Chapter 16
KADEN
The beast stomps my foot on the ground, branches and twigs snapping loudly. All day we’ve been restless. He’s been searching, looking for something and I’ve been stuck as a passenger in my own body.
My skin feels tight, constricting, and the air in my lungs sits trapped. Everything is stuck, the world, the sky, feels too close yet too far. I can’t quite describe the unease—my mind wants to spin out, fix problems that do not exist as I usually do. But the nervous energy will not dissipate.
Glancing up, the moon is halfway into the sky, not quite full. Once it reaches its peak, the rays will rain down on us and submerge the world in silver.
It fills me with dread and the beast surges with need.
Something is happening and I need to figure out what. If he’s pleased with the night, with what it holds, it doesn’t bode well for me.
A sweet scent wafts through the air, and the beast inhales deeply, snout pointed up. It’s the ripest berries on a hot summer’s day, full of life and want and my fangs drop drool to the dirt.
Max. It’s her blood.
The beast cracks his neck twisting to catch the trail. Before I can attempt to take control, he launches into the forest, a beast possessed, following that tantalizing scent.
I admit—it’s one of my favorites. I much prefer to smell my mate after I’ve had her—consumed by me, covered in my release—but the beast doesn’t want to have her as a lover. He wants to eat her, devour her in ways not right.
If it’s Max’s blood, then she’s weak. Injured. She’ll be no match. I try to break through the cage, force my way through the mental door, and shove him aside. But he’s strong and he’s determined.
Trees blur as he leaps, running over roots and small flowers. He doesn’t see anything but that red trail, following it with one singular focus. Claws scratch into bark as he propels himself forward, darting under heavy branches and over upturned stones.
We come to the scorched patch of earth. It’s a clear attempt to keep people away. The beast doesn’t care. He sniffs, searching, until he turns to the left.
My brother stands there, fingers dripping red. Max’s blood covers him, his clothes, down to his boots. What happened?
Mentally, I yell at him to leave as worry for Max crushes my heart. That’s too much blood. What is happening—does he understand the beast is made up of magic and ill-will and will kill him should he be caught.
I cannot see another male I love, die because of me. Not Oslo, and absolutely not Reid.
He wiggles his fingers and the beast growls. “Ah, so it’s the beast I’m speaking to.”
The monster stalks forward. Pointing to his eyes, Reid says, “We can tell by the eyes. Hungry, beasty?”
What is he doing? He can’t be this stupid.
Reid knows me in this form—truly, I’ve never succumbed so far. But he knows how to act around me when the beast is in control. He’s seen the destruction, heard the tales.
He hasn’t run away and he doesn’t have his sword pulled. Does he want me to get closer?
The beast swipes at him, and my annoyingly quick little brother jumps back, grinning.
This isn’t a game, I roar. If he doesn’t leave, I’ll kill him myself.
“Now, you’re just teasing,” Fee comments, arms crossed. Leaning against the tree to the side, the beast turns to glare at her. He’s not fond of my sister—seems she’s the only one who can put him in his place.
He also remembers her promise to kill me if he took over. I’m sure that left an impression.
“It’s fun,” he quips. “You should try it.”
Fee pushes from the tree, swaying over to us. Close enough to smell her bitter apple scent, she lifts her hand. Really, her too? I’m surrounded by infuriating asses.
A brilliant red flame appears and the beast jumps back, startled. I feel myself stumble. The beast is terrified but I’m amazed.
Fee has magic. I’m not the only one.
“What? Little beasty is afraid of fire?” She tosses the flame to her other palm and I laugh. Like everything, Fee is a natural. Of course, she’s never had any training and she seems to instinctually know what to do. “I’ll admit, this is fun.”
“Right?”
Turning back to Reid, the beast snarls, hunkering low. He howls, a sound full of retribution, and Reid snorts. My brother. Snorts.
What madness is happening right now? I taught him better.
“You’re going to have to do more than that, beasty,” Reid says, smiling. Those red fingers move again, teasing him. “Want a snack?”
My fangs snap, barely missing his fingers.
Reid laughs. This fucking Fae-child.
“Think they’re ready?” Fee asks, the flame growing in her palms. They cast dark orange circles on her face, igniting her eyes. She looks so much like our mother, it’s painful.
“They have to be. The moon is nearly full.”
The beast tries again, and Reid jumps back. What are they going on about?
“Want some?” He winks. “Better catch me.”
My horrible little brother darts away, and Fee throws her fire at the beast’s feet. He scrambles away, as the flames burn the barest hint of my vulnerable skin.
Looking up, both of my siblings have scurried away. The beast claws at the dirt and takes off, pushing to follow the blood trail.
My siblings laugh—laugh. Like school-aged Fae, playing a game, they giggle and jump over fallen logs, and over flowering bushes. Along the barrier we go, never letting me gain traction on them.
They’re insane. My absence has finally broken them. There’s no logical reason why they would play with a cursed Fae in the middle of the woods. One who will surely devour their hearts if given the chance.
And where is Max?
My heat pounds in my chest as the beast dodges between oaks and evergreens.
I’ve kept close the illusion of seeing Max again—not in this form, but as the male she loves.
I’ve kept the dream of one day enjoying our future together, her with child, me doting on her, in my soul, only to be taken out at night to be studied and fawn over.
A dream that keeps me going, though it would be easier to give in—let the beast have me, be lost to the recesses of my mind as he ravages the land.
I won’t. Because I believe in my mate. She will figure out a way to break the curse.
By the way my siblings are acting, maybe that faith is misplaced. Did they all crack?
Reid stops further ahead, right over the deep groove that seems to cut the blackened path. He helps Fee over it, which is odd, because that it’s Fee, and waits there. Standing still, the beast stalks close.
My breath tussles the brown locks on his skull and he winces, as I growl. Fangs barred, I’m a sight to behold. Grotesques, burly, I am the nightmare everyone dreads.
“Be gentle, big brother,” Reid murmurs, looking at me with one eye. “Not the face.”
I don’t have time to ponder as the beast grabs him around the throat. Surging forward, I try to take control, and it works for a moment—my brother drops from my grip and he grabs the tattered tunic over my body.
Together we fall forward and a dazzling energy runs over my limbs. Not quite electric; it pulses and the beast howls, deep and loud, as if in pain.
Does it hurt him and I’m not aware?
Reid crawls away on his back, clouds of dust rising. The beast spins, throwing my hands into the air. It hits a barrier, invisible to the eyes.
We’re stuck, behind this wall, forced wherever here is.
Clever fucking woman. She did this, somehow. Then anticipation rises in my chest, tangling with my love for her. She’s figured it out. She must have and this is one step.
She’s going to break the curse.
At the top of the mountain, a path leads deep into the rocky ledges, and I see my siblings running up the incline. The beast follows, furious.
My claws rake and swipe into the dirt, shredding rocks in my path. I come close, but they dart and twist before I can touch them. They’re prepared. They’re acting as part of a plan and I have a feeling Max was behind this.
Reaching the top of the mountain, the beast slams on my heels. In front of me are broken pearly columns, cracked and fallen over from age and weather. Further back sits a decrepit castle, made of the same stone. But I don’t care about that. The beast inhales, and finds Max under the column archway.
She stands strong, in the center, surrounded by sand and rose petals. Dressed only in leathers and a cape, she is more beautiful than the entire starry sky. She renews my hope and fills me with fierce need.
I need her touch, and her voice. For her lips and her moans. Just her.
The beast stalks close, growling the entire time. He’s angry. He sees something that I don’t—understands Max’s intentions.
He swings at her. Elation and despair mingle into a tarry mess. I want so badly to be free of this curse—something I’ve dreamt of for years. But not at the risk to Max’s life. I’m not in control—he will kill her for tempting him. Just to stand against him.
I rush his mind, try like Seti’s Hell to pull that door open I’ve been holding for all these days. The last bit of strength I have, I use it, and will my being to take back my body.
Wrestling him away, I’m able to come forward. He screams in my head like a wild storm and I toss him into the used cell. It won’t last—it never does. And every time he comes back, he’s stronger.
Gods above, please let this be the last time.
Blinking, I’m able to gaze down at my mate. Her features soften, and she exhales. She briefly touches my face, fingers drawing under my eyes and I droop.
This is what I’ve been waiting for. The touch of my mate, the feeling of comfort. Because she is my home in a world without shelter. I’ve missed her.
“Stay back,” Baris shouts, walking from the opposite side. Wings flutter at his back.
My mouth drops open, partly in shock and the other in embarrassment. How did I never see it before? A Human that does not age? Who somehow survived starvation in a dungeon? Of course, he’s Fairy.
“It’s him, Baris,” Max whispers, smiling up at me. I could die here and be happy, just seeing one more smile on her face.