by Sara Snow
“I love you,” I said, resting a hand on his chest. “You have no idea how much.”
“Oh, but I do,” he answered, covering my hand with his. “I can sense it, even when we’re not together.”
“I don’t want us to ever be separated again.” I sighed. Even as I said it, I knew it was highly unlikely that we would not be.
"After all this ends, you'll never leave my side. I promise you that."
I chuckled. “Until I grow old and die.”
Will didn't seem to find that funny. His low growl gave me pause. "What makes you think I won't die when you do?"
I leaned back, surprised at what he was implying. Did he intend to kill himself when I died? "Will, you can't—”
"Yes, I can," he said, cutting me off. "If you don't want to hear me speak of dying, then don't mention ever leaving me. I've lived a long time, Elinor. You're the only reason I've found beauty again in this dull world, and when you leave, I want to be done with this place as well."
There was a knock on the door, and I got off his lap. Reality was intruding. "Come in."
Faelen poked her head in. “Sorry to interrupt.”
I called her in with a wave of my hand, and Skye followed behind her. "You're not. Come in."
“Alpha Grayson filled me in on the plans for the attack. A new Enchanted arrived with the group your pack took in. She knows many other Enchanteds from other packs, so once I fill her in, she’ll contact the others, letting them know that we’ll attack the Queen together after the full moon. Those Enchanteds will then pass on the message to others, and anyone willing to join us will know where to meet up." She pulled out a chair and sat down. "Will, welcome back. Your absence did a number on this one," she said, pointing to me.
I wasn't embarrassed—it was true. Will smiled. I arched a brow at that because despite how small it was, it was something he rarely did around others.
“She definitely wasn’t herself when you were gone,” Skye added, sliding onto a chair. “We'll be leaving at dawn, so the barrier will protect us on the full moon. Alpha Grayson had Faelen tell the others a vampire will be joining us. You know, so those who don't know about you don't freak out when you appear. How did you find us, anyway?”
Will looked at me, and I nodded. “I understand. As for how I found you, well . . . Elinor and I are very close. Wherever she is, I’ll be able to find her.”
When he placed a hand on his stomach, I frowned. “Are you not healed?”
"I am,” he answered, “Cain used a spelled blade, so I wasn't able to heal on my own." His hand fell away. "But with the help I got, I’ve healed. It just took a while, and sometimes I can still feel it."
“I heard you telling Akkar that he needs to keep up with the times.” Faelen chuckled and reached up to adjust her snow-white hair. "Fae are friendly, for the most part. But he's a complete asshole.”
"Yeah, we didn't get off on a good start." I shrugged. “But that doesn't matter to me."
“You’ll never stop challenging others, will you?" she asked, and Skye laughed.
“Elinor doesn't know how to not challenge others. It's what she’s good at."
I smiled back at her. "That was both a compliment and an insult, but I'll take it. What I won’t take is someone talking down to me or trying to belittle me."
“Sometimes allowing a person to think they have the upper hand works out better for you in the end.” Will rested his elbow on the table and propped his head up. “You don’t always have to respond to the things people say about you. Sometimes they aren’t worth responding to.”
Faelen grabbed onto the table, drawing our attention, and her eyes turned white. Her head began to twitch as her grip tightened, and Will stood up at the same time Skye did.
"She's having a vision," Skye muttered, and quickly grabbed Faelen as she shook violently and almost fell off the chair.
Finally, Faelen’s cloudy eyes returned to normal, her breathing erratic as she looked at each of us. She closed her eyes and pinched the bridge of her nose.
"Are you okay?" I asked.
She shook her head. “No. We need to notify the others. We're going to be attacked."
“Here?” Skye stepped back once Faelen could stand on her own. “When?”
Faelen shook her head. “I don’t know how much time we have. But someone here betrayed us. They told the vampires where we are.”
Elinor
Everyone gathered in the foyer, and each group stood together.
To my left stood Chiron, Tor, and Kazim, all with blades at the ready. Beside them, Shelby was flanked by two satyrs, also well-armed. Off to the side, Akkar waited with an elf, a woman with white hair to her ankles.
Ichiro came in with three male kitsune—identical triplets with the same red birthmark on the right side of their necks. They looked ready to taste blood.
Finally, Circe, Sybil, and three other witches entered the room. Circe’s brows were tightly drawn with worry.
In all, there were twenty-one supernatural creatures present. I hoped it would be enough to face the coming threat.
“Go help your sister strengthen the spells around the house, then come back,” Circe said to one of the witches. “We’ll seal ourselves inside.”
“First, we need to know who is the traitor among us,” Akkar demanded. “No offense, Circe, but it could be one of your witches."
Circe's purple eyes glowed, and so did the gem around her neck. "I assure you, Akkar, none of my people would betray me."
"How did you find us, Vampire?" Akkar turned on Will, who was standing behind me. "Wasn't this place meant to be a secret?"
“I tracked Elinor," Will answered simply. But Akkar narrowed his eyes, obviously still skeptical.
“It wasn’t him,” Faelen added, putting an end to Akkar’s speculations.
“Who was it?” my father asked, watching as Faelen’s gaze scanned the room. “Are you sure the person is still here?”
Faelen nodded. “Yes. I saw them speaking with a Skin before my vision changed to show the attack.”
“And . . . Do you know who it was?” Shelby probed.
Faelen turned to Chiron, whose amber eyes turned into slits. She then pointed to the centaur on his right. The centaur immediately took a step back.
"She's lying," he yelled, as Chiron and Tor turned on him. He looked at Chiron, fear and panic filling his eyes. "She's lying, Chiron. Why would I betray us, betray you?"
“Kazim, what’ve you done?” Chiron had struck me as a kind, wise leader, but now, as he took a step towards his comrade, his demeanor changed. Centaurs didn't possess magical powers—at least, not much—but they had incredible strength. "Speak!"
“You’d believe a wolf over your kind?” Kazim yelled.
Tor placed his hands on the hilts of both his swords. “If you’re so innocent, why have you pulled your weapon, Kazim?” Tor pointed to the sword in Kazim’s hand, its iron blade at the ready to slice through anyone that got too close to him.
The guilt in his eyes was clear to see. “Because you all believe her! I can tell!”
"Tell the truth, Kazim. The witches have their own way of getting the truth out of someone, and I can assure you, it won't be enjoyable." Chiron's voice was deep and resonated with authority.
Kazim glanced at Circe, whose eyes were still glowing. I could tell she was trying to contain her anger. This place was important to her and her people. She waved her hand, and Wilhemina and the two witches—twins with striking red hair—left the house to strengthen the spells in the forest.
“Why did you do it?” Chiron asked.
"I didn't have a choice!" Kazim closed his eyes and shook his head. "We're being slaughtered more than any other species! Food, Chiron. We’re nothing but food! I did what needed to be done!"
"So, you made a deal with the vampires." Ichiro sighed, and shook his head.
Kazim turned to him. “I made a deal to spare our people.” Kazim sounded defeated, and he lowered his sword. "It doesn
't matter who wins this war—not to us, anyway. Because either way, we'll be extinct."
“Did they promise they’d spare the remaining centaurs if you helped them?” Shelby’s beautiful face was twisted with anger. “Don’t you think satyrs are being hunted for food as well? Don't you think we've all lost people? If the vampires win, we'll all go extinct." Her fists clenched at her side, and the men on either side of her huffed and swiped a leg on the ground furiously. “Of course, it matters who wins this war. They’ll never stick to any of the promises they made. We’re all just food to them—all of us!”
Circe snapped her fingers, and Kazim’s sword flew out of his hand. He reared up on his back legs, and Tor pulled out one of his swords and swung it. The tip came to a stop at Kazim’s throat. “You’ve embarrassed our people and our leader. Make amends and tell us about the attack.”
“They’re already coming,” Kazim answered, his eyes growing watery.
He was undoubtedly a warrior among his people, someone used to seeing death, but I knew that the months of senseless bloodshed and constant slaughter were enough to break even the strongest creature. How many friends and family had he lost before he broke?
Screams pierced the silent night, and the front door flew open. Wilhemina and another witch—not one of the twins—ran in and slammed it shut.
“Where are Anna and Emma?” Circe walked over to the unknown witch and healed a wound on her head.
“I-I was patrolling the forest and checking the traps, as you instructed. Suddenly, a fae came out of nowhere and attacked me!”
Wilhemina’s dress was ripped in multiple places, and she was covered in scratches, likely from thorns thrown by the fae. Circe healed her as well, then waved her hand, sealing all the doors and windows. The moment she did, something threw itself at the front door.
Beside me, Skye's daggers glowed bright blue, and the ripe scent of vampires filled the air.
“I knew this would happen,” Akkar grumbled. “I’ll protect my people. Only the fae who’d chosen to leave our lands have been captured.”
He snapped his fingers, and the female fae on his right dropped a portal potion to the ground. When they vanished through it, no one made a move to stop them.
"Well, that was no surprise." Shelby removed the knives from her thighs, and the three fox shifters who came with Ichiro shifted—two had three tails and the third had two, but all three were covered in gray fur.
“The sealing on the doors won’t hold if there are resurrected witches out there.” Circe walked by Kazim, and as the hem of her dress brushed his leg, vines appeared around his body, binding him swiftly until he fell over.
He yelled for Chiron and Tor’s help, but his cries met deaf ears. And when he sank through the floor like it was made of quicksand, neither moved to help him. He was consumed within seconds, and Circe stopped at the entrance to another room. "He'll remain alive to be dealt with as you see fit, Chiron. But I hope you didn't expect me to do nothing."
"I understand, and I apologize on his behalf." Chiron bent a knee and bowed, and Circe bowed as well.
“Where are you going?” Ichiro asked her, as Connor began to shift with the growing sound of banging on the windows and doors.
“I’ll open portals for you all to leave. Sybil and I will remain to defend our land.”
“We’re not leaving,” Grayson said without hesitation. "This house has three stories, so we'll split up and protect each floor. Ichiro, you cover the first floor with your men. Connor, Skye, and I will take the second. Circe, that leaves you, Chiron, and Tor for the third.”
"I'll start off on the roof," I offered. "My lightning kills them easily, reducing the number who can enter the house."
“I’ll come with you.” Will took my arm, but I shook my head.
“I won’t be staying on the roof for long. I’ll be flying above it. But don’t worry. I’ll be fine.”
"I know you, Elinor, and I never doubted you’d take to the skies. But you won’t be doing so without me."
A window shattered, and a Bleeder rolled into the foyer. Ichiro began to shift, red fur bursting from his skin. ”Go now! All of you!" he shouted.
A smoky red fox with seven tails appeared where he'd once stood, and we all scattered. Will was hot on my heels as I flew to the roof.
8
Skye
Alpha Grayson’s howl thundered through the house as he went left and Connor's wolf ran right. Our Alpha’s howl was like an awakening to everyone in our pack, and my wolf answered, growling fiercely within my mind.
My daggers lit up the semi-dark hall as I went straight, my steps slow and silent, to make my way towards the battle being fought on the first floor. Suddenly, an explosion rattled the house from above, and a door to my right flew open.
I saw a flash of yellow eyes before something sent me flying through a wall into an empty room. I flipped onto my back, and as I inhaled the surrounding scents, I realized it wasn't a vampire that had attacked me, but a hybrid. The hybrid.
The large man stepped through the wall, and memories that still haunted me night and day jumped to the forefront of my mind. For a second, I remained on the ground, frozen in fear as the hybrid that had killed my mother smiled down at me with recognition. "I was hoping I’d see you again.”
His eyes were that of a cat-shifter, but I could smell that he was half-human, just the same as he’d been in that dungeon not so long ago. I shook my head, shaking away the memories keeping me pinned to the ground.
“You killed my mother,” I growled, my eyes changing to black as my wolf howled in agony.
I got to my feet, a dagger in my right hand while the other was lying on the ground away from me. My gums ached as my teeth elongated into fangs, but I had no intention of shifting into my wolf. I would kill him with my daggers—or with my bare hands if I had to. But I wanted him to see my face as he died.
My chest was growing tight with blinding wrath, and when he swiped a clawed finger across his throat, mimicking what he’d done to my mother, I lost it.
I charged at him, and he stepped back in time as my dagger's tip passed by his face. His hand came down hard on my cheek, sending me skidding across the ground. But the pain was nothing compared to my fury.
I held my hand out, and my dagger on the other side of the room flew to me, slicing his side open in the process. He roared in pain, and I flipped onto my feet and caught my dagger. He looked surprised that a wolf could do such a thing, and he eyed the daggers in my hands with distaste, then bared his fangs.
He moved swiftly, faster than I thought he'd be able to. I was forced back with each blow I blocked with my daggers until I ducked down, missing a left hook, and sliced him across his chest.
He staggered backward, and I lifted my dagger to my nose and inhaled his blood, my claws extending. “You’re going to wish you’d killed me, too.”
“You’re going to wish you were already dead!”
He ran forward, a beast ready to take my life the same way he'd snuffed out my mother’s. I remained where I was, tightened my hold on my swords, and the second he was close enough, I raised my hands.
I slammed one blade onto the other, creating an X, and the bright blue shock wave sent him soaring across the room. My eyes burned with tears that begged to be freed, but I couldn’t allow myself to weaken. Not yet. Not until this was over.
Letting out one long howl, I ran to where my victim lay across the room. It was time.
He got to his feet shakily, dazed by the attack, and I threw myself at him. One of my daggers pierced his gut while the other went through his left shoulder. We fell through the wall and into another room before he threw me up and over his head.
My body smacked hard onto the floor, but I allowed the pain to roll through me, letting it feed my thirst for revenge. None of this was as bad as the pain my mother had suffered as they'd tortured her to get information out of me.
I got to my feet as he pulled the sword in his gut free, and his blood sp
ewed onto the ground. Deep-rooted hatred was something I’d never felt before . . . until I’d watched this creature kill my mother. My mother, who was now lost to me for good. Because of him.
I knew hatred could taint the soul, and mine was turning as black as charcoal the longer this vermin breathed air.
When he tried to dislodge the dagger in his shoulder, I screamed. And as the scorching hot tears rolled down my face, the dagger sank in deeper.
He fell to his knees, and I waved my hand, commanding my other dagger, the one he'd thrown away, to attack him. It did, slashing him across the face and sending him falling backward.
I ran across the room, pushing myself more than I ever had, as memories of the times I’d spent with my mother flashed before my eyes.
My heart broke and my soul bled just knowing that even after I killed him, she wouldn’t return. She'd never return.
“You murdered my mother!” I fell onto him and ripped the sword from his shoulder while I shoved my claws into his stomach through the wound already there.
He coughed up blood, and I winced as he scratched my arms and neck. The pain was nothing, but my body was shaking uncontrollably with rage. I pushed my arm further into his stomach until I felt his organs. Then I grabbed at everything I felt and squeezed, crushing them.
“You t-tortured her! Right in front o-of me! She begged! S-She begged you to s-stop!”
He coughed and roared in pain as his blood covered my face and chest. I stabbed him in the throat and felt the dagger pierce the ground on the other side.
“You killed my mother,” I said more softly, and his arms fell to his side, his eyes fluttering. I leaned down and let my tears fall onto his skin. "Remember my face. Because I'm going to find you in Hell, and I'm going to make you suffer. You can be sure of it."