My executioner marched to the edge of the stone platform where a torch burned, before lifting it from its holder, and then returning to stand in front of me. His gaze flicked to mine, hesitating only for a moment before he lit the kindling at the base of the pyre. Then he stepped back, the crowd erupting with more shouts for my death.
“Burn!”
The gusting wind fanned the flames, my bare feet beginning to sting with the rising heat. I had to force myself not to think of the coming pain.
Blocking out the hatred being spewed at me as the smoke rose in the billowing breeze, I looked out toward the hills again. Movement on this side of the river caught my eye. A line of fae was storming toward the town. Beast fae. And wolves.
And at the head of the line, charging faster and faster, was the beast lord. My heart leaped at the sight of him. He was wearing a leather skirt, his chest bare, his runes a stark black against his bronzed skin. With his long legs pumping fast, a black-steel blade in both hands, and his golden eyes burning so bright, he was the incarnation of vengeance—and fierce love.
I smiled as more tears slipped from my eyes, the black smoke clouding my vision, but I kept my gaze fixed on the one who held my heart and soul.
“Redvyr.”
Chapter 34
REDVYR
My soul shookwhen I saw her on the scaffold, the smoke from the burning flames licking up from the bottom of the pyre. My rage renewed, burning higher than the blaze trying to devour my dear one.
By the gods, I had made it in time, but just barely.
When the crowd finally realized that we were charging up their main road toward the town square and had started screaming and running for their lives, it was too late. We were already upon them.
My command was to for my men to kill only the townsfolk who stood in our way and let the others go. But the moon fae guards of Mevia were all to die. Gael would die by my own hand.
Several moon fae guards were drawing their swords, facing us for the fight. And by all the hells, they would get one. But my first priority was Jessamine.
Charging up the stone steps, I leaped completely over the line of guards and landed at the base of the fire encircling her.Without hesitation, I leaped through the flames and blocked her body with mine.
“Redvyr,” she cried, her voice cracking.
Slicing through her bonds, I swept her into my arms and launched off the back of the stone platform. I didn’t have to call for him. Wolf sprinted toward us, snuffling her hair. I wanted to hold her, reassure myself that she was safe, but she wasn’t. Not yet. But I would make damn fucking sure she always would be after today.
Taking a brief moment to brush my cheek against hers, I tossed her onto Wolf’s back. “Go! Take her where I told you!”
Then Wolf launched into a run back toward the river, Jessamine clinging to his fur, but looking back at me.
The sound of clanging swords called my name. I rushed back onto the stone stage, where ten moon fae surrounded one fucker in fancy clothes. That had to be him.
“Gael!” I bellowed.
He instantly turned his head to face me, his eyes widening with a touch of fear. He should be afraid. I marched toward him, one of his guards leaping in front of me and slashing his sword at my chest.
With a deft movement, I clasped his wrist and snapped the bone backward.
“Ahh!” my opponent cried, dropping his sword.
With a swift plunge of my blade into the center of his throat, crimson blood spraying, he fell backward. I spun back to Gael.
He saw me coming, stared up and then leaped into the sky, his wings beating hard and taking him into the air.
“Fucking coward,” I muttered, pulling the long blade from the scabbard at my hip.
With a quick aim, I let it loose, sending it flying toward my target. It hit exactly where I wanted, ripping a hole through one of his wings. He spiraled and fell.
Pushing my way through the battle, I launched off the stage and sprinted toward where he had fallen behind a building. When I rushed down the alley, he ran around a corner up ahead. I chased after him, but when I rounded the corner he was nowhere in sight.
I knew he couldn’t fly, so I let my beast fae hunting senses take over. He smelled of sickly perfume and floral-scented soap, so it was an easy trail to follow, guiding me directly through the back door of an alehouse.
