I’m certain he tried to use it on mebeforehe collared me that first night, and I try to think back to what was going on in the exact moment that I first felt it. I had just activated my Chosen runes to warn the guys, and then Adriel walked out of the crumbling stone ruin. An idea forms in my mind and I immediately call on my magic. Elation erupts inside of me when I realize, that despite the compulsion, I still can. Agony quickly drowns out my excitement, and I try to hold onto the magic for as long as I can. The pain is searing in its intensity, but I can feel it burning away at the toxic vapors.
A cold hand on my face rips me from my internal focus, and I slam back into the here and now to discover that Adriel is inches away from my face. The desire to headbutt the fucker flashes through my mind, and I’m shocked as fuck when my body responds to my command and does it. Talon always used to tell me that headbutting an opponent was a commitment to pain and should only be used as a last resort. My forehead smashes against Adriel’s nose, and I’m reminded why Talon’s words were accurate as fuck, because even though Adriel scrambles back with a pained shout, I also let out a cry because, fuck, that hurt.
I ready my swords and stride toward Adriel, when he compels my body to once again “Stop!” I immediately call on my magic and let it burn away Adriel’s control, and by the time he steps toward me, his katana ready to run me through, I have a blade up to block him and another slashing down at his throat. He skips out of the way and tries to force me to listen to him again. It fucking hurts, but I wrap my magic in a strangle hold, and its brutal presence in my body keeps Adriel’s power from sinking into me and claiming anything that doesn’t belong to him.
My two blades sing through the air, clashing with his sword, rebounding and coming at him again and again. I’m relentless in my attack, and the more hits I make in spite of Adriel screaming out his attempts to control me, the more furious he gets. His features morph with rage when it’s clear that his power isn’t working on me, and his temper flares. His eyes lose their gold and flash all red. He throws his sword in a fit of anger, and one claw-tipped hand reaches out and grabs my wrist as I bring my sword in a downward arc toward him.
I stab him through the stomach with my other katana, but he pushes in toward me like the blade in his gut is nothing.
“You are mine!” he bellows at me, and he presses even closer. He pulls his other clawed hand back, and it’s clear he’s going to try and gouge me into pieces. I immediately let go of the handle of the sword in his abdomen and call a short sword into my palm.
I scream out in pain as even more fire fills my limbs, but I shove through it. I stab up, and the blue of my blade disappears into Adriel’s throat. Claws rake down my left side, but Adriel releases my wrist and clutches at the magic forged blade in his neck. I release my hold on the magic and the blade disappears. I pivot and complete the downward arc of the katana still in my left hand, and Adriel’s neck and head separate from the rest of his body.
I stand there, panting through the pain, and watch as Adriel’s body disintegrates into dust. The collar around my neck suddenly crumbles, and I tip my head back and exhale a deep, relieved breath. I was fully prepared that this metal choker was going to be a part of my look until we could figure out how the fuck to get it off. Each of the guys are still fighting, and I look around at Adriel’s almost unrecognizable throne room. I send a pulse of Sentinel magic out, and all the lamia in a twenty-foot radius instantly turn to ash.
It feels so fucking good to use my magic again without feeling like I’m melting from the inside out. It’s been awful being cut off from the power that’s always been a part of me. It’s like there’s been a wall keeping me from being whole, and I just took a mace and shattered that fucker.
“Awwww, Killer, what’d you do that for? I was two moves away from ashing mine,” Knox whines, and a laugh bursts out of my throat. I drop my katana, and it clangs to the ground. I crack up, and I can’t tell if I’m laughing or crying. I think it’s both, which seems like a solid indicator that I’ve just officially lost my fucking mind. Tears stream down my cheeks, and I bend over, my hands on my knees, to try and rein in the hysterical laughter pouring out of me.
“By the moon, Knox, what did I tell you about breaking the Sentinel?” Aydin chides, and it makes me lose it even more.
Tears drip off my chin and fall to mix with the inches of ash covering the floor. I shake my head, my tears speckling the ground, and I try to get a grip on everything that’s just happened. My mother, Talon, Lachlan, Keegan, the twin’s parents, the blood slave, they’ve all been avenged. And yet, I stand here oddly empty with no idea where to go from here. I look up, and everyone is sort of just looking around with the samewhat happens nowstamped on their face.
Sabin snaps out of the shock first. In five quick strides, he wraps his arms around me and lifts me off the ground. He shoves his face in my matted, dirty hair, and it takes me a minute to hear what he’s whispering over and over against my neck.
“We did it,” he celebrates quietly, squeezing me to him.
His repeated words against my skin break through the numbness I’m feeling, and I’m flooded with relief. I look around, and I can’t help but feel so proud of the guys and in awe of the skill I just witnessed. All of the training and their hard work made this possible, and I’m so fucking grateful that they’re marked and mine. I hug Sabin tightly, and I look up at the faces of my guys as they all move closer, needing their own hugs and reassurances.
“Where’s Ryker…and Siah…and Sorik?” I question when I don’t spot their faces around me or anywhere in the room at all. Worry constricts around me like a python, and I push away from Sabin’s hold.
“It’s okay, Bruiser, Ryker and Nash are helping the injured. Sorik was hurt protecting Vaughn, but they’re both okay. Siah took him to feed so he can heal. Ryker and Nash took your dad and some injured wolves to a different part of the caves,” Bastien tells me. He pulls me in for a hug, and I wrap my arms around his torso and squeeze him hard.
“Silva?” I mumble against Bastien’s chest, and I turn to Aydin.
“Stomach wound,” Aydin tells us. “Evrin did what he could to patch it, but he’s taking him to get some extra help from Nash or Ryker. It was pretty bad,” he admits, and Bastien tenses in my arms. “Lachlan?” Aydin asks, his voice just above a whisper.
I look toward my uncle’s body, a dusting of ash now coating it. “He’s with Keegan,” I offer simply, and Aydin’s eyes well up with tears. Bastien wipes at his face, and I hug him harder, wishing I could do more to ease the hurt and loss I know he and the others are wading through.
“I’m going to find Sorik and Alpha Volkov, get some patrols and guards sorted out so nothing else kicks off tonight,” Aydin declares, his voice heavy with the sorrow that he’s trying hard to tamp down.
Something about seeing the ginger giant fight the desolation he’s so obviously feeling shoves the shock and uncertainty I’ve been floating in away. My throat grows tight with emotion, and my eyes sting as I watch Aydin try to blink away his heartache. “I’m so sorry, Aydin,” I offer lamely, hoping it conveys some of the anguish I feel for his loss.
Aydin shakes his head slowly, and then his tear-filled eyes settle on mine. “No, Little Badass, I’m so sorry,” he chokes out, and I push away from Bastien and rush to give Aydin a hug. He squeezes me so tightly he’s probably going to break something, but I don’t say a word, and he surrounds me with his despair and apology. “I’m sorry you’ll never know him like we did and that he wasn’t what you deserved. I’m sorry I chose him over you in the beginning. Fuck…I’m just so sorry, Vinna,” Aydin whispers in my hair as he crushes me to him, and his words breach my walls and coax out my tears.
I pull back and place my palms on Aydin’s cheeks. His beard tickles my hands, and I watch as Aydin’s pain drips down his face and darkens the red hair. My eyes bounce back and forth between his for a beat. “He saved me. In the end, he took the sword aimed for me,” I reassure him. A sob escapes Aydin’s lips, and he shakes his head furiously as tears pour down his face.
“Good,” he tells me, his voice laced with mourning. “Then he died the person I’ve known and loved.”
I nod my head in agreement, and Aydin pulls me in for one last bear hug before stepping away and doing his best to shake away his hurt. “I’m just going to go and get everything settled and safe,” he declares.
Bastien pulls me back into him, and I cling to him like a lifeline as Aydin makes his way over, bends down, and pulls Lachlan into his arms. He lifts him up and drifts out of the room, and we all hover in the sadness left behind.
“Sharing is caring,” Valen announces, his cheeks wet and his eyes filled with grief. He steals me away from his twin, and my mind flashes to Lachlan and Vaughn for a moment. My dad is alive, but I have no idea how to process what he is. He feels neither here nor there, and I don’t know what that means for me or for him. I exhale a deep shuddering breath and then push the ache and disquiet away. I’ll let all of that sucker punch me in the face. Tomorrow. I squirm in Valen’s hold until my arms are around his neck, and I’m suddenly driven hard by the need to touch all of my Chosen and feel that they’re all okay. I practically tackle Knox next, and he laughs as he catches me.
“I’d kiss you, but you seem to have a little lamia on your face,” he teases, the levity not quite reaching his eyes, and then he proceeds to motion to my entire face.
I move to wipe my face on my arm and quickly realize I’m covered in ash and blood. We all are. Torrez shakes out his fur, and then in a blink, he’s shifted back into a man, a very naked, very sexy, battle dirty man. Groans of objection escape out of all the guys. I laugh as he pulls me in for a hug, loving the feel of his warm skin.
