A Snare of Vengeance

by Bella Forrest

  Vesta, Rayna, and Idris covered the west wall. Our warrior fae was taking advantage of the momentary peace to catch up with her parents. She’d yet to recover any of her childhood memories, but her attachment to Idris and Rayna was natural. Their unbreakable bond transcended all other conditions.

  Jax and Hansa stayed in the courtyard with Velnias, but occasionally came up and toured the watchpoints, ready to intervene if we needed them. Dion, Alles, and the other Imen covered the ground-floor hatches and made sure we had a steady supply of arrows ready. The surrounding area of the fortress had already been rigged with explosives, and Arrah had helped prepare more over the past couple of hours, to use for our arrows. We needed all the firepower we could get, and, thankfully, Neraka’s soils and mines were rich in minerals and volatile substances that we could mix into literal bombs.

  “Incoming!” Vesta shouted, pointing to the west ridge of our mountain.

  This wasn’t the first nor the last group of rogue daemon hunters to attempt an attack. Cason’s horn had been heard by many, including some who had already been out in the wild. They all died whenever they tried to approach the fortress, yet more came after them, even more persistent. Some perished when they tripped on explosive wires. Others made it all the way to the walls, just in time for Hundurr and Rover to tear them to shreds.

  Caspian and I shot to our feet.

  “Stay here, Fi. We’ll go check it out first,” I said, then rushed over to the western watchpoint.

  With my red lens on, I scoured the mountain below. I could see them—five daemon hunters. They didn’t even have armor on, just rapiers and shields. I let out a short whistle. Vesta stretched her bow, ready to launch a poisonous arrow, courtesy of Pheng-Pheng’s deadly scorpion tail.

  Two black shadows rushed through the thick greenery. “Firing one,” Vesta murmured, while Caspian and I pulled our own bows out, Manticore poison glimmering black on the metallic tips. She released her arrow.

  We heard it swish through the darkness before it got lodged in a daemon’s throat. The creature choked, giving away their position to the pit wolves. It didn’t take much for Rover and Hundurr to spot the air ripples and recognize the fiends. They’d been around daemons for long enough to get used to following them even in their invisible form.

  Caspian and I shot two more arrows, clipping two hunters, just before Rover and Hundurr jumped the other two. Three minutes of yelps and whimpers later, all five daemons were dead. Four were ferociously spread across twenty square feet of stony mountain, but I was in no position or mood to criticize the pit wolves’ killing methods. What mattered was that they were dead.

  “I’m still not comfortable with staying here until the mercenaries arrive,” Vesta muttered, looking out to the south.

  “We can’t risk them tracking us back to Meredrin or Azure Heights,” I replied. “Had Cason not blown his stupid horn, we might’ve had a chance. Now all the daemons of Neraka know we’re here. Fortunately for us, however, not all of them will make it here on time. We’ll lay as much waste as we can to the mercenaries, and our allies will hopefully join us and help us flee, preferably undetected.”

  “You do realize it’s easier said than done, right?” Vesta smirked.

  I nodded. “Yeah, but we’re all together now, stronger than yesterday,” I said. “We went over all possible avenues back at the farm, and this is our best option. We need to hold out here and deliver as much damage to those mercenaries as possible, then escape to Meredrin. Jax says we’re at war and we need to think like we’re at war, not like we’re on the run.”

  “Strategic approach, I get it,” Idris replied, nodding slowly. “It is reasonable. Let’s hope it’s also doable.”

  I smiled. “With you, Rayna, and Vesta on our side? Absolutely doable.”

  Another horn sounded, its echoes rippling across the night sky. Our smiles faded. My blood froze, almost instantly, as I looked to the west.

  “A little sooner than I’d hoped,” I murmured, identifying another daemon army stretching toward us, two hundred miles away.

  “How many, do you think?” Caspian asked.

  “They’re too far for me to see, but I estimate eight, maybe nine hundred more, based on how they’re spread,” I replied, my voice trembling.

  “This is merely the first wave,” Zane interjected from the southern wall. “It’s how they carry out a siege. They send out the first wave from multiple angles. In this case, these are your first responders,” he added, pointing to the south, then the west. “Mercenaries from the southern territories and seasoned grunts from the western city of Davoth.”

  I let out an audible sigh.

  “They’ll be here by morning, huh?” Vesta asked, squinting as she looked to the west.

  “Dawn, most likely,” I replied. “From both sides. They seem to be moving steadily,” I added, then glanced at Zane. “You said this will be the first wave. Then what?”

  “Well, provided we survive the first wave, the second attack will come in one, maybe two days. What we’re seeing now are the only troops they had available close to Ragnar Peak. Rest assured that more—many more—are being geared up as we speak. We won’t survive a second wave. Not in this formula. Not even with allies. We lack numbers. Believe me, the second wave will aim to obliterate, and they will be bringing in more swamp witch magic.”

  “We won’t be here that long, anyway,” Jax interjected from below, his brow furrowed. “We need to hold out against this first wave until our allies get here.”

  “Like I said, easier said than done.” Vesta smirked.

  “And like I said, let them bring it. We’re stronger together,” I replied.

  Vesta nodded, then pointed a thumb at the incoming hostiles from the west. “Besides, you know what ‘seasoned grunts’ stands for in daemon-speak, right?”

  I shook my head slowly. Zane chuckled.

  “Old farts who’ve seen one too many battles,” Velnias said, then pointed a finger at Vesta. “Don’t laugh just yet, little fae. Old or not, they can still tear you to shreds if you let them get close!”

  Either way, we had more work cut out for us. That meant more arrows and more explosives. While the ground team went on a second search of the fortress, we started gathering our ammunition and distributing it evenly on all four wall positions. The night was still young, but our enemies had just doubled their numbers, and we needed to be ready.

  We’ve made it this far, dammit. This is not where it ends.

  Fiona

  By the time the second moon came up, Vesta, Arrah, and Pheng-Pheng had gathered more supplies from the fortress—there were several hidden storage rooms that we hadn’t tapped into before. They prepared small linen satchels filled with an explosive mixture that detonated upon impact. The leftovers they’d brought over from Athelathan had been carefully rigged on a five-hundred-yard radius down the mountain, concealed and fitted with wires.

  Once triggered, they reacted much like the landmines that humans used back on Earth. Some were loaded with shrapnel; others were filled with toxic, acid-like substances that burned through pretty much anything.

  “They are really good at this whole explosives thing,” I murmured, watching Arrah as she skillfully tied a leather string around one of the satchels, keeping her mouth covered with a cloth so as not to inhale the vapors of the volatile mixture.

  “They’ve had decades, if not centuries, to perfect the technique,” Zane replied, his eyes on the gates below. Caspian and Harper were farther to the west, close to the Druids’ tower, worriedly looking at the incoming daemon armies.

  My stomach was tied up in painful knots, but Zane’s presence kind of took the edge off. I kept watching the girls. They were done with the satchel explosives and had moved on to fitting smaller doses on arrowheads, while Pheng-Pheng dipped another batch of arrows in her venom—she’d collected a hefty amount in a stone bowl for this. They were quiet, calm, and focused, and I couldn’t help but admire them for their strength and resi
lience.

  “That’s what thousands of years of hostile occupation will do to you,” Zane added, noticing my fascination. “They toughen you up. These girls have seen some horrible things in their short lives, and yet look at them go, unflinching. Feisty little things. Like you.”

  I briefly glanced at him, instantly warming up at the sight of his smile. My heart fluttered, but I had a hard time enjoying the sensation. My nerves were stretched too thin. The war drums grew louder in the distance. The daemons sure loved making their presence known.

  “I’m nothing compared to them. This is literally the first combat experience for half of us on my team,” I replied with a shrug. “We’re trained and all, but we haven’t lived through what they’ve experienced,” I said, pointing at the Nerakian girls.

  Zane gripped my chin between his thumb and index finger, lifting my head so he could get a better look at me. His touch alone was enough to light tiny little fires that spread through my skin, and I once again found myself stunned at how stealthily he’d gotten under my skin.

  “You should give yourself more credit, little vampire,” he replied, his voice low, raspy and sweet at the same time. “You’ve already accomplished something incredible during your short time on Neraka.”

  I scoffed and tried to look away, feeling my cheeks burn, but he held me in place, his red gaze dropping lead weights into my stomach. “You give me too much credit.” I chuckled nervously.

  “You’re all unbelievably capable, Fiona,” he insisted. “You’ve managed to get the Adlets on your side. You found Manticores and Dhaxanians, hidden in the most extreme corners of Neraka, and you’ve brought them into the fold, too. You’ve given people hope, darling. I’ve never seen anything like this. Not in this lifetime, I assure you. Up until I stumbled upon you in that underground prison, I didn’t even think I’d see such a successful rebellion. You crippled Infernis. You got me out of Draconis, then tore it down on your way out.” He chuckled. “I’m giving you the credit you deserve.”

  In hindsight, and looking at what we’d managed to achieve up to our arrival at Ragnar Peak, Zane did have a point. We’d come to a planet whose people were jaded and exhausted, weakened by predators like the Exiled Maras and the daemons. We’d managed to escape a city riddled with lies and illusions, and we’d survived not one, but two hostile cities. I didn’t have the tragic life experiences of Arrah and Vesta, for example, but I was a survivor, and I was definitely a fighter. I never should’ve forgotten that, not even for a minute.

  “They’re strong, though,” I murmured, gazing at the girls. “So freaking strong.”

  “They are. All Nerakians are, in fact. But my people and the Exiled Maras have spent thousands of years tearing their societies apart, separating and isolating them. But you, Fiona, you and your people have brought three of this kingdom’s most powerful creatures back together. The Dhaxanians of Athelathan, the Adlets of Lagerith… the freaking Manticores of Akrep! I’m in awe of you. Only a short while ago, I was contemplating running away from Infernis and settling somewhere by the southern seas, away from my entire family. Yet, here I am, helping you.”

  I cupped his cheek with one hand—small and soft against his rugged, sharp jawline. “I know it can’t be easy for you,” I breathed. “Killing your own people, I mean. I’m sorry you have to do this.”

  Zane inched closer, his gaze darkening as it dropped to my lips, which I parted on instinct.

  “You still don’t understand, do you, little vampire?” he replied, and I shook my head slowly. “I will burn this entire planet down, if that’s what it’ll take for me to be with you.”

  “Please don’t. There are innocent people here,” I muttered, stifling a grin.

  He narrowed his eyes at me, though visibly amused. “I was going for a figure of speech there, but you’re right. Let me be more literal,” he said, then regained his serious expression, his crimson gaze drilling into my soul. “Fiona, I will not let anyone hurt you or put you in a cage ever again. I did it once out of curiosity, and I still feel like a miserable schmuck for it. I’ll take my entire kingdom down to keep you safe. I mean it.”

  My heart sank, ever so quietly, as I listened to him say those words. Deep down, I started wondering where this would lead. Was this a relationship? I was definitely falling for him. I’d stopped denying that already. But where were we going with it? Would one of us follow the other into their home world? Would we spend half the time in my world, and half here, on Neraka? Or, when and if we succeeded in ridding Neraka of its daemon and Mara problem, would we just go our separate ways?

  Judging by the painful pang in my stomach, the latter didn’t feel like a good option. I breathed out, then closed the distance between us and kissed him. Zane didn’t hesitate, responding immediately. He parted his lips and took control. He tasted like honey and spices, making me quiver as he wrapped his arms around me and pulled me closer.

  He groaned softly against my lips, then brought our kiss to an end. It took a lot of energy on my part not to let out a whimper of discontentment, until I noticed the amusement flickering in his eyes. His gaze was darting between me and Harper and Caspian, who were just twenty feet behind me.

  “I think we’re distracting them,” Zane whispered. “Though I would love nothing more than to keep tasting you.”

  I giggled, my face flushed. I smoothly distanced myself from him, then looked over my shoulder. Like two little kids caught staring, both Harper and Caspian instantly shifted their focus back to the southern horizon, pretending we weren’t even there.

  Zane chuckled softly, then leaned back against the wall. It took us a minute or so to get our breathing under control, occasionally stealing glances at one another. Zane then fixed his sights on Caspian. “You know, he’s one hell of a fighter,” he muttered. “One of the best I’ve ever seen.”

  “Yeah, he is. What’s even more impressive is how well he gets along with Harper in combat,” I said. “I’ve never come across such synergy before. They’re so fluid, so natural in covering one another, almost completing each other’s movements. It’s always such a pleasure to watch them.”

  “Oh, I agree. Harper is equally phenomenal, I’ll admit,” Zane said. “It’s like they read each other’s minds when they fight. Thing is, it doesn’t just come from one of them. It comes from both. Harper is obviously exquisitely trained. And Caspian has a similarly impressive military and law enforcement background, which I think you know about.”

  “Yes, House Kifo has an ancient tradition in this discipline, if I remember correctly. Policing and warfare,” I replied.

  Zane nodded, then grinned, his expression lighting up as he remembered something. He looked at Caspian, raising his voice. “Oh, crap, you’re still under that blood oath, huh?”

  Caspian sighed, then pointed at the symbol behind his ear. Zane then laughed lightly, briefly glancing at the girls fiddling with explosives below.

  “Which means our friends don’t know about your involvement in the resistance,” Zane said. “You can’t talk about it, but you can clearly do it, otherwise you would’ve burned up by now.”

  “Obviously,” Caspian replied with a smirk.

  “What are you talking about?” Harper asked, slightly confused.

  “You see all these explosives, the whole technique behind them?” Zane asked, pointing at the pile of linen satchels behind Arrah. “These are all little snippets of knowledge that the likes of Vesta and Arrah have inherited from elder Imen, all gone from this world already. But where do you think the elders got them from, huh?”

  As if struck by the same lightning of realization, both Harper and I stared at Caspian, our eyes wide with surprise. “You?” I croaked.

  Caspian couldn’t confirm, but he looked at Harper and blinked, prompting her to then look at me and nod. “Yep,” she confirmed.

  “Lord Kifo here leaked the hell out of his own military archives.” Zane chuckled. “Shortly after the Lords pushed the rebel Imen farther to the west, Ca
spian gave them explosive recipes galore, instructions on how to extract certain volatile substances, where to draw them from, how to handle them so they wouldn’t blow themselves up, everything! Arrah wouldn’t have all these nifty little tricks today had it not been for Caspian a couple of centuries ago.”

  All of a sudden, Caspian seemed even more amazing—not just to Harper, but to all of us. Murmurs of gratitude and admiration emerged from below, and all my team gave Caspian a series of appreciative and thankful nods, while Harper wrapped her arms around his neck and dropped a soft kiss on his cheek.

  He smiled shyly, like a little boy who wasn’t used to getting credit for the incredible things he’d done. Needless to say, it was about time. He’d spent too long suffering in silence, struggling to do the right thing, while his people further eroded the once-beautiful way of life of the Nerakians. He deserved a pat on the back and a round of applause.

  Had it not been for his willingness to risk his own safety, his own life and integrity by passing explosives recipes on to the rebel Imen, we would’ve been royally screwed here, on top of Ragnar Peak, with armies of daemons headed our way.

  Thanks to him, we had a good fighting chance and a better shot at rescuing the swamp witch and getting our freedom back.

  Hansa

  Jax and I went on our hourly round of the fortress walls, the third moon rising overhead. Its beams came down in a warm off-white, casting a milky glow over the stone structure. We’d just checked on Scarlett and Patrik. The north side was quiet, and while the west wall had seen some action over the past couple of hours, it was nothing two pit wolves and three of our best fighters couldn’t handle.

  “We’ve certainly come a long way since we first got here,” I said, walking with Jax by my side and occasionally glancing over the wall into the dark wilderness below. “I remember our first encounter with daemon hunters. We were so confused.”