Page 25

Rakshasa

S he had tried to warn us. After all the tension, distrust, and conflict between us, she had known these beasts were coming and had tried to warn us.

They all had.

I didn’t know what to make of it. My head was spinning with the implications, but most of all I didn’t want to admit that I had been wrong. I still believed she was too short and far too childlike to be an Alpha’s mate, yet there was something about her that was rubbing off on all of those people surrounding her that made her… not stronger, exactly, but… I supposed that was exactly the word. Her mental fortitude was strong, her power great, and despite the blatant terror shining through in those big blue eyes she was still standing strong in the face of that fear.

Perhaps our ideals on Alpha Mate material were a little too… skewed. Perhaps strength came in more ways than just the size of one’s muscles and the force of one’s fists.

Or perhaps I was insane for letting my thoughts drift toward my little Witch mate when I should have been focusing on the immediate threat.

The standoff was broken when a Warlock had enough and lobbed some sort of offensive spell at the beast closest to him. Unfortunately for us all, it did absolutely nothing. It opened its mouth, shot out a quick, short burst of fire that collided with the spell before it could do any damage, and it exploded in a whoosh of power that knocked over those within its vicinity.

Chaos ensued.

Alarmed shouts sounded as the beast leapt at those that had fallen, crushing some beneath its heavy weight, cleaving some in two with its serrated claws, and chomping down on others with its massive, deadly jaws.

The fight had begun.

‘Orders, Alpha?’ Arcturus asked.

‘Large predators, Shift!’

On cue he shifted into his polar bear form, the large white beast towering over everyone yet still two sizes too small compared to whatever the hell those things were. The reminded me of dragons both in physical appearance, temperament, and their ability to breathe fire, but they were missing wings. These things, whatever they were, stood on four legs a regular quadruped. But because I didn’t know what they were, I had no idea how to defeat them.

The Fae were slashing at them as they approached, their blades drawing blood and wails of agony from the large beasts, but they didn’t seem to slow them down. Instead, they only seemed to incense them further. Roars of rage tore from their chests and vibrated the chamber. Rocks slid loose and tumbled to the ground, making things harder for the Angels to fight in the air. They were now dodging claws and jaws while also trying to avoid being crushed by their surroundings. A few of them dropped down to fight with us, avoiding the overhead attacks in favour of ground combat.

I could tell by their pinched expressions that they were loathe to do so, so I took a certain amount of pleasure when another one of them was shredded by one of the beast’s jagged teeth, body parts raining down on us all. Pompous pricks, the lot of them.

I caught sight of Arcturus and his mate, Bellatrix, a fierce a lioness Shifter that I had once considered for my own mate. She had challenged me and lost, just like all the others, but at least she had found her match in my second. They worked well together, but when Bellatrix was slice by a stray claw and whimpered in pain, it distracted Arcturus from his own fight. He rushed to her aide, leaving a group of Humans and Daemons unprotected, but his distraction cost him as well. He charged at the beast that had injured his mate, but the beast was bigger, stronger, and heavier. It lifted its foot and swatted him away like he was nothing but an annoying bug, then returned its attention back to where Bellatrix was attempting to crawl away.

I needed to act quick before either of them were killed. I had Shifted back into my original form for the exact purpose. I was able to climb more quickly with my arms than without them, but I was also able to access certain traits from my second form, like my venom. I ran around the edges of the room, dodging attacks and pulling those in harm’s way out of the danger zone when I could, but my focus remained intent.

When I got close enough, I pushed off the wall with my feet and jumped onto the beast’s back. It roared at being mounted and tried to shake me off, twisting its head to shoot streams of fire and gnash its teeth, but I avoided all of its attempts. Instead, I dug my fingers into its thick, leathery hide, using more force than I had anticipated to break through the skin, and then I spat in the wound.

My venom sizzled when it made contact with its blood and worked its way quickly through the beast’s system. It writhed and thrashed, but I had done my job so I leapt off its back, grabbed Bellatrix, and ran us out of the way. I left her with her mate who was shaking away the remnants of what was undoubtedly a concussion, but we healed quickly. Nothing could keep us down for long except a fatal blow, but we ensure they were never easy to land.

Arcturus’s large head nodded to me with his gratitude before he covered Bellatrix’s body with his own, providing her a safe space to heal. She would be back in the fray within a few moments and they were safe for the time being, so I left them to continue poisoning the beasts.

The one I had already infected with my venom was dead now, the toxins eating away at its flesh from the inside out. Nothing could survive that, and pride swelled inside my chest at the fatal ferocity of my second form. There were so many ways I could kill, so many ways to adapt to the hunt. I was a force to be reckoned with, and while these beasts found that out the hard way I was going to enjoy every second of it.

And if I was showing off a little bit for my little Witch mate to see, I’d never admit it.

As I scanned the battlefield for my next target, my eyes caught on my little Witch mate and her Daemon lover. They had been separated from the rest of their group by one of the beasts that was in the process of cornering them against a wall and a stalagmite, blocking any path to their freedom. They shared a look that spoke of so much affection that should not have been possible in the brief time they had known one another. Then again, I wasn’t one to talk. I didn’t love her by any means, but she had claimed me as hers and I had yet to actually dispute it.

That one looked shredded something deep within my chest and panic seized me. When they clasped hands, resignation clear on their faces despite their determination to fight until the end, and I knew they were saying goodbye.

Unacceptable. The only beast allowed to kill my little Witch was me, but even as I thought it I knew it wasn’t true. The truth slammed into me with so much force that I momentarily lost my breath, but I didn’t stop running for them. I didn’t want her to die, and definitely not at my own hand.

I didn’t stop to process the revelation. There was no time.

With practiced ease, I leapt onto the beast’s back and pulled its attention away from her. This one was a significantly trickier to hold onto, however, and I struggling to maintain my grip. Its hide was somehow thicker, more difficult to penetrate, but I didn’t let up, digging my dingers in deeper and twisting my nails in further until the telltale sound of flesh rendering reached my ears. That little bit of give was enough to pry open its flesh until it blood seeped through, and I wasted no time in spitting my venom directly into its vein.

It reared back, a deafening screech echoing throughout the cavern and shaking even more rocks loose from the walls. One of the tunnels began to collapse, and I knew then that if we didn’t get out of here now we never would.

I slid from its back to land in a crouch in front of my little Witch, silently checking her over for any signs of injuries. She had a few scrapes and bruises, but nothing that screamed that it needed immediate attention. I relaxed, knowing she was safe for the time being but tensed again when I remembered we were a long way from safety.

‘Thanks,’ she said, and my brows rose high on my head when the single word registered as one that I recognised.

‘Do not thank me until the battle is over, little Witch,’ I told her, and her eyes widened with shock.

The Daemon glanced between us, a small knowing smile playing on his lips. He said something to her that I couldn’t understand, but her rapid nodding clued me in to what was said. When she kept going I shot my hand out to stop her, concerned she would injure her brain with the repetitive motion. She blinked at me, then those pink lips spread into a wide grin and my heart thumped excitedly inside my chest. My cocks chose that moment to unsheathe themselves, the bloodlust from the battle mixing with my sudden lust for her coursing through my veins like lightning. The energy continued to crackle between us until my hand was knocked away by the Human male that was constantly by her side. The one who shared her eyes.

A steady stream of groups joined us, Shifters, Humans, Daemons and Fae, and a male I did not recognise as a threat called out to my little Witch. I didn’t know why I couldn’t understand him when I could understand her, but that was a mystery to unravel later.

Luckily, her response provided me a clue to the topic of conversation. I scanned the room as they talked, noting how the Angels were the only ones left fighting the last remaining beast, but my instincts told me there were more to come.

My little Witch pointed to the tunnel on the opposite side of the room. ‘That’s the way out. Come on,’ she said and pushed forward to lead the way. I wondered how she knew where to go, but the thought didn’t stick when the Daemon male tangled his fingers with hers, a deliberate claiming of my little Witch mate that had me seeing red.

I was jostled out of my haze of fury right before I lunged, and I turned to see the skin form of Arcturus and Bellatrix. He lifted a single eyebrow in a silent question and I conceded to his point. Killing the Daemon helped no one.

We trailed after my little Witch mate and her entourage, and though I detested putting my trust in anyone other than myself, I prayed to the gods that she was genuine in her direction and was truly leading us to freedom.