Chapter 44
Max
The raider collapses in front of me, crumpling to his knees before his covered face smacks into the compact ground beneath us.
All around me, all I can breathe is blood. It coats my tongue, covers my hands, all over my clothes. It’s everywhere. I feel suffocated by it.
Quivering, my magic surges inside my veins, demanding to be used. It wants to fight, to defend me. But Kaden is right. It’s too much. It’s slowly draining me, and I’m fighting the urge to fall to my knees from exhaustion.
Over the battle, I see the Dark Fae guards rush into the fray. They’re in black armor, the sun catching their covered bodies. I watch as they slice the archers, claiming their places.
They move in a coordinated effort, used to battle and fighting in confined spaces. But the shifters are messy, chaotic, turning the battle into a frenzy.
Looking across to Kaden, I watch him return to the fight, sword slicing into any raider that comes our way. He’s covered in blood, hair falling into his black eyes as his shadows remain contained.
The captain of the guard reaches Kaden, pounding a fist into the younger Fae’s chest. “Heir, you’re alive!”
Chuckling, Kaden rolls his eyes, exhaustion lining his brow. Using his magic must tire him.
He did it for me. Scoffing, I refuse to let any empathy into my heart for the heir, We’re in the middle of a battle and his betrayal still cuts into my chest.
Claimed. He claimed me.
The ramification are murky at best but I know I’m tied to him now. In some way.
“You thought a little raid could kill me?” Kaden scoffs. “I expected better from you, Zeke.”
Zeke laughs, fending off a few swords. Lifting my dagger, my arms shake, eyes heavy with sleep. If not for the pulsing magic in my ears, I’d fall over from exhaustion.
“Of course not, heir. I did expect to see you victorious, the army already defeated. I’m a little upset at having to spill blood.”
“Liar,” he retorts, swiping his sword. “We’re well on our way.” Kaden shoots me a look, pulling me close, swinging the sword over my head.
Looking back, I watch a raider fall into the dirt, chest cut open. I didn’t even hear him approach, the pounding in my head too loud to concentrate.
“The calvary is coming,” Zeke continues, parrying with another raider, using his wrist to flick the sword up then left. It’s a work of art watching the captain, the silver blade gleaming under the harsh afternoon sun.
Sweat trickles along my brow, but I can’t wipe it away. I just want to sleep.
But sleep is a bad idea right now.
“Max,” Kaden calls, face directly in front of me. I jerk back in surprise. “I need you to hold on.”
“What’s wrong with her?” Zeke asks, crowding my side. His covered face hovers over mine and I flinch.
“She used too much magic. Her body is shutting down.”
More Dark Fae swarm into the crowd, the raiders falling quicker. Blood sprays into the air, a fine sheen that turns the air pink. I almost laugh at how easily the guards are able to rid us of the attack.
Where were they when the raiders first arrived?
Grabbing my chin, Kaden forces me to stare at him. “Hang on, Max. You have to hold on.”
I don’t want to. It hurts too much to look at his handsome face, to know he took my choice and owns me now. That there is no escape.
A little of my fight resurfaces. Like Hell will I stay his pet.
“It’s almost over,” he says carefully, thumb rubbing my lip as if to soothe. “I promise.”
A roar sounds behind us as Wulf stands on his hind legs, white fur painted red. His snout is long and black, with bits of flesh stuck between his teeth.
In front of him is not who I expected.
“The king,” I whisper, tongue heavy. It’s hard to speak, but I’m able to weakly lift my finger.
Kaden hears me though, and he with his captain, turn to face the gates.
King Griffin sits on his horse, but it’s not the white horses of his palace, nor is he in the blue colors his lands favors. No. He wears red.
Like the Crimson soldiers.
“He’s—”
“He leads them,” Kaden growls, tightening his hold on my elbow. He adjusts me to block my body, Zeke calling for more guards. “King Griffin is behind this. All of this.”
Why does it sound as if he expected it?
When I look away from the king, I see the fighting has slowed to a near trickle. The raiders are all holding a blade, either to someone’s neck or plunged into a dead body.
Dark Fae surround the heir, watching their enemy warily, swords held high.
Fee and Reid come up behind me as Fee’s apple scent surrounds me and Reid’s hand falls to my arm.
It soothes me, their support. It shouldn’t but it does, and I soak it up.
Now, if only I could find the Hadeon.
“Heir Kaden,” Griffin calls, smiling wide. He pays no attention to Wulf who is almost equal to him, ready to bite his head off. “I didn’t expect you here. I would have thought you’d leave the volunteers to their death days ago. You must really want this peace.”
Kaden growls, “There is no peace between us, Griffin. You’ve deceived us.”
Scanning the faces in the crowd, I notice no Human lords remain. It’s only shifters, Dark Fae and the Crimson threat.
Griffin sacrificed his lords for this moment. Why?
“Is that any different than what you did to me?”
Kaden raises an eyebrow but remains quiet. He doesn’t deny the accusation so, obviously he came to the talks under a different guise.
Did he ever want peace, or was this all a farce?
“I know Zelos didn’t send you for the peace summit. Hell, I expected you to deny the invitation.” Chuckling, Griffin, holds his reins tight.
Howling, Wulf advances, but two raiders appear, holding blades to his neck. The edge of the blade cuts into his flesh with a sharp sizzle.
Iron. Iron is lethal to everyone except a Human or Witch. Griffin came prepared.
“But when I saw you three there,” he explains as his eyes rake over us with barely held disgust, “I knew you wanted something that I had. What was it? Power? Wealth?”
“A weapon,” Kaden says, smirking. His arrogant heir mask is firmly in place, not betraying a single emotion.
But I see it in the rigidness of his shoulders, the way his knuckles grip the sword so tight they go white. He’s holding back from slaughtering the king.
“We wanted to know what weapon you possessed in order to gain all this.” He gestures to the army, one fang dipping over his bottom lip. “It had to be worth having. We wanted it. So, I came to find it.”
“A weapon.” He laughs, shaking his head. “You’re staring at it. My army,” he calls out, hands waving as if showing off a toy. “They take and pillage, stealing wealth and females to sell for coin. I use it for my coiffures.”
Griffin is behind the attacks. My mind spins, eyes wide. His raiders take from villages, burn them to the ground, and then bring the spoils back to him.
He’s the reason the Blackwoods Coven was attacked. Him.
“Your army gives you the strength and coin to wage war against my kind.” Kaden nods as if impressed. “Basic, but effective.”
“Well, it’s not just them. But I’ve come for what I’ve been searching for. What will give me true power.”
Ice-blue eyes settle on me and my magic swirls, tiredness forgotten. He will not take me, will not have me do whatever he pleases. The seer warned me of this.
I’d rather die before he uses my magic.
“Sorry, not for sale,” Kaden quips, sword crossing over his chest. It’s a bold display that protects me too. “She’s already agreed to be a guest at the Black Palace.”
The plucking of arrows echoes around us. Griffin smiles wide, his aged face turning devious. “Come now, heir. You know as well as me that you’re surrounded. That this is just too great of a battle even for the decorated heir to the Shadowlands.”
Smiling, Kaden’s eyes submerge black. He looks like a wicked villain readying to fight the King of Good. Only appearances aren’t everything.
If not for his betrayal, I would be more inclined to lean into him, absorb his strength. But I’m tired, and my heart physically hurts being this close to him
Gods, when the seer said we were Heartbonds, I had been conflicted but relieved. My feelings had seemed validated.
Then he claimed me. My head spins and my chest heaves, sorrow trying to drown me under their excruciating weight. Everything hurts.
“You should know why I’m so decorated,” the heir replies calmly. “It’s because I see all possible endings to a battle.” That smirk turns hard. “Like I see my blade going through your neck and walking out of here with the blood summoner.”
Griffin shakes his head. “I expected more wisdom from someone of your age. You’re as cocky as a young man.
Tell me,” he calls, arrows leveling behind him.
“Did you know what she was capable of before you went on this campaign? Or did you discover it while trying to find out my weapon? You can tell me, knowing what she is, makes her that much more desirable.” I shudder at the tone in his voice.
The heir goes silent, but I don’t.
“Answer him,” I say, voice like steel. “Did you only want me because of my magic?”
He doesn’t answer, body tense, sword hilt adjusting nervously in his grip. Vomit rises hard and fast up my throat.
He only wanted me for my magic. He was never pulled toward me because of the Heartbond, nor because he saw a kindred spirit in me. His beast didn’t want me because of the blood, the kindness I showed him.
He just wanted to use me. Like Nessa said would happen.
I recoil as if hit, leaning forward, clutching my stomach. Gods, I was so stupid.
Absolute misery floods my body, stealing my breath. I heave, chest expanding but no air enters my lips.
I can’t breathe. I can’t think.
It was all a lie.
So much betrayal. Was anything ever real?
Glancing down to me, his black eyes change to amber and he reaches for me.
“Kitten—”
An arrow flies through the air, piercing my shoulder and I drop, body freezing at if thrown into the cold, black ocean. Shock hits my nerves, contorting, stalling as I try to pull the arrow free. My fingers touch the wood but my eyes flutter, as my tiredness grows deeper.
Something is pulling me into the dark, an herb, a poison and I don’t fight it. I can’t.
Instead, I let the darkness take me.