Page 18 of The Darkest Knight (The Cursed Kingdom #3)

Chapter Eighteen

“ W here is he?” Devina approached Padriag, her onyx black eyes boring into him. She kept moving forward ignoring his sword which was pointed directly at her heart. “Where is Niall?”

Padriag wasn’t sure how the demon knew Niall’s name, but he wasn’t about to volunteer information. “Why do you ask about Niall?” he asked instead.

Her dark eyes narrowed and she locked gazes with him for a long moment before her gaze swept over him at a leisurely pace. It made him want to throw up.

“I ask because he belongs to me,” she finally replied, continuing to take his measure.

“We don’t know where he is,” Liam replied, causing her to finally turn her attention away from Padriag.

Devina sneered. “Of course you know where he is. I know the three of you have a bond of sorts. Tell me or die.”

Her attention on Liam gave Padriag an opportunity to mull over what she’d said. That Niall belonged to her. What did that mean?

Devina crossed her arms, her expression softening. It raised the hairs on Padriag’s nape. “Either tell me where he is or one of you will take his place and come to me nightly in your sleep.”

On the surface, her threat didn’t seem that bad, but something about her strange behavior, surrounding them with wolves, not to mention she was Meliot’s relative, made him sure these nightly visits wouldn’t be pleasurable.

“How long has Niall been going to you?” Liam asked with his usual even tone and bored expression.

Devina pursed her lips. That she answered was surprising. “Almost as long as you’ve been here in the alter-world.”

Good god that explained so much. No wonder Niall was always in a bad mood, sullen and withdrawn. That was why the man rarely slept, and had tried to stay awake most nights until he was too tired to fight it.

“If one of us volunteers, will you free him?” Padriag asked. He may as well do it since he was pretty convinced he was stuck here. Niall didn’t deserve this, even if the man didn’t leave the alter-world. He’d take his place for the time they had left.

Devina’s gaze swept over him again. “I suppose you’d do. You’re young and well endowed.” Her eyes lingered exactly at the spot she referred to.

Padriag elbowed Liam. “Told you.”

“This is not a time to joke,” Liam replied. “What the hell are you doing? Don’t volunteer for anything.”

“Why? Do you want to do it?” Padriag asked.

A growl interrupted their banter, and Padriag realized Devina and the wolves had closed in.

He looked to the beautiful evil being and smiled. “Since we’re going to be friends, shouldn’t you call off your dogs?”

Straight, even white teeth were revealed when she smiled back. “No, I don’t think so. Part of the visits always include a bit of pain. I think I would like to see the both of you mauled. After which I will heal one of you, outwardly only. Perhaps then we will have sex.”

“And you expect the man to be aroused. Hmm,” Padriag said frowning at Devina. “I can tell you’re related to Meliot.”

“Attack!” Devina screamed.

Niall could barely dematerialize. Despite the pull, it was as if he was stuck halfway between the realms.

He wasn’t even sure where exactly he should go. He pictured Padriag and Liam and hoped for the best. Finally, the familiar vortex of darkness pulled him in.

The ice crunched under his boots when he appeared. Disoriented, he scanned his surroundings not sure which direction to go. In the sky, two suns were setting, which told him the direction of Atlandia. He began the trek, hoping not to be far from the castle walls so he could avoid Meliot’s sentinels or dying of exposure.

Growls echoed, followed by yelling, the voices male. He rushed to a tree and peered around to see what the commotion was about. His eyes widened.

Liam and Padriag fought back-to-back against about a dozen black wolves while Devina watched transfixed. The men seemed to be at a disadvantage. The wolves had some sort of ward of protection around them. Probably Devina’s doing.

Both Liam and Padriag were bleeding from bites, but neither seemed to be ready to give up. He drew his sword and rushed out towards them.

At first, his sword seemed to bounce off the first animal he tried to hit, but his second attempt was successful.

“Don’t swing the swords,” he called to his friends. “Jab at them.”

When two wolves fell dead, the rest became wary, circling and waiting for an opening instead, their confidence shaken. The trio of men did the opposite, attacking with more aggression.

A snowstorm began, the sleet falling hard, pelting them vigorously. Devina still watched, leaning forward enjoying the howls of pain from either human or beast. Niall stalked toward her. She was the reason he’d lost Tamara, the reason he’d never be free. The woman would not kill his friends too.

“Call the beasts off,” he demanded nearing her, seeing her eyes narrow.

She waved her hands, probably warding against his sword.

“Call them off now Devina.”

Her lips curved up, and she looked beyond him to the fight. “He speaks. It’s been years since you’ve spoken to me.”

She shrugged her shoulder, a demure movement. “Why should I call them off? I’m enjoying the fight.” Her eyes turned back to him, her glare full of venom. “So you have returned. Was she not as exciting as I am?”

He swung his sword aiming for her neck. Although warded, her eyes widened. Her hand flew up, an automatic reflex. The blade bounced back off her protective shield.

Niall lifted his eyebrows, “Not fully confident in your wards, demon?”

With a loud screech, she waved her right hand, and he flew through the air, landing a few feet from where Liam and Padriag held off the remaining wolves. Both seemed to be tiring.

Padriag looked over at him. “She’s mad at you.”

On his feet again, he stalked back to the woman. “Let them go. It’s me you want. I’ll stay with you.”

Devina cocked her head to the side. “It’s too late. The red-haired knight has volunteered to take your place. I think he will be an eager lover.” She watched as Padriag leaped back to avoid a dog’s bite. “I just might put him in a cage with three wolves tonight before taking him. He has quick reflexes.”

“You will do no such thing. He is not taking my place.”

“Jealous?” she replied, a bored expression on her face. The fight, it seemed, was not bloody enough for her.

Her eyes snapped back to him. “I am no longer interested in you. You are to die here. Meliot will see to it. I will ask him to gift me Padriag and maybe the blonde one as well.”

Rage filled Niall and he yelled, charging towards her, his sword pointing at her heart. Devina held both hands up, no doubt strengthening her ward, but his hit was so direct, she fell backwards.

He jabbed at her, but the protective shield deflected each deathblow, which enraged him further.

Devina jumped up and threw a fireball at him that knocked him against a tree so hard; he knew at least two ribs broke. That did not deter him from rushing her again. This time, when they clashed, she screamed, shocked that he could hit so hard against her ward.

“Watch out behind you!” Padriag yelled.

Niall turned to find two wolves snarling, one was able to bite his calf before he could react. The thud of his sword hitting the beast’s side was followed by the animal’s death howl. The other wolf flew at his chest knocking him flat on his back. He was able to block a bite to his throat with his arm.

He barely felt the bite or the broken ribs. He’d had plenty of training in degrees of pain, thanks to Devina. The current ones were nothing compared to the years of torture he’d endured in her dungeon. He managed to thrust the beast off of him, hitting the animal’s head with the hilt of his sword.

The wolf scrambled to his feet and circled. Devina’s amused laughter rang out. Of course she would find his bleeding entertaining. Niall was waiting for the wolf’s next attack when he was hit from behind, a direct blow to his nape that knocked him to his knees.

Reeling, he tried to keep focus, barely keeping the sword up. The wolf locked gazes with him, but for some reason did not advance. Devina stepped in front of him. His head swam—he was losing consciousness.

Niall attempted to lift his sword but was too weak from the last hit. His body refused to obey, a streak of pain radiating through his head.

Padriag and Liam tried to run to him, but snarling wolves blocked them. The men began to fight, but as tired as they were, Niall hoped they could at least defend themselves.

Devina grabbed his sword from his limp hands. “It’s a shame really. I had plans for us, for a future together. I have to kill you now. I will be sad, but with your friend’s help, I will get over any grief.” She actually seemed troubled.

Devina lifted the sword. “I’ll make this quick. After all the years of prolonging your agony, why not this farewell gift.”

The sword moved toward him and Niall closed his eyes, in spite of everything, he felt ready. His lips curved into a smile, and he waited for death.

The hit didn’t register, he fell forward, his body totally limp. A horse whinnied in the distance; instinctively he knew it was his steed, Valor.

Screams sounded, he wasn’t sure who it was, and then nothing—complete and total darkness.

Finally, he was free.

The wolves had driven them back until they were unable to go far. The thick bark of trees touched their backs.

Both of Padriag’s arms burned from exertion as he continued to jab his sword toward the wolves that seemed to multiply. When one fell, another would materialize and take its place.

Screams sounded, but he couldn’t look. Turning away would give a wolf an opening to attack. Padriag prayed that Niall was continuing to hold his own against Devina. There was little he or Liam could do to help him at the moment.

“Niall, you okay?” Padriag called out. When no answer came, he exchanged looks with Liam, who was bleeding from his right shoulder.

Suddenly, the wolves stopped their attack and backed away. The largest one’s silver eyes locked on Padriag with interest.

The wolf gave a short growl, and all of the wolves turned and trotted into the woods, disappearing into the mist.

“What in the bloody hell?” Liam gave him a questioning look.

As one, both swung around to check on Niall.

He lay in the snow, bleeding profusely from a wound to the neck. His horse nudged at him with its nose, and pawed at the ground, his hoof staining the ground red.

Padriag rushed to Niall. Only then did he notice Devina. Or what was left of her a short distance away.

Shocked, he studied the horse. Both of the animal’s hooves were bloody, his prints led from where Devina lay to where he stood now. The horse had trampled the demon with its huge hooves. Had not just killed her—but had pummeled her to a mound of bloody flesh.

Liam kneeled on the other side of Niall applying pressure to the wound. “Is he even alive?”

Padriag pressed two fingers on the opposite side of Niall’s neck and prayed for a pulse. “He’s on the brink of death. His pulse is faint. Looks like Devina meant to behead him. He’s lucky her aim was bad, either that or Valor got her just as she made contact.”

Neither was sure what to do. Moving Niall could be more detrimental than just covering him and waiting. But it would be almost impossible to survive the Icing.

As if in reply, the wind picked up. The snow laden trees swayed, icicles fell to the ground with heavy thumps.

A sense of foreboding tingled at him and chills traveled over Padriag’s arms. “We need to get out of here. Meliot is going to be seriously pissed at Devina’s death. We have to carry Niall and get the hell out of here.”

“I agree,” Liam replied looking around.

They managed to wrap a thick strap of fabric around Niall’s neck. Thankfully, the bleeding had slowed. Once satisfied that Niall was at least stable, Padriag rounded up the horses and cast a spell of warmth over all of them as Liam picked up Niall.

“We should go to the other realm. They have better healing there,” Padriag stated. The men closed their eyes, both trembling from the cold and exhaustion. Using what was left of their already depleted energy they dematerialized.

They appeared near the stables. Padriag looked around in confusion. Whoa, we brought the horses, he thought. He eyed the animals, who didn’t seem affected in the least. One even lowered its head and sniffed the grass. “Not my first choice,” he said. “I think Niall’s welfare is more important than housing the horses.”

Liam shrugged, “I didn’t do it. Probably your spell.”

Padriag slipped his hands more securely under Niall’s underarms and Liam lifted his feet. Much to their relief, Tristan pulled up in a golf cart, his eyes rounding at seeing them and the horses.

“You brought the horses?” Gavin ran out from the stables. “What happened?”

Both waved off any answers, their concentration on the unconscious Niall.

“A demon named Devina tried to kill Niall,” Padriag informed them. “We need to get him to a doctor.”

The men loaded Niall onto the motorized cart. Tristan pulled out his cell phone and called ahead as they sped to the main house. Padriag didn’t like how pale Niall was becoming. Could it be that, after all this, Niall would not survive?

He leaned over placing his ear to Niall’s chest. His heartbeat was weak but steady which relieved him somewhat.

The women came outside as they arrived. Tammie went straight to Niall, her eyes widening at the sight of his injuries. “Oh my god.”

Both Sabrina and Gwen studied Padriag and Liam. “What happened to y’all?”

Padriag realized they all probably looked like hell, bleeding from wolf bites, battered and bruised.

The woman from the castle, Erin, stood at the doorway, not coming closer. Her pale blue eyes scanned over him, then to the others.

Gwen peered at Niall, her eyes large with worry. “A doctor is on his way. He said it was quicker for him to come here since he was not that far.

“We should insist on a hospital instead.” Tammie replied placing her hand on Niall’s brow. “He’s awfully pale.”

Tristan shook his head. “I think we should take him inside. Let’s see what the doctor says. Niall is very strong.”

They moved Niall into the house and lay him on a bed in a guestroom on the first floor, barely getting him settled when the doctor rushed in with a nurse in tow and made them leave the room.

Padriag moved into the hallway with the others. He was ushered into the kitchen along with Liam. “We need to check your injuries. Both of you will need cleaning and bandaging.”

“I am fine. Just need a good hot shower,” Padriag said as the room seem to tilt. Next thing he knew, his face was smushed into the rug. It seemed he’d fallen face-first onto the floor.

“Ow,” he mumbled. “That hurt.”

A soft light ebbed into the edges of a swirling darkness. Niall tried to move, to see more than shades of gray, but it proved impossible. It was as if he floated, his body not truly anchored to a solid place.

Voices permeated the haze, and he tried to turn, to speak, but that too was unsuccessful

“I think we should wait and tell him once he recovers,” Liam’s voice said.

“That’s stupid, he’ll figure it out right away,” Gavin spoke next in a hoarse whisper.

“Should we tie him up first, in case he decides to get violent?” Padriag, the ass, spoke next.

“He may not take it well, but nothing can be done about it now,” Tristan stated, his tone not giving away whatever they spoke about.

Again he fought, trying to climb from whatever pit he seemed to be stuck in.

Hoping to be heard, he tried to talk.

“What are you going to tell me?” Niall croaked and immediately began coughing. It felt as if his throat was filled with sand.

Again he tried to pry his eyes open, he needed to see if it was all a perverse trick of fate. He’d died and in his afterlife had been sent back to the alter-world. In this world, all the men he’d been trapped with for decades existed.

So much for his freedom.

“Say something, somebody,” Padriag told the room. “He may as well know.”

Someone cleared his throat, and Niall finally could stand it no longer. He fought against what felt like stones on his eyelids and managed to open his eyes. The world was a blurry place, nothing was clear.

Again he tried to talk but his throat seemed to collapse, and another coughing fit began.

A cup of water was placed up to his mouth and he drank from it with greed. More was poured and he emptied that one as well.

The surroundings became clearer, and he could see his four friends watching him with interest.

Liam and Padriag stood at the foot of his bed, while Tristan and Gavin stood on both sides. None of them spoke; instead they seemed to be waiting for him to say something.

“I need time to …” Niall lay back on the pillow and stared up at the ceiling. To what? Did he want to prolong not knowing? And for how long?

“Where am I and what are you supposed to tell me?” he managed to ask in a husky voice. Lifting up to his elbows, he immediately regretted it when his head swam. Still he refused to lay back down.

Three sets of eyes looked to Tristan who seemed to be voted the spokesperson for the group. The Laird clenched his jaw, but when he looked at Niall, his expression softened.

“Niall, your enchantment has been broken. You are free. You are here in modern-day Scotland with us.”

Padriag interrupted, a wide grin splitting his face. “You did it, you’re free.”

Liam and Gavin both smiled at him, but he saw wariness in Liam’s eyes. Trouble ahead?

“No.” He didn’t want to say it, but they had to know the truth. “I cannot be totally free. There is something else holding me to the alter-world …” he began.

“Devina, yes we know,” Tristan interrupted him. “She insinuated to Padriag that you had been her victim for many years.”

Niall nodded mutely.

“Devina is dead,” Liam told him.

“Valor attacked Devina,” Padriag said, referring to his horse. “It was as if the horse was more powerful than her magic. No matter what she tried to throw at him, nothing affected him.”

“It was like nothing we’ve ever seen,” Liam added. “There was nothing left of her, but a pile of flesh and black blood.”

A ringing began in his ears, and trembling took over his body, darkness threatened as the room began to spin, but he held on, took a deep breath and blew the air out.

“I think he’s hyperventilating,” Padriag told the group.

Someone placed something on his face and told him to take deep breaths. He batted the object away.

“I am fine. What happened to Valor?”

“We brought him with us,” Padriag told him.

The men continued to watch him as the information sunk in.

He was free.

A violent storm of emotions swirl in his chest as he fought to breathe normally. The air didn’t settle in his lungs as scenarios flew through his mind. Devina was dead. Somehow he was free.

“How?”

“You have been asleep for a week, err, sennight,” Tristan told him. “Tamara continually chanted a spell over you.”

“Tamara?” He searched the men’s faces. “What about the terms of my curse. A sacrifice of fate? What of family? I do not understand.”

“We are your family, dumbass,” Padriag said, leaning over him and helping him drink more water. “About fate, that part, I believe has to do with Tamara.”

He’d said terrible things to Tamara. She would never forgive him. Another thought struck, and he inhaled sharply at the pang in his chest.

“What did she do?’ Niall managed to croak out. “Tell me.”

“She willingly gave up all her magical powers,” Liam said. “She claimed it wasn’t a huge sacrifice in comparison to you being free.”

“And she’s gone back to her home, across the ocean,” Gavin added.

Niall closed his eyes, unable to absorb everything.

He was free.

Tamara was gone.