Chapter 5 #2
His words struck like a blade to the gut, sharp and cruel.
A familiar ache tightened in my chest, the kind that never truly faded.
I missed her more than anything, and the very man who took her away from me was now standing in front of me.
Magnus knew, and when I looked at him, I remembered the look on his face when he killed her.
It had been nothing more than a game to him, and that same smirk was now curled on his lips, taunting me, daring me to lose control of my magic.
Magnus lifted two fingers as he strode forward with an air of arrogance.
“Now, I am going to give you two options,” he drawled. “Option one, you come with us willingly, and I promise not a single hair on your head will be harmed by me.”
Yeah, that’s not happening, asshole.
“Option two, we kill your dragon and drag you back broken. We may not be able to kill you, but we can get you damn close.”
He stopped midway, now just a few steps away, his presence seeping into the space like poison. Xarothar nudged my back, his concern pressing into my mind.
“I can fly us out of here.”
“No,” my gaze stayed locked on Magnus and the others. “You’re too small for that, and anyone could spot us if you fly.”
Xarothar rumbled uneasily.
“He’s going to kill you, and I can’t breathe fire yet. Not well anyway, I can’t protect you.”
“I won’t let them hurt you, Xarothar. Not because of me. Not again.” My fingers tightened around the hilt of my daggers as a slow, dangerous smile curved my lips.
“Or…” I tilted my head as I spun my dagger in my hand. “Option three. I kill you and your pathetic little followers, then send the remains back to the king as a personal fuck you.”
I had sworn I would never let that bastard get his hands on me, and I intended to keep that promise.
Magnus’s smirk barely faltered, but his red eyes darkened.
With a single glance, his soldiers surged forward.
The first lunged from my right—fast but predictable.
I dropped in a smooth glide, pivoted on my heel, and drove my dagger upward into his spine.
His body jerked as I twisted the blade, stealing his final breath as the dagger drained the life out of him.
His scream choked off mid-air, and he collapsed like a puppet with its strings cut.
Another lunged at me, swinging wildly. I caught his wrist mid-strike, yanked him off balance, and smashed my elbow into his jaw with a sickening crack.
He stumbled back—stunned—just long enough for me to step in and slash clean across his throat.
Blood sprayed across the snow, some hitting my face as he hit the ground.
The third thought he could catch me off guard—rookie mistake.
He came from behind, quiet, but not quiet enough.
I turned just as he raised his sword, grabbed the hilt, and used his momentum to flip him over my shoulder.
He landed hard, dazed. I straddled him, my dagger flashing against the last of the sunlight as I sank it straight into his heart.
His eyes widened in shock before dulling to nothing.
Xarothars growl rumbled behind me, a deep, vibrating warning that sent a shiver through the air. My senses sharpened as I caught movement—a vampire darting toward him with deadly intent.
Not a chance.
I didn’t think, I reacted. Heat surged through my veins, my magic roaring to life as I thrust my hand forward.
Flames erupted, scorching through the air before engulfing him in a fiery inferno.
His agonised screams split the battlefield as his flesh blackened and peeled, the scent of burning vampire thick and acrid.
The vampire collapsed to the ground in a heap, but before I could move to kill another, a searing pain exploded in my skull.
My vision blurred, a crucial second too long—long enough for two vampires to seize my arms in an iron grip.
My daggers slipped from my fingers, hitting the snow-covered dirt with a dull clatter.
Shit, my enchanted dagger.
Magnus stood before me, his expression unreadable, but the satisfaction clung to him like a second skin. He thought he had won.
Xarothars' roar split the air, a thunderous sound of rage and desperation, but a sharp knee rammed into my stomach before I could call on what little magic I had left.
The breath was ripped away from my lungs, pain blooming in my ribs as I doubled over, only for rough fingers to tangle in my hair and wrench my head back.
The vampires restraining me dug their sharp nails into my skin, and I clenched my teeth, forcing back a hiss as my eyes darted past Magnus—four more of his soldiers were closing in on Xarothar.
Panic flared. I tried to summon a blast of magic to send him flying before they could reach him, but my power sputtered and flickered uselessly inside me.
I was too weak. Too fucking weak because my mother had locked away my magic, fearing that, if fully unleashed, it would be the very thing to doom me.
Now, not having my magic would doom us both.
Xarothar lashed out, his tail—now lined with sharp, growing spikes—slamming one vampire into a tree with a sickening crunch. Another lunged for him, but he managed to unleash a weak stream of fire, igniting the creature's flesh.
A sudden blow cracked across my face, whipping my head to the side. Before I could recover, tasting blood in my mouth, invisible restraints bound me against the tree, locking me into place. My breath came in sharp gasps as I struggled, but it was no use.
Vampires don’t have magic.
They aren’t supposed to have magic.
Magnus watched me with amusement as his nails traced my throat. I shuddered at the feel of them; they were sharp enough to break skin. A slow trickle of blood slid down my neck.
“A gift,” he murmured, his lips curving into a smirk.
“A new little trick from our king, and we could be so much more… if we had you.”
“Fuck you.” I spat in his face.
It slid down his lips. His tongue flicked out, tasting it like it was something sweet. Lust burned behind his eyes.
“You’ve got quite a mouth on you. So did your mother. Look where that got her.”
I smiled coldly.
“Yeah? And you’ve got quite the face for stabbing. Guess we all have our talents.” His fingers pinched my lips shut, getting closer to my face as I struggled.
“My brother and I have missed you,” he said with a sickening smile. “Alaric was heartbroken he couldn’t be here to collect you himself, but don’t worry… you’ll be ours soon enough.”
My stomach turned, bile rising.
Over my dead fucking body.
I tried to ignore the ache in my body as I thrashed to move away from him, pulling my head back so he was no longer touching me.
“We will have so much fun with you,” he licked his lips, eyes tracing my body with desire, and I felt utterly sick. Not only would I be imprisoned by the king, but I would also be used by Magnus and his sick brother.
Panic flared in my chest, but it wasn’t mine.
Xarothar.
I turned my head just in time to see another vampire raising a blade, aiming straight for him.
“Xarothar, move!” I screamed, desperation clawing at my throat.
I couldn’t let him die; no, I wouldn’t let another die by the hands of these fuckers.
Agony erupted as one of the vampires pulled my arm back further from its place at an odd angle, the sickening snap echoing through the trees. Another scream tore through me, raw and broken, just as another hit landed across my other cheek.
Magnus leaned in, his breath brushing against my skin. “You sound just like Selene before she died,” he sneered, his hand wrapping around my throat and tightening.
“Now your dragon will die, and the king will have you.”
I tried to focus, but my vision swam—my arm burned, my neck and face ached, and my head felt like it was being crushed from the inside.
His grip tightened, cutting off what little air I had left, warm blood slipping down my skin in gradual, mocking trails. Each breath was a struggle—sharp, shallow, and slipping further out of reach.
“Raven, you need to duck. Now.” Xarothar's voice was urgent, sharp with something I didn’t recognise. I blinked through the haze, watching Magnus smile as he saw me slipping away.
“What?”
“Get down!”
Summoning every ounce of strength left in me, I wrenched myself forward with a loud cry, and the satisfying crack of Magnus’s nose was heard. His grip loosened from my throat, and I collapsed to the ground, my arms screaming in agony, but at least the binds were gone.
Before I could fully comprehend what was happening, a blur of motion crossed my vision, followed by a sickening sound of steel tearing through flesh. The air thickened with the metallic scent of blood.
Then, the vampires’ heads hit the ground, rolling to a stop at my feet.
“They’re dead, Raven.”
I forced my eyelids open, my breathing ragged.
“How?” I rasped, my vision was blurred again, but before the darkness swallowed me whole, I caught a glimpse of two deep blue eyes.
“Your Hunter.” Then everything went black.