Page 30 of Scales and Seduction (Monster Match #1)

T he street is utter pandemonium. The moment we step out of the club, the acrid smell of smoke mingles with the metallic tang of blood. The haven of the Vale, once filled with vibrant life and laughter, is in ruins. Fires burn unchecked, casting orange and black smog into the air. The scent of fresh-baked bread from the bakery three doors down has been replaced by the reeking scent of decay.

Noodles strides ahead in his enormous shifted form. My throat feels tight, and my thoughts are focused on a singular purpose, to get Ruby to safety. She’s human and fragile in a way that the rest of us aren’t. Every attack, every clash of magic sends my fear spiraling higher. The thought of her being hurt makes me unable to breathe. It’s a weight against my chest, pressing me down. I can’t lose her. Not now, not ever.

I can feel her pulse against my tail as I pull her along the sidewalk, thumping in an odd rhythm, likely from her own terror. Her silence has done nothing to ease my fears, and for just a moment, I pause, allowing her to her feet. “Ruby, are you alright?” My hand tenderly lies against her cheek, hating the way unshed tears bubble in her eyes.

“I…I’m okay,” she stammers, her trembling fingers against mine. “I just want to get out of here.”

Noodles halts ahead, his molten red eyes cutting through the darkness as he glances at us with annoyance. No time for that…MOVE! he growls urgently in my head.

Reluctantly, I allow my hand to drop from her cheek, though I clasp her hand in mine immediately. I refuse to let her go. Ruby meets my gaze with a hesitant look, her lips thinning into a tense line as she squeezes my hand.

“Alright, Noodles,” I call back. “We’re coming.”

As we pass one of the alleyways that leads down into the valley, various feline eyes glint in the darkness. A low, rumbling roar rises above the chaos as Noodles greets several blood-covered shifters. They’re battered, covered in decay from fighting off draugr.

We may have bought more time, one of the felines with a feminine voice resounds in my head as she bows her head toward Noodles.

He inclines his head. Keep moving; they may have cleared our way forward, but for every one we manage to stop, another sprouts its disgusting head. Noodles’ voice is insistent as he gives us no time to utter another word before he’s stalking down the alley.

As we weave our way through alley after alley, I catch sight of Night Weavers—the Underdark’s protection force. They wear sleek black armor and move with swift, unnatural precision. The three I see tear through draugr with efficiency, as their black carapaces glint in the light. For a moment, relief dampens my panic. My allies, regardless of our marital promise broken, are here to protect the Vale.

Ruby clutches closer as the rotten blood splatters against the driders’ armor. The town has become a warzone instead of the calming, warm home I’ve come to love.

“They don’t act on their own,” one of the Night Weavers hisses as he kicks at the pile of bones with his leg.

The other nods solemnly. “It’s odd that all of their bodies are elven.”

Elven? If they’re elven, then they’re not from the Underdark. Loran’s hypothesis can’t be correct. It doesn’t matter; we’ll have to discuss it later.

We sneak past them in a twisting path. Some of the werecats split off from our party, when necessary, as if to keep any attackers from following us. I can hear the slashing of swords behind the buildings and draugr screams as more and more are cut down. My only solace is that, above the ridge of buildings, I can see the oak canopy that leads to the bridge and my cottage. My heart leaps in my throat at the sight, knowing the moment we’re in the cottage, I’m placing wards on every door and window to bar anything and anyone with ill intentions outside of it.

We turn a corner and, in an instant, I see three draugr shambling down one of the alleys toward us. One of them is missing part of his forearm as it dangles precariously from a bit of decaying flesh, and the other two look to be in sorry states. “Keep moving!” I bark, hurling a pulse of light toward the two draugr, sending them crashing to the ground.

I tighten my grip on Ruby’s wrist, pulling her closer against my side. “Go!”

We’re nearly past the heaps of shattered bones and decay when a sharp whistle cuts through the air. My heart stops. Before I can react, Ruby’s scream pierces the air. Her body jerks forward, and for a terrifying moment, her fingers slip from mine. I lunge, snatching her back to me before she can hit the ground. “Ruby!”

I glance backward to the offending source of her pain and see a draugr with an arrow notched with a smirk on his drooping face.

Noodles lets out a ferocious growl, the sound reverberating through the air. His fur bristles as he charges the archer in a frenzy. The other werecats press in close, their bodies creating a wall of protection around the two of us.

I hear the sound of another arrow pulling backward from the bowstring. Instinct takes over as a surge of protectiveness floods through me. I turn my back to it, bracing for pain as I cover Ruby’s limp body, shielding her. Suddenly, there’s a snarling, and the arrow whizzes past us, hitting another zombie in the throat.

You may not harm my mother! Noodles’ guttural voice resounds in my head, filled with agony. The archer’s blood-curdling scream is brutal and then suddenly quieted by the ripping of skin. I realize the assault is over—at least for now.

Ruby’s face has lost all color. Her eyes are filled with tears, and there’s a wrinkle in her forehead as her eyebrows draw together. She breathes shallowly as she pushes through pain. “Hurts…God…fuck.”

Embedded in her shoulder is a black arrow tipped in a dark, glistening, and revoltingly smelly substance. It’s poison, and I can feel magic radiating from it. There’s something unnatural to it.

My jaw clenches tightly as my eyes dart around, frantically searching in the chaos. Everything feels like a threat as adrenaline surges through my veins.

“Honey, don’t move.” My voice betrays me, cracking as I see the arrow protruding from her back and her blood dripping down her pale skin. Latching on to her, I shift her into my arms, holding her against me ever so carefully, so as not to disturb the arrow or skin on her back.

“Don’t worry…not moving.” Her voice is weak, and her eyes close pitifully, but she plasters a fake smile on her face all for my sake. My heart hammers so hard, it drowns out the noise around me as the scent of her blood and magic clings to the air.

I swallow hard, forcing back my rising panic. There’s no time for my fears or room for emotion. I need to stay sharp and protect my mate. “Noodles, go find Loran; get him to the cottage as soon as possible!” I command.

I don’t need him to interrogate one of the draugr. I need his herbal specialties to keep my mate alive. I refuse to lose her. She is mine from now until the end of time, and I refuse to let anything harm her.

Allow the rest of my clan to follow you to the cottage. I will return with both of your friends, Noodles’ voice says in my head. Hurry. Please keep my human mother alive.

All I manage to do is telepathically respond, “I will. I swear.”

As his footsteps fade, I rise to full height, straighten my shoulders, and jut my chin forward. In this moment, I am the Prince of Acadia, not Gideon. “LET’S GO!”

Ruby’s pain is an anchor driving me to rush toward the cottage. Her weight feels heavier with each passing moment as she drifts in and out of consciousness. I can feel her body growing colder and colder against my scales.

The attack was calculated, a targeted strike with a specific purpose. They wanted to hurt Ruby, of that I’m certain. As I carry her to safety, the looming vision of my cabin in my sights, my thoughts are only, if I find the mastermind of this attack, I’ll pull their intestines from their body, which I’ll use as a noose to hang them—just for fun.