It didn’t take long to realize the sun in Ellnesari doesn’t harm vampires. But centuries living in fear of sunshine is hard to shake off. My shoulders are tense, and the urge to find cover is ever present. I can see in Ronan’s and Lucca’s postures that they’re as uncomfortable to be walking in broad daylight as I am. Not that the vibe in our party is light by any measure. Everyone is on high alert. If we’re caught in Queen Maewe’s domain, we’re as good as dead.
For that reason, I have my sword ready. Aurora is holding a crystal in one hand and a small dagger in the other. Karl and Cheryl don’t have swords because they’re more lethal in their wolf forms. The trees in the forest are the tallest I have ever seen, and don’t get me started on the big-as-houses tree trunks. Not only are they huge, but they’re covered in some weird moss that writhes as if they’re alive. Vivi warned us not to touch them.
“How much longer until we reach the palace? This forest is giving me the creeps.” I shudder.
Before Vivi can reply, Karl and Cheryl stop suddenly. “Shhh. Do you hear that?” Karl asks.
“Hear what?” Aurora whispers.
I concentrate, trying to pick up whatever sound spooked them. Vampires have enhanced senses, but wolf shifters can hear and smell things from farther away.
It’s then that I hear a battle cry, and when the wind shifts, I smell spilled blood. I trade a glance with Lucca and Ronan.Fuck.
“Let’s go!” Lucca lifts Vivi into his arms and sprints ahead.
I do the same with Aurora, throwing her over my shoulder caveman style.
“What the hell, Saxon! Put me down.”
“You’re not fast enough.”
The forest becomes a blur, and any complaints Aurora has, I’ll hear about them later. However, thanks to the bond, I know exactly how she feels. She’s pissed.
Within minutes, we reach the edge of the forest and arrive at a scene that makes my blood run cold. The battlefield involves Queen Maewe’s forces against an army with the ability to freeze everything in sight. Fucking great.
“Saxon, put me down. You can’t fight with me in your arms.”
“Right.” I set Aurora down and get ready to engage.
“I see Miranda and Rikkon.” Manu points into the distance.
I look in that direction, and my stomach drops through the earth. Miranda just collapsed to the ground. She’s been hurt.
“Miranda!” Aurora screams, then takes off before I can stop her.
I run after her, and a second later, I realize we have another problem besides getting between two Nightingale armies. The monsters King Raphael helped destroy centuries ago are back. We all believed them to be extinct.
Aurora is too focused on getting to Miranda and doesn’t notice when one of those monsters charges her. I jump, raising my sword with both hands over my head. On my descent, I bring the blade down, cutting the shadowbeast in half. Mysole purpose now is to protect Aurora from beast and asshole Nightingale alike. No one touches my mate. No one.
LUCCA
My pulse is pounding in my ears as I slash my sword left and right, cutting through the bone and muscle of whatever gets in my way. I can’t allow a beast or Nightingale foe to touch a hair on Vivi’s head. The horrifying sound the shadowbeasts make as they attack can put so much fear into someone’s heart that if they aren’t careful, they can become paralyzed. That’s how these aberrations get you.
I wasn’t around when Uncle Raphael fought these monsters, but he told me the gruesome stories. After his armies defeated the shadowbeasts, the Nightingales made them immortals. It was supposed to be a great honor, but it came at a great cost.
Vivi and I finally reach the spot where Miranda fell. A tear-streaked Rikkon has her in his arms.
“What happened?” Aurora asks him.
“A shadowbeast got her. I couldn’t stop it from happening,” he answers through a choke.
Vivi gasps, her eyes widening. “You got your powers back, Rik. You can heal her.”
Wait. Rikkon has healing powers?My head begins to spin. If he can heal, then maybe he can help my uncle.
Rikkon shakes Miranda as her eyes start to shut. “No, don’t go yet. Please.”
“If you can heal her, do it now!” Aurora urges him.
