Chapter 33
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
ORION
My scalp itched. “Sorry? Fae?”
That wasn’t possible. This had to be some sort of trick.
Paige sniffed the air again. “So many. And blood magi.”
“How—”
A crash echoed from above, the sounds of violence. Someone hit the floor, rattling the floorboards. More dust fell onto us, my hand crushing Miko’s.
I won’t let go.
I won’t let go.
I won’t—
The basement door flew open, Arlo tumbling down the stairs, landing in an unconscious heap.
I held my breath, fighting the urge to help him and the flood of terror tearing through me. Blood trickled from a cut across his forehead, his left arm painfully twisted.
Firm yet light footsteps sounded on the wooden stairs. A boot of white-gold leather appeared first, then the unique, delicately woven white-gold chainmail of the royal fae guards.
Oh. My. Stars.
The fae woman came into full view, decked out in the glistening, robe-like armor, sword in her hand, a green elemental watch against the fair, golden skin of her wrist.
Earth affiliated.
Lilac eyes landed on me. “There you are.”
“Orion!” Basil cried from upstairs.
“Shut him up!” the guard barked.
Basil oofed, clearly punched in the belly for his troubles.
“I—”
“Orion Bloom. I am here on behalf of His Majesty, King Damien of Faery, to take you home.”
“What—”
She sheathed her sword, clapping three times. Two more guards came downstairs with white-gold chains and handcuffs.
“Take him,” the woman ordered.
Her men descended.
“No!” I yelled.
But they didn’t hesitate, dragging me from Miko with terrifying ease, binding me in the chains and cuffs. Within seconds, my mate collapsed to the side, Trev listing the other way. Paige jumped up.
The guard tapped her earth watch. “Move a step, wolf, and I’ll bury you alive under this house.”
Paige flexed her hands. “What are you doing here?”
Malorie slumped forward, every candle snuffing out from a sudden, chilly breeze.
“That’s none of your concern.” The head guard clapped again, the other guards lifting me into the air.
“Miko!” I cried. “You don’t know what you’ve done!”
They’d lost their anchors. They needed help.
But the fae took me out of the basement and into the sunshine, putting me on the back of a stunning white horse.
The scene before me almost stopped my heart.
An army of fae on horseback, gleaming in white-gold armor, surrounded the house, weapons drawn and glinting in the sunlight. A shocking sight for sure, but not the worst part.
Oh, no. The worst part was the lead guard shaking Lance’s hand, his shifters standing by with grins on their stupid faces, a few blood magi applauding the handshake.
“Thank you,” the guard said to Lance.
He bowed to her, all healed up aside from a few missing teeth, his rock star energy in full flow. “My pleasure. I’m happy to have helped.”
“I wish you all the luck in the world.”
She looked to me, then Basil. “Do it.”
Daria and Joe were nowhere to be seen.
Because it was daylight.
Because they might be dead.
Please don’t let that be true…
The two fae holding Basil pushed him forward. A puff of red blood-magic mist danced around his head before he strode over to the magi, completely under their control.
“What is this?” I said, ready to wake up from this bizarre nightmare.
No one answered me, and I couldn’t see any of my friends or the farm family.
“Answer me!”
But the lead fae mounted her horse and cried, “Move out!”
The fae charged out of the farm, crushing zombies lurking around the downed fences, tearing through the countryside.