Chapter Fifty
Skylar Cathal
I froze in place, recognizing the special music that drifted across time and space to shield me from my pain in the hunters’ lair.
The same harmony that I swore I could hear whenever Daxton was near me. The same melody he sang to me on the green sand beach, he was singing to Ember.
“It’s the song their mother sang to them,” Zola said, coming to my side.
Startled, I blinked and turned to face her. “I’ve heard it.”
“He’s sung it to you?”
“Yes.” I smiled softly as I continued to stare in awe at my mate with Ember gently cradled against his chest.
My heart caved as a deep longing began to fill in my middle. Seeing Daxton holding the baby made me realize how much I truly wanted to share this experience with him. For him to be singing this song to our child someday, for us to—
I bit my lip to keep myself together, trying my best to disguise my rising tears as joyful, instead of ones of secret sorrow.
“It’s a beautiful moment,” Zola said.
I nodded, wiping my cheek.
Daxton glanced up from Ember to find me, and I gave him a nod, indicating that I was fine, allowing the tears in my eyes to play the part.
My mate rocked the precious infant into a deep slumber, crossing the room to give her back to her parents. Watching how gentle he was with the baby astounded me, and for a moment everything seemed at peace, until—
Boom!
A loud banging echo broke our harmonious trance, putting Daxton and the others on high alert.
Boom!
It sounded again, followed by a powerful wave of magic that spiraled through the room, shoving us all back a step. Adohan bent over Idris and Ember with Astro on the other side of them, shielding the females from the blast of unknown magic.
Daxton wrapped his arms around me, helping me brace against the waves of magic that pulsed through the walls.
“Adohan!” Daxton shouted as he looked at Zola. “The wards!”
“I’m on it,” Zola said as she leaped into the shadows and disappeared.
Finn and the majority of Crimson City’s army were marching south to rendezvous with Castor and the Silver Meadow Warriors. This was not good.
On cue, Shaw came bursting through the doors, looking to me. “What the fuck was that?”
“I don’t know,” I said.
“Not something good, I imagine,” Shaw answered.
“Judging by Daxton’s response and Zola disappearing into the shadows, I’d say no.”
“Wait, what?” Shaw paused in the doorway and shook his head. “Did you say one of them disappeared into the shadows?”
“Long story, but yes. Zola is—”
“Skylar,” Daxton’s voice boomed, interrupting my communication with Shaw. His lips were pressed into a thin line, his eyes strained with worry. “It’s the wards guarding against the wilt. Do you remember me telling you about the borders around Crimson City, and—”
“Gods above.” I gasped. “No.”
Daxton nodded. “I’m afraid so. We’ve been preoccupied with Minaeve’s retaliation that we overlooked the most menacing threat of all.”
“Gather what forces you can,” Adohan announced into the halls. “We will not allow those creatures to enter Crimson City. We will force them back into the cursed wilt!”
“Yes, Father. I’ll gather the—”
“No, wait,” Adohan said, turning to Astro.
“I need you here protecting your mother and sister. If something happens, you must promise me you’ll get them to safety.
Protect our home for as long as you can, encourage those with no shelter to remain here, but if it comes to it, I need you to promise to keep them safe. ”
Astro’s expression dropped, but instead of arguing, he gave his father a single nod.
“Good, my son.” He leaned in and kissed his brow. “You’re Ember’s protector now, just as Finn is yours.”
“Skylar,” Dax whispered.
“Don’t you dare,” I began as I turned to face my mate.
“Spitfire—”
“Don’t you fucking dare tell me to stay behind and not join you in this fight.”
Daxton bit his lip, and I swear if the threat of the wilt was not at our backs, I would have blackened his eye for even allowing this thought to enter his mind.
“Dax!”
“I’m not telling you what to do, Skylar. I’m asking you to just—”
“I can hold my own, Daxton."
“Would you breathe and take a moment to listen to me?” Daxton shouted, shaking his head. “Gods above. I’m asking you to cover the interior before meeting us at the ward. With your healing gifts, you can tend to those who’ve been wounded while destroying any creatures already in the city.”
“Oh.”
“Oh?” Daxton repeated. “Nothing else, Spitfire?”
“For the moment, no.”
“You never cease to surprise me,” he said, leaning in to kiss me before I could muster a rebuttal. “I would never dream of keeping you out of the fight. My mate is strong enough to take on the trials and win. You can do anything.”
“Good thing you’re as wise as you are handsome.”
“Fortunate indeed,” he said, stealing another kiss.
“Where can I help fight?” Shaw asked.
“We’ve never fought alongside a shifter who could change into their animal form. This should be fun,” Adohan said.
“Shaw is capable of holding his own on the front lines,” I said.
“Very well.” Daxton nodded, allowing me to give direction to my beta.
“Stay near the outer border with Daxton and Adohan,” I said to Shaw. “You can work between me and them, filling in the gaps where needed.”
“Easy enough,” Shaw said, rolling his shoulders as his magic flickered and began to swirl around him.
Adohan came to my mate’s side after kissing Idris and Ember’s brow.
“I’ll teleport us to the wards,” Daxton said.
“All right. Astro, send word that those remaining who can fight should meet at the border, and those who cannot, gather here at our stronghold,” Adohan instructed.
Then, in a flash of silver, Dax and Adohan were gone, leaving the rest of us to begin preparing for the attack.