Moon Raven Rising (The Moon Raven Trilogy #3)

35. Ambriel

Chapter thirty-five

Trent’s warm body presses against mine as he flies us over the vast snow capped mountains. If I didn’t think about where we were heading, it would almost be peaceful. High above the clouds and the troubles that lie on the ground.

“Hey, where are you in there?” Trent asks with a smile and nuzzles his nose into the space behind my ear.

“Just thinking…” I say still in my own head. I pull closer to him as my hair tries to pull out of its pleat in the cool air. I'm not sure I will ever get used to flying, though with Trent I feel like it's the safest place I could ever be.

“You want to tell me what it is you’re thinking about that has that sad look on your face?” He asks, and I pull a small smile to my lips; that does nothing to convince him. The false pleasantry doesn’t reach my eyes, and before I even try to make up some excuse, I let it fall as I look between the warm thoughtfulness in his eyes.

“Nothing we can’t overcome.” I tell him truthfully. Fate warned me about what is coming, and I have an unrelenting feeling that the battle I saw that night in the garden will be soon.

Reaching up, I cradle his face in my palm. The rough bite of his overgrown scruff is a new feeling, but I don’t mind this look on him at all. His eyes flick between mine as he tries to reach in and speak to my mind, but I won’t allow it. I’ve closed myself off for this trip. I need the time to think about everything.

Seeing the vision before was heartbreaking… and that was before. Before we were mates and before he stole my heart.

“Right there,” Alaric shouts while pointing to a stretch of land below near the cliff’s edge, and Trent drags his eyes away from me to look in that direction. The castle and cliffside are still shrouded in a cloudy early morning haze. Painting the sky with an ominous black and gray canvas.

My heart races as Trent begins the descent to land. I can’t help but wonder if this will be the day that fate steals away my future and kills the man who holds me so tightly against his thundering, strong heart right now.

The memory of the vision has been clear in my mind ever since, but I know decisions can alter fate. I just hope that my decision to be quiet about this is the right one. That every decision I’ve made since has, in some way, proved to the gods and fate my intentions.

Just below us, I see Cano prowling through the brush in his black wolf form, with Flynn and Kait flanking him on either side. Dax whistles, gaining the attention of the wolves, then jerks his head to the right, telling them it’s time that we separate. The plan is to keep the wolves outside and let Dax, Trent, and myself go inside. Alaric is going to be the distraction if one is needed. Maki is coming around from the western front in hopes that we have all angles taken into account.

I am to be the communication for us all.

Trent’s fingers tighten where they wrap around my legs. I look up at him only to be met with a stern look that I’ve not seen much on my mate’s face before. At least not pointed at me.

“What is it?” I ask as concern fills me with the need to reach up and brush the look from his features.

“Just promise me that you will stay with me. I don’t want to risk us getting separated. You can’t shift and fly away, and the thought alone is enough to bring me to my knees to beg for your word.” Trent pleads, dropping his head. He lays a soft kiss on my temple, and I lean into it.

“I can promise I will do anything and everything in my power to stay safe and get the mission completed. You have to understand though, Trent. I am sworn to Raelle as her war maiden. I will fight for her as hard as I would fight for you.” I say, hoping the passion in my words is portrayed in my eyes. He closes his for a second, taking a deep breath.

“I know you would. I’m not asking you not to fight. I would never do that, but I’m asking that you do everything you can to give us a future, and I’ll do the same.” My heart aches at his words as a memory of the vision flashes to my mind of a long sword protruding from his chest, blood covering both of us while Dax’s shattered scream ripped through my ears. I blink, and it’s gone.

“I think that’s reasonable.” My voice is small as I reach up, wrap my arms around his neck, and he picks me up. Wrapping my legs around his waist, his hands hold me there in a firm grip. He groans, and I can’t help but laugh. “Now is not the time for that, mate. Though I am intrigued at the thought of having you in the clouds.”

“Definitely not the time,” Dax interrupts, his voice coated with annoyance. “Pay attention; it is time to land…” With that, Alaric looks to Trent and pokes a finger at him through the air.

“You better keep my sister safe.”

“Your sister is tougher than you think…” Trent replies.

“I’m going to kick both of your asses if you don’t shut up.” I say, rolling my eyes at them, and with that, Alaric grins before dropping from the sky dramatically.

Opening up my mind, I reach out for Cano. “Dax says it’s time. Are you in place?”

“We’re ready when you are.” He growls.

“Cano said they are in place.” I tell them, and Dax nods.

“Maki, the dogs are in place, and we are about to land. Hold your ground and be ready if we need you to intervene. Just as planned.” I say as I reach into his mind.

“Stay safe. All of you.” He responds quickly.

“Maki is ready too,” I add, and Dax nods again, pensively looking down on the castle as we come down further to landing at one of the ledges on the walls facing the ocean. According to Cano, cave entrances on this side are only accessible by climbing, flying, or ship. These lead below the castle but above the dungeons. The perfect unguarded entrance. We only need to watch for the sentry, which will be posted at the tower to watch for ships.

Just as the sun breaks across the ocean, casting its orange glow along the dark water, it’s blotted out entirely as Dax unleashes more magic than I’ve ever seen him wield. His arms splay wide at his sides. He lets his shadows flow in a torrent of rippling darkness. Voiding out the ocean and any of the sun’s light.

Trent wastes no time as the dark wall surrounds this side of the castle; he drops us into one of the large alcoves and sets me on my feet. Spinning on his heel, he descends deeper into the ground. Flicking his fire magic to life in his palm, we are illuminated in a soft orange glow that casts out around us in a globe of light. The jagged rock walls glisten with moisture and eat up the light with their dark surface.

“We are clear,” Dax growls, coming up behind us. His shadow magic and black feathered wings follow behind him like a cape of darkness, and as he lowers his arms into fists at his sides, both retreat with a ripple of power, but his eyes stay the same molten copper. Fire blazing in his eyes. “I can feel her, but something is off.” He says before storming past us.

“Dax!” Trent hisses, running to catch his brother. “Wait! We can’t just go storming in. We have to be stealthy if this is to work; if we want to avoid a battle right now, we need to be smart. As much as I would like to go in there fire blazing. We can’t.” Dax grinds his teeth in response and pulls his arm from his brother’s grip.

“Ok, but we need to hurry. Something is—” Dax’s words are cut off as the ground beneath us rumbles, a loud bang echoing through the caves. In the distance, I hear a wolf howl and immediately push my thoughts to Cano. He is frantic running through trees. Flashes of fur and black leathery skin. Snaps of vicious, sharp teeth. Chills break out across my skin as I hear the scream of a dragon in the distance.

“Fuck,” Trent scowls before gripping my hand and pulling me into a run. I have to work twice as hard to keep up with him as he takes off after Dax. After a few minutes, the dragon’s cry becomes louder. Echoing through the caves and vibrating my bones.

We are winding left then right, so many turns—too many to track in the frantic rush and darkness. I’ve lost track of our directions, making me more lost with every turn. I’m not sure if Dax is following anything that we studied before coming here, and I can hardly see anything with the dim light we have to guide us.

“Fuck!” Trent hisses out again before pulling me to an abrupt stop. My lungs burn as I suck in the heavy, metallic musky air in big gulps as I try to catch my breath. Trent’s chest is heaving too, and he looks all around. His head flicks left and right, and I know what is wrong before he grinds the word out again. “FUCK!” We lost Dax.

Separated already, like we said we wouldn’t do. But I can feel what Dax did through the bond with Raelle. Unease fills me with dread. Something is wrong.

“Trent,” I put my hand on his thundering chest and his head snaps to face me. “I—let me try to reach Raelle. I feel like she’s close. Maybe I can sense her thoughts… Maybe she can help us find her.” He begins nodding urgently before I even finish the words.

“Do it. If you can, find her. Or find Dax. I have a bad feeling about all of this.” He says desperately. I nod in return, squeezing his hand tight. I close my eyes and focus my magic on Raelle. Through our minds and the bond on my wrist. I will do everything I can to find her and bring her home. Then we can wreak havoc on Soren for all of his vile indiscretions.

I feel myself sink, my magic taking me away through space and time, but when it deposits me where I want to be, it’s not Dax or Raelle’s minds I am greeted with. It’s a black swirling vortex of deep purple. The scent of decay and a frigidness is unmatched, and in the center of it all, Raelle stands like a statue. Her moonlit hair picked up on the unnatural wind and her eyes the deepest midnight purple. The smoke and rancid magic emanate from her upturned palm.

When she sees me, her head tilts, and she turns her magic on me. It blasts from her hand like lightning. A thunderous boom ricochets through my mind as I feel my body falling. When my eyes snap open and meet Trent, I’m crying hysterically, and he is screaming my name. I can only see those blackened eyes on Raelle’s face, though. Her features are distorted, and the smell of burning decay causes my stomach to roil. Scrambling from his grip, I crawl away just a few feet before I retch.

When my mind finally catches up, my eyes snag on the glint of light reflecting from a pair of polished black boots. My head slowly tilts up to find a guard with his sword drawn over my head. With one fell swoop, he could cleave it right from my shoulders.

“Don’t fucking move.”