Page 70 of The Path of Blood and Betrayals

Max

Aterrible scream wakes me from a dreamless slumber as my body jolts, heart racing. Glancing once, I don’t wait for another yell as I rush from the tent, slinging on my boots.

At the edge of the bright, dry, rocky terrain and the dark coolness of the forest, the volunteers huddle together. They all stare at an empty spot, with only a worn saddle bag sitting there, forgotten.

Tay stands toward the front, with the Dark Fae siblings before him.

“What’s going on?” I whisper, mouth tipped toward Tay’s ear.

He shakes his head in disbelief, gesturing to the area. “They claim he was taken by a Fury.”

“Who?” I search, locking eyes with Kaden.

Tay points to the bag and the few remaining servants left; most were killed in the ambush of the Skrull. One is anxiously describing his experience to another lord, pointing to the sky, while the other holds his head mouth flapping open and close.

“He was here one minute, gone in the next.”

“I swear a Fury took him. Black claws snatched him right out ofthe sky!”

“They’re talking about Hastings from last night,” the heir says, assessing me.

We share a silent, telling look. The man who tried to force me onto my knees was stolen away.

Served him right.

Unfortunately, Hastings is the lord who supplied most to the raid—including horses, weapons, guards. Without him, his unit leaves and the campaign is near defenseless.

Tay seems to come to the same conclusion. “Should we search for him? We need him to continue on.”

“And if a Fury took him?” Kaden asks, rolling his eyes. “Then he wasn’t worthy of breath and is most likely being digested in a Fury’s gut.”

“But we need him to finish this,” Tay insists. “His men will only follow his command. Without them, this all falls apart.”

“The Gods’ deemed him a threat to womankind,” Kaden drawls, glancing to me. Those amber eyes draw me in and I know, he’s remembering last night. “You cannot fight the Gods.”

Tay growls, fists clenching at his sides. He’s worried about losing the agreement to rebuild the Coven.

It’s notmyCoven, but I still want them safe.

“What about a search party?” I ask, looking to my friend, then the Fae. “A small group can go look for him and bring him back.”

Kaden snorts. “Once a Fury takes her prey, they’re dead. You’d be going off into trouble for nothing.”

“It’s worth a try,” I argue. We can’t let the agreement fail.

“This is a common thread for you,” he mutters, rolling his eyes. “Running off into danger even when it’s best to sit it out.” He glares at me and I lift my chin. I know he’s talking about when I tried to run into the battle with the Skrull to find Tay. “And after what that lord tried to do to you, you still want to help him?”

“You think I want to help some terrible man like Hastings?” I spit, stepping forward to poke the Fae’s chest. My finger begins to turn a faint pink as my magic stretches and yawns, roused by my emotions. “I’d soon rather let him sleep for an eternity withSetiin his Hell. But we need his men and we need his supplies. If he dies, then my Coven falls.”

Kaden grabs my finger, holding firm. “It’s notyourCoven, kitten.”

Tay sighs behind me, annoyed. He didn’t know about Hastings and he doesn’t like this go between me and the heir.

“Regardless,” I say, stepping back. “You want the Blackwoods water? Then you’ll need this raid to finish. Otherwise, no deal.”

Growling, he nods, eyes narrowed. “Fine. What do we need to do?”

Biting my lip, my mind spins as I quickly think through my options.“Follow me.”