They had determined earlier that they would ascertain the size of the threat in the building before Aeron and Alak brought the market down around them. Kat walked through the space behind Aeron, Alak following her, and tried not to stare at the sights that lay on the display tables before her. When Aeron came to a sudden halt, she almost walked straight into him. Looking over his shoulder she saw two large tables side by side, with strange looking items on them. One had restraints identical to the ones Nyx had used to abduct her. They had cut her off from her cougar, and just looking at them now, she felt the rise of her animal within her, both of them unhappy with the reminder of that time, and what those fucking cuffs represented.
Then her gaze drifted to the other table, and her stomach roiled. There were vials and jars filled with different colored liquids, powders and objects she was fairly certain were teeth. Whatever the spell Aeron had cast upon her, it enabled her to read the labels. There was ground bone from both humans and various shifters, the venom of snake shifters, the ground liver of tiger shifters. Each was more horrendous than the last. Kat’s heart stuttered in her chest when she saw the label on one of those jars clearly read “Cougar Teeth”.
Horror and anger warred for supremacy within her, and her cougar pushed to the fore. Alak suddenly reached out and grabbed her hand. Kat felt a pulse of power, not unpleasant or exactly pleasurable, but somehow stopping the spontaneous shift.
“Easy, dragon,” Alak murmured. “We will soon burn this abomination to the ground. I promise you, we will make these bastards pay.”
Kat stood still, practically vibrating with the need to shift and shred these bastards as fast as possible.
“These items are as forbidden as they are atrocious.” Aeron spoke to the stall vendor in that same tone that told Kat he was doing his manipulation thing again. “What gives you the right to trade in such things?”
The vendor frowned, grimacing as if he was in pain, and Kat guessed he must have been fighting whatever Aeron was doing to him. She felt Alak tense beside her, obviously adding more weight to the powerful magic Aeron was using.
“We used to deal with a Dark Fae called Frederych,” the man snarled in a voice that came across in a dual tone, as if two people were speaking at the same time. “He shared with us his unique approach on things. We are more powerful than any in the human realm. We trade in whatever we want. Everything you need to increase your own powers, you will find in these markets.”
These. There was more than one of these places?
“Aeron,” Alak growled. Kat was beginning to understand her mates better now, and a quick glance at Aeron and she could see why Alak had cast his warning. His glamor was slipping, and her handsome mate was coming into view.
“Who are you?” the vendor asked in a wary tone.
Aeron grinned, but there was nothing friendly or warm about it. “I am the one who is going to end this right you think you have to free trade. My mate wants this place burnt to the ground.” Kat was amazed to see Aeron’s tattoos begin to slide from his body, the ink swirling together to form a dark mass of energy that began to move around the room, flame bursting from whatever it touched. “And it is my job to ensure that she gets everything she wants.”
Aeron’s eyes became completely black, and Kat stepped forward, pressing her hand against his chest. A whimpered sound of fear escaped when she registered that his heart no longer beat.
“It’s okay, Katrina,” Alak said as he pulled her back against his chest, holding her safe against him. “Aeron has sent his Akh'Faer forth to deal with this filth.”
“What does that mean?” Kat whispered
“Akh'Faer must not have a translation in English, but it is like an army that we wear as adornment. Only the most powerful of our people are blessed in such a way. Each of the lines that mark our bodies has a meaning, and when they come together, they have a strength and a power that is very difficult to stop. Our Goddess gifted us with many talents and skills to protect our people. This is one of the more deadly of those abilities. The downside is, we are completely vulnerable when we do this, which is why when one of us in this form, the other will remain to protect them.”
Kat watched as the dark mass Alak referred to as Aeron’s warriors swept around the room, lighting everything it touched, the screams of the beasts who worked the market echoing in its wake. Despite the carnage around her, Kat was more than a little in awe of her mate’s powers. Knowing that there were more of these places meant that she would get to see her men open up a can of Dark Fae, High Dorum whoop-ass more than once, and she could hardly wait.
Chapter Seventeen
Alak watched their surroundings cautiously as he let his brother take care of the destruction of the Shadow Market. He could already feel the strange pull of this realm’s magic, trying to invade and corrupt his body and soul. As Dorum in service to the Goddess, they were more attuned to magic than most of the Fae, and he could understand how some of these poor misled souls would not have realized the cost of their greed until it was too late and there was no longer a place for their twisted existences in the Goddess’s realm. It was a fool’s errand to reach for power that was not meant to be yours.
The chaos unfolding all around them was overwhelming. Most of the vendors were screaming and fleeing. Only those who tried to save their forbidden contraband were being consumed by Aeron’s wrath. They were lucky these Underfae beings weren’t organized to defend this place. No doubt the next market they descended upon, the attack would have to be carefully planned once word spread of what they’d done here.
Suddenly, an ear-piercing screech rang out from behind them, and Alak barely had enough time to pull both Kat and Aeron to the ground before an enormous creature came charging onto the scene. It was as grotesque as it was loud, the thick grey skin mottled with sores and open wounds. The beast stood over seven feet tall and had a completely feral look in its eyes as it tried to assess the attack. There was something vaguely familiar about its form, and then it dawned on Alak—this creature must have been one of the forest folk before it had become Underfae.
“Sweet Goddess, what is that stench?” Kat groaned from beside him as she checked on Aeron, who was still unresponsive as his Akh'Faer continued its destruction.
“The creature, I believe that this is the one Melanie warned us about. It appears to be decomposing.” He watched it carefully for a moment as it swung at the flames, as if it were trying to fight them, but did not know how.
“Sheesh, look at it,” Katrina whispered. “I almost feel sorry for him. It’s like he’s too stupid to know what fire is.”
“I can only assume that once the body begins to decompose here that the brain function would fail quickly as well. It makes me wonder how long the Underfae can survive once they begin to devolve.”
By now the entirety of the market was going up in smoke and Alak felt his brother’s magic begin to return to his body, but he must have used a great deal of energy as it seemed a slower process than normal.
“Looks like this is our cue to take our leave, brother.” Alak stood and offered his hand to Katrina, pulling her up when she took it. “Aeron, are you well? The return of your Akh'Faer seemed different somehow.”
“I think I’m fine—”
“Oh shit.” Her face suddenly went pale as she looked over his shoulder. “We have a problem.”
Alak and Aeron turned to look at the same time, and though he was sure the beast was less than intelligent, there was no mistaking the anger and hatred etched upon its ugly visage. It stared directly at them for several seconds, then with a roar, it charged forward.
He lashed out with his magic, opening a huge cut right across the creature’s chest, sending black blood flying through the air. The grotesque droplets sizzled like acid everywhere they touched. Alak saw Katrina’s glamor flicker and then fade as her beast rose higher in response to the attack.
“Katrina, do not shift. Your cougar will not function well here in the Shadow Realm,�
� he yelled out to her as he struck the creature once again. “And don’t let the blood get on you either. We don’t know how much damage it can do.”
“Fine, I can use my fists then, but only if I have to.” His mate’s frustration was clear in her tone, but Alak didn’t want her anywhere near this being regardless.
Aeron must have been exhausted after setting his Akh'Faer loose the way he did, but still he charged the creature, ducking under giant arms intent on ripping them limb from limb, slashing out at the beast’s knees. But as it fell, one meaty paw connected with Aeron’s shoulder, its claws sinking in deep before it tossed him back at Alak, who barely had time to catch his flailing body.
“Aeron!” Katrina screamed as she knelt by his brother’s now unconscious form. “We need to leave, Alak!”
The creature was still struggling to stand, but the determination on its face clearly showed that it wasn’t caring about its wounds, and Alak had to end this now to get his brother and their mate back to safety. To their left, the still burning structure of a vendor stall caught his eye, and he used everything he had left to pick up the flaming pillars and send them flying through the air until they’d all pierced the giant’s body. The scream that left the creature’s mouth was horrific, but he did not get back on his feet and Alak wasn’t about to stick around to see how quickly he recovered. This beast was so much stronger than it ever should have been.
Alak threw Aeron’s prone form over one shoulder and grabbed Katrina’s hand in his own before they sprinted back to the portal that had brought them to this cursed place. The journey seemed longer on the way back even though their pace was much quicker and less cautious. That creature had been stronger than he could have imagined, but then again, once a being’s logic and reason were destroyed by the invading darkness, only rage and malevolence would be left in its place. They would need a better plan the next time they went hunting for Underfae. Perhaps the Goddess would finally be able to provide them with some insight as to these beings’ weaknesses now that they had information to give her. Guns would not work in the Shadow Realm, and if the shifters were to join the battle at their side, it was too dangerous for them to attack with teeth and claws, especially not with the possibility of contamination. By the looks of the festering sores and caustic rotting blood on those creatures, it was unwise to risk themselves until they knew more about their new enemies.
It was dark by the time they exited the portal and entered the woods in the park. Aeron had regained consciousness, but the wounds on his shoulder were concerning.
Katrina pulled back the torn collar of his shift to reveal the dark lines creeping out from the claw marks. “This looks really bad, Aeron. How are you feeling?”
“Like I was skewered and tossed by a giant?” Aeron tried to smile at his mate.
“Now you want to learn how to make jokes?” she asked incredulously. “We need to get you to Erica and April as soon as possible.”
“I will open a portal to Gabe’s.” Aeron was in need of immediate attention. Alak propped his brother up to stand. “Katrina, can you hold him for a moment?”
“I am perfectly capable of standing, thank you.” Aeron scowled at him, but Alak could see how unsteady his brother was and it worried him.
There had been very little he and Aeron had feared since the Goddess had blessed them as her High Dorum, but this wild, dark magic was unlike anything they’d faced before. They needed a plan, because he wasn’t about to risk those he loved to this malicious infestation. How had such evil been growing right under their noses for all these years? After Aeron was attended to, they would return home to speak to the Goddess Rysanna. Now that they had more information about the Underfae, perhaps the Goddess would know how to go about defeating them.
Chapter Eighteen
Corrine gasped at the sight of Aeron. “Dear Goddess, I never thought I’d see one of you get injured like this.”
Despite Aeron’s grumblings that he could walk over to the couch on his own, Alak and his mate insisted on providing support and then they sat down on either side of him while they waited for Erica and April to arrive. Gabe, Braxas, and Corrine sat opposite them while a few others in their pack lingered outside the den, fortunately giving them some space. He didn’t admit the fact that he actually needed the help, not wanting to worry his brother, and especially Katrina. Corrine had just essentially echoed his own sentiments. Though not immortal, Aeron couldn’t think of anything in any realm that could mortally wound him and Alak. These slashes, however, felt different from anything he had ever experienced. Besides the excruciating pain, something seemed to be spreading within him like a poison, eating away at him and blackening his insides.
Corrine’s face darkened. “Aeron, I—”
“I know, Lady Corrine,” he said solemnly. This poison was akin to the one Corrine had inadvertently brought upon herself when she had tampered with dark magic to save her mate, but even more powerful.
“What?” Katrina glanced between him and Corrine and then at Alak, who no doubt understood their cryptic exchange. “Someone better tell me what the fuck is going on.”
Aeron hated the panic he heard in her voice and wished that he could soothe it away, but it was best she prepared herself for the worst. Wordlessly, because he did not think he had strength enough to talk, he took her hand in his, entwining their fingers.
Alak’s voice was angry and determined when he answered for him about the poison. “He will live, my mate. I swear it by the Goddess.
Katrina nodded with a look of steely determination written across her face. Aeron wouldn’t leave her or Alak. Not without one hell of a fight.
Alak began to brief the others in on their discovery of not only the market they had destroyed, but the location and the fact that there were multiple markets still in existence.
“If any of you should come into contact with the Underfae, try not to draw blood,” Alak said. “I do not believe their blood will act as a poison if it does not come in direct contact with broken flesh, but it may burn you.” He went on to explain the best approach in fighting them was to tear their limbs and snap their necks. They delivered their poison through teeth and claws, but the more corrupt and poisonous they were, the slower and less intelligent they were as well.
April and her mates arrived on the tail end of the conversation.
“Wait,” her mate Donovan warned before she placed her hand on Aeron. “Didn’t they just say it was poison?”
Aeron shook his head and gasped as he tried to speak. He heard Katrina’s soft whimper at his side, and she squeezed his hand tighter.
“This appears to be the same dark magic that has affected some of you,” Alak answered instead once again. “Donovan and Jason’s bite, Corrine’s use of a dark potion and spell, and the dagger that sliced through Gabe, not to mention the cuffs that were able to suppress shifting and healing, all had properties of the same insidious substance. She has no open wounds for the poison to come in contact with.” Alak then quickly filled the trio in on the earlier part of the conversation they had missed to reassure them.
The biggest difference in the toxins had to do with their strength, Aeron surmised. The dark objects, and even the Fae who’d bitten the wolf brothers, had all been infused, whereas in the Underfae, the poison spread like a disease as part of the corruption of the body and soul. He had felt the creature’s unnatural decay when the beast had sliced into him.
Donovan still did not look convinced, not that Aeron could blame him, but he gave April a slight, almost imperceptible nod.
She gently placed her hand over his wound and let her healing energy flow. Aeron had to grit his teeth in order to keep from screaming, but then the deafening roar in the room, which he recognized came from him, made him realize he was unsuccessful in his attempt.
“Why isn’t it working?” his mate cried. He heard a few other voices ring around the room, but he could not decipher the muffled sounds.
Instead, Aeron closed his eyes and
focused on the good energy in his body as well as April’s healing one. Another healing force intermingled with hers shortly after, and he realized Erica had joined them. Their combined energy was strong as it battled the darkness inside of him, but all they could do in the end was to mitigate the effects of the poison. They could not obliterate it.
Finally, he managed to stop screaming long enough to tell them to stop. He felt both April and Erica’s strength waning from their efforts. “You’ve done all you could do, and I am grateful. Our Goddess must do the rest.”
“Will she be able to heal you, Aeron?” Katrina asked, her voice panicked.
Aeron nodded and Alak said, “If he can be fully healed, it must be by the Goddess herself. This,” he gestured toward Aeron’s festering wound, “is beyond what any of our realms have witnessed before. We also must converse with her immediately to let her know about all that has transpired in the Shadow Realm.”
What they did not know was who was running the show. It certainly could not be Zayden, or the dim-witted Nyx. They were merely pawns.
No matter, Aeron thought, I will see them all burned down to the ground, wherever their locations are.
Alak wasted no time in making a portal from the pack house directly to their own home in the Dark Fae village. Katrina and Alak ignored his protests again and supported him as they made their way through the portal together. Alak had promised Gabe and Braxas to return once Aeron was fully healed and rested and they’d had time to speak with Rysanna to get some answers about all that had transpired. A course of action would need to be plotted, one that required all the help they could get.
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