“Tristan,” Craig said as we reached the bottom of the stairs and turned toward the hall. Kate and Forrest were with him, all three wearing dour faces. “You sure this is a good idea? Now?”
“I don’t have a choice, you know that,” Tristan replied. “It was bound to happen.”
Guilt shot through me and I hung my head until Kate slipped her hand into mine and squeezed it.
“He’ll be fine,” she assured me. “He’s a tough wolf.”
“This is all my fault,” I pointed out. “If I hadn’t come, if we weren’t… if we weren’t…”
“In love?” she supplied for me. “You can’t help it, Sabella. You two were meant to be together and either the packs will accept it and get over it or they won’t. Kind of how things seem to work around here. Trust me, I know all about it.”
“What do you mean?”
“When I first met Craig’s and Forrest’s dads, both kings at the time, they wanted to kill me on sight.”
“What happened?”
She shrugged with a smile. “I turned into a very scary dragon and threatened to eat them both.
One of them accepted me once he learned that I was nothing like the previous Darrahs he’d met.”
“And the other?”
“The other was possessed, and I killed him,” Craig supplied with a grim smile.
“This isn’t really making me feel better,” I whispered to her as we reached the hall and came to a stop.
I considered going to Tristan one more time, holding him close, kissing him, but he never looked back at me. Instead, he squared his shoulders, and held his chin high.
Hank announced his entrance. The rest of us followed behind, but the second I stepped foot inside, the hall fell silent.
Tristan continued through the hall, headed straight for the simple throne set on a dais. No one watched him, though. Every single pair of glowing, golden eyes was focused on me as I stood beside Kate and Boris, keeping near the doors. Craig and Forrest stood beside us, and without having to ask, I knew the four of them were ready to grab me and run if this turned ugly.
I gulped, clinging to any bit of hope I could find that Tristan would be able to explain everything. The hall was filled with wolves and every face I chanced a glance at appeared furious.
The tables had already been shoved to the sides of the room, leaving an empty space near the dais. A place for the challenger to take on the alpha.
“I understand there is one amongst you who wishes to challenge me,” Tristan yelled out, and the faces turned immediately toward him. His hand rested on the hilt of his sword, but every muscle looked tensed. “Step forward.”
I expected one person to do so, but four men and one woman stepped toward the dais. The men were larger than Tristan in height and width and packing solid muscle.
I shook my head, horrified thinking of him fighting them all, but he hardly looked bothered by the idea. I wanted to smack him for trying to be so formal at a time like this with an army of monsters barreling down at us at any second.
“All five pack leaders,” Tristan stated. “I must say I am disappointed and confused. What cause do you have to challenge me?”
A blond man with a long braided and beaded beard, stepped forward. “You know, King Tristan,” he spat. “You know exactly why we’ve all come here. You, a man who came from such honorable heritage, threaten all of us for her.”
He turned around and pointed directly at me, which of course, caused everyone else in the room to turn and stare at me again.
I did my best not to look terrified, but why shouldn’t I be? An entire room filled with shifters looked ready to murder me.
They are blind fools, the sane voice in my head I’d come to believe was somehow a mix of Farrah and Crane, said. There is no time for this. You must make them see the truth of who you are to them.
“And what the hell is that?” I muttered aloud.
Kate shot me a worried look.
The daughter of a goddess, their goddess, and the one sent here to save them all.
None of them appeared to be in an understanding mood.
“Because of Sabella? That is why you have come?” Tristan asked.
All five of the leaders nodded in unison. “We know what she is, and we know exactly what harm she will cause to our packs.”
“But,” one of the other leaders said loudly when murmurings of agreement went up all around the room, “we have an offer to make you before we resort to a challenge for your throne and the title of alpha.”
“I’m listening.”
The five shared a look before the dark haired one stepped forward. “If you can prove to us this seer has not bewitched you by killing her here and now, we will allow you to continue as you are.”
“And if I don’t?” Tristan growled, furious, his anger so palpable, several of the shifters near the front stepped backward. “If I refuse?”
“Then I shall be your first challenger,” the dark-haired shifter declared. “And if I fall, the others will take up the cause. We will not allow you to let our packs fall to ruin for this wretched woman. Not now, not ever.”
A chorus of howls and growls went up in agreement with is words. I was pissed at them for assuming I was like that horrible woman who cursed an entire race. How could they? None of them knew me, knew what I’d been through, or what I was capable of.
Tristan stood on the dais, grinding his teeth and though I couldn’t hear it, I knew he was growling away at his pack for being so reluctant to see the bigger picture.
His worried gaze landed on mine, then they narrowed, and he gave his head a subtle shake.
Too damned late. I did the only thing a crazy person like me would be expected to do.
I laughed.
It started softly at first, but then I cackled insanely, doubling over as tears streamed down my cheeks.
Kate whispered my name, but I ignored her as the room quieted down and the only sound I could hear was my own mad laughter.
“Seriously?” I finally stated as I straightened, staring around the room as I approached the dais. The shifters moved out of the way, as if worried I’d curse them if they came too close.
“Sabella,” Tristan said, annoyed.
I waved my hand at him. “No, really, it’s fine. I get it, they see a seer, and they think I’m the evilest person in the world. Really, totally understandable… except it’s not.”
“You are a seer,” the blond man snapped as he stomped into my path, stopping me from going further. “Your kind are nothing but a disease on this earth and should all be wiped out. I have said so many times—”
“Yeah?” I cut him off, planting my hands on my hips and standing toe to toe with him. “Then who would tell you about the war that’s about to come, huh? Tell me that.” I poked him in the chest with each word.
He snarled at me, but I wasn’t scared of him. I’d faced down far worse already. He was just an arrogant wolf who was looking for an excuse to claim the title of alpha.
“You think you can defeat me?” he snapped.
Tristan made to move. He was pissed, too, but I wasn’t going to let these ogres stand here and accuse him of being bewitched.
“I never said I wanted to,” I shot back. “I’m here to save you, all of you, from the darkness that’s waiting to crash down around us and swallow us whole. If you want to stand here bickering like children, please, but remember, there’s far worse coming, and I know exactly what it is.”
“You will die, seer,” he growled and grabbed my shoulders.
“Unhand her, or lose them,” Tristan snapped, his sword drawn and ready to slash through the man’s arms. “Now.”
The man did as he said, taking a large step away from me as Tristan moved in front of me.
“What the hell are you doing?” he hissed at me over his shoulder.
“Proving they’re wrong.”
“This is not the way to do it, I told you it was safer for you to stay back.”
&
nbsp; “I won’t let you face them down alone,” I argued, and stepped around him, ignoring his protests that I stand back. “I am a seer, it’s true,” I stated loudly, “however, I am something else entirely.”
“Our enemy,” the woman said, and spat at my feet.
I glared at the wet spot on the stone and time slowed around me. For so long, I’d had no idea who or what I was, where I came from. I had no idea what I was capable of, or why I was forced to spend my life locked away from the world. Then I came here and my destiny became clear.
Whether these shifters liked it or not, I was their saving grace, and they would see the light.
Voices yelled all around me as I came back to the moment, Tristan’s the loudest, begging his people to give me a chance, trying to make them understand this war was real and if they were divided they were all going to die. Still, they refused to listen.
I’d heard enough and closed my eyes, holding my hands palms to the ceiling.
Just breathe, the calming voice told me. Just breathe and understand who you are, my daughter.
I was the daughter of Farrah, goddess of light, and these were my people as much as they were Tristan’s.
All the years of craziness fell away, and a warmth rose within me, bringing with it the light of my mother. Of me.
A sudden hush fell, and when I opened my eyes, and saw their glow reflected in Tristan’s awestruck one, I smiled.
Light flowed all around me like ribbons of never-ending streams of water. They coursed in and around me as the shifters stumbled over one another to get back.
“I am Sabella, daughter of Farrah. I come to you now to help aid you in this fight Baladon brings upon this realm.”
“Baladon?” The blond man shook his head. “No, no it’s not possible.”
“She’s telling you the truth,” Tristan declared and sheathed his sword. “I’ve seen him, as have others. He’s the one to blame for the deaths here, and for kidnapping King Craig and Queen Katherine.”
“He had me trapped in my own mind,” Kate said loudly near the doors. “Sabella saved me at great risk to herself. She’s suffered through terrible wounds, all to try and find a way to stop Baladon and his army from coming here. From hurting you.”
The pack leaders exchanged uncertain glances, but Tristan reached back and took my hand showing them he wasn’t afraid of me or my power. The light washed over him just as easily as it did me and the connection between us grew.
“I know we all hold a grudge for what that seer did to us,” he said, “but times have changed, and Sabella is not that woman. If we continue down this path and divide the packs, Baladon and his army will march right through these lands and destroy everything we are. Is that what you want? Is that what shifters do?”
Four of the leaders stared at our clasped hands and seemed to come to a decision.
The fifth burst out laughing, his back toward us.
Tristan stepped out in front of me as the shifter wiped a tear from his eye, turning to face us. The second his eyes widened, they flared red.
I cursed. “Baladon,” I snapped, and the shifter bowed from the waist.
“At your service, my dear sweet, naive niece.” He tapped his chin as he stared around the hall. “You know, those speeches were quite good. I must say I’m impressed. I even felt this one coming around, but I just couldn’t let that happen.”
“What do you want?” Tristan snarled.
“Such a temper you have. You might want to be careful with that.”
Tristan snarled louder, baring his teeth, but I held him back. “Get out of my realm before I tear your head off with my teeth.”
“Oh, I’m leaving, don’t worry. I have something much bigger planned for my official grand entrance.”
A sound echoed.
That sound, that horrible sound I never wanted to hear again.
Bone scraping against stone.
“Impossible.” Tristan shook his head fiercely. “Sabella destroyed it.”
“Did she now?” Baladon sneered at me as he approached.
Tristan tried to shove me further back, but he couldn’t move, and I found myself stepping forward against my will.
“You won’t win this,” I warned when I was only a few inches from him.
He pinched my chin and sighed. “Such spirit, exactly like my sister. You know, she never saw me coming for her. And even after I had her in my grasp, the threats kept coming. As if the light could ever truly destroy the darkness.” He leaned closer.
I flinched when he breathed me in.
Tristan roared in fury behind.
Baladon threw him an annoyed look. “Don’t worry, alpha, you can have her. For a while, at least. Just don’t get used to it. I’ll be coming for her power. And yours, Vindicar.” he yelled. “You and I have unfinished business.”
“Why not just do it now?” I challenged.
Tristan yelled at me to stop it.
I was on a roll. “Why wait?’
Baladon shoved me backward into Tristan’s waiting arms. “First, I have to see if you’re worth my time. Until then, I leave you with a parting gift. Have fun.”
He snapped his fingers and disappeared as if he’d never been there in the first place.
“Boris.” Tristan yelled as the scraping sounds grew closer. “Close and bar the door.”
“Wait, we have to get them out of here,” I argued, motioning to the hall filled with innocent shifters.
“There’s no time. Our best chance is to kill it, again.”
Right, because that worked so well the first time.
I stared at my hands as chaos ensued around me. The doors were slammed shut and locked, but that sound still reached my ears.
My stomach filled with dread and the courage I had to stand up before all these shifters vanished. So many were here, so many who didn’t deserve to be attacked by that beast.
I had to save them.
Tristan was calling out orders, and Kate was busy with Hank and a few other of the guard who were ushering people toward the dais and as far away from the doors as they could get.
My feet felt glued to the floor. A rush of power filled me and I felt the hall fall away.
“Really, right now?” I snapped, staring around, trying to get my bearings.
Nothing about this place looked familiar. The air even felt strange, heavy, and I struggled to breathe. I pressed a hand to my chest, and it was like I was drowning. A weight fell on my shoulders, dragging me down until my knees hit stone. The voices rushed back all at once, and I cringed, as they swarmed me, worse than ever before, forcing tears from my eyes. This was who I was. The crazy girl from the asylum.
I could never be anything more than that.
I wanted it all to end. I never should’ve come here. It was a mistake, a horrible mistake. I was going to get all these people killed. And Tristan, he would never forgive me.
So many doubts slammed into me as I saw myself failing over and over again. I’d failed to kill the statue. Now it was back, and there was no stopping it.
“Sabella.”
I paused, the voices quieted down, but were still there.
A figure passed in front of me then crouched down, tilting my face up with gentle hands. I couldn’t see who it was, but I knew him by his simple touch.
“Look at me, Sabella, you’re not alone anymore. I’m right here with you.”
“Tristan.”
His other hand reached for mine and held it securely in his. “I need you to come back to me. I can’t win this fight without you.”
The rest of the voices fell away, and when I blinked, I was back in the hall, and Tristan stood with me, holding my hand while his other cupped my cheek.
There was a high probability we were going to die, but he was smiling at me.
I stood on my toes and kissed him, wrapping my arms as tightly around his neck as I could, not wanting to let go, but we had a demon to destroy.
This time, I’d make sure it stuck.
A thunderous boom had everyone screaming in panic, and the doors threatened to give under the weight of the statue.
“What’s the plan?” Forrest asked as he and Craig rushed over.
Kate was a moment behind them, a wicked looking gauntlet on her left arm.
Another boom rocked the entire castle, and I swallowed down my fear.
“Dragon fire is useless, and swords didn’t even scratch it,” Tristan snarled. “I don’t know.”
“No,” I whispered and grabbed his arm as I grinned, “but I do.”
“What do you mean?” he asked, already with a look of regret on his face.
“We need those crystals, the ones Lucy used to trap it.”
“I don’t think they actually trapped it last time,” he muttered. “He managed to pull you in, remember?”
I shook my head. “Oh no, we’re not going to trap it,” I told him. “We’re going to blow it up.”
21
Tristan
I heard her wrong, I had to have, but then she was bouncing on her heels, and her eyes flared white with those powers of hers. I’d have to get used to that power at some point in time.
“I’m sorry, did you say blow it up?” I asked.
“Yeah, what’s wrong with that?”
“What’s wrong with it? How are you going to get it to work?” I demanded even as Craig was nodding in full-on agreement. “Stop encouraging her.”
“Hey, I said it before, blowing it up is the best course of action.”
“It won’t work.”
“Yes, it will,” she assured me. “But we need those crystals. Where’s Lucy?”
“Infirmary probably,” Kate chimed in. “We need to open the doors to get to her, which means we’ll be letting the statue in.”
“There’s a back door out of here,” I told her. “Behind the throne. Trap door. It’ll take you down to the dungeons, then back up and around. You’ll have to run. Those doors won’t hold forever, and gods, why am I even agreeing to this?” I mumbled.
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