Page 4

Durin

Farris rushes toward me as soon as I break through the tree line. “I think I know where they are!”

“Show me,” I say, already moving forward even though I don’t know which direction to go.

My body trembles with the pent-up rage and worry I was forced to swallow down all night. I didn’t sleep for a single second. I just paced the length of my room while praying no one could hear my restless footsteps.

As soon as the pink sun showed itself, I threw open my door and stormed out of the castle. No one gave me a second glance.

As we move deeper into the forest, the last thread holding me together begins to fray. Daylor must have stayed close after the queen was done with me. I’ll find a way to repay him for that. But, right now, I have to find Rue.

“It’s a couple of hours from here,” Farris says, squeezing between some bushes. “I tracked the wolf prints. I couldn’t get my eyes on Rue, though. I hit a wall of Alphas every time I tried. They either heard or smelled me no matter what illusion I used.”

He notes my glowing hands and looks at me apologetically. “Sorry, Durin. I don’t have the power you do. I’m no match for even one Alpha. I couldn’t get any closer.”

“Don’t apologize,” I say firmly. “You tracked them down. That has saved me a ton of time. Just get me close. I’ll take care of the Alphas.”

“I’ll illusion us when we get there. Even if they sense you, you’ll have an advantage.”

I nod, and we continue in silence, keeping a steady pace. My chest burns, and my stomach twists, urging me to run instead of walk. But I need to save my energy. From what Farris said about the Alpha wolves, it seems Rue has been taken to a shifter camp. There’s no way of telling how many Alphas will stand in my way.

Farris finally comes to a stop where the trees begin to thin. “Any closer, and they’ll spot us.”

The trees are sparser here. The ground is unnaturally smooth, worn down by the repetitive laps of wolves patrolling their territory. Fresh prints are etched into the damper parts of the dirt, soon to be smoothed over by time. This is definitely the edge of a shifter camp.

“Sprites are everywhere right now, getting frisky,” Farris whispers. “Let’s be sprites again. Don’t worry; I won’t forget your cute little skirt.”

I grunt at his attempt to lighten the mood. Unfortunately, my magic is not amused. I look down at my sprite form as soon as it appears. It’s all very convincing, except for my glowing blue hands. Somehow, my magic has broken through the illusion.

“Shit,” Farris mutters, rubbing a tiny hand over his little sprite face.

“Okay, something that glows then,” I say, scrambling to recall any lesser fae that might get away with glowing hands.

We spend seconds that feel like hours trying to think of something. But all my patience was drained over the long night. I can’t wait any longer.

“Just remove it,” I growl. “Take it off.”

Farris quickly lifts the illusion. I’ll just have to be me and get Rue the fuck out of here. There’s no telling what that sick Prime of hers has done. I can’t leave her with him a second more.

“Stay here, or go home,” I tell Farris. “I don’t want you in the middle of this. It could get ugly.”

I don’t wait for a response, charging deeper into the camp. He’s smart. I know he’ll keep himself safe.

About a minute later, the air feels warmer than it should be. And it’s too quiet. Instinct tells me there’s an Alpha close. He’s sure to be in wolf form, so I keep my gaze low, scanning near the ground for any sign of him. In seconds, he appears in my periphery, but I keep my face pointed straight. Just knowing where he is will be enough.

“I’m not here to hurt you,” I say as I push deeper into the shifter territory. “So, don’t make me. I’m just looking for someone.”

Despite my rage for Rue’s Prime, I’m not planning on harming him or his Alphas. But if they force me, I’ll do whatever’s necessary to get her out of here. I just hope I’m not too late to stop whatever horror she ran from.

I keep going, not even breaking my stride when the Alpha lunges at me. I simply raise my right arm, warning him off with a burst of blue flames. Undeterred, he foolishly continues his attack. He latches onto my wrist as if his drool could snuff it out.

It blazes on, severely burning his snout. A yelp escapes his jaws as he jumps away from me. He begins rubbing his nose in the dirt, trying to dull the pain.

I leave him behind, but I pick up the pace. Alphas heal fast. Ridiculously fast. I may only have seconds before he’s on me again. I’ve got to reach the heart of the camp where the rest of the shifters should be.

The wolf sends out a warning howl ahead of me. Looks like I’ll be facing far more than just one wolf by the time he heals.

I can hear him panting behind me as I charge forward, waiting for his packmates to arrive. It doesn’t take long before two wolves appear on either side of me. One a sleek black, the other a blend of brown and white. Both with sharp fangs and thick fur around their necks to protect their throats.

The only clear path is ahead of me, but I can’t outrun Alpha wolves. My only choice is to use my magic.

Defeating three wolves would be easy. I still don’t want to harm them, though, so I decide to use my magic defensively. I cast a crackling web of blue energy around me, forming a protective barrier between them and myself. The magic pulses intensely, no threat of running out.

I’m no fucking vessel. This magic is mine.

The wolves skid to a halt. Their paws dig into the dirt as they realize the danger they’re facing. They growl and snap in frustration, helplessly watching the intruder close in on their camp. I almost feel bad for them. They’re just trying to protect their pack.

But they didn’t protect Rue when she needed it. They don’t deserve my pity.

The black wolf moves to strike. “Stay back!” I yell, slowing my pace to better anticipate their moves. “I just need Rue.”

The wolf races out in front of me and shifts instead of attacking. “You can’t take Rue,” he says cautiously, eyeing my magic. “She belongs to the Prime.”

That confirms it. Rue really is here.

My heart pounds erratically, knowing I’m so close to finding her. Ignoring the Alpha, I charge forward, desperate to get to her.

The heat from my magic brushes against him as I pass. Leaves and dirt fly up around him as he frantically scrambles backward.

He must shift back after that because, a moment later, three wolves run ahead to warn their leader. I follow in the direction they fled, knowing they’ll lead me where I want to go. More wolves emerge as I get closer, encircling me. But they’re too wary of my magic to attack.

I can almost feel Rue’s presence as I break through the trees into a cleared area filled with tents. I stop, scanning the silent camp to choose which one to search first.

Before I can take a step, a large, angry Alpha appears before me. He stands as tall as me but with a broader frame and fangs the size of my fingers. His power ripples around him in an obvious warning. He might be intimidating if not for my amplified magic.

And my uncontrollable hatred for him.

He’s the Prime. The one who terrified Rue. The one who hunted her down like prey and dragged her back to his camp.

Rue is a treasure. I can’t fault him for wanting her. But he has no right to force his own will upon her. I’m itching to use this lethal magic to punish him for that. But I’d prefer to let Rue give me the order.

I give him a quick once-over with my eyes for his efforts. “You’re certainly impressive,” I tell him. “But I’m here for Rue. I won’t be leaving without her, no matter how powerful you may be.”

The other Alphas stare uneasily at the net of blue energy surrounding me. This arrogant bastard, however, refuses to stand down. If he were any other leader, I might respect him for it. But he needs to understand that today will not be his day for glory.

“It’s not my intention to hurt you. But have no doubt, I won’t think twice if you refuse to let Rue leave with me.”

“What makes you think she wants to leave with you?” he asks, crossing his thick arms over his muscular chest. “Even if it were up to her.”

“Ask her,” I say, hoping he’ll bring her out where I can see her. “Let her speak for herself.”

The smug look that spreads across his face is unsettling.

“Fine,” he agrees. “But don’t be so confident, Consort . I doubt she’d choose to go anywhere with you. Not after learning what an especially revolting fae you turned out to be.”

Rue knows?

The blow hits so hard that my magic nearly falters. The heat wants to withdraw back inside and put my heart out of its misery.

If she does know, then he’s right–she won’t come with me. What am I supposed to do then? Leave her here with this Alpha she despises? Force her to come with me, someone she probably hates just as much?

My magic flares so high at the thought, the Prime has to step back and shield himself from it. But when he recovers, his righteous look returns and makes my decision clear–Rue is coming with me.

She can hate me, but at least she’ll be able to hate us both while enjoying her freedom.

“It doesn’t matter whether she wants to come with me,” I snap. “I know for a fact she doesn’t want to be here with you . Why do you think you had to drag her back? Why do you think she disappeared in the first place?”

A ring of growls rumbles around us. The Alphas step in closer to support their disgraceful leader. Rue was right. This pack is infected. I’d love to clean it out. But my only goal here is to find Rue and get her the fuck away from them.

“Oh, really?” the Prime sneers. “Then why has she spent the past two nights in my bed?” He lifts his chin to the sky and curls his lip at me. “She’s mine, fae. You have no claim to her.”

The strike lands right where he wanted it.

Rue could have changed her mind about him after learning who I really am. He’s powerful, fully capable of protecting her and the pup. He’s not tied to the queen’s bed, but free to dote on her like a good mate should.

Has he become more appealing to her after seeing what a filthy piece of shit I am?

My magic flickers in and out as the drive behind it slips away. What am I worth without Rue? The mission that once defined me feels so trivial now. If I’m not even honorable enough to defeat this loathsome Alpha for Rue’s affection, how can I possibly hope to save an entire realm? And why would I even want to?

“I belong to no one!”

The strength in Rue’s beautiful voice slices through the air, flooding me with relief. She’s okay. And she’s not enamored with this foul beast in front of me.

Everyone turns to look at her, but none are as deeply affected as me. I’m frozen, spellbound by her beauty and the pointy-eared pup nestled in her arms. I watch his little chest rise and fall with each breath. His tiny fingers tangling in her hair.

My fate and future stand in their glory, just out of my reach.

“He’s here,” I whisper.

Rue doesn’t look at me. I wish she’d at least spare me a glance. I’d kill for a hint as to how she feels toward me. But she just clutches our little Vaegon tightly as she glares at the arrogant Prime.

He ignores her, keeping his sights on me. A shadow lurks in his eyes that wasn’t there before. An eerie calm settles over his features, reminiscent of the depraved queen herself.

His tone seems to have shifted significantly after witnessing my reaction to my son.

“You may take the pup,” he says cordially. “He’s the real reason you’re here, isn’t he? Do as you wish with him, but regardless of what Rue claims, she does belong to me.”

Instead of cowering, she takes a courageous step toward him. “No one will take this pup from me. I’ll decide where he belongs.”

I long to reach for her, but my magic still flows from my fingertips. I’d never direct it at her or my son. But there’s no way I’m allowing this Alpha, or anyone else, to get anywhere near them.

Luckily, the queen’s magic has woven so deeply into my own that it readily bends to my will. I can still protect myself as I protect Rue, even from a distance.

I open the front of the barrier I created and extend it outward. Flames spring to life, forming two straight lines in a clear path straight to Rue. Shifters leap aside as the fire races across the ground they’d be standing on.

Rue ignores the flames as they curve protectively around her. Once my barrier is complete, she immediately strides toward me like she expected this all along. I shrink the path as she draws nearer, leaving only a ring of fire around us once she’s by my side.

I peek down at her neck, and one of the knots in my stomach unfolds. She hasn’t been claimed.

The Prime has lost, but he refuses to surrender. Words are the only weapon he has left, but he wields them with deadly precision.

“When the queen finds out you’ve sired a son with someone else, she’ll kill you. Then she’ll kill them both. You pretend to be so noble, protecting the poor shifters, but you’re just another pawn for the queen.”

He’s right. Deceiving Rue makes me no better than them. But what of his own actions? I trust Rue’s judgment. I don’t need the details. This Alpha is just as wretched as me.

“We’ll go with you,” Rue says loudly, pulling my gaze back down to her face. “Thank you for your mercy toward my pack.”

She glances to the side, and I follow her gaze and find her mother being restrained by a large, frustrated Alpha. I open my mouth to demand he let her go, but she gives me a smile and shakes her head. I look over to Rue, hoping she’ll give me the go ahead. But she doesn’t. She narrows her eyes slightly and walks around me.

“Let’s go,” she says.

Neither of them seems to want me to intervene. Regardless of my age or title, I’m in no place to make decisions for Rue and her mother. I reluctantly turn and follow her, leaving her mother behind.

I raise the height of the flames around us so no one could possibly try to attack us from behind. We’re secure.

But as we move away from the camp, I can’t help but worry that I just destroyed any chance I may have had of getting these shifters on my side.