54. Kaiya
cAAAaaaaWWwwWw
The relic let out a gleeful sounding caw, and I glared up at the monster. It looked ancient, silver feathers molting, milky white eyes watching the body mages as they struggled and died.
I had no doubt it was waiting for us to finish killing each other off so it could feast in peace.
A pair of wolves lunged for Jaiel, and he picked up a spindly chair to defend himself with. I gripped my splintering staff more tightly and took stock of the situation.
He was right. There was no way we could wake all these shifters.
And even if we could, where the fuck would we go?
”FINN!” The frantic voice broke through the chaos behind me, and I spun to see Alpha Blackwood running toward the guest wing entrance as a small form stepped out.
Holy hells. How did Finn get back in?
”How in the seven hells?!” Jaiel hissed, echoing my thoughts. ”Isn”t that door the only way in and out of the guest wing?”
I nodded and ran toward the boy and the older man, mind spinning as another loud crash shook the room.
Was the hopeful little boy going to be yet another casualty?
We arrived just as Alpha Blackwood opened his arms and the little boy leaped at him.
But as the older man pulled him in for a hug, the relic let out a loud caw, and Finn”s yellow eyes went wide.
His skin began to ripple, and my heart stuttered.
”Hurry, Jaiel,” I demanded as the boy”s skin began shifting into something with wide, golden scales.
He nodded, then leaned close and exhaled over the alpha and the boy.
I stared with relief as the frantic shifting of the small body calmed and settled back into that familiar rambunctious form.
”Is he okay?” Tye growled, appearing behind my shoulder with two more pups under his arms.
I nodded as Jaiel did his magic on them.
”How”d you get in there?” Alpha Blackwood asked Finn.
”My hiding place.” Finn smiled, glancing at Tye. ”It”s actually a tunnel hidden in one of the guest rooms. The stone wall opens up if you know the trick.” He looked down and frowned. ”When that mage said you”d all be dead soon, I couldn”t sit still any longer! So, I snuck back in to help.”
Alpha Blackwood let out a sharp laugh. ”It was a terrible risk, but you may have just saved us, Kiddo.”
I winced as another large crash shook the room, and this time, stones fell from the bulging frame of the main entrance.
The roused people may be safe, but the rest were still in danger until we used Jaiel”s charisma to heal them.
”This may be as many as we can save,” Jaiel grunted. I looked over to see him leaning against the stone wall. Slim dark shadows leaked from his eyes and twisted themselves around him.
Fuck! He was out of charisma to keep the monster at bay, and we were running out of options.
caaAAAAAWwww
I searched the rafters for that fucking relic. We had to stop it so everyone could go back to normal.
It had moved to perch far above us, and its milk-white eyes went wide as it met mine. As if taunting me, it opened its beak and let out a loud caw that sent the berserking wolves around us howling.
Gritting my teeth, I slipped the ring free from my finger and passed it to Alpha. ”Get these people out of here and head to Dragon”s Peak. Give this to their leader and tell him I said this ring is his in exchange for taking you in.”
”The dragon village?” Alpha Blackwood said, brown eyes wide. ”I suppose that might work. Tensions have been high for a few years, but we”ve gotten along well enough in the past.” He looked to Finn. ”You take the lead and show everyone where the tunnel is.”
The little boy”s chest puffed as he nodded and led the survivors down the stone staircase. Alpha Blackwood stubbornly stayed at the top of the stairs, his arms crossed against his chest.
I cocked a brow, but he shook his head. ”I”m not leaving without all my people.”
”Fine,” I bit out. ”Then help me kill that damn relic.”
The man”s eyes burned, and his lips curled into a deadly smile. ”With pleasure.”
”Do you have any weapons or something else we could use?” Jaiel asked.
Alpha Blackwood shook his head. ”I don”t think so. All of them were stored away for the festival.”
Damn. I”d been racking my brain for a way to kill the relic, but it was just too far away without a crossbow or the like.
”Jaiel,” Tye said, voice rough. ”Could you climb those pipes?”
Pipes? We spun to see where he was pointing. My brow arched at the sight of dozens of wide pipes climbing the wall directly behind us and leading to the rafters.
How had I not seen those?
”Maybe.” Jaiel”s eyes narrowed. ”But wouldn”t they break off the wall?”
”Not necessarily,” Alpha Blackwood interjected. ”They”re strong. I bolted them into the stone myself. We might not make it, but I”m sure she could.” He gestured toward me.
It just might work.
I”d need a boost up to them, but if I made it there, I could climb up until I reached the ceiling. Then, it was just a matter of crossing rafters until I got to the relic — so long as it didn”t see me.
”I”ll need someone to distract the relic while I get close,” I said. ”And I only have one dagger on me.”
”You really do carry that thing everywhere with you, don”t you?” Jaiel asked, chuckling softly.
”Always,” I smirked.
”Absolutely not,” Tye growled, his wolf flashing in his eyes. ”What if you miss, and it attacks you? You need to stay here with us — where you”re safe.”
A loud rumble shook the door, a crack splitting the smooth white stone. Whatever was out there, it was only a matter of time before it got in.
CccaaAAaaAAWwww
Gritting my teeth, I squared my shoulders and faced the wall. ”Unless you have a better idea, this is our only option. Now shut up and lift me up to the pipes.”
He snarled with frustration, but gripped my hips, his fingers warm and unexpectedly gentle.
”Wait!” Jaiel passed over a leather belt from his waist. ”You took basic training, right, Princess? Use this. It should be just like climbing those poles in camp.”
I nodded. ”You just keep that fucker distracted.”
Tye tightened his grip. ”Be careful up there, Witch. The two of us still have unfinished business.”
”Yes, yes,” I hissed, trying not to think about that damn mate bond that tugged me towards him even now. ”Now, can we get to work, please?”
He growled, but lifted me to where the horizontal and vertical pipes met.
Pulling myself up the rest of the way, I wedged my feet onto a horizontal pipe for support, then grabbed the next vertical pipe with one hand and pulled out the belt.
Thank the gods for Jaiel”s quick thinking. There was no way I could have made it up without it.
I hadn”t wanted to say anything, but I”d always been terrible at those damn poles.
Tye stepped back to join the others, and I focused on sliding the belt behind the pipe. Wrapping both ends around my hands, I let out a slow breath and began shimmying my way up, just like I”d been taught.
I”d be fine. This wasn”t that different from rock climbing.
”Let”s go, boys,” Alpha Blackwood called out behind me. ”Keep ”em distracted, but try not to kill anyone, please.”
I couldn”t spare a glance, but the sounds of hollering and the thwacks of furniture hitting angry wolves gave me a pretty good idea of what was happening as I continued to climb.
caaAAAAAWwww
Sweat ran down my body as I moved up, inch by inch, pausing only to readjust the belt around the periodic wall bracket, and I quickly remembered exactly why I hated those poles.
Half-way up, the noise of battle was punctuated by shattering glass, and I stole a quick glance over my shoulder to see Tye, Jaiel, and Alpha Blackwood tossing plates, cups, and other objects toward the relic as they taunted it and fought back mad wolves.
The monster dodged the projectiles easily, flying from rafter to rafter, letting out an occasional irritated squawk.
It was ridiculous, but their distraction was working …
I was almost to the top, and and the horrific creature still hadn”t noticed me.
Thank the gods!
By the time I reached the top, my hands and arms burned from the effort, and my entire body ached. It had been far too long since I”d done any serious climbing, and shimmying up the pole required very different muscles.
Forcing my breathing to slow, I searched for the nearest rafter about a foot away. I took a shaky breath, then leaned out to grab it.
The relic”s caw sounded to my right, and I froze.
Fear skated along my spine as I shrank back, clinging to the pipe, waiting for it to dig its claws into me. Memories of the last time flitted through the back of my mind, trying to take over.
But the beast flew by, angry white eyes trained on the group of men below. The wolves — all of them — circled the men, and the throng was tightening in on the group with every passing second.
The trio”s distraction act had turned into a fight for survival as wolves snapped from all sides.
Fuck! I had to go faster.
I reached out for the rafter, stretching as far as I could — but my grip on the pipe slipped. Heart in my throat, I threw myself toward the wooden beam, scrambling to cling to the rough wood.
Breathing fast, I pulled myself up, careful to ignore the way my fingers burned or stone floor far, far below me.
It wasn”t really any worse than the cliffs I”d climbed back home, I told myself. I could do this.
All the people below were counting on me.
Forcing my breath to slow, I picked a jump spot on the next rafter and leapt, then leapt to the rafter after that, and then the one after that.
Until, finally, I made it to the middle.
The bird”s attention was fixed on the chaos below as the wolves closed in tighter around Jaiel, Tye, and Alpha Blackwood. And I could practically feel the glee emanating from that feathered monster.
Two wolves jumped onto Jaiel”s back, and fear clogged my throat as I fought not to cry out.
He tore at them, but one had already latched his jaws onto his injured shoulder.
I stared, frozen in horror, as he struggled to shake them off — and failed.
His gaze lifted to mine as he fell to his knees, and I bit my tongue to stop myself from screaming.
Blood flooded my mouth as Jaiel motioned towards something over my shoulder, and my body went numb.
ccCCCccccAAAwwWW
The relic slammed into the back of my head, sending me stumbling forward. I dove for the next beam, landing hard on my chest — the impact knocking the wind from my lungs.
Above me, the relic screeched in rage and landed on my back, tearing at me with its talons.
Memories slammed into me — warm blood coating my fingers, a sharp tearing from within my side, those white eyes staring into my own —
No. I forced the thoughts away.
These people were relying on me! This was my chance to do things differently.
I couldn”t lose my focus now.
Digging my nails into my palms to center myself, I slammed my elbow back and into the fucking beast as hard as I could.
It let out a furious shriek as it tumbled down, then disappeared out of sight.
Hells! It moved far faster than I”d have ever expected for such a large and sickly-looking bird.
Ignoring the hot gashes in my back, I struggled to my feet and searched for the creature.
Tye was helping Jaiel to his feet, but the Fae prince needed medical attention fast.
I needed to end this now.
There —
The relic flew above the rafters, circling back for another strike!
Pulling out my dagger, I crouched into a stance and readied myself for impact. But the relic adjusted at the last second to dive beneath the rafter I was crouched on.
I spun around as it shot up, talons lashing out and digging into my forearm and wrist. Pain shot through me, and my fingers loosened around the knife.
Blood ran down my arm, but I forced every ounce of strength I had into those fingers, refusing to drop the blade. The bird frantically flapped and pulled at me until I was teetering on the edge of the rafter.
This wasn”t going to work— that bird was strong, and one misstep would send me falling to the ground. No. It had to work.
Grinding my teeth together, I tightened my grip.
”Not this time, you fucker!” I ground out, letting go of the dagger and catching it with my free hand.
The relic”s milky white eyes followed the falling blade, and I screamed as I used the monster”s grip on me to pull it closer while stabbing out with the dagger.
The blade sank deep into the relic”s chest.
Hot pain shot through my arm as its talons squeezed, and for a moment I was certain we”d fall.
I pulled out the dagger as its milky eyes met mine and it opened its mouth —
”Fuck you!” I jammed the dagger straight between its eyes and watched as the monster went limp, then fell to the hard stone below with a wet smack.
My breath came out in a ragged exhale as I collapsed to my knees with a sob and searched for my friends.
Tye and Alpha Blackwood stood back-to-back now, protecting the injured Jaiel as they were overwhelmed by the throng of wolves snapping at them.
Please. This had to work!
One of the wolves lurched forward, their fur exploding into a dark gray smoke.
Then another.
And another.
One by one, every wolf in the room turned to smoke until finally everything was silent.
Blessedly silent.
My heart pounded in my ears, and my hands shook as Tye clambered out of the mess, Jaiel to one side and Alpha Blackwood to the other.
My knees gave out, and I took a ragged breath, then another.
They were okay. Thank the gods. They were okay!
”Kaiya!” Jaiel shouted from below, his voice hoarse. ”You alive?”
”Yes!” I called, voice shaking.
”Better get down here then, before this mate of yours goes crazy.”
Tye snarled at the too-pale Fae prince, and I let out a relieved sigh.
We”d survived.
Against all odds, we”d survived … and the relic was finally dead.
”Can you climb down using that banner over there?” Alpha Blackwood asked.
I looked to where he pointed — a banner hung from the ceiling to about fifteen feet above the ground.
”I think so. If someone can catch me when I drop that last bit.”
Jaiel looked about to speak, but Tye was already standing at the base of the banner, his golden-yellow eyes flashing — the wolf now fully in control.
Shaking my head, I leaped to the closest rafter, then made my way to the banner. Bunching it like a wide rope and ignoring the burning scrapes and cuts across my body, I slid down.
”Don”t drop me,” I called out as I reached the bottom.
”Don”t tempt me, Witch,” Tye growled back.
I nodded and let go, panicking for a moment. But then I hit the warm strength of his arms and sank in.
My heart slammed against my ribs.
MINE.
The bond between us tugged tight, and heat blossomed everywhere we touched as something deep inside me repeated the word over and over. I stared up into those golden-yellow eyes, dark with what almost looked like concern, and my mouth went dry.
BOOM!
The entire stronghold shook as rock, dust, and smoke exploded from the entrance, sending Tye and me tumbling to the floor.
We”d gotten so caught up in the relic I”d almost forgotten about the fucking explosions.
Yells, screams, and children crying filled the room as hundreds of shifters stumbled to their feet.
”Go!” screamed Alpha Blackwood. ”Everyone, get to the guest wing. Carry the wounded, if you can. And run!”
I stumbled to my feet as body mages rose around us and began dashing toward the exit. Those who were able grabbed the wounded, and hundreds of bruised and bloody people shambled toward the exit.
Many bodies did not rouse, though, and my heart ached at the sight.
All those people — so happy just hours before — were gone. What families would be missing members at the end of all this? How many had been hurt by that damn relic?
My chest tightened and my eyes burned as I took it in.
Tye gripped my arm, positioning himself between me and the dust cloud as Jaiel stumbled up to us, looking pale. His clothes were torn, and those damn wounds were still bleeding. We had to get him out of here.
BOOM!
A woman with blood-caked red hair struggled to stand, and I helped her to her feet while Tye scooped up two injured men, carrying them over his shoulders like sacks of grain.
Together, we raced to the door. I looked back at the main entrance hidden behind a cloud of dust, and panic twisted in my gut as moonlight shone through.
”Hurry,” I yelled as shadows moved within the dust cloud. ”They”re in!”