Chapter 27
Kaden
Shoving off of her, I lead us to the top, thoughts racing. I’m expected to battle a Fury, after that? The entire world tilts, my mind muddled as I try to understand what I feel for the blood summoner.
It was supposed to be easy. Why isn’t it now?
“All of this because of Finnick?” She whispers, brow furrowed.
“You shouldn’t speak another man’s name when you’re with me,” I tell her, glancing back. “Because I might find him, slice his throat and strip the flesh from his bones to make you a crown. Just to remind you who truly owns you.”
She scoffs. “You don’t own me.”
“We’ll see about that.” She shivers and it isn’t from the wind blowing over the top.
Except for a few brittle trees and sand, the area is open.
Grabbing her elbow, I duck behind the rock cave, pushing her into the smooth stone. My back heel is on the edge and my left leg is crossed over her petite ones. If she sneezes, we both fly off the side to our deaths.
“Get off.” She elbows me, voice shaking. “Just because you kissed me, doesn’t mean I want you to touch me.”
Gods, she atrocious at fighting.
“I beg to differ. But, if you haven’t noticed, I’m keeping you from being killed. There’s no cover here. So stop moving,” I bite out, pinning her hand as she tries to hit me again, “and refrain from throwing us both off the cliff.”
“If you get off of me, I won’t,” she snaps, but I ignore her.
“She’s not here,” I say, pointing. “The lord will be in the nest, if still alive.” The nest is across the way, made of human bones. The ones at the bottom are yellowed from age with freshly cleaned white ones on top. She’s been working on it for some time.
Shoving from under me, Max darts through the clearing, to its side, slamming into the wall as a few bones rattle.
On Azure’s good graces.
Swiftly, I follow, sword pulled. “You’re being reckless, Max. If the Fury returns while we’re unprotected, we’re her next meal.”
“You’re her next meal,” she points out. “She takes bad men, right? I’m sure you have a black heart.”
Smiling with all my teeth, I glare. “The blackest. But this close to her nest, she’ll take a black heart of anyone.” I stare at her and she flips me off.
“Just a minute,” she says, climbing upward. Without thought, I push her higher so she can look inside the nest.
When she gasps, I nod sagely. “Dead?”
She lets go as I catch her, easing her on to her feet. “It’s not pretty.”
Rolling my eyes, I gesture to the clearing. “All gooey bits? Chunks of meat?” She turns green and I bark out a laugh.
I’ve seen this woman crush hearts without a second thought, but the leftover crumbs from a creature sent by the Gods, is what turns her stomach?
Hand to her belly, she looks around, lost. “Now what?”
She was hoping the lord would be alive, that the raid could continue.
I never cared about the raid. Never cared about the water. All of this was to get the blood summoner. And now that I’ve had a taste, I’m not letting her go.
“Now, we get the fuck out of here.” Taking her arm, I yank her toward the path.
A strong gust strikes us, blowing back our hair and cloaks as the harrowing scream of a Fury rattles our steps.
Fuck. She’s found us.
The Fury swoops low, black talons sharp and glinting in the bright sun as she screeches. Raising my sword, I slice toward her wings, determined to deter her.
It breaks off, wide black eyes glaring at me, as she soars to staggering heights.
“She’s coming back,” I tell Max, pulling her from the ground. “Furies need distance to see better. She’ll find us and then dive for another swipe.”
Unfurling my shadows, I surround Max and I into the cool darkness. The sun evaporates and I exhale, relief calming my brow.
“What are you doing?” She asks, blindly groping for me.
Blazing Bel, my shadows are too dark for her simple eyesight.
Holding her to my side, I ignore how right she feels. “Furies eyes are perfect in the light, but the shadows throws off their vision.”
Unfortunately, she’ll notice a ball of shadows on the cliff edge. We need to move quickly to get away. I can already feel my magic waning, the sunlight having depleted my reserve.
All magic has a limit.
“Follow my lead,” I instruct, pulling her behind me.
“Won’t she notice us in here?” She looks around, fingers touching my magic and I shudder, the sensation new and exhilarating.
It tickles.
“Probably. They’re not stupid.” My ears detect the sound of wings flapping. “But I’m hoping it’ll disoriented her enough for us to get back to the group.”
Furies rarely attack groups. Hastings was plucked off when he left the safety of the camp—going against my orders.
“Watch your step.” I help her over a few overturn bones, adjusting my grip so she can’t lose her way.
She trips over her feet, yanking on my arm as she falls. It’s only my strength that keeps her upright. How she’s survived this long on such unsteady feet is a feat of itself.
Slowly, we near the edge, the descent just in front of us. We’re so close but my nose tingles, as I smell the decaying breath of the beast.
“Shit,” I curse, yanking Max. “Hold on.”
Another large gust of wind is the only warning before she tries another swipe. I throw Max down to the ground, my body covering hers as I use my shadows to act as a shield, trying to solidify them.
But this creature is daring. Her talons pierce my shadows before they’ve hardened, blindly grabbing inside for her prize.
Those sharp claws scrap my back and clamp down, hard.
Fuck! I shout out as blood soaks my back. Keeping Max down, I ignore the pain and curve to protect her. I need to keep her safe.
But the Fury latches on and lifts, slicing me like a dozen tiny knives cutting into my flesh. She swings me high, legs dangling in the air as my shadows dissipate.
The sword in my hand arcs over my head, wide and powerful, cutting into the tender joint of the Fury’s ankle, as I saw through. I have to get back to the ground. If she drops me from too high up, I’m dead.
My blade cuts right through her flesh, like hot metal to butter and she shrieks, releasing me.
I fall, my shoulder taking the impact but thank Bel, I’ll live.
Max’s wide blue eyes scan my face, red stained fingers grabbing my shoulders to steady me. Fucking hell, her touch feels too good for such a simple gesture.
“Bel,” I sigh, body aching. My muscles scream as I shift, everything so painful, I can barely breathe. “Shit.”
The cuts are deep. Too deep. My healing is sapping what little strength I have left, and inside my skull, my beast purrs.
This is exactly what I didn’t want to happen.
A trickle of fear drops into my gut as I gaze at Max.
I’ve been feeling possessive of the woman lately and although I might have control now, my beast won’t. He’ll kill her in his bloodlust.
Clawing into the dirt, I resist. I will not hurt her.
I need her.
“You have to go,” I pant, pushing on to my forearms, body shaking. “She’s coming back, and I can’t control this for long.”
“Control, what?” She looks at my back, wincing. “We need to get you to Taylay. He’ll heal you.”
Her voice is muffled, drowned out my the beast roaring in my ears as my control lessens.
Fuck, this is happening.
With my last scrap of energy, I shove the beast further into my mind, exhale and look up at the blood summoner. I have to remember what I lose if I don’t hold on.
I risk who I am but above all—I risk Max.
I’m not prepared to lose her. Not yet.
“You need to leave.”
“Not with you like this.” Her hands are almost black, her magic fighting to break free. “I’ll need you to walk with me. I can’t carry you.”
Inhaling, I glance overhead as the Fury swoops low again, face contorted with anger. Her red feathers glint against the dying sun, her talons like the claws from death come to collect. She’s the gods’ wrath on our continent, come to punish me for being a wicked male.
I certainly deserve it.
Those same claws dig back into my shoulders again, reaching and clasping and I shout out. They burn as she tries to lift me again and I grab my sword.
But my arm is too weak, too tired to lift it. I’ve lost too much blood and with it, my magic. My control.
She flies into the air and I look down, watching as the cliff drifts away. This is it. This is how a wretched creature such as myself dies.
At least the beast won’t be able to harm Max.
With a jerk, my ascent stops. Hanging in the air, blackness starts to bleed into my sight as I fight to stay conscious. No. If I lose unconscious, the beast wins.
Fighting against the pull, I’m flung low, the Fury tight to my back. Pain is gone as debris hits my face, the wind whipping past my nose.
Then, a blessed sight: Max in front of me, fingers raises, knuckles cracked, hair billowing behind her. Eyes bleeding, nose smeared, her she holds me captive in her gaze.
Gods, she is a rare sight. Fierce, bloodthirsty and terrifying.
This is the monster people have feared. She is the same as me and I can’t help but smile at the connection. Two brutal monsters and my only chance of surviving is in her hands.
I’d trust no one else.
Twitching, her fingers bend and jerk, pulling and flickering with purpose. It’s haunting how beautiful it is, how mesmerizing she looks. With a quick flick of her wrist, the Fury drops me and I crash into the cliff, knees cracking.
The Fury caws, but it’s choked, broken. Glancing up, my bleary eyes take in the beast floating midair, wings outstretched. Her beady, hard eyes are focused on Max with a hatred not born of this world.
To the Fury, Max is the most vile thing to ever grace her domain.
I think she looks like a fucking goddess, come to rage.
Expertly, her fingers whirl and the blood runs freely down her cheeks, staining her flesh a bright pink. The Fury struggles against the pull of Max’s magic, but it’s too much—Max is too much.
She screams, kicks, but Max doesn’t relent. Blood drips off her chin, as the creature fights. Her wings flutter and she caws once more before a harsh pop echoes around the cliff.
The grinding of bones and soft tissue follows and she gurgles, as a dying breath escapes her mouth. Without thought, Max lowers her hands, swaying as the Fury falls into the canyon without another sound.
The last thing I see is Max’s concerned, blood-soaked face hovering over mine, before the darkness claims me.