I had no idea why they were here or what the Mades could possibly gain by setting these infected vamps free in Faery, and there was no time to consider it, not when more poured through the doors, overwhelming us.
My teeth punctured the vamp’s skin, blood and rot hitting the inside of my mouth. It was a familiar and vile taste I’d gotten far too used to over the past few years. I jumped back from a Vamp’s long nails and gnashing teeth, shuddering at the red ring around his utterly black irises. It was a telltale sign that they had the virus, one I hoped never to see in anyone I loved. It was a kindness to end him, which I did with my claws. As grim as it was, I continued to slash and bite until the vampire’s head was severed from its body, the only absolute way to ensure its death.
To the left of me, the Unseelie lords tried valiantly to protect the female at the centre of their group. There was no magic shooting from her long, slim fingers, and she had no weapons, but her protectors seemed to adequately keep the vampires away from her. Her head swivelled side to side, her eyes wide and horrified. Clearly, she wasn’t a fighter. My heart went out to her. It wasn’t a weakness to be something other than a warrior, and part of me hoped she never had to discover what it was like to take a life.
I snarled at them to tell them I was leaving and turned my focus to Stone. He’d killed three vampires. At least they were on the floor at his feet, surrounded by a large pool of blood, but they would need to lose their heads to ensure they were definitely dead. Vilderon had recovered from the injury Stone had inflicted, and though he eyed his son with malice, he had no option but to direct his anger at the Mades. He lifted a sword in one hand and made a sweeping gesture with the other, sending a handful of vampires sailing through the air and slamming into the far wall.
“You will die for this betrayal!” he bellowed towards the Fae creature, who just grinned, showing teeth sharper than any I’d ever seen and shrugged before his gaze alighted hungrily on the female Unseelie. The way he stared at her made my hackles rise, but I had no chance to get between them.
Vilderon roared again and swept another wave of magic through the room. It knocked everyone down, friend and foe alike. All except the creature and Stone, who snarled and bared his teeth at his father. “You will not incapacitate me that easily.”
Vilderon snarled right back, slicing through the neck of a vampire. Mother knew where that size weapon had come from when he’d looked unarmed, but it didn’t matter. If he could kill the vamps, I’d let him keep it—as long as he didn’t swing it nearStone. Regardless of how many of our enemies he killed, he was still a dead man walking.
Chapter 26
Shannon
Behind Vilderon, Airling tilted her head to the side, considering her father. Her alert posture was totally unconcerned by the invading Mades. My eyes narrowed. It was a strange reaction to an unexpected invading force. Unless it wasn’t unexpected…
Behind Stone, Airling spun almost too quickly for me to see. Within seconds, his father lay on the floor—his head severed from his body. Something glinted in her eyes as she turned and stared at my mate. My heart clenched. Hate. Pure, unadulterated hate. Stone didn’t notice, too occupied with killing the next crazed Made. No way would I reach him in time, so I shifted into my human form and yelled, “Stone! Behind you!”
I was too late. The sword fell towards his neck. When it struck, blue-green power blasted through the room, taking down at least eight Mades. Ventry ran in, his face as cold as ice, his armour coated in blood. Behind him was the biggest and most vicious demon wolf in existence. The Shifter King bared hishuge fangs and roared, making the air vibrate with his force. My heart stuttered, tears pricking my eyes as a familiar pack of large wolves bounded in, followed by an enormous lion. Lionel gave a roar to rival the King of Shifters.
Stone had somehow got word to them. My heart swelled. Of course, he had. They were our family, our friends; we would never have to fight this alone. My breath caught as a woman with fire wrapped around her hands and burning in her eyes stalked in. Flashing me a wild and delighted grin, she let her flames fly. Despite my relief and joy at seeing our pack, my attention homed in on Stone, who had Airling’s blade embedded in his neck. His eyes met mine, full of regret as his knees buckled, and he crashed to the floor.
“No!” I yelled, my chest squeezing so tight I could barely drag enough air in to breathe, let alone scream anything else.
Airling’s nostrils flared as she tried to pull the sword back, swearing when it wouldn’t budge. She spared me a hate-filled glare before her gaze shifted to something behind me.
“Traitor…” I heard her hiss. I glanced back in time to see the strange dark-haired Fae turn to shadow, rematerialise in front of the Unseelie female and then dematerialise again, taking her with him. There was a cacophony of bellows, the Unseelies staring around in confusion. Pivoting back, I found Stone on the ground, lifeless, and Airling nowhere to be seen.
“Stone!” Pain lanced my heart, my wolf howling as I skidded over the floor, uncaring of my nakedness, and dropped to my knees beside him. No blood. There was no blood! I sobbed with relief when I saw that the blade was embedded in the collar.
“Holy shit,” he moaned, coughing and panting as he pulled the blade out.
Tears streamed down my face as I helped him sit up before throwing my arms around him.
“Hey, I’m okay, Butterfly. Honestly.” His big hands pulled me into his chest, and I held on tightly, a sob escaping my lips.
“Here. Let me.”
I forced myself to move back a bit as Ember knelt down at his other side, giving me a brief grin. “Hey.”
I couldn’t answer, my throat too thick with emotion.
“Butterfly, look at me.” Stone’s rasped command had its desired effect. My gaze snapped to his. His eyes darkened, his nostrils flaring at the sign that his voice still had power over me. His big, warm hands circled my waist, spanning the upper curve of my naked hips. “It really is okay. I’m here, and I’m fine.” He chuckled darkly, pulling me closer and kissing the top of my head. “Never thought I’d be glad I was collared, though.”
Another sob escaped me, and I tightened my hold, still unable to speak.
“Keep still, both of you,” Ember admonished. “I need to melt this lock and I don’t want to singe your hideous wedding suit or your skin, Stone.”
Warmth bathed the air, and Stone hissed right before the collar dropped away.
“I don’t give a fuck about the suit or my skin. I’m just glad the damned thing is off.” He pushed to his knees and gently pulled my arms from around him. Reluctantly, I let him go. He glanced down at me, his eyes travelling over my nakedness. A possessive growl escaped his chest. “Here. Wear this.” He shrugged off his jacket and wrapped it around my shoulders.
Shifters spent enough time naked for it to not bother any of us. Unless a mate was being possessive, and fuck me, I loved it. I was his, and he was mine, and I really didn’t give a shit about that protective behaviour, not when I was too raw from almost losing him. The tears I’d been holding back tipped from my eyes as I slipped my arms through the sleeves, my fingers trembling so much I couldn’t do up the buttons. I looked down,embarrassed by my show of emotion. Ember was my friend, but she was still right beside me, and I was supposed to be a field agent, a tough, Alpha shifter, not someone weak enough to cry. Gods, I’d worked for years to solidify my reputation as a grade-A bitch and Alpha wolf. I swallowed hard, trying my best to stem the flow of moisture. Yet, I wasn’t that person anymore, and it was as confusing as hell trying to figure out how to behave in front of my pack now that I was different. However, I knew crying mid-battle wouldn’t do me any favours if I wanted to return to my position in Connor’s inner circle of warriors. My stomach tightened at the thought, suddenly hating the idea of pretending to be something I wasn’t.
I shoved that worry away. My brain had no space for anything except the image of Stone with a sword embedded in his neck. It was burned into my damned eyeballs. I pressed my shaking hands into my eye sockets, spiralling into the kind of anxiety I hadn’t felt in weeks. No matter how much I wanted to go after Airling and rip her throat out for hurting my mate, I couldn't control my brain, and it was taking me down a tunnel I hated…Gods, I needed a drink…fuckfuckfuck… I didn’t want to need a drink…but I did.
