Chapter 39
Chapter
Thirty-Nine
MAX
Before my eyes, the man I love shifts, from the Fae I fought so hard to help regain, back to his bestial form. His control shatters and body hunching, bones cracking, hair growing long, he disappears into the curse.
Those deadly fangs elongate and his mouth snaps at me, growling into the abandoned room.
Fee stands, sword high, but he snarls at her, sniffing them in turn. Those eyes—widen and clear—are still amber, unlike before. He sees us, knows us. I brace for an attack, already calling on my magic, but he doesn’t move. Doesn’t strike us.
Kaden’s tie inside my soul weakens, the curse hindering our connection. It dampens, becomes muted and it’s painful not to have that intimate feel of my mate within my soul. But I can still feel him, buried beneath, the Fae I love. The Fae I fought for. And he’s grieving terribly.
Nose in the air, he inhales, a purr vibrating from his chest. Turning, he jumps from the chamber to the hall, in one glorious leap. I stand too, mouth dropping in shock. His display is primal, reminding me of the creatures in the Eternal Night Forest.
Hunting. He’s hunting for Zelos. Alone.
“He’s going to kill Zelos,” I tell the others, watching him leave. “Kaden isn’t going to hurt us but he will to anyone else.”
“We have other things to worry about,” Fee reminds me, checking Oslo’s cloaks for anything important. “What did Uncle say before he died?”
Her eyes are ringed red as the princess tries not to mourn the man who showed her love and kindness, dead under her hands. Instead, she focuses on the next task. Reid sniffles next to me, but he doesn’t break either.
They know we don’t have time to grieve. We have to stop Zelos, save Kaden. Grieving can happen later.
“The bond wasn’t foolproof. Losing Oslo, his exhaustion, it was only a matter of time before the beast was able to break free again,” I explain, glancing to Oslo’s corpse. May Seti give you peace. “He said book. What book? Why would that be important?”
“Uncle always found his answers in books,” Reid informs, wiping his chin. A tear falls on to the floor but no one comments on it. “Maybe he knew something we didn’t?”
“But what book?”
My mind spins, worry over the situation, worry over Kaden. I feel him, growing further away, his hunger, his pain. It’s mirrored in me, a tarry blackness that’s too bleak for words and I can barely breathe with it weighing me down.
What can we do to help him? What about Zelos’ revenge?
The ladies are running from the chamber as lords call for their guards. There aren’t many left. The arrows took out anyone not covered by Kaden’s magical shelter. There are bodies of Fae everywhere.
It’s complete mayhem and I can’t focus. I need Kaden.
“Oslo told me,” I begin, tasting blood on my lip, hands shaking. “That he thought I could break the curse. Kaden’s curse. But he never explained how or why.”
Because he didn’t know if I would do it. He didn’t know if I loved Kaden enough to save him and he gave me that choice. A choice that now, I’ll gladly make.
“Oslo thinks the curse can break?” Fee asks, eyes wide. “If it’s about breaking a curse, then it has to be in the library. Or his office. He wouldn’t trust Zelos with it.”
“Library,” I murmur, mind turning. “There’s an odd book in the library under glass. Do you know it?”
Reid exhales loudly. “Fuck, I forgot about that. Uncle always said it was our mother’s favorite.”
“How can it be a favorite if it never leaves the case?”
All three of us share a look. There is something with that book—something in it we must see. Oslo wouldn’t have left breadcrumbs if not for a reason.
Zeke rushes to our side, helping me with calloused hands. “We have other problems, My Majesties.”
We glance to the entrance, more guards filling the entryway. Their comrades lie on the ground, dead, by their own hands as they step over their bodies. Some of them glance to the general and their faces fall, but most don’t.
These guards are loyal only to Zelos. Only his cause.
Fee steps in front of us, shoulder to shoulder with the guards loyal to us. The numbers are abysmal. We won’t last.
“We need to get that book from the library. It can help Kaden.” Oslo used his last breath to instruct us on what to do. His last moment on this continent was to save Kaden.
We would need that book to break his curse, I’m sure of it.
Stepping between the captain and Fee, I stand tall, letting the lapping energy flood my veins. Smiling, I feel Kaden’s shadows engulf it, soothing its rage, binding to it inside of me like a fierce hug. With his soul’s help, the magic doesn’t pull on me, but waits for my orders.
Glancing to the soldiers, I listen for their hearts. They’re a steady stucco, a drum that beats on the wind. They roll like thunder in my ears, but it doesn’t frighten me.
I enjoy it.
It’s punishing life under my control and I bend my fingers, tips so dark they look black.
“Max.” Reid grabs my wrist to stop me but I shake him off.
“I can do this.”
“And if it drains you?” Fee asks, eyes narrowed. “Then, what?”
“It won’t,” I assure them. “But in any case, if it does, remember the goal. Get the book.”
There are rows of guards, soldiers, all armed and yet, my magic builds, larger, stronger. It purrs at the odds, angry at not having been released. It wants to unleash its horrible fury on them.
This power is a gift from the Gods and I intend to use it.
Raising my hands, I watch as the black drifts higher, staining my palms, to my forearms. I’ve submerged myself in blood and I grin, pleased.
For Kaden, I would sully my soul, end countless more, just to save him.
I don’t speak as I concentrate on the hearts. It barely takes a flicker of awareness and as I inhale, they mimic. My power winds around their hearts, constricting it like a serpent to its prey. They are under my control and my fingers snap.
The hearts explode, one by one, bubbles popping along the wind. They drop and the magic rises too high, gleeful as my nose and eyes drip red. They never had a chance.
It’s a lot to feel all at once, the storm of magic coursing over my skin, the coolness of Kaden’s soul trying to temper it. But my magic is fierce and hungry. It strikes, crushing the hearts of those who would hurt me, blood dripping out their orifices like a beautiful, morbid waterfall of sin.
It doesn’t discriminate, my magic, it wants to kill them all. Gladly, I let it.
They want to hurt my family—I won’t allow it.
It starts to spiral, pulling too much. Even Kaden’s essence cannot handle it. A few soldiers linger as I drop to one knee, vision blurring, the beating drums in my ears so loud I grimace against the noise.
Fee lowers into my face, her eyes hard, mouth twisted into a scowl. “Pull it back, Godsdammit, blood summoner. Turn it off!”
Struggling, I force the magic back to my pit, where Kaden showed me it comes from. Where it rests. It doesn’t want to go, it wants more, but I have to regain the balance. Too much power, and I’ll die. And I can’t die, because then Kaden will.
Thankfully, Kaden’s soul lurches on to my magic, curling it back together, forcing it deep down where it belongs. It suffocates it, soothes it as only he can.
Exhaling, my lungs burn from exertion. Blinking, I touch my cheeks, smearing the blood there.
Swaying forward, my knees slip, and Fee grabs my shoulders.
“Good,” she compliments, relieved. “You did good.”
Glancing over her shoulders, I see our guards making quick work of those I didn’t get. Bodies are piled thickly on the throne room floor and my heart cracks. It’s too much needless death and I mourn for those who died because they chose the wrong side.
Lifting me into his hands, Reid slings my arm over my shoulder. “We need to move. More guards will come and there’s no telling where Zelos is.”
The castle walls shake, a roar booming throughout the palace. It sounds as if a demon has come to collect a wayward soul.
All the guards pause, listening, waiting. Looking up at the swinging chandelier, Fee bites her lip. “I think Kaden already found Zelos.”
Shoving her, Reid carts me forward. “Move!” he demands, dragging me along.
“We need the book and we have to be quick about it. I for one will not wait to die while Kaden fights our father.” We limp to the library, my body weak and tired.
Sending a silent prayer to Dey, I thank them for Kaden’s claim—his soul is the only thing keeping my magic from killing everyone. From killing me.
A few more guards appear but Zeke and Fee make us a path. Along the way, the other half of our party meets up with us, Fenrir and Mal with their Woodland army on their heels. They’re soaked in blood and when they take one look at me, their eyes widen in worry.
I know the sight I make—covered in blood, fingers almost black. But Reid doesn’t allow them a chance to fear me, pivoting me down another hall. “Library,” he calls back, just as we arrive at the grand doors.
It takes only moments to get into the library, pitching us to the back where the book lays. He pushes me into Mal’s arms, as the warrior steadies me with a clinical touch. I’m sure nobody wants to draw Kaden’s wrath if I’m harm.
Reid tilts his head, searching the case.
“Can you crack it?” Fee asks, crossing her arms. Impatience seeps out in her words.
Her brother glares lightly. “Can I crack it, she asks,” he mocks. With one quick hand, the glass lock breaks and the lid lifts on old, creaking hinges.
He grabs the book and it burns him instantly, melting flesh sizzling. The wretched scent lifts into the air as my stomach twists. The book drops to the hard tile with a solid plop. “The fuck?” Shaking out his hands, I watch the mutated flesh begin to repair.
“Protection.” Fenrir studies the leather-bound book, brows furrowed. “It can’t be touched. Not unless the protection spell is broken.”
I yank on Mal’s cloak, grip too weak to do much. “Wrap it.”