Chapter 42
Are You Ready?
Cora
Anxiety coursed through me as I stared at Cedar. His wrists were bound in shadow stone, his lip split, dried blood smeared on his face and his shirt torn.
“How do I look? Unwillingly captured?” he asked with a smirk. He was trying to lighten the mood, but I wanted to kick him once more for good measure. Glancing in the mirror beside him, he shrugged. “I think Bastian did a solid job, and I even got a single hit in to make it more believable.”
He held up his hands showing me his knuckles, which were cut and starting to swell.
“Why are you so anxious right now? The moment the cuffs come off, I’ll heal. Fates know I’ve eaten plenty,” he whispered as he took a step closer to me and leaned down for a kiss, but I took a step back.
“Absolutely not. I bathed for what felt like hours to get the scent of you off of me, Cedar. If I walk in smelling of you and sex, he’ll kill you on sight.
We need to keep him busy while the rest of them get inside.
We don’t need him throwing a tantrum and striking too early.
” I tried to sound confident, but Cedar knew better than that.
Still, he backed up as he nodded in agreement. Understanding coming through the bond.
“Fine. I’ll keep my bloody hands to myself, but just know that watching your ass in those pants is the only thing keeping me motivated to get this over with at the moment. They’ll look fantastic in the middle of that throne room,” he growled as his dark eyes looked me up and down.
I could feel the blush rising up my neck and I shook my head. “Stop it. Let’s get this shit over with.”
We walked out into the main room of the house with everyone else. We were in all black. Raiden said it was the easiest color to fully blend with his shadows to allow easy movement while they broke in.
“Cora, you’re sure he doesn’t know about your magic?” Raiden asked for the hundredth time since we’d made the plan.
“I’m positive. Even if he has some idea, he’s never brought it up, which wouldn’t be like him. If he thought I could do any sort of magic to help aid in his goals, he would’ve expected it a long time ago.”
Silvana nodded. “She’s right.”
Aunt Zima turned to me. “Okay, let’s get this moving. The sun is about to set. Cora, can you get it done from here?”
Letting out a deep breath, I focused my magic, finding I could, and nodded.
“And you’re sure you’ll be able to actually take him down? I know it isn’t the most solid experience for you,” Cedar questioned.
He wasn’t wrong, but I knew if I focused enough, I could.
“I can do it. Two-part plan here. I’ll be right back,” I muttered as I projected myself inside the castle without another thought.
I opened my eyes to find myself in the dimly lit hall, only instead of one guard standing at the door, there were two tonight.
Of course.
“Do you think Keres increasing our patrols is serious?” one of them questioned.
The other just shrugged. “What do you care? Have something important you’d rather be doing? Fuckin’ that barmaid in town still?” the other asked with a snicker.
He didn’t have the opportunity to answer. The shadow stone dagger Heliot had given me slid through his chest and into his heart. The second male stared, shocked as his friend fell, but he didn’t have time to pull his weapon before I pulled the dagger out, and turned it on him.
I stared down, both of them in a heap on the floor, blood puddling beneath them. Glancing down the remainder of the hall, I flashed back to my body.
“Okay, it’s done. Start towards the wall, I have one more thing I must do and then I’ll be there.”
“Raiden, you have the list of my men?” Aunt Zima asked.
Raiden nodded in return. “Yes. The only people I’m taking down are the other guards and the few males he has on staff Cora told me about.
The rest, Bastian and I will keep an eye out for.
Cora, we’ll take our time getting through the castle so you have time to get inside, but don’t dally.
We need him pinned to one location hastily. ”
Releasing a breath, I nodded, looking around once more. “I know. Good luck, everyone.”
“See ya in there, sis,” Silv said, her hand gently squeezing mine before she returned to Raiden’s side.
They nodded, and Cedar cleared his throat. “I’ll be quick. Shove the panic down, my raven,” I whispered to him.
Concentrating, I pictured the cell once more, only instead of focusing on the inside, I was inside the dark stone hall.
Apparently, Keres had increased security everywhere but his dungeon.
Unlatching the door, I pulled it open, moving the bolt to keep it from latching behind me, and walked into Oren’s cell.
He was sitting in the far corner, still shifted, his dark eyes watching me from across the space. A hint of fang peeked out as he growled.
“Shh,” I hushed as I stepped closer. “Are you ready to go?”
He stood on all fours, watching me as if he couldn’t decide if I were friend or foe.
“We have friends here, Oren, people eager to see you return home. Cedar is waiting. Paine and Raiden as well. You can stay in your wolf form if you please. Tear through the guards if you need to. But head towards the throne room for me, okay? Your door is open when you’re ready. Do you understand?”
He watched me, and I didn’t think he’d reply at first, until he finally dipped his head in understanding.
“Good. Be safe. I’ll see you soon.”
With that, I moved to the next step in the plan, opening the door for everyone else.