AllFreeNovel
Share Us
The world blurred by as my chanting continued, sweat breaking out across my brow as mountains bled into trees and rivers, until finally, the briny smell of the ocean assaulted my nostrils. I ceased the flow of magic, and we landed in the middleof a clearing, surrounded by tall, knotted trees with thick boughs that twisted toward the sky.
I swiped at the salt on my face. While the others stepped back, Izidora raced forward, wrapping her arms around my waist. “I love you. Stay safe.”
The heady scent of roses filled my nostrils as I dragged in a deep breath, burying my face in her hair. I imprinted the feel of her in my arms on my memory as every fiber of my being begged me to keep her by my side. “I love you. You are strong. You are powerful. If anyone tries to hurt you and you don’t kill them, I will.”
Using her long braid as leverage, I yanked her head back and captured her mouth in a bruising, desperate kiss. The feel of her soft lips against mine as I pressed further into her wasn’t enough – I needed more, needed her to understand the intensity of my love for her. Not caring about our audience, I swept my tongue against hers and crushed her against me. A whimper slipped into my mouth as she clutched at me, seeking purchase where there was none against my slick armor. With a groan, I finally released her, both of us breathless. Our gazes collided, and those aquamarine eyes that had captivated me since the moment I saw her in the ballroom at Este Castle blazed with white fire.
When she stepped away, she was framed in a white halo by the rays of the moon peeking through the trees, and truly, she looked like an Angel. Without breaking eye contact, she threw back her drink, not even shuddering at the metallic taste.
While she might have looked like an Angel, I knew she’d unleash her darkness tonight. And I was fucking thrilled for it. A wicked smirk lifted the corners of my mouth as she drew the twin swords etched with long-stemmed roses from her back.
Finally tearing myself from her, I surveyed the three gathered groups. “We meet back here,” I reminded them.
“See you on the other side.” Drazen clapped me on the shoulder, then led my mate through the trees and out of my line of sight. Watching her walk away was like my soul being ripped in two and my heart being slashed by the Fehérmedve’s giant claws.
We waited until Zuriel’s group departed before hanging a right and sneaking through the woods. I’d taken the most dangerous section – the one where there were sure to be more guards and Fae lingering about late into the night. A breeze rustled the trees as we crept along, carrying with it sounds of clanging metal and boisterous voices. I snapped up my closed fist to halt our progress as the scent of smoke filled my nostrils. Creeping forward, I crouched behind a tree, then peered around it.
Row upon row of long buildings filled a clearing just outside the city walls, while around them were stores of food, horses, and stashes of weapons. Judging by the size, this encampment could hold tens of thousands. A few piles of construction materials caught my eye when a group of soldiers moved away from them.
Fuck, this was a new addition.
Gritting my teeth against my rising frustration, I took stock of the layout, trying to memorize what I could and assess any danger from my vantage point. While the camp was enormous, only a few hundred milled about the buildings and fires.
Where were the rest?
They hadn’t seen us and appeared to laze about rather than prepare for an attack. With no time to waste, I hurried back to Artur, Anton, and Slavian. In a low voice, I relayed what I had seen. Then, with grim faces and sharper eyes, we continued our trek.
Once we reached the bridge leading into the city, we threw up the hoods of our cloaks, trying to blend in among those comingand going from Vaenor. No guards patrolled the city walls – likely because of the fucking army stationed outside it – and we quickly slipped inside among a group of merchants. Within a few minutes, we found the alley Liliana had marked.
This area of Vaenor was dark, dingy, and not a place where people asked questions.
The house on the end looked like it had been abandoned long ago, though a heavy lock still remained on the door. With a glance in either direction, I brought black fire to my palms, melting the metal and then using my earth magic to bend and break it so that it fell away. Wordlessly, we entered the space, knives drawn and ready for a surprise attack.
None came.
Instead, dust-covered furniture sagged over the dirt floor, and the thick glass window panes let in the barest amount of light from the moon. In the center, a threadbare rug skewed haphazardly. I kicked it aside and revealed the trap door that led into the tunnels.
Artur gripped the metal handle and hefted the heavy wood with a creak and a groan. Slavian stood by the window, peering through the grime to ensure no one had followed us or was coming to investigate the sound. With a stiff nod, he cleared our entrance. Dropping down, I landed with a heavy thud, followed by Anton and Artur. At last, Slavian joined us, not bothering to close the door behind him. We didn’t expect anyone to discover the entrance – not if no one had for decades before. I had to hand it to King Zalan; his paranoia was certainly assisting us as we invaded his former castle.
The passage was dark and damp, and Artur offered his green fire to guide the way.
“Everything okay?”I asked Izidora down our bond, needing her reassurance.
“So far so good. Just entered the passage into the castle.”
I left her alone then, wanting her to focus on what was in front of her rather than be distracted by me. I’d done everything in my power to prepare her; it was time for me to trust that it was enough. My stomach still ached at the thought.
The dirt gave way to stone as we entered the castle grounds, and I began counting the passages popping up along either side of us. The one we searched for was nothing more than a sliver about twenty from the first one. Apparently, all the others dead-ended, in an attempt to trap any unwanted intruders.
Artur stopped short, then retraced his steps, running a palm along the rough wall until it disappeared. “Here.”
Banishing his fire, he turned to the side and shimmied his way between the wedges. Anton followed, cursing low as his armor scraped against the rock. I nearly cursed myself at the tight squeeze, wondering how King Zalan ever thought he might fit through these.
What felt like an eternity later, we fell into an open chamber with a spoke of passages leading in all directions. “The one directly across,” Artur muttered, keeping his voice low. He beelined to it, disappearing into the darkness, and Slavian, Anton, and I followed, casting motes of fire to guide us. It wasn’t long before we reached the first turn, then the second, until we came to a fork. The left hand path led to our destination – the kitchens.
Lights extinguished, darkness surrounded us as we drew our weapons and prepared to breach the castle. I pressed my shoulder into the stone, feeling it give beneath me. With a groan, it opened slightly, but not enough to allow us entry. Switching positions, I pressed my hands against the edges to push it to the side.
Bags of root vegetables and barrels of spices greeted us, not a soul in sight. But I didn’t lower my guard as Artur and I crept forward, scanning every crevice for a Fae that might giveus away. Anton and Slavian picked their way carefully behind us, pausing when we reached the door that led into the main kitchen. This was the spot we were most likely to encounter someone, and I readied my blade to slice and sever.
