‘We’re living together already, aren’t we?’
‘Is that a yes?’
‘It’s a “let’s wait and see if we survive the drama and we’ll talk about it.” But I’m open to the idea.’
‘Now that’s given me something to live for.’ He laughed and carried it to my mind, but I also heard it out loud. Roaring, Kaleb took the risk, and briefly shifted into his wolf, using his bulky weight to throw at our assailants. The hit took several of them out at once.
When he shifted back to human, he maimed them all in less than a minute. He rose to his feet and leaped in human form at another bunch yelling like tarzan.
“Now I know why you’re together, Vane!” Grady yelled from my side, ducking a fist to the head. He hit back without remorse.
“Yeah?” I swung my blade above my head and slice into the three closest to me.
“You’re both as bat shit crazy as one another.”
I laughed, yanking him back by his vest to avoid him getting a machete to the neck. “Give you a weapon and you turn freaking psycho. You’re just as crazy as the rest of us.”
One zombie lifted me from behind, crushing me tight. Grady crouched, hacking at its ankles. I toppled down with him, but the arms relaxed enough for me to to push free at the last minute. Grady stabilized me, then left to take out another at Kaleb’s back.
“Maybe.” He smirked when he turned back to face me. But he staggered. A cracking sound deafening to the ears. The ground beneath us rumbled.
Looking down at his feet, the parking lot cracked, trying to separate us from the sea of zombies surrounding the mage.
“Run!” I shouted, ordering the others, grabbing Mayra. We watched the breaks in the parking lot, jumping over them, not letting go of Mayra’s hand as we ran fast toward the mage.
The ground broke apart further, rising and forcing us to make a choice.
Zax grabbed Libby, needing the quick decision before the crack swallowed her whole. Bernard took hold of Mayra’s other hand and the three of us struck those trying to swarm us while we moved. My eyes searched for Kaleb, the fissure growing, creating a crevice. Bernard kept the attackers at bay, giving me a second to see where the others were. My heart beat hard against my chest when I saw them.
Libby, Zax, Grady. And Kaleb.
Oh no!
They were on the other side of the gaping hole in the crumbling surface.
Kaleb.
I needed him to anchor me. I couldn’t take out the zombies without him. The bond had strengthened upon our connection, allowing me to reach out as he held me down. But then I noticed him shift. The ground trembled.
‘No!’ I roared in my head.
Kaleb fell back. A zombie gripped my arm and yanked me close. The dead man laughed, sniffing my hair. ‘No, Kaleb!’ I screamed in my mind. I shouted out loud, “Don’t!”
He didn’t listen. I fought against the zombie holding me, keeping my eyes on Kaleb, tears in my eyes. His wolf wouldn’t make it. He didn’t have a decent enough run. There were zombies trying to get into his path. I yelled his name when his hind legs left the ground.
Pain seared my head when something hit me, and I stumbled. But I had to find Kaleb.
My vision blurred at the furry sight leaping over the hole. But a whimper pierced my heart when he missed his landing and crashed into the darkened abyss. He became lost to me, and the hungry zombies skewered my sight.
I roared in pain.
33
Mayra sobbed, fighting with all her might as the tears ran down her cheeks. She worried over Kaleb, fighting to protect me.
The clashing of swords sounded off in the distance.
My skin turned cold. I tried to function. I tried to fight, but I swayed. Pull yourself together! I had to see if Kaleb had made it.
‘Where are you? Where are you? Where are you?’ I chanted in my brain, the rage lingering on the outskirts, waiting to enter. I had to get to him, and the fighting dead were standing in my way.
The fury found a way into my heart and refused to let go. With a roar, I hacked off heads, happy when I felt the blade penetrate the rotting flesh. Nothing would satisfy me as every second went by without a reply from my mate. I barely noticed the slices into my body. The stab wound at my side. The bite in my shoulder. It all tickled compared to agony I experienced from Kaleb’s silence.
Leaping on to the back of one heading for Mayra, I yelled to Bernard, “Get her close!”
He took Mayra’s hand, but she tugged on it, begging him to help me.
“Go!” I yelled, pleading with Bernard.
Torn, he made a choice for the greater good, and led Mayra to the larger threat. Once the shield was down, I’d let my essence seek Dreven’s. I’d fight and fight until I overcome him, reaching for the nearest weapon to kill him with. Satisfaction wouldn’t be mine until his blood splashed at my feet. Then Mayra wouldn’t have to go against him. She’d be safe.
I hacked off the head of the one resembling a zombie surfer. It bounced along the ground. The others bellowed at the insult and came for me.
I hadn’t trained for this at the academy. But I knew how to push past the hopelessness in my mind telling me I had to stop—that I couldn’t do this. My arms grew tired, the blood seeped from my wounds, but I didn’t stop. I kept going, staggering from hit after hit. If they kept coming for me, it was less for Mayra and Bernard to deal with. And if the pain became too much to bear, I’d drop my shields and attack Dreven with my energy. Whatever happened to my body after that, maybe I’d stay asleep, hiding in the white room until I dissipated from existence. If Kaleb had well and truly gone…
A howl hit my ears, and a sob left me, the sound prickling my skin with hope.
Straightening, I stabbed a zombie when he got too close, annoyed because I needed to see. I had to make sure my ears weren’t playing tricks on me.
Zombies suddenly flew into the sky, one after the other, crashing against the ground. Others fell like dominos. A pathway created and Kaleb’s wolf rode in. He flashed his fangs, biting into another zombie that fell across his path.
Dumbfounded, I looked on as his fur disappeared, and he tilted onto hind legs that transformed into pant covered ones. His wolf’s snout turned into his beautiful face, and his crystalline pools caught my gaze as he ran toward me.
“Kaleb!” I gasped, relief taking my breath away. He reached me, the predator in him at the forefront as he finished the change. He snagged my wrist and shoved healing through the bond before I could stop him.
“You’re bleeding,” he said when I resisted, extending claws to swipe at a zombie coming at my back.
“This will weaken you!” I reprimanded, trying to tug my arm away. But he wouldn’t allow it.
“You strengthen me. Now let me strengthen you.” His voice hoarse, I focused, trying to absorb what he gave while fighting at an attacking horde.
‘I thought I lost you,’ my chest hitched, ‘I thought you dropped into the hole.’
‘Caught the edge, baby. Had to climb back up and fight my way through. I couldn’t reply. I put all I had in staying wolf to get to you. But the thought of you among them...’
‘If you ever leave me, I will sleep with every man I can to piss off your ghost!’ Anger invaded my mind-voice, the hurt searing at the thought of losing him.
‘No, you won’t. I’ll haunt you. Every damn day. They won’t get close when I’m going all poltergeist on their ass.’
I choked on a laugh, the warmth of the bond pushing the healing through. A cooling sensation reached my wounds, and I let out a sigh. Not only did I heal with him, but I rejuvenated.
‘Mayra and Bernard are making their way to the mage. We need to get closer.’
‘Let’s take out these drooling idiots first,’ he replied.
‘But the mage…’
‘Let Mayra do her part in all this. Trust her, Terra.’
‘I do. But I don’t want her to get hurt.’
‘Neither do I. But it’s
magic needed to take Dreven down. Let’s take out his army so she can focus and we can make sure she’s protected.’
Relenting, I closed my eyes, willing my shields to lower. Zombies fought around us. My chest hurt from the grief I’d experienced at the thought of losing him. I held on more tightly, confident when I felt him beneath my hands.
Blinking, I saw the magic shining with everyone on our side of the hole. Auras pulsed across the way: Grady, Libby, and Zax. But I focused on the green light shining out of the many trying to get to us.
Honing in on them, my energy burst out of me, eager to eat. It didn’t hesitate, taking charge and dousing the magic in them. I focused on Kaleb when I felt the tug, and he whispered for me to stay, his rose-hue tether wrapping itself around my essence.
The mating bond held firm, and I swallowed Dreven’s magic from every puppet around us. Kaleb’s love coaxed me, keeping me warm against a threatening cold, and I held on, wondering how I’d never sensed such a connection from him before. Yes, I’d wanted him in my younger days. I’d experienced jealously when he slept with others. Many times. But with Cole my focus Kaleb had settled into the periphery of my vision. The forbidden fruit. The untouchable. My friend. My partner. But everything had changed in an instant. All of it fell into place in one quick swoop that brought him to me in the light of a mate, a lover, and so much more.
The connection deepened. I opened all of myself up to him. He sighed, both of us a force to be reckoned with as we united. And happiness invaded me with such intensity, tears fell from my eyes.
“I love you,” I whispered to him, craving to express the emotion when I felt so full, so ready to burst.
“I love you with all that I am,” he whispered back. Our energies crashed together as thuds echoed all around us.
When our view returned, Kaleb held me tight, holding me close. I looked down at the ground, pleased to see the carcasses of the dead were no longer held up by magic. Only five remained standing around Dreven: the monsters not controlled by his power.
Panting, regaining my breath, I glanced over at Bernard. He guarded Mayra behind the cover of the trees surrounding the parking lot. When I looked behind us, I noticed Libby and Grady, frustrated, and stuck on the other side. Zax was nowhere to be seen.
A Fey-Vampire, Bugbears, a mage, and two vicious shifters waited for us to step up and dare to fight.
Bernard had to watch Mayra’s back, and Grady, Zax and Libby were on the other side of the crevice. That left me and Kaleb against the six of them.
When I turned toward Kaleb, I squeezed his hand in hope, and turned to face the mage.
Dreven’s eyes snatched open. The orbs evaporated into mist, disappearing from his hands. And he focused his gaze on me.
“At last we meet, Terra,” he smirked, taking a step forward. His transparent green shield moved with him. “Nice of you to join the party.”
34
“Hey, Dreven,” I said, sounding bored, even though my heart thudded in my ears. “Nice to meet your sorry ass in person.”
He smirked. “Nice to meet you, too. I’ve been eager to do so. You’ve caused us some trouble, Terra Vane. You and your bunch of miscreants.”
“Those miscreants you speak of have taken down six of the prisoners so far.”
He grinned. And it softened his features. The magical vision of him before hadn’t done him justice.
Any other time, I’d consider him attractive with his chiseled jaw honed by the light beard cast upon it. He had eyes of wild green, and dark hair, sexily unkempt as it fell to his shoulders. His toned physique stood out beneath his medieval-looking tunic and clinging breeches—tight enough to make a few beg for mercy in a different way. But the evil he stank of put a dampener on his good looks.
Putting his hands behind his back, Dreven strolled closer to the edge of his shield. “You took down the weakest of our group regarding those I escaped with. And if not for my amulets you would have taken them down sooner. They had time because of me and my magic. But they were a distraction I needed. Their idiocy gave me the window I required to build my army. Take over the world.” He laughed. “The humans are so much easier to manipulate. And with only the simpletons of the IET coming over from our world to stop us, I’d say we’re on to a winner.”
“So how d’you get the bodies?” I asked, trying to give Mayra more time to break through the magical barrier around him.
“A few from graveyards,” he shrugged. “The rest I used the resources I had and broke into places, fixed paperwork, did what I needed to not rouse suspicion until the time was right. I’ve planned it out perfectly, killing where required to gain fresh shells. Like I said, the humans are an easier target.”
“So what next? You kill us, gather whatever is left of your army, and try to take on an entire world?”
“Why not?” he sneered. “It’s ripe for the taking. And once I have my army of dead humans, there will be no stopping me. I must start again because of you, by the way. But there are always more soldiers. Always more evil spirits happy to return to Earth. Once I have my needs met, I will no longer have to rely on the puppets, draining my reserves. The dead will rise again, loyal and willing to serve, and I will meet my ambitions.” He winked. “I’m not usually such a greedy man, but I don’t want anyone to think they can come after me once my reign is in place.”
I laughed. I couldn’t help it. “You’re pathetic, you know that?”
He tilted his head, studying me. “Why so?”
“You screwed up the first time. Ended up in prison. Now with a taste of freedom what’s the first thing you do? Put yourself in the firing line once more. Why not go underground, change your name, live a life? Why all this ‘I’ve got to rule the world’ drama. Seriously? Does it give you a permanent hard on or something? Tantric pleasure? I’m always so curious why one little prick needs to dominate so much.”
“You like to run your mouth, don’t you?”
“Why not? It’s not every day I come across world-domineering narcissist. May as well get my kicks when I can.”
“You bore me.” He took a step forward. “And the wards are almost gone without setting off the alarm I sensed within them. How about you come inside my shield and play with me for a while?”
“How about you step outside and come join the fun?”
“Oh no. I want to tell the others in hiding that I made you scream in so many ways before I slit your throat. You may be part of a team, but you’re the face, Terra. And you’re the one who needs to go down.”
Silently begging for Mayra to hurry, I thought of what to do next. Telling Dreven to go screw himself was on the top of my list. I didn’t want to leave Kaleb outside of the shield to fight the mage’s bodyguards on his own. But if I fought Dreven—stepped inside the shield—it might be enough to distract him while Mayra continued to work the magic. I’d also be close enough to take him out.
‘Don’t even think about it,’ Kaleb sent to me. He held tighter onto my hand.
‘We need to talk about this mate gig,’ I retorted.
“Where are the other prisoners?” Kaleb asked Dreven. Dreven’s eyes slid to his.
“And wouldn’t you like to know?”
“Yeah, I would.”
He laughed. “I suppose I asked for that. They’ve gone their separate ways. I might cross paths with them again at some point when I rule this place. But until then, I really don’t care.”
“What about Ceres?” I remembered the vision I had when I fought Raven Moonshine. I’d seen Ceres, a corrupt Elf lord talking to her, recruiting her for their cause. She’d told me that someone from above was giving him intel for the escape. A certain someone with links to the Consilium. “He orchestrated all this, didn’t he? Surely he’s not willing to beg at your feet? He doesn’t seem the type.”
Dreven scrunched his brow. “Ceres is too busy with taking down the Senates to bother with what I’m doing over here. And no matter how powerful Ceres thinks he is, he’s an Elf with a fe
w gifts that link to the earth. He doesn’t have a power that can rival mine. But I don’t mind us being allies providing he stays on the other side of the portal.”
“Baloney,” I snorted, and he found it hilarious.
“All right. Maybe not. Both worlds will be mine once I’ve finished.” He shrugged. “But he need not know that.”
“What about the other prisoners? Those who came over to Earthside with you?”
He tutted and waved his finger. “I’m not a tattle tale. And it’s not important considering you won’t survive the night.”
Wings flapped in the sky overhead, drawing our attention. On instinct I raised my blade, prepared to take on a new threat. Kaleb did the same. But my mouth dropped open when a shining emerald and scarlet scaled dragon flying toward us.
‘He’s summoned a freaking dragon?’ I sent to Kaleb’s mind.
‘He hasn’t summoned that,’ Kaleb replied excitedly. ‘It’s Zax!’
“What?” I said out loud, squinting against the sky.
“Look.”
The dragon tilted, its clawed feet controlling its movements to swing around whoever rode on his back.
Grady and Libby!
Libby ‘whooped,’ her hair sailing in the breeze. Grady held onto her for dear life.
They were riding a dragon. Zax had shifted. And looked magnificent.
I’d never seen one before. I may live in a place where supernaturals roamed, but dragons hate society. They stay in their mountains and caverns, hiding away from the world. Zax is an anomaly preferring to work in the city and staying mostly in human form.
So glorious in his size, the muscles in his dragon legs pulsed as he held them in the air, and he swung his forked tail as he roared. The ruby red wings created a vast shadow on the ground, the last dregs of sunlight shining on his scales like treasured gems. He soared with a barrage of majestic wonder, focusing his citrine eyes on the bugbears, breathing fire when he got close.
No wonder Kaleb fan-boys over dragons so much.
One bugbear put up his shield, the other shrieking at the near miss of flame. Zax licked out his tail, knocking one shifter to the ground. We’d have the humans to worry about. Any satellite footage taking shots of the Earth, but I couldn’t care less. The odds were in our favor for once.
Death Be Rising (The Terra Vane Series Book 7) Page 21