”
I sniffled and wrapped my balled fists around his neck, holding on to him. In relief? In terror? In despair? I didn’t know, but I was feeling everything intensely at the moment. And I believed him.
Ignyt sagged under me, the tension fleeing him. He dropped his mouth back against my neck and rested it there, just breathing in my scent.
Something beeped above me. I sat back, watching his other hand touch the comm unit in his ear.
“Yes?” he rasped.
Where are you?
The words were muffled, but Ignyt was so close to me, I could just barely make them out. It was Uthyf.
Ignyt looked at the ceiling. “Close to Tybyn.”
Where are you headed?
“We’ll lead them to Frydun and then to Rytsya.”
Let me speak to Lydya.
Ignyt looked at me and pulled the thin circular unit from his ear, holding it up to my ear.
My hand quaked as it covered Ignyt’s at my ear. “Uthyf?”
Uthyf sighed in my ear. “You did a very courageous thing, Lydya.”
“Are Peyton and Sym okay?” I choked out.
Ignyt pulled me closer, his hand curling around the back of my neck.
“There are safe and now in hiding.”
I sagged against Ignyt, my hands curling around his neck. “Roxy? Mona?”
“Both alive and well.”
“Linda?”
“Safe.”
I sucked in a sob, biting my lip. Star and Nick were back at Bailey’s with her and Nathan, far from the castle. As were Vivian and Prin.
“I must ask you, Lydya, do you know what we are asking you to do?”
I nodded, swallowing my relief. “I know.” They needed me to keep playing Peyton.
; “We do not know who has done this. We do not know how long you must go with Ignyt and his brothers.”
I nodded again, pulling up my shoulder to wipe my runny nose on it. “I know.”
“They will keep you safe,” he said heatedly.
I looked in Ignyt’s eyes. They held mine, confident and solemn.
“Tahk and Pehytohn wished for me to express their gratitude. They owe you a great debt.”
They didn’t. I’d done it for Sym. A helpless baby who did nothing wrong. He came into the world and evil decided that was wrong enough. “Will you tell Roxy I love her?”
“I will,” Uthyf replied. “We will see you soon, brave Lydya.”
“Bye,” I whispered.
Ignyt took the comm back and put it into his flat, pointed ear.
Her safety is your priority.
Ignyt bared his fangs at the floor. “I know. She is mine.”
Silence. Then, Is she aware?
Ignyt looked at me. “Yes.”
Do you need assistance?
“No.”
Uthyf sighed so heavily there was a crackle of static. I do not envy you this challenge, my friend. I could not withstand it.
“Had my queen been in danger, I have no doubt you would have bested it.”
No. Be careful, Ignyt. The rage and hunger will encompass you.
Ignyt clenched his jaw, looking at me. For a moment, he let slip what he was holding back and I shivered. The need in his eyes—it was stark and vast. Blazing. Then he shielded it. His hand smoothed down my back.
Ignyt clicked off his comm unit without a word and stood with me in his arms. “Time to go.”
I grabbed my fake baby from the stone and held it against my chest. I didn’t know if I still needed to carry it. Uthyf clearly thought someone was tracking us and it felt comforting to wrap my hands around something.