Chapter 6
MAX
Dropping into the clearing later that night, I avoid Reid’s kind gaze and Fenrir’s fury, taking off into the forest. Confusion and rage bubble up within me, and it’s hard to focus past it. Cutting the branches with my dagger, I hack my way through until I’m far enough way.
And I scream.
The full moon is days away. Days. When the moon reaches its pinnacle, Kaden’s curse will become permanent and no matter what I do—no matter if it’s my love, my blood or a ritual, he will remain a beast.
And he’ll be gone, lost to a curse from my family.
I scream again, throwing my blade amd it hits the mark, embedded into the dar tree. The thud vibrates outward.
We’re still at least one or two full days’ ride from the Veridian Palace. Maybe more. I’ve no idea and I’m stuck—fucking trapped. All because of this insane prophecy, idiotic rules and Gods who think to meddle!
Gods, this is frustrating!
Huffing, I plant my fists onto my hips, thinking of Baris’ warning. A stupid one, really. Why travel this far if Aoife was not supposed to help us? What do the Gods know that I do not?
My magic curls in my gut, a cat seeking mice. It wants to fight, to react, to take and burn everything in my rage. To battle back this utter helplessness that seems to hang around me like a mourning shroud.
I barely withhold the urge to command my guards to move—I want to go. I need to push this along. Their feet will bleed and they will drop from exhaustion, but damn do I not care.
Damn Baris and this uncertainty.
Every moment we waste, every moment I delay, means Kaden is stuck in that curse. I can’t live with myself if he stays like that any further.
Does he miss me? Does he understand what’s happening? Pressing a hand to my chest, I close my eyes and will myself to focus on the glowing connection in my heart. The link between Kaden and I, is the only thing that keeps me going. As long as it burns, I know he’s still here. He’s still mine.
The night has been less than forgiving—wolves, crazy dreams, almost killing my allies, and of course, learning my father is descended for mythical creatures—but we are racing against Fate. I inhale, willing my anxiety to lessen, concentrate on the bond. All of this feels like too much.
But if Kaden is still here, as long as he fights, then I can too.
The spot flares brightly, and I blink, feeling breath on my face.
Two glowing eyes, full of warmth and life, stare down at me and I grin. Kaden. Fear and relief so tangible pull me out of sorts and I nearly gag against the sensation. Scanning him, I take in his wounds. They’re healed, but his fur is still matted from the fight, and his face is pensive.
He’s as worried for me, as I am for him.
“Kaden,” I breathe. “I was so scared.”
A clawed finger lifts my chin. His silken black hair hangs over his shoulder, caressing his sharply pointed ears. His snout is long, fangs dripping drool, but he’s still the most beautiful male I’ve ever seen.
He leans close, inhaling my scent, and his chest brushes mine. Hard and compact, his heat soothes a part of my heart that’s been aching for him. Swaying close, I let him nuzzle my neck, his cold nose pressing to my temple.
Gods, this isn’t fair. He’s here, but he’s not.
“I miss you,” I murmur, enjoying the feel of his nail rake over my shoulder. It cuts into my shirt, and I hiss, the pain intertwining with pleasure.
It wasn’t long ago that his fangs brought me to heights of ectasy I’ve never experienced. It’s a tease of what could happen.
He tilts my face and our gazes lock. Twin burning flames, the ones that used to terrify me and I grew to love, ignite my desire and burn away my fears. They pierce the darkness inside of my soul, and choose to see the good. Much as I’ve always done to him.
This is my mate. My husband. My king.
“I don’t know what to do,” I confess. “Everything—everyone is relying on me. Everything is so heavy without you. I’m expected to be a queen, to lead, but I don’t know how. Everyone needs me in different ways and all I want—all I can think about is you.
“Baris thinks we just need my blood and our love to break your curse. But something tells me that’s not all.
Why else would we be traveling to the Veridian Palace?
If the Gods know something, we should know, but of course, no one is explaining it.
It’s as if we’re driven here for their needs and not ours.
As if we’re to find something. But if Aoife—”
He winces, growling, head shaking suddenly. His mouth sneers and he claws at his head.
“Kaden?”
He growls again, turning away from me. I grab his hand, pulling him back. I just need his eyes. A few more moments. That’s all. “Hold on, Kaden. Maybe we can try—”
He howls now, throwing himself away from me. He breaks a tree, the splinters exploding into dead air. He finally looks at me and those amber eyes bleed to black.
The warmth is gone. No longer is he my mate, but the beast I must defeat to get him back.
With the wolves, my immediate reaction was to stop him from coming too close. It was just reflex, to pull on his blood—I never expected it to work.
But it did. I can control him when the beast pushes him away. Right now, if I listen hard enough and lower my mental shields, I can hear the faintest heartbeat. Proof that he is not my husband.
“Kaden, please don’t make me.” I hold up my hand, fingers-stained red. The beast sniffs, snarling as he realizes what I’ll do.
I don’t want to control him. It physically turns my stomach, bile sloshing up my throat to use my magic on him. At one point, I would’ve relished the idea.
But I love him now. And this isn’t my Kaden anymore.
There’s a crashing to my side and my attention shifts. In that moment, Kaden surges forward, wrapping his large paw around my neck and squeezes tight.
Air traps behind my closed lips. I open my mouth but nothing comes out. My lungs burn, and my heart hammers inside my skull. Time stops, until all I can hear is my labored beats as they slow down… and Kaden’s heart.
Thrashing, I try to focus on it, but he holds me too tightly. Blackness edges my vision and my mouth opens on a silent scream.
No. It can’t end like this.
My magic rises, ready to defend me, but before it can be summoned, Kaden is propelled from me. Falling to the ground, my legs take the impact, crumpling. Coughing and wheezing, I claw at my throat, willing my touch to end the pain.
I glance up through blurry eyes, to see the Hadeon standing over him. His massive body pins my mate to the ground, wide pawns pressing into his shoulders as his chest vibrates with the glowing red Hellfire he was born from.
“Wait,” I croak, but it’s weak and brittle. Kaden roars, flinging my companion away. Quickly, the Hadeon’s mouth clamps on to his wrist, swinging around into a full circle. Only then does he release his hold, nails sliding along the dirt to stand in front of me.
My protector.
Kneeling, I hold to the Hadeon’s thick neck and look to Kaden’s black eyes. He doesn’t recognize me, doesn’t see us. Only the blood in our veins—my veins, and he drools at the thought.
The Hadeon doesn’t wait and blows a long breath of fire at him as I cower, covering my head. A scream rips from my bruised throat, absolute agony. Kaden’s shrieks of fury are too loud to miss. Before I can look, two rough hands pull me away from the wretched flames.
The heat vanishes, replaced by stark coolness and silence.
Panting, I lean against a sculpted body as Mal holds me upright. His green eyes glare at Kaden, but it’s not with rage, but sadness. It’s the kind of sorrow that comes from seeing a once proud person fall and burrows deep into my bones.
I am not alone in wanting Kaden back.
Kaden notices Mal with me and lunges, but the Hadeon blows another stream of fire.
The grass erupts into flames, acting as a formidable barrier and heat washes over us all.
The beast swipes at the fire, as if to fight through.
Thankfully, it’s too thick and Kaden hisses against the burns that melt his flesh.
“Don’t,” I warn, launching myself out of Mal’s arms. I need to stop him. The beast isn’t thinking clearly, driven mad with bloodlust.
But Mal doesn’t release, pivoting us away, shielding my face. “That’s not Kaden,” he reminds me, never looking away. “Stay back.”
How do I stay away? Moments ago, he was my mate. Now, he’s just a vessel for a terrible curse. And yet, I can feel him, under it all, still there. I want him back.
Reid appears, daggers drawn. Pulling me away from Mal, he curses the Gods and gently touches my neck. “Shit, Max. That’s bad.”
My eyes water as Reid inspects the damage, fingers tracing the marks. They’re deep, my throat is bruised and it hurts to swallow. It feels as if glass is lodged deep within. “How bad?”
“Really bad.”
“Wonderful.”
Batting his hands away, I try to see what’s happening between Kaden and the Hadeon. My protector stays strong, as he adds to the wall of fire with another blast. Kaden yells, swiping again.
Reid tries to touch me again and I snap, “I’m fine.”
“Like Seti’s Hell you are,” he mutters, and pushes my cheek, inhaling as he sees the full damage. It’s not pretty.
Mal corrals us back to the forest. The fire is spreading, surrounding us from Kaden’s wrath.
If we don’t leave now, we’ll be trapped.
Burning by Hellfire is not how I plan to die nor do I plan on letting my mate kill me.
With all the flames, the beast will grow desperate—which doesn’t help any of us.
“He could have killed you.” Mal glares back at the beast. “He still might.”
“He was startled—”
“He could have killed you,” Mal stresses again. “He would have if the Hadeon had not interrupted.”
Reid wraps a brotherly arm around my shoulders as we slink into the forest. We go slow, not trying to draw Kaden’s attention. “My brother would never kill his mate,” he defends.