Kane growled, the sound making me want to stagger backward before he reined his dominance back in. “Bastian. I guess that means their mission failed. You only saw two wolves with them?”
“Just two, but I didn’t stick around to wait for more. I had to get something to help me get through to him.”
He spared a glance for the sword in my hand, then nodded. “Follow us. I’ll try to give you an opening to do that. Brace yourself, and you’ll have to be fast.”
Fast? Not a problem.
They joined us in running back to the front lines, where we once again spotted Valens, still waiting between the pixie king and the general, who both fell back as their soldiers ran ahead, dying in their stead.
Cowards.
Kane had no such compunction, and when we passed the last of our allies, he let out a beastly roar and leapt into the air, changing to his wolf and unleashing a thunderous wave of dominance.
Everyone but Brielle—who chose to shift at a standstill instead of mid-leap like Kane—hit the deck, including me.
Shit.
I struggled to stand, then felt the weight of dominance lift all at once, letting me spring back to my feet. Everyone else was still pinned down, though Pack Blackwater started regaining their feet in clusters all over the field.
It was my opening.
I’m coming for you.I sent the words through our numbed bond and raced over downed enemies, focused on Valens.
Chapter 66
Elodie
People were starting to stir by the time I reached the enemy generals. The pixie king sprang up off the ground and flew back into the air, angrily adjusting his crown, but I ignored him. There were thousands of people on this battlefield, but only one mattered to me right now.
I’m coming for you. I sent the message again, with more urgency this time.
The only being on this field I cared about was my mate, and he lay still on the ground, held under the crushing weight of Kane’s high alpha mojo. It was a shame Kane couldn’t exert it constantly, but it was an enormous energy drain, even for a shifter as strong as him.
I was ten feet away when his wolf shook roughly and surged to his feet.
Damn it.
He spun toward me, turquoise eyes glowing without recognition, only hate.
Fuck.
My plan hadn’t really extended this far. Problem one: get to Valens. Problem two: free him somehow. There was no plan for him charging me in wolf form while I wielded a really fuckingdeadly broadsword. I had to get him to shift back. Granted, if he had no sword, I still couldn’t engage him unarmed. But if he shifted… it was a better shot. There had to be some sort of magical connection between the guardian’s swords.
A warm feeling of affirmation rolled over me, and I blinked down at the sword for a split second.
Valens used the opportunity to charge me.
I leapt to the side, letting him blast past me, close enough to feel the brush of his fur. An idea came to me. It was a long shot, and Valens in control of himself would never succumb to it. But what ifcollaredValens reacted differently?
“That’s all you’ve got? I could run you through in a second!” I hollered after his retreating form. “What, don’t tell me the big bad alpha wolf is scared of little old me.”
His retreating wolf froze, turning with a snarl on his lips. It would be utterly terrifying if it wasn’t exactly what I wanted.
I twirled my sword, growling right back at him. “It would be way too easy with you furry. One good slice and you’re toast. Change back. Face me on two feet, swordsman to swordsman.” I stared directly into his glowing eyes, throwing down an irresistible challenge to the alpha inside him. I was a mere beta, and if our mate bond was frozen, the disrespect should piss him all the way off and then some.
He answered with a livid growl, and I grinned. “Poor widdle wolfman, doesn’t like being challenged, huh? Do something about it. Step up, bitch. Come and get me.”
Valens’s wolf leapt, crossing half the distance between us before I realized he wasn’t going to shift after all. Goddess bless, this was not a great plan A.
