Chapter 25 #2
Their mission was clear—to delay us until the vampires could bring the rocks crashing down, effectively halting our advancement toward the castle.
The vampires we fought were only collateral damage while the others worked on loosening the rocks.
Victoria’s plan must have been to kill us outside her fortress, probably because she was too anxious about us getting close to her trapped prey.
Torin.
Unnerving silence stretched in the hollow cave as we all stood before a pile of rocks that even a supernatural couldn’t clear fast enough.
“By the time we finish moving the rocks out of the way, Victoria will have killed our people in the forest. She already knows we’re here,” I said, my gaze traveling over the massive boulders.
But a glimpse of hope warmed my chest at the spaces where the stones touched. Some cracks were large enough for a wolf to pass through, with difficulties, but it seemed possible. I climbed on top of a rock and examined the narrow space.
“I’m not leaving you behind, sweetheart.” Hayden’s stern voice came from behind me.
Turning, I jumped on the ground in front of him.
“You don’t have a choice,” I said. “We’ve come this far, and we’re doing this, Hayden. And we will win this war and end Victoria’s tyranny.”
Lucy circled around us with raised eyebrows. “What are you talking about?”
I let out a heavy sigh. “The openings among the rocks are large enough for the wolves to slide through.”
Lucy’s eyes grew big as she pointed to the stones with a slender hand. “I’ve seen your wolves, and they’re huge.” Her body shuddered. “How do you imagine this will work?”
Alpha Leo stepped out of the crowd and faced me. “Queen Breanna is suggesting that the werewolves shift, breaking our bones and sliding through the narrow spaces, then we can heal on the other side fast.”
He frowned.
Lucy’s gaze darted between me and Hayden.
“You’re one crazy supernatural species,” she said and exhaled loudly.
“But it’ll work. First, Victoria probably doesn’t expect wolves to go through the stone wall.
And second, we only need several of you to push the lever to the drawbridge for the rest of us to get in. ”
Hayden’s shoulder brushed mine. “Readjusting and breaking bones is not new for the werewolves, and we can heal fast in our wolf form on the other side of this rock avalanche,” he said, looking at me.
His hand reached for my face and brushed a strand of hair behind my ear.
“But I don’t want to leave you behind, my Queen. ”
“And you shouldn’t leave her alone with the vampires,” Alpha Leo said, making Hayden let out a sigh.
“Our Queen will be left alone with the vampires, who can turn on you, and the war will be over very fast. Have you thought about what happens if they’re playing double agents?
” Alpha Leo nodded toward Lucy. “They could be spies, and this entire setup could be one big trap.”
Lucy’s next movements, using her supernatural speed, appeared so fast that she invaded Alpha Leo’s personal space before he could blink. Although she stood shorter and half his size, she straightened up before him, hands clenched into fists at her sides. For now.
“We’re not going to hurt Breanna. She is not only my ally but also a friend. You get this, old man?” she said with a clenched jaw.
Technically, he could be her father if they weren’t different creatures. I stifled the laugh that threatened to escape my throat.
“That’s enough, both of you,” I said. “Alpha Leo, you have nothing to worry about. You should be thinking about how your wolf will navigate through the tiny space.”
The Alpha grunted, walking away and muttering words under his breath I chose to ignore.
There was always a risk in forming alliances with our enemies, but we had to start somewhere if I wanted things in the kingdom and in the mortal realm to change. Without showing the vampires trust first, I would never receive any back, even if I risked my life.
Hayden leaned in and kissed my forehead. “Wait for me on the other side of the drawbridge, okay?”
I nodded.
Several of the warriors undressed before they shifted, including Hayden, but some of the werewolves shredded through their clothes as they transformed into wolves.
Although I knew the wolves would heal fast on the other side, I still closed my eyes and placed my hands on my knees, bracing myself. The space around me filled with loud howling, painful groans, and bone cracking.
“I had no idea the transformation process for your kind was so painful.” Lucy’s soft voice sounded close.
I straightened up, and looking at her, I smiled. “Usually, they learn to shift in an instant with lots of practice, so it doesn’t hurt to readjust and break their bones so much.”
Lucy grasped my hand and tugged on it. “Not they. You’re one of them, Breanna, even if you’re lacking a wolf.”
I drew in a deep breath. “Yeah, maybe,” I said. “Let’s go retrace our steps.”
Every wolf made it through the tight spaces among the rock avalanche, leaving me behind with Lucy and several vampire guards.
My heart pounded hard against my chest, not because I was now alone among vampires, but because we had only moments to hurry out of the tunnels and meet the werewolves at the drawbridge.
I couldn’t leave my people alone inside the enemy’s castle.