CHAPTER 36
Zarreth
T he three of us sit in a row with our backs against the stone wall. Frankie on one side of me chewing on a beef stick, Ronin on the other flipping a knife in his hands.
Ronin leans forward so he can look around me, directly at Frankie. “I know you’re not going to like this, but it’s the only way.”
I already know what he’s going to say, and he’s right. It’s the only way. He’ll have to transport Frankie to the Human Realm, then wait for his powers to return, before coming back to get me.
By the look on her face, Frankie also already knows what Ronin’s plan is. “I’m not leaving him, Ronin; you might as well save your breath.” There’s my feisty girl.
I don’t say anything, instead I just sit back and watch, curious to see how Ronin reacts to her.
He huffs. “Shit woman, could you listen for once in your life? Once you’re safely tucked away in the Human Realm, Zarreth and I will camp out here until we can trace back. It’ll be fine.”
Frankie leans forward, glaring at him. “No, it won’t be fine,” she seethes. “With the time difference, it will take weeks before you guys get back.”
He rubs his temples before glancing in my direction. “You know you’re going to have your hands full with this one, right? She’s the most stubborn female I’ve ever met in my entire existence.”
I chuckle. “She certainly is, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
With a smug look on her face, Frankie says, “Don’t act like you don’t love me, Ronin. You’d be bored without me.”
Ronin lets his head fall back against the wall, huffing, “That’s one way of putting it.”
Their banter makes me happier than I expected it to. Life is certainly a lot easier when the two people closest to you get along, even if it’s in a dysfunctional way.
Ronin pushes himself up. We watch him pace for a minute before he stops and looks at me. “Do you remember Macen?”
I laugh. “How could I forget Macen? He was your first crush.” I turn to Frankie. “You should have seen Ronin’s face every time he came around. He couldn’t even form a sentence when Macen would talk to him.”
Ronin sighs. “It didn’t matter, anyway. I’m not exactly his type. He can help us, though. He received a traveler’s mark a few years ago. If I find him, we can all trace to the Human Realm at the same time.”
If Aradon finds out Macen helped us, there’s no telling what will happen to him. “He would be taking a huge risk helping us. Do you think he will?”
“He will,” Ronin insists. “He owes me. Plus, he hates Aradon almost as much as we do.”
Frankie rummages through the weapons while we talk before holding up some throwing knives. “I like the sword you gave me earlier, but can I bring some of these?”
We both look at her like she’s crazy. Ronin pinches the bridge of his nose as he says, “Oh gods, not again?” At the same time, I say. “You’re not going anywhere. We’re both staying here, we can’t take a chance of Aradon spotting you out there.”
I feel Ronin holding his breath, just as I am, hoping my stubborn mate will listen without arguing for once. “Okay,” she says.
The look of disbelief that crosses Ronin’s face makes me chuckle. I guess he didn’t expect her to agree so easily.
We divvy up the weapons, leaving some here in case we’re discovered. Just before Ronin heads out, he turns to Frankie. “Try to stay out of trouble.”
She ignores his comment and runs over to him, wrapping her arms around his neck. “Be safe and come back in one piece. I’m actually starting to like you.”
He pats her on the back. “You can’t get rid of me that easily.”
He then turns to me as I pull him into a quick embrace. “ Noctar, Zhul !” I say, watching as he nods, repeating the words back to me. Our old battle cry hangs between us, a reminder to face whatever comes our way with courage. No fear, just fight.
He disappears, leaving us in a cloud of smoke. Sitting next to the container of weapons, Frankie looks up at me with curiosity in her eyes. “What does Noctar Zhul mean?”
I crouch down next to her, going through the various weapons. “It’s what the Recreants would say before going into battle. It translates to something like ‘no fear, just fight’ in English.”
“Nate and I used to have a mantra we would say to one another when things got hard,” she says, her voice heavy with sorrow. “Stronger than our struggles.”
Frankie hangs her head between her legs, a whimper escaping her lips before she looks back up at me. “My brother?” Her glassy eyes beg me to tell her Nate is still alive.
I can’t find the words to tell her he’s dead, so I simply shake my head, pulling her to my chest.
She releases a sorrowful wail, tearing my fucking heart out. She weeps against my chest, her body violently shaking.
“I failed him. He protected me his entire life, and I failed him,” she says between sobs. “He didn’t deserve this.”
I pull her close, pressing my cheek against the top of her head, as I run my hands over her back. “I’m so sorry, baby,” I whisper, my heart heavy with the weight of her pain. I’d do anything to take away her suffering.
“It hurts, Zarreth,” she cries as her breathing becomes short and choppy. “I can feel my heart actually breaking.”
“I got you, baby.” I say softly, gazing into her eyes as I cradle the back of her neck. “Breathe with me.” I count as I inhale deeply and exhale slowly. Her breath mimics mine until it returns to normal.
I’m not sure how much time passes before she looks up at me once more. “Did he suffer?”
Fuck! I told her I’d never lie to her again, but she doesn’t need to hear this. I take a deep breath searching for the right words. “He was really fucking brave, Melita ,” I finally say.
Understanding what was left unsaid, her tears turn into a fierce glare, grief turning into rage. Her green eyes transform into a dark night sky as they morph into the blackest of black.
“I want to kill something. I want to make something hurt the way I do. I don’t care what it is. I want to destroy something or someone.” She pauses for a minute before quietly adding, “Maybe I am the Realm Eater.”
“You’re not the Realm Eater.” And if she is, I’ll help her destroy every fucking realm in existence. I’ll stand by her side as we ignite the stars, watching each one burn. For her, I’ll become a nightmare leaving nothing but ruin in my wake as we revel in the screams of those who challenge us. But she’s not the Realm Eater. Even if the prophecy is true, she has too much good inside her.
Frankie tilts her head, blinking her eyes a few times. The darkness fades away as her expression softens. “I think there’s something wrong with me.”
“You’re exactly the way you’re supposed to be, Frankie.”
Her crying turns into small hiccups. We hold each other in silence until her breathing steadies and she eventually falls asleep.
I stay with her in my arms until her stomach begins growling. I gently pull away and walk over to her bag.
Looking through it, I find trail mix and a beef stick. She needs more than this, especially if we’re here longer than one night.
I don’t want to leave her, even for a few minutes, but she needs food. I step outside, scanning the woods until I see a creature with a bull’s head and a pig’s body. It’s not too far away, so I won’t be gone long. I close my eyes, picturing myself standing behind the animal. A familiar tingling sensation creeps over my skin.
When I open my eyes, I’m exactly where I want to be. I don’t waste any time. I snap the creature’s neck and trace back to the cave.
I make a quick fire using my powers and begin roasting the bull-pig over the open flame. I go back to holding Frankie while I wait for the meat to cook. I can’t get close enough to her. I missed her so fucking much.
“Mmm. Something smells amazing.” Frankie cuddles closer to me. Her eyes are still closed, but a smile spreads across her face. “Wait, is that food?”
Right on cue, her stomach growls again. She pushes herself up and sleepily looks around the cave. She’s so fucking cute.
“I figured you’d be hungry. I wish I had coffee for you but that’s a little harder to come by here.”
“Nate used to make me coffee every morning,” Frankie says softly.
“I know.”
“You do?” She sounds surprised.
Smiling, I remember Nate’s warning. “Your brother advised me not to approach you before you’ve had at least one cup of coffee in the morning.”
“I miss him so much. I can’t believe he’s gone.” Frankie rubs her eyes.
“I’m so sorry, baby. I wish I got to know him outside of this shithole.” I would give anything to ease her pain, but even time won’t erase it completely. Nate was her only family.
Frankie eats while I go through the weapons Ronin left here. “Did Ronin teach you how to use a sword?”
“We started training with swords and knives before I went to Dante.” Frankie rips off a piece of meat, continuing to talk with her mouth full. “I’m not very good with a sword, but I love throwing knives.”
“I can’t wait to train with you once we’re home.” I’m thankful for everything Ronin has taught her, but I’ll take over her training when we get back.
“You might regret saying that. I’m fairly positive Ronin left each training session with a migraine. He says I’m too stubborn.”
I wink. “That’s only because he can’t spank you like I can.”
Frankie’s cheeks turn pink as she looks at me with a wicked gleam in her eyes.
“I’m not sure how much training we’ll accomplish if you threaten to spank me. I have a feeling I’ll need a lot of discipline.”
“I’ll discipline you any time you want, baby.”
I begin prowling toward her when snarling comes from outside the cave. Mother fucker! “Frankie, stay back,” I order as I pick up a sword, darting toward the entrance.
Fifty hellhounds are running straight toward us. I’ve never seen them run in packs this large before. Where the fuck did they come from?
I shoot flames at them, but we’re severely outnumbered. Swinging my sword, I slice the heads off any who get too close.
From the corner of my eye, I see Frankie holding her hands out with her eyes squeezed shut. She’s trying to use her powers, but nothing is happening. “Frankie, get the fuck back,” I yell.
“What, and let you have all the fun?” She grabs a sword and crouches into a fighting position.
I keep yielding my sword as the hellhounds continue swarming us. “You just admitted you’re not good with a sword.”
“I only said that because I didn’t want to show you up.” Frankie swings her sword at a hound. Its head rolls off its shoulders as she gives me a sassy look, raising one eyebrow.
“You’re so fucking sexy right now.”
We finally slaughter the last of the hounds when Ronin appears. “I can’t leave you two alone for twenty-four hours without trouble coming your way.”
Blood and guts decorate the walls while pieces of hellhound flesh litter the ground. I look over at Frankie, covered in blood and dirt. She’s not wearing her boots; her little pink toenails almost look comical compared to our surroundings.
Surprised he’s back so soon, I ask. “Did you find him?”
A mischievous grin crosses his face as he says, “I sure did.”
Before I have time to process the underlying meaning to his tone, we hear growling and swords clashing from outside the cave. “Sounds like he just arrived,” Ronin says casually.
Frankie readies her sword. “I knew that was too easy.”
More hellhounds enter the cave, surrounding us. The three of us stand with our backs together, slaughtering every hound who comes our way.
I’m about to burn them to the ground when Dante appears before us.
“I must say I truly hate this place. Be a dear, Frankie, and come with me so we can leave this filth behind.” He wipes his hands on his shirt with disgust.
“Stay the fuck away from her,” I warn.
Frankie steps behind me while Ronin deals with the hounds still crowding in. I thought she was scared, but when she places her burning hands on my back, I realize she’s pushing her power into me.
My body tingles with the overabundance of energy coursing through my veins. My mate is so fucking brilliant.
I keep Dante talking, giving us time to build our power. We only have one shot, so it needs to be perfect. “Do you honestly think Aradon will let you get away with this?” I ask.
“He doesn’t scare me. Do you know what happens when a demon of my stature takes K4 after being bit by a shifter?” Dante looks at his claws like he’s unimpressed. “Unlike the human shifters, I have complete and total control over my body. There is no one like me. I cannot be defeated.”
Fuck! Can a demon shifter even be killed? Only one way to find out.
Frankie removes her hands, stepping back as I gather the last bit of power in my palms. Suddenly, a knife soars by my shoulder, followed by another.
The matching blades bury themselves deep in Dante’s chest. Frankie is fucking fearless.
Dante looks down in shock. I use that moment to push my powers into him, watching his entire body go up in flames. Ronin swings at his head but misses as he shifts into a hellhound.
He’s huge. His fur looks like melted tar, parts of him still on fire. I swear his canine mouth smiles at me before turning on Ronin.
Ronin backs out of the cave with his sword up, ready to strike. I swing my sword at Dante, but he’s faster than anything I have been up against. Leaping over Ronin’s head, he bears his venomous fangs at us.
“Stay inside, Frankie,” I yell over my shoulder as Ronin and I team up against Dante. Two Recreants help us surround him, but the four of us are no match for the massive demon shifter before us.
“Zarreth!” Frankie screams. I turn, rushing back to the cave.
I let loose a predatory roar when I see a demon looming over her with a sword to her neck. I leap on the demon before tearing off his head. My mate is the last thing he sees before he dies