Page 28 of Queen of the Crimson Throne (Queen of Blood and Stardust #2)

28

LUKA

LENNOX.

Nothing. There was nothing on the other side of the connection. It had gone dark. I couldn’t feel, hear, or even sense Lennox like I had been able to since she spoke that spell over us.

Something was wrong

Something was very wrong.

I swiped at another mutated creature in front of me. Wiping the rotted green blood from my face with the back of my arm.

I needed to get to Lennox.

Something had happened to her. She needed my help.

“What’s wrong?” Declan killed another monster, his sword arcing through the air gracefully. The creatures kept coming and coming in a constant stream.

“It’s Lennox. She’s not responding,” I told him as I swiped toward another creature.

“I’m sure she’s busy fighting her own monsters.” Nico shifted back from his silver wolf form.

I shook my head. “No. I can’t feel anything from her. Something is wrong. I need to go find her.” I know something is wrong.

“There’s no way you’ll find them,” Declan pressed. “They’ve been in there for hours, Luce and Kara have her. ”

“How do you know that?” I killed another monster that came toward me.

“I can ask Luce,” Nico offered.

“Please,” I pleaded.

I cut down another creature, keeping an eye on Nico out of the corner of my eye. The knot in my stomach twisted when his face paled.

“What?” I pressed. Blood sprayed as Nico’s ax met its mark.

“Tell me Nico or I’ll—” The wolf shuttered as he closed his eyes and took a deep breath before opening them again.

“Lennox got hit hard. She took several hard blows and passed out. Luce and Kara are still fighting off the monsters; they can’t get to her yet.”

Panic seized my body. I removed my sword from my latest kill. My mind already made up.

“I’m going after her,” I declared.

“You are not,” Declan bit out.

“The only thing that will keep me from going to her is if I pass out myself.”

“Luka,” Delcan growled. I knew he was considering it.

I took off running into the cave before he could act. “Luka!” I ignored Nico as I charged forward, drawing a flame to my palm.

Lennox needed me, nothing would stop me from getting to her.

I tore through the tunnels. When I came to the first divide in the paths I didn’t think twice before continuing—my body seemed to know where I was heading. It knew what to do. At least I hoped it did, otherwise I was fucked.

Delcan was already going to kill me for going alone. If I didn’t even make it to Lennox and I got myself lost here I’d never forgive myself. I’d gladly rot here in this cave.

The cave kept going on and on. I was starting to think I’d gotten lost .

I stopped when I came to another crossing. I panted, placing my hand against the wall.

I needed to find her. Who knew what was happening? She could be dead, torn to shreds by those monsters.

I shuddered.

I couldn’t think that way. I would find her.

I closed my eyes, straining for any remaining shred of the bond that would link me to her.

There.

It was a tiny pull, maybe I was making it up, but it was there. It was something. A tug urging me toward the left.

I pushed off the wall and jogged down the path.

Maybe I was delusional, but I was going to follow any inkling if it might lead me toward Lennox.

The sound of fighting traveled down the path.

It was them.

I picked up my pace, coming face to face with Kara and Luciana as they fought off the last of the creatures. There was an orb of flames in the corner, illuminating the space in a dim glow.

Five or six creatures were already slain, lying in heaps on the ground, pools of blood surrounding them. They were different from the ones outside. The creatures at the mouth of the cave were mutations of creatures, but they only had one head. These creatures—they were utterly disturbing.

Blood pooled on the ground, splashing up over my boots as I ran through it.

Kara’s eyes met mine over the three-headed monster, green blood was splattered over her face and panic , there was panic in her eyes.

“She’s behind us.”

I continued through the wreckage, scanning for Lennox.

There , she was lying against the wall, eyes still closed.

“Lennox. ”

I leapt over the bodies of the monsters, making my way toward her.

Her dagger lay in her open palm like she held onto it until the last moment.

I knelt beside her, my fingers instantly going to her neck.

Her pulse fluttered under my fingers. Alive . Her pulse was weak, but she was still alive.

For now.

“Lennox, wake up.” I shook her lightly, but still nothing. Not even a flutter of her eyes or a stir on her features.

I scanned her body for injuries. There were slashes through the fabric of her leathers on one arm, revealing four gashes that were starting to stitch themselves back together. Good. She’s healing. That’s good. My eyes roamed lower, snagging on the dark patch on her leg. Several puncture wounds oozed blood. Astria’s tits.

My stomach pitched. A wound of that caliber would need more than her natural healing abilities.

I brushed the hair out of her face. Blood was splattered across her features, but she still looked so beautiful even with the several small cuts painted on her skin. Good thing the creatures were already dead.

I scooped her up in my arms, grabbing her discarded dagger and sheathing it at my side. She was limp in my arms as I made my way to Kara and Luciana who were removing their weapons from the dead monsters in front of them.

“Is she okay?” Kara’s voice was thick with concern.

“Her smaller wounds appear to be healing, but the larger wound on her leg isn’t, and she’s still not waking up.”

“Put her down,” Luciana directed. “I can heal her.”

I shook my head. “I’m not letting her go.” Luciana and Kara shared a look before Luciana turned her attention back to me.

“Fine, but will you sit at least?”

I looked around until I found a spot against the wall of the cave that wasn’t covered in blood. Carefully I lowered myself to the ground, still holding Lennox’s limp body against my chest.

Luciana and Kara knelt in front of me. Luciana placed her hands on Lennox’s wound.

“It might take a while.” She met my stare.

My body felt numb. “Promise me you can heal her.”

“I don’t like to make promises,” Luce swallowed, “But I am a damn good witch, Luka.”

Luce’s hands glowed as she pushed her magic into Lennox’s body. I had to remind myself to breathe as I waited for any indication what Luciana was doing was working.

I didn’t know how much time had passed. We were all silent as we waited. Silent tears streaked down Kara’s face as she stared at her sister. She didn’t attempt to wipe them away as they made tracks through the green blood crusting her face.

Slowly the color came back to Lennox’s features, easing the pressure in my chest slightly.

I held my breath as I waited for her to open her eyes.

Please, Lennox . I pushed the words through the faint bond between us—if there even was one anymore. The spell could be gone for all I knew.

Lennox, wake up. Please .

I stroked her hair, letting my hand move to her cheek, my finger dragging over her blood-speckled skin as I held her tighter against me.

“C'mon, Sweetheart.”

Her eyelids fluttered, causing a spark of hope to flicker in my chest.

They fluttered again, this time they opened and I was met with those emerald eyes.

Her brows pinched. “Luka?”

I forced a relaxed smile onto my face. “Hey, I’m here.” My voice stuck in my throat.

“You’re here? What happened?”

“You let those creatures get the best of you, but Luciana healed you.” I looked up at Luciana, giving her a smile. “You’re all good now.”

She shifted in my arms, wincing slightly. “I must have got hit hard. My body fucking hurts.”

“I healed your injuries, but you might be stiff for a couple of hours,” Luciana told her.

“Thank you,” She rasped.

Lennox shifted again, moving to sit up.

I banded an arm around her waist and took one of her hands in mine as I helped her stand.

Lennox looked around. “How did you get here?”

“Yeah,” Kara and Luce echoed. “It took us a long time to find our way here, you made it here only minutes after I told Nico Lennox was hurt.”

“You told Nico I was hurt?”

“Luka made him ask about you.”

“Our connection quieted. I couldn’t hear you or sense you at all. I knew something was wrong, I had Nico confirm it. Once I knew you were hurt, I somehow made my way here.” I scrubbed my hand over the back of my neck. “I can’t explain it, but I knew where to go and before I knew it I was here.”

“Interesting.” Luciana mused as she flipped her braids over her shoulders. “Well, I guess you’re stuck with us now, vampire. Ready for another adventure?”

Luciana gestured behind her, my mouth falling open at the hole in the wall that hadn’t been there before. A smile curved up the witch heir’s face. “Because we passed the next test.”