Horns, the head had horns.
So where the fuck was Axel?
Chapter35
Sam
He wasn’t sure what he expected, the feeling of such panic a weight he never knew he could experience. He ignored the danger to step closer, Alice pulling him to the side to dodge any overshot arcane. His skin burned as the magic dissipated, but as soon as it had gone, he shrugged out of her hold, searching in every little nook built into the walls, chains glinting in each one.
“Sam, we got to…”
They seemed to be open cells, and a rock settled in Sam’s gut, so cold it numbed when he realised Axel wasn’t in any of them.
Where could he be?Sam scanned the rest of the room, unable to see any other exit or entrance.
“Sam?”
His ears buzzed, the idea that he wasn’t there, that he was already gone was enough to bring Sam to his knees, and it was only Alice that kept him steady as chaos surrounded them in a blur.
Alice’s voice drifting in and out. “Sam, I need to help Ti…”
“He’s not here.” He couldn’t sense him, blood, piss and one hundred different scents confusing his nose. “Alice, he’s not…”
Sam grabbed Alice just as the hound revealed itself, teeth so close they brushed against her arm. It stunk of carrion and death, its stench giving him a second warning as she turned, and grabbing Sam’s gun, shot the hound in the head. She shoved the weapon back into Sam’s hand, grabbing her sword just as the hound shook the bullet free.
“Get it together,” she said, eyes glistening. “We’ll find him, but not if you get yourself killed.”
Sam lifted the gun, the metal surprisingly heavy in his hand, and pulled the trigger. He had never used one before, but being so close, the three bullets sank into the hound with little aim. Not one stopped its advance as Alice tried to push it back with strikes of her sword and magic. Fire and lightning poured from her hands, and as Sam aimed once more something wrapped around his waist, pulling back hard enough it expelled the air from his lungs.
Reaching for the knife strapped to his thigh Sam went to cut, but was released just before the blade slit the rope of fur. Gun lifted he turned, only to face one of the most beautiful beings he had ever seen.
Sam had never seen Axel as his beast, but he knew it was him, without a doubt as he looked into the familiar silver eyes. He was both beautiful and terrifying, body built for power as well as stealth. He stood tall, far larger than any shifter with his head reaching Sam’s chest. His fur was a multitude of greys, split with lines of black that were identical markings to the tattoos that Sam had traced on the man. It was a tail that had grabbed him, one of seven that moved like whips towards the hound.
Blood coated his snout, much darker than the blood on his side which revealed large lacerations so deep muscle was a shock of red. Burns scorched his chest while his back leg was twisted, the ankle broken as he stepped around Sam to attack. There was no competition, the Veyn falling beneath his powerful jaws within seconds, his body expelling the green poison from every swipe of the hound’s claws.
Sam stood frozen, the relief so powerful his heart beat a powerful ache.
“Get down!” Alice threw her arms around him as she knocked them both to the ground, a burst of heat soaring above. The arcane hit the wall, exploding as he quickly rolled until Alice was beneath, gritting his teeth as the sparks rained down against his back. The little licks of magic seared against his skin, eating away as a howl rocked the room, a commanding bay that drowned out the squelch of Axel shredding the hound.
Riley took a hit to the chest, but Bishop looked worse, the wings from his back torn clean off while gashes sliced his face almost in half. He no longer held a smile, his arm held tightly to his chest. With a look of pure abhorrence he disappeared, not returning as Riley howled once more.
Alice shoved against him, pulling herself free while he jumped to his feet, chest tight and hands shaking. The hound’s head plopped by their feet, a sickening thud as Axel tore a leg.
“Get back!” Alice said, yanking Sam’s shoulder. “They’re not always –”
Axel whipped round with a growl, leg still held in his jaws. He dropped low, ears flattening as he flicked his attention between Alice and Sam. His claws kneaded the ground, eyes settling on Alice before Sam stepped forward.
“Hey big guy, remember me?” Sam kept his voice soft. “Aye, of course you do,” he mused, wanting to wrap himself in the beast’s warmth. To stroke down his fur with his own until Axel wore his scent. “You’ve had your hand down my joggers.”
Beast blinked, dropping the mangled leg at Sam’s feet. It rolled towards his boots, the fur stripped to the bone. Black vapour coated the entire thing, dancing around the wound as if it were trying to heal. Beast cocked his head, tongue lapping at the blood around his snout before he flicked his head back and returned Riley’s howl. More calls joined, echoing from the tunnels as Beast burst into a white light, the man standing there seconds later.
Sam caught Axel as he sagged, a knife protruding from his chest. “Fuck!” It was so close to his heart. “I’ve got you.”
“Ti?” Axel swayed, and Sam tightened his grip. “T… Ti?”
The screaming had stopped, and Sam turned to find Alice beside Titus, the circle no longer glowing. “Aye, we’ve got him, it’s going to be okay.” Tears burned down his face, a featherlight touch brushing along his cheek.
“You’re so fucking beautiful,” Axel murmured, his eyes glazed, fading as his hand fell away.
