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A second later I realize Ishouldn’tsense her. Our magic is too incompatible. The weak bond between us thrums, and through it I sensedistress. Immense distress.

The world around me darkens.

My gaze snaps to the castle, where I can now vaguely sense her, and my eyes narrow.

Spreading my wings wide, I soar into the sky a moment later, following the faint pull of my connection to Callie. The darkness moves with me, swarming along the edges of the palace grounds and dimming the fae lights until they’re nothing more than a memory.

I move to the invisible barrier that bars me entrance into the Fauna palace. While I can’t see it, I can sense the ward arcing over the royal grounds in a perfect dome.

Must get to her.

Pulling a fist back, I begin to hammer against the barrier that separates me from the keep.

THWUMP! THWUMP! THWUMP!The sound of my blows pulsate through the night.

It doesn’t take long for the Fauna soldiers to react. Between the thick shadows that have curled themselves around the outskirts of the palace and the sonic booms of each successive blow, they know someone’s trying to breach their castle.

But cloaked in darkness as I am, they can’t see me.

I strike the magical barrier again and again, putting my power into it. Each time I feel the wards give a little more.

THWUMP—THWUMP—THWUMP!

Got to get to her.

THWUMP—THWUMP!

The primal need is stirring me into a frenzy.

Now that I can hear Callie’s essence, each note of her call is getting increasingly dire.

I throw all that I’ve got into the hits, barely aware that my knuckles are splitting and my blood is dripping down the ward and onto the ground.

Finally the guards on duty spot where I’m trying to enter. On the other side of the barrier they run towards me, weapons drawn. The shit thing about wards is that while things can’t pass from my side into theirs, things can move from their side into mine—namely arrows. The soldiers notch them into their bows then let them fly. One—two—three—four whiz by me. More follow, until the night air is filled with the hushed zipping sound of them.

I grunt as an arrow hits me in the shoulder. Another thumps into my side.

Bound to happen with that many soldiers taking aim at me.

I don’t slow my ministrations. Beneath my fist I sense the ward growing brittle. I strike it again and again.

With a crack, it finally shatters, the magic rippling across the dome as the ward disintegrates.

I’m in!I almost roar with my feral triumph.

I dissipate into the darkness just as a barrage of arrows shoot past me. Those that were buried in my flesh fall harmlessly to the ground.

In this form it’s hard to focus on my connection to Callie; now more than ever our magic is incompatible. But I’m near enough to her to hone in on her essence.

I manifest outside Karnon’s throne room. This section of the castle grounds is warded once more against me.

Fucker knew I’d be coming for my mate.

Inside, I can hear Callie’s screams. It breaks something inside me.

Never borne such agony!It feels like someone is ripping the flesh from my bones.

Karnon did this.