12 BAEL
THE DEADEYE DISTRICT, INBETWIXT
A tremendous roar rattled across the harbor, and my heart raced as I charged back through the eastern gate of Inbetwixt.
The battle raged on, just as furious as how I’d left it. To my left, cloaked figures streamed in and out of the dark alleys between the fisherman’s shacks, and on the right the docks were coated with blood and limp bodies. The smell of blood permeated the air, causing my hair to stand on end and my nostrils to tingle with curiosity.
I swung an arm out and grabbed the nearest cloaked figure, not even bothering to glance at if they were male or female before I tore into their throat. Blood covered my hands, and I rolled my neck, feeling the surge of adrenaline that only violence could bring.
Dropping the body with a wet smack, I looked around until I saw my sister on the other side of the docks. Aine stayed on the outskirts of the battle, but that didn’t mean she wasn’t contributing.
My eyes widened as I watched several rebel soldiers walk toward her in a neat line, before drawing their swords and plunging them into their own stomachs. A smile spread across my face. She’d kept her word to use her magic.
“Feeling a bit rusty?”
I shouted to my sister.
Aine scowled at me between the fighters. “Hardly.”
“I’m not so sure.”
I strode toward her, stepping over one of the soldiers she’d hypnotized into ending their own lives. “That was quick. It was almost a kind death.”
Aine’s scowl deepened—she looked slightly guilty. “Not all of us are sadists, Baelfry.”
My eyes widened. She was correct, of course. Not everyone in our family took pleasure from violence—only the majority of us.
My sister, however, was not a member of the majority. Aine had a similar ability to our late uncle, but while Penvalle had reveled in controlling others, she despised it. It had been at least a decade since I’d seen her use a shred of magic.
I skidded to a halt in front of Aine and grinned widely at her. “You kept your word.”
“Is that a question?”
she snapped. “What are you doing here? I thought you escaped with your pet.”
It was my turn to scowl. “Don’t call her that.”
Aine sighed heavily. “Whatever. I really don’t know what you all see in that human.”
I set my jaw, my amusement from a moment before leaving me as quickly as it had come. “She’s not human.”
“Is that what you took out of what I said?”
She sneered. “What she is barely matters. I’d say the same if she were the most powerful Fae in Elsewhere. I don’t understand how she’s managed to captivate all of you.”
I didn’t bother to ask whom she meant by “all of us.”
Aine was quite as close to Scion as I was, and since they’d both been avoiding me in the thieves den, she’d probably spent more time in his company in the last few days then I had in weeks. If after seeing how miserable he’d been, she didn’t understand why we’d be interested in Lonnie, there was no way to explain it to her.
“Why would you return alone, then?”
Aine asked when I did not reply. “I’d like to think it was to help me, but I know you…”
I grinned, not feeling the least bit guilty. Helping had been the last thing on my mind.
After making sure Lonnie was out of harm’s way, I couldn’t resist the urge to return and finish the battle. All the members of my family who possessed an offensive magical skill were trained as warriors. Everyone, that was, except for me.
For me, violence came naturally.
I’d never allowed me to be on the front lines of the war like Scion, or fuck, even like Ambrose, and I couldn’t deny that perhaps there had been a good reason for that. I loved the fighting, and couldn’t turn away from it. It felt like a compulsion, an irresistible addiction that pulled me back in.
That wasn’t the only reason I’d returned, though. The information I needed from the rebellion was crucial and one of these pricks was going to have to give it to me, whether they liked it or not.
“I need to find whoever is leading this group,”
I muttered, knowing that if any Fae were listening they’d be able to hear us even over the sounds of fighting.
Aine cocked her head to the side. “Ambrose, you mean?”
I laughed hollowly. “If only I were so lucky, but no. I doubt he’s here.”
She nodded in agreement. “No, likely not. This fight screams of disorganization.”
I grimaced. She was entirely correct, and that was what worried me. If the rebels goal was to capture Lonnie, then this was a poor attempt at doing so.
Shaking my head, I pushed that thought to the back of my mind. “Will you help?”
Aine sighed with resignation. “Fine.”
I waited for more, expecting her to suggest that I’d owe her something in return, but she didn’t. I smiled in gratitude as Aine scanned the remaining rebels, finally settling on the small, thin-faced male. She motioned lazily for him to follow and he trotted after us with a glazed look in his eyes, then stood with his back against the wall of a dilapidated fishing hut. His knees trembled as we stepped in front of him.
I didn’t bother with any greeting or explanation—not when this male had no choice but to answer me. “Where’s Ambrose?”
The man said nothing. His eyes were wide and unblinking, darting back and forth as he trembled uncontrollably. He was terrified.
Aine hovered over my shoulder. “I can’t make him tell you what he doesn’t know. You need to be more specific.”
I shook my head, and glared at the male. “Where was the last place you saw him, then?”
Again, he said nothing, and I growled with frustration before pulling my arm back and slamming my fist into his jaw.
“I don’t know what you mean,”
the man screamed, pressing a hand against his face.
“Wait, that’s not what they call him,”
Aine hissed. “He doesn’t know who you’re talking about.”
Oh, shit. It had slipped my mind that not all of the rebels were aware of Ambrose’s real name or who he truly was. This person in front of me was a human, probably too young to remember when the crown prince abandoned his duties and started the rebellion.
I held my hand back, ready to strike. “Where’s the Dullahan, then?”
“Not here,”
the man screeched before I could hit him again.
“Where did you last see him?”
The man shook his head. “I don’t know, I can’t remember. No one has seen him lately. He hasn’t been traveling with the army.”
I glanced at Aine, who shrugged. If that was true, it was even more concerning.
I stepped back from the rebel man, and growled with frustration. I had to locate Ambrose before anyone else, but I couldn’t reveal my reasons in front of my sister. I couldn’t disclose my desperate need for the crown he had stolen, or how long I had been trying to retrieve it, only to have my attempts foiled time and time again.
As far as I knew, Ambrose had been in our dungeon, right under my nose for the last several months. Then, for reasons I couldn’t begin to understand, Scion had freed him, only for the castle to be attacked less than a week later.
My rebel cousin had been present for that fight, at least long enough to speak to Lonnie, but where he’d disappeared to after that was anyone’s guess. I’d figured he’d be in what was left of the castle, enjoying the spoils of his victory, but perhaps not?
Without any warning, a sharp, searing pain pierced through my chest, causing me to stagger backwards in shock. Panic set in as I instinctively looked down, half-expecting to see a knife lodged in my chest. But there was nothing, and an overwhelming sense of dread washed over me.
“What is it?”
Aine asked.
“It’s not me...”
I gasped. “It’s her.”
I wasn’t sure how I knew, or where she was, but Lonnie was hurt. Hurt badly enough for me to feel it, even without a completed bond. Anger consumed me, drowning out the throbbing ache in my chest.
I shook my head, as my eyes rolled backwards. I couldn’t see anywhere in the world, only places I’d been before or was familiar with, so if Lonnie had run beyond that point...
“Go,”
Aine said briskly.
I snapped my eyes back to her, my adrenaline rising. “Are you coming?”
She furrowed her brow and scanned the bustling harbor, her eyes landing on the intense struggle between the thieves and the rebellion. It was clear that Cross and his crew were gaining the upper hand, but they hadn’t won yet. “No, I’ll stay and help.”
I hesitated, unsure of whether I could rely on Aine’s aid. She was known to be fiercely protective of those she cared about, but I wasn’t sure if the thieves’ guild fell into that category. Still, I had no other options than to put my faith in her.
I gave a small nod, acknowledging our silent understanding, and disappeared into the inky blackness of the night.
I took a staggering step out of the darkness and into the forest clearing where I’d left Lonnie earlier. A faint yet alluring fragrance of wildflowers and honey filled my senses, mingling with the sharp metallic scent of blood.
A growl bubbled in my throat. She was gone.
My heart pounding in my chest, I pushed through the thick tangles of branches and leaves, desperate to find her. I needed to see her, to know she was safe.
Something moved out of the corner of my eye and I whipped around just as a sudden shadow engulfed me. Before I could react, an enormous raven swooped down from the sky and landed on my head, its sharp claws digging into my scalp. My heart raced as I cursed loudly and frantically batted at the bird with both hands, trying to chase it away.
“You!”
I hissed. “Fucking miserable bird.”
Scion’s raven perched on a nearby tree branch, cawing mockingly as I tried to catch my breath. He tilted his head and glared at me with malice.
Straightening, I glared back. “Were you watching, then? Where the fuck is she?”
The raven made a tittering sound, suspiciously close to laughter and my blood boiled. I might feel foolish speaking to a bird, except that Quill was no ordinary animal. It followed Scion everywhere, and attacked virtually everyone that wasn’t him. Worse, I would swear it talked sometimes, but only when I was just out of earshot.
“If she dies because you wouldn’t help, I swear I’ll eat you.”
Fuck, I might eat him regardless. The monster in my head wanted desperately to snatch the creature out of the air, but right now I needed him.
The raven cawed, as if he could understand me, and leapt into the air, his dark wings beating furiously as he flew just a few feet above the ground. He looked back at me with an urgent expression before darting off again.
With a muttered curse, I sprinted after him.
I ran along behind the bird for what felt like an hour, but was probably mere minutes. I was only vaguely aware of how far we’d traveled. Miles, I could only assume. It didn’t matter, I would have run all the way to Aftermath to find her.
The only thing keeping me from panicking, was that wherever this accursed vulture went, Scion was sure to follow close behind. I didn’t know how it worked between this creature and my cousin, if he could see directly through the birds eyes or if it was more of a general knowing, but I hoped somehow he’d reached Lonnie before anyone else did.
It was strange—only a few short weeks ago, I’d have been terrified that it was Scion himself who’d hurt her. Now, I suspected my cousin would tear his own heart out sooner than hers.
With gritted teeth, I urged the raven to pick up speed. It dipped and weaved in front of me, taunting me with its agile movements. My heart pounded as I tried to keep my eyes locked on its erratic flight pattern. It seemed to revel in my frustration, swooping close before darting away again, clearly enjoying this game of cat and mouse.
Finally, we reached a clearing, and I skidded to a halt as the bird landed on a branch overhead.
The scent of smoke wafted toward me, and I spun around in a daze and froze when I saw the bright orange flames dancing in the distance. The heat was intense, even from this far away, and the crackling of the fire echoed through the woods. Fear seized me, making the hair on the back of my neck stand on end as I approached the raging inferno.
I spotted two figures in the distance and relief washed over me.
Lonnie stood in front of the old wooden barn, swaying slightly on her feet, as if with anxiety. Her once neatly braided hair was now a tangled mess and her clothes were ripped and stained with blood. Beside her, Scion stared up at the flames.
My tense shoulders relaxed as I let out a long sigh, but my mind was still racing with confusion. The metallic smell of blood filled the air and I couldn’t help but notice the crimson stains on their clothes. What had transpired? Whose blood were they drenched in?
“We need to go,”
Lonnie was saying, her voice high with nervousness.
“Why?”
Scion asked.
“In case the afflicted arrive.”
He cocked his head at her. “...are you saying you know for certain that they will?”
Lonnie didn’t answer him. Instead, as if she sensed my presence, her head whipped around and her eyes widened in recognition. Her lips spread into a beaming grin.
She moved toward me with a determined look on her face, her hair flying behind her like a wild banner. As she reached me, she wrapped her arms around me in a tight hug, dispelling any lingering fears that she was injured. She leaned back slightly and pressed her lips against mine. I could taste a mixture of blood and longing on her mouth, and smell the lingering sex on her skin. My eyebrows flew up. What the fuck was going on here?
“How did you find us?”
she gasped.
“I’ll always find you, little monster.”
Her cheeks flushed and she looked down. “Is everyone alright?”
“Are you alright?”
I countered, not wanting to scare her with the knowledge that the battle still raged on at the harbor. “What happened?”
She flushed, and looked down. “I’m fine. I’m?—”
“Alive,”
Scion finished for her, darkly.
I slowly looked up and saw Scion lingering in the shadows behind her. He was shirtless, his skin smeared with fresh blood. Our eyes met, and we shared a silent understanding.
If he’d accepted his bond with her and was still breathing, then perhaps everything would be fine. I’d never been so happy to think I’d been wrong in my life.
I couldn’t stifle a grin, as a wave of true happiness washed over me, entirely unexpected. Then, just as quickly, my head throbbed with blinding pain, and I resisted the urge to fall at the wave of nausea that washed over me.
“Are you alright?”
Lonnie asked. “You look sick.”
I swallowed the bile in my throat, and struggled to catch my breath. Looking up at her, I shook my head, and forced a smile. “I’m fine, little monster.”
I lied, barely aware of the searing pain in my throat over the throbbing in my skull. “I’m just happy you’re safe.”