Page 17 of Shifter’s Promise (Devourer of Magic)

Chapter

Thirteen

W hoever our tail was, Jeremiah was in for one hell of a story. And not the kind he’d bargained for. I laughed as we spilled out of the game hall doors. The moon hung high in the sky, the stars winking back at us. Well past midnight.

“I can’t believe she got you, brother,” Aya howled his laughter, not for the first time tonight. He jabbed Taka in the shoulder, worsening the triplet’s scowl.

“Yeah, yeah,” he grumbled.

I flashed a toothy grin. “I said I was sorry.”

Taka met my gaze with narrowed eyes. “You did it on purpose, just admit it.”

I rolled my eyes. “Of course not! It was an accident.”

He pulled his damp, wine-drunk tunic away from his chest. “This is what you call an accident?”

“Of course! I tripped.” I crossed my arms just as the door swung shut behind us, cutting off the noise of the game hall entirely. I narrowed my eyes at the door.

Huh, maybe it is spelled .

“Twinlin wouldn’t dump her entire glass of wine on you on purpose,” Leona reasoned, her iron determination earning a glare from Taka and a smile from me.

“Of course not,” I agreed. But my grin wouldn’t fade. Couldn’t even. Taka’s sour expression was too funny after all the shit they put me through in one night.

“They do say fate is a fickle mistress,” Aya tsked with a shake of his head.

“Unbelievable,” Taka grumbled. He marched ahead, his strides widening as did the space between us.

“C’mon, brother, don’t be like that!” Aya called after him.

“I’ll get him.” Raxa sighed and strode after his brother.

Aya shook his head once more. “Always the biggest brat, that one.”

I exchanged a look with Leona before we both burst into laughter.

Aya’s eyes rounded. “What? What I say?”

Our fit continued until the unfamiliar scuff of leather on dirt had my hackles rising.

We’re not alone.

Cold flew over me in a wave, taking with it every ounce of warm joy the night had given me. Leona and Aya were steps behind. Their laughter ceased as a shadowed figure stepped out of the alley nestled between the game hall and a closed shop.

A growl split the silence, Leona taking a step forward, hand on the hilt of her massive greatsword. “Who goes there? ”

The cloaked figure stilled, maybe rethinking their advance.

Aya reacted faster than I, circling until he’d put himself between the alleymouth and the newcomer.

My heart raced, fingers clasping the air for a weapon I didn’t carry.

I took a deep breath to calm myself. I didn’t need a weapon anymore—I wasn’t a collared slave deprived of my beast—now I was the weapon.

Claws sliding out, I took a step forward, standing side by side with my mate.

“Speak quickly.” Cold, firm words that didn’t reveal the anxiety thrumming beneath my skin.

The figure startled and trembled before slowly reaching for their hood.

“No funny business,” Leona rumbled. One of her feet slid back, her body arching, ready to draw her massive blade.

The figure shook harder, but finally, dainty fingers grasped the edge of the hood and flipped it back. Familiar black hair descended over slender shoulders, twin yellow flames peeking out behind thick lashes.

“Twinlin?” Her soft voice was exactly as I remembered.

Before Leona could reach for me, I raced forward and trapped her in my arms.

“Willow!” I cried. Her body softened against mine, the tension leaking out of her as she embraced me. “My friend,” I breathed against her hair, tears pricking my eyes. “You’re alive.”

Willow hiccuped against my shoulder, fingers digging into my clothes and skin. “So are you. I-I’m so glad. I never thought…” She sighed, sagging with relief. “You’re alive.”

Nodding against her, we clung to each other for several long moments, two slaves reunited under the free light of the moon.

I hadn’t seen my friend in over five years. The last time had been the day of Gina’s death. Only a few hours later, I was sent away. Eventually I wound up at Elherd’s manor. I left everything behind that day—unwillingly—to face a new tormentor.

After several minutes of clinging to one another, I finally pulled back. When I gazed into her pale face, there wasn’t a single bruise, scrape or smudge of coal on her skin. If it weren’t for her intense black hair and vivid yellow eyes, I might not have recognized her.

Holding her face in my hands, I smiled. “You made it out.”

Willow nodded through the tears streaming down her cheeks. “I was saved.”

I froze, images of an ice wolf with crystalline blue eyes flashing in my mind’s eye. “When? How?”

Willow smiled a watery grin. “A week ago, maybe. Wolves raided the lord’s mansion and freed us all. They even helped us get back to Auroi.”

“The same happened to me,” I said.

Her eyes flew wide. “What?”

I grinned, a feral smile. “A powerful ice wolf tore through Lord Elherd’s manor.” I paused. “That’s where I was moved to after—” I cut myself off, biting my lip.

“After… Gina?” Willow asked tentatively.

My hands dropped and my stomach turned. Cold sweat descended my spine as I shot a nervous glance at Leona, who stared at me in confusion. Guilt twisted my gut.

“Yeah,” I said. “After Gina died.”

Willow’s brows furrowed, completely oblivious. “There was nothing you could have done, Twin. After all this time, you must know that.”

I sighed. “I should have done more.”

She grabbed my arms, fingers digging in painfully. “There was nothing you could do when those monsters decided to kill your mate!” Her voice echoed in my ears. “We were collared and caged. You did everything you could.”

The pain in my arms was nothing compared to the ache in my chest. The pain that never quite left.

“Mate?” Leona’s voice sent another dagger through my heart.

Fuck . I should have been the one to tell her. She shouldn’t be finding out from what amounted to a stranger.

I swallowed thickly, tears prickling the backs of my eyes. No matter how much I willed them back, water still flooded them. I could only meet Leona’s startled gaze for a moment before I couldn’t bear it. Looking at the cobblestone street, I nodded.

Willow looked between us all, a silent confusion.

“Sorry, Twinlin. I shouldn’t be… I shouldn’t have said that out here.

” In front of mixed company . That’s what she meant.

She didn’t know Aya or Leona or what our relationship was like.

But it wasn’t her fault. She was only happy to see me after half a decade .

“You didn’t do anything wrong,” I said sternly. My hands balled into fists, a million emotions sweeping through me.

“You had a mate before?” Aya asked, both concerned and curious. Most likely because I was still alive. The loss of a mate wasn’t exactly easy to move past. Most lost their lives in the fight.

“A long time ago,” I said. A gentle breeze pulled at my braids, not having the strength to lift them entirely. It felt like the perfect metaphor for my heart. I might not be strong enough to lift this burden, but I was strong enough to lift others. “It’s in the past.”

Willow wrapped an arm around my shoulders, patting me awkwardly. “She’ll always be with you, Twin.”

I nodded, not knowing what else to say. A long moment of tense silence passed before Willow cleared her throat.

“Now that I know you’re alive, there’s something you should know.”

Finally, I raised my gaze to meet hers. She winced at whatever look I’d given her. Brow setting in determination, she squeezed my shoulders.

“Are these two trustworthy?” She glanced between Aya and Leona.

Leona, certainly. Aya… I’d give him a pass after all I’d learned. “Yes.”

Willow nodded before leaning in next to my ear. Her voice dropped low enough so that only the three of us could discern her whisper. “There’s a rebellion forming beneath the city. ”

I reeled on her with wide eyes. Rebellion?!

She hushed me before I could say anything. “And we want you to join us.”

“Rebels?!” Taka yowled before Raxa slammed a hand over his mouth.

“Shut the fuck up!” I growled low in my throat. “Do you want the entire capital to hear you?”

Taka mumbled through Raxa’s hand until he removed it. “I’m just saying, this all seems a little sudden!”

“Are you sure we can trust these guys?” Willow deadpanned. With her hood back up, her yellow eyes glowed in the darkness of the alley.

I probably paused longer than necessary, but mostly just to fuck with Taka again.

“Yes. I trust them for the most part.”

“For the most part?!” Taka snapped, only to receive Raxa's hand once more.

“If you don’t be quiet, I’m sending you home.” I narrowed my eyes at the male until he returned my glare.

“You’re not my mom,” Taka grumbled once Raxa freed him.

“Then don’t make me act like it,” I countered.

We continued our staredown until Aya of all people raised his hands to quell our argument. “Hey, let’s calm down. Willow has barely told us anything.”

He was right. Once Willow dropped the bomb about the rebellion, we quickly slipped into a more secluded alley. It wasn’t moments later that Taka and Raxa returned. We had to explain everything again, though I was grateful Aya left out the part about Gina.

The black-haired panther nodded. “I agree, you should calm down. We don’t want to draw any unwanted attention to ourselves.”

“Right,” I agreed.

“Fine,” Taka sighed. “I’ll be good.”

I reached up to mockingly pat his head, but he quickly drew back with another glare and a quick fuck off . I grinned, tauntingly wiggling my fingers in his direction before finally settling down.

“All right, now that we’re all back together,” I said. “Willow, what can you tell us?”

Her yellow gaze darted between each male. Seeming to accept they were safe enough, she nodded and turned to meet my gaze once more. “You might as well just come with me. I can show you where everyone is staying.”

I tilted my head slightly. “Staying?”

“Everyone?” Taka asked.

Willow nodded as she took a step toward the alleymouth. “Our headquarters is nearby. Most of the former slaves and their families are living there right now.”

“Is it safe to keep them all together like that?” I followed her back to the street where she adjusted her hood down over her forehead.

“There isn’t really a better option,” Willow stated simply. “They don’t feel safe on the streets they were taken from. ”

I hummed my understanding. If I hadn’t had my family, home and clan to return to, I had no idea where I’d have gone or what I’d have done. I was lucky compared to many of the slaves whose families had been decimated in their kidnapping.

“Where exactly is this headquarters?” Leona asked, her voice an emotionless rumble.

Ever since Gina’s name crossed Willow’s lips, Leona had barely said a word.

Her face, wiped clean of emotion, her voice the same.

Even though she stuck close, and stayed with us, she didn’t reach out with the little touches I’d come to expect.

It was as if a wall had slammed down between us. A wall named Gina.

My fingers twitched at my side as my mind raced. Was she mad I hadn’t told her about Gina? Was she upset it had been someone else who voiced it when I couldn’t? I glanced over my shoulder, but Leona’s gaze was firmly planted ahead.

Shit . Did I already mess this up?

“Beneath the streets,” Willow said cryptically.

I had a feeling she meant that literally. How is that possible?

“And this is somehow enough space for how many beastkin?” Aya interjected.

“A few dozen,” Willow said. “But enough with the questions. We’re here.”

The panther shifter stopped at the juncture between two of Auroi’s most popular daytime streets.

One, the main drag through the city, from the forest’s edge straight to the palace.

The other, a road cutting in the opposite direction, from the meadows of the north to the Hyperion Cliffs of the south.

Despite the hour, a few beastkin walked the cobblestone streets.

“I don’t mean to doubt you…” I began.

Willow laughed before motioning us after her.

She joined the shadows behind one of the corner stores, sticking to the hedges trimmed along the front.

It wasn’t until we reached a small enclosed patio out back that I realized no one could peer into this area at all.

The walls rose too high on all sides, including the hedge that shadowed the entrance to this place.

Lattice blocked the light of the moon overhead, thick leafy vines curling through it.

“Handy,” Aya commented.

Leona hushed the triplet, who grumbled something under his breath before a soft umph let me know someone had elbowed him.

My lips twitched but my gaze tracked Willow’s every move until she’d pulled a wall of greenery off the corner store’s back wall. Behind it, a wooden door edged in rusted iron. Willow produced an old key from her cloak before unlocking it. As soon as it swung open, darkness glared back.

I exchanged a quick look with my companions. That shadowed tunnel could lead us into the depths of the Underworld for all I knew.

“Watch your step,” Willow instructed. “There will be lights further down.”

Without waiting for our reply, she melded with the darkness—completely out of sight.

My heartbeat picked up speed as I stared into the black. It reminded me so much of the basements I’d been forced into that my body went rigid at the thought of entering.

“Well?” Taka said, prodding my arm when I didn’t move. “Are you going?”

I swallowed hard and nodded mechanically. There wasn’t much of a choice, was there? Taking deep breaths, I reminded myself where I was. Auroi. The capital. I wasn’t entering a slaver’s dungeon. I was descending into the bowels of the rebellion.

I had to remember that.

Finally, I pushed forward.