36. Cano
Chapter thirty-six
Running with two wolves at my flank feels…strange. I’ve never wanted a pack to run with, but now that I have them here with me… an emotion I’ve so rarely felt fills me.
Pride.
Not that they are my pack, but to have anyone to run with… It feels different than running alone; like my wolf has craved it. Our paws rumble against the soil, upturning it with every powerful strike. Inching closer to the border of the castle grounds. A deep growl echoes through my mind as Kait takes notice of something stalking us. Her warning to us is received and Flynn yips in response. Looking over my shoulder, beyond the flash of tawny fur, I see what Kait was growling about.
The next growl is not a wolf but a rattling guttural sound, followed by the menacing clack of sharp teeth as they lunge for Kait. I plant my paws in the dirt, skidding across the forest floor, and launch toward the beast with my jaw wide. The power of my bite at the monster’s throat kills it immediately, and gold dust plumes through the air.
There wasn’t much time between when Ambriel told me they were ready and when the Raskins attacked, but Alaric must have heard the coming attack from where he was perched.
“Cano—Behind you!” He shouts as he throws a knife at the Raskin to my left, and I bank hard to the right. The Raskin that was on my tail digs its claws into the ground and spins, lunging to attack Flynn, who is tied up with two in front of him. Kait comes out of nowhere, knocking the Raskin to the side with a grunt of power.
It’s been so long since I’ve taken my wolf form that I feel the drain it’s causing me faster than I ever have before. I need to move and switch back into my Fae form. Alaric sees me looking around. Looking for a gap in the attack so I can slip away. He tosses a bag to the ground about ten paces to my left. Another monster of the forest comes bounding from a bush near the bag, and I duck low as it comes at me, standing with a chuff as it misses me and lands in a roll.
When I turn back though, I am greeted by a set of sharp teeth dripping with blood. It happens so quickly I can hardly react before it clamps down on my hindquarter. The immediate pain shoots through me. I let out a long, deep bellied howl as I try kicking the bastard off of me. My power is weakening, and then I lose my wolf entirely. The shift causes the Raskin to lose its grip on my thigh, though. Pressing my hand to the wound, I grind my teeth as the fire from the bite burns through me so hot that I want nothing more than to hurl my body into the ocean.
Shuffling backward, my hand hits the pack that Alaric tossed down. I grab a tunic, ripping the fabric and tying it off at the wound, then slipping into some breeches. I toss the contents of the bag to the ground, losing patience as I try to find a weapon and failing.
My head whips up just as I hear the rattling growl, and I’m face to face with the bastard with what is likely my blood dripping from his mouth. I see Kait and Flynn back to back fighting off their own opponents, and Alaric is nowhere in sight. I’m on my own. Injured, powerless, and without a weapon in sight. A weak man would give in. Accept the fate he’s been dealt, but fuck that. I haven’t come this far to be taken out on my knees. I’m just as much a rabid fucking animal as the Raskin.
With a snarl, I launch my body forward toward the motherfucker. Wrapping my arms around its neck, I squeeze with every ounce of strength I have left. The Raskin thrashes in my grip. Its body is torquing back and forth to try to wiggle from my arms, but I refuse to let go. I refuse for this to be my end. I will be the one who decides my fate. Not some gods who left this world to ruin so many years ago.
I’m screaming, then a deep, pain-filled growl fills my ears before its spine snaps and my arms close around a cloud of rancid gold dust. Falling to my side, I moan as my vision flickers in and out, and the last thing I see is the ocean eyes of a tawny wolf prowling toward me.
Miles walks toward us, ushering a little girl with golden hair across the courtyard. She holds her hands in front of her in a tight ball, and I can see the fear in her eyes. Only because it matches my own. Before they get too close, I notice how her feet falter, and he has to give her a little push to continue toward us, and my jaw clenches. That’s the moment when I decided that this girl would be my friend. I’ll teach her how to be strong in the face of fear. Just like I’ve had to learn.
“Dax, Cano, this is Kait. She’s taken quite the journey to come here to Aldramani. Let’s show her how welcoming we are here in Ravendene. She will be joining you in your studies soon enough.” He nudges the girl, and she looks up at us through her long eyelashes. Blue eyes as bright as the Creale Sea stare back at us. A stark contrast to what she must see when she looks at me.
“Why will she be training with us? She’s a girl. She won’t be a leader…” I start, but Miles puts up a hand.
“ Girls ,” he says slowly, “can be more powerful and hold just as much right as any man. You will treat her and any other female as an equal and with respect. The same goes for you, Kait.” She quickly nods her agreement. The puff of air I let out was quickly stunted by Dax’s elbow and Miles’ narrowed gaze.
“Fine,” I grumble. “But don’t expect me to take it easy on her just because she’s a girl.” The blue of her eyes comes alive at my jibe, and I can’t take my eyes off her as she lifts her chin and steps forward.
“Underestimating an opponent could be the first and last mistake you would ever make.” The corner of my mouth twitches up. Challenge accepted. She looks to Dax then. “It’s very nice to meet you. Miles has told me much about you and your family.” Dax beams at her words, his chest puffing with pride. Miles laughs, shaking his head.
Not all of us can be so lucky to have a family like his.
Confusion clouds my mind as I open my eyes and see the gray stone ground beneath me. Lifting my hand to rub at my throbbing temple, chains clink as they slide along the hard floor.
“No!” The word rumbles through my dry throat, and my eyes widen as I take in my surroundings. “NO!” I rush out, scrambling to my feet and yanking hard on the chain that ties me to the wall. “Motherfucker!” I curse the chains, my weak body, and the forgotten gods.
“Imagine my surprise when I am told my son is alive and well…sneaking up on the castle with a couple of stray mutts.” Bile burns my throat as my father’s voice comes closer, and he steps out of the darkness and into the glow of firelight from the torch, illuminating the ground where I now lay prisoner.
“You are no father,” I spit at his feet and don’t drop his gaze as his eyes trail my blackened limbs with disdain. As though he was not the reason they are this way.
“It’s really too bad… That you were such a disappointment. I thought for sure you would grow to be my legacy. I see now that is not the case. You are nothing but a stain to the Croix name.” He says as he crouches down, bringing us eye to eye.
“I would rather die than be claimed by you.” I seethe. “I’m only sorry it took so long for me to realize.” His hand comes down hard as he backhands me, but I hold firm. Even as the metallic tang of blood fills my mouth. Slowly blinking, I bring my gaze to meet his. Our eyes clash like a storm of onyx waves crashing at sea. Both of our dark gazes unmoving. My mind is fuzzy, but I do realize one advantage. He didn’t mention Alaric, Dax, or any of the others. I use this information against him because the one thing he did teach me… is to always work whatever angle you are given. Right now, he’s given away too much and too soon. It’s a mistake I will not make.
“Raelle is mine. You may have taken my position from me, but it was you who ruined everything. You won't take her too.” I conjure a falsity, the words meaning something entirely different to us both.
“You FAILED! The moment you allowed Dax to be taken from this very dungeon! You, Cano! Raelle will never be yours! You will be lucky if you ever walk out of this prison again!” The vein in his neck pops and throbs with his stained words as he yells at me.
But as he speaks the words, I realize that was the moment that changed my life. Brought me back to the Fae who I once called friends, and brought me back from the brink of death even after everything that I did. I didn’t fail. Not him at least. I failed fate; that is why I am being killed by the magic that I allowed to corrupt my soul. I’m being killed by the father I let corrupt my mind. I refuse to let him bring that fate to anyone else.
I tip my head back, and a wide smile breaks across my features as I stare up at the ceiling. A manic laugh erupts from my chest, and then I lock my gaze with the man who sired me. “They believe I am with them. A part of their heroic little team who have come to save their queen. Even you believed the lie.”
His eyes narrow on me, but I see in the moment they flare with what this could provide. The exact moment I know he will take my bait. I did learn from the best… I guess he can blame himself when he pulls the blade out of his back. A wicked glint lights in his eyes and as he opens his mouth to speak again, he is cut off by a ruckus in the hallway. Multiple guards run past us in the direction of the caves the dragons perch in.
Without another word, he spins on his heel, exits the dungeon, and closes the heavy door between us. I sag back to the floor, exhaustion and defeat weighing me down so much I can’t bear to stand anymore.
“He’s here. I sense it.” A craggy voice says from the corner, and my head whips in that direction. “When that which is hidden in the shadowed sea comes to light, guided by the bond, the shield in the night.” Heavy breaths fill the void before he speaks again. “It’s almost time.”