“Show off,” Drake grumbled as his claws slashed at an elf that was attacking him with a short sword in each hand. Drake dropped low and swiped out a leg, taking the elf out at the ankles. He fell to the ground, and then Sorin leaped on top of the fallen man. Fane’s former bodyguard was more wolf than man at this point. His face had elongated into a muzzle, and he tore into the male’s neck, ripping viciously until blood spurted from it. Then Sorin threw back his head and issued a bone-chilling howl.
“So much for lying low,” Wadim muttered. He threw the fae, whose neck Decebel had crushed, over his shoulder. Wadim dropped the body and then looked around. Neither Decebel nor the historian was the slightest bit winded. “Is that all of them?”
Fane counted ten broken and bloody bodies on the ground. He glanced at his men with narrowed eyes. “I said to leave one alive.”
“Ooopsies,” said Adam.
Costin pointedly began whistling, looking anywhere but at his alpha.
Lucian simply shrugged his large shoulders.
Decebel wiped his hands on his pants. “I guess you should have been more specific. I see you didn’t bother to take a prisoner, either.”
Fane couldn’t argue. He’d let his beast rule during the attack, and all it had wanted was the blood of those who were a constant threat to his pack, mate, and child. “Fair enough.” He turned to Adam. “Get us closer please.”
“You got it, boss.” When all the males had grabbed onto him, he flashed them next to Alston’s makeshift mountain. Now that he was closer, Fane could see Alston had created tunnels that led into a few of the surrounding natural mountains. There was light shining in the tunnels, and shadows danced within openings. Fane motioned for his pack mates to back up into the tree line. He did not know if anyCanis lupuswere working with Alston, but if so, the wolves might catch their scent.
“So, he relocated from bustling city to off grid?” Wadim tilted his head. “That seems a little drastic.”
“He’s probably scared out of his mind that another high fae will come and use cold fire on his ass again.” Drake folded his arms across his chest. His lips lifted in a snarl, and his eyes glowed. Fane noticed blood running down the male’s arms.
“Are you all right, Drake?” he asked.
Drake nodded. “I’m good. And Peri is with Bethany, checking on her.”
Fane looked over at Sorin and saw that he, too, hadn’t escaped the battle uninjured. There was a large gash down Sorin’s right thigh, his cargo pants revealing the cut beneath.
“Crap,” his old bodyguard grumbled. “Elle is going to be angry.”
“What are you two? Amateurs?” Adam asked with a cheeky grin. “I don’t have so much as a hair out of place.”
“Using your magic to keep your hair perfectly styled doesn’t count as being badass.” Costin laughed. “It just makes you look too pretty for battle.”
Adam rolled his eyes. “You’re just jealous you can’t look this good all the time.”
“I’d rather be a warrior worthy of standing against my enemies than an underwear model afraid to get dirt under his nails.”
Adam frowned. “I’ve got dirt under my nails. Look.” He held up his hands, then wiggled his fingers, and the dirt disappeared.
“I thought your magic was supposed to be limited.” Costin glowered at him.
“What can I say? My recuperative powers are legendary. Just one of the many things Crina loves about me.”
“Bloody hell.” Lucian sighed, running a hand down his face. Fane noted that his uncle looked more tired from dealing with the guys’ banter than from fighting their enemy.
“If you two children are done, could we please get back to scouting this hellhole?” Decebel shook his head at them. “The sooner we’re done, the quicker we can get back to our females, who are going to be much more formidable foes than these idiots.”
Fane looked back at the clearing and saw a group of fae exit one of the tunnels that led inside the mountains. Fane and his pack went completely silent. He strained his ears, using his wolf’s superior hearing ability to try to learn something useful from the Order members.
“Have you heard back from the group Alston sent out on patrol?” one female asked.
“No,” answered a tall fae male with long, white hair. “They’re probably lounging around somewhere taking naps.”
“Benson, Blaze, and Bliss, go look for them,” the first female said.
“The three Bs.” Adam snorted. “Do you think Alston has a thing for B names?”
“Who cares,” Lucian whispered, shifting from a crouched into a fighting stance. “They’re headed our way.”
