Page 17 of The Stolen Bride (Kings of Fury #2)

Chapter

Seventeen

Wish Granted: Making An Entrance With Your Berserker

–HOW TO TRAIN YOUR BERSERKER

By Elizabeth “Elle” Darcy-Bruce

O ur trio raced through the jungle at top speed, and I didn’t dare complain. The faster we reached the fortress, the better. Amidst the beauty of the tropical wilderness, I remained on the lookout for the enemy and traps.

I won’t stop until Deco is dead, or we are.

Viktor’s words haunted me as we plowed through dense vegetation. Though he’d once planned to do everything possible to save his former friend, he’d now set his sights on death. Even at the risk of our lives, all to save Valkara.

I curled my hands into fists. “This could be a set up,” I pointed out between my huffing breaths.

Neither man responded .

The metallic clang of Bodi’s machete cut through the muggy air. A sharp whoosh followed as he sliced through the thick vines obstructing our path. We ran and ran and ran, and the ongoing, never-ending hustle eventually drained me. I began to lag, until Viktor whisked me off my feet and carried me against his chest, not missing a beat.

Now this was more like it. The only way to travel, really. I rested my head on his broad shoulder, as I’d done several times before, seizing the opportunity to recharge. With my sister’s life on the line–and maybe Viktor’s–I must be at my best.

We whizzed past a clearing littered with bones and a field of decaying bodies. Bile frothed in my throat, and I gagged. Who were these people? Turul-shifters, berserkers or their victims?

Scavenger birds dined, picking rotting organs through the hole in each chest. Severed heads topped scarecrow bodies. The fetid stench made me gag. And that wasn’t even the worst of it! The farther we went, the more gruesome the sights became. Eventually I closed my eyes and focused on my sister’s rescue.

In the back of my mind, I thought I detected an invisible cord between us, growing stronger the closer we came to each other.

Viktor halted abruptly and set me on my feet. Bodi stopped too. Both royals stared at a leather poster anchored to a tree trunk, drawing my attention there. I read the words painted over the surface and ground my teeth.

Come One, Come All

King Deco’s Execution Ball

Off with Their Heads

I didn’t have to wonder who he referenced. His captives, Juniper and Valkara—and us. “He invited me to this ball,” I said, the words fraying as I shoved them between gritted teeth. “Right before he stabbed me.”

An H-bomb of rage exploded from Viktor. He spun, facing me fully. Glowing gold rings flared in his irises. “He. Did. What?”

“Oh. Um. Did I not mention that part before?” Oops? “It happened right after I woke up from my tangle with the river.”

Roaring, he swept me into his arms and shot forward like a bullet. The landscape whizzed at my sides. I tightened my hold on him, hanging on for dear life. Then the jungle began to thin, and just as quickly as Vik had grabbed me and sprinted off, he came to an abrupt halt on the outskirts of a vast clearing. A massive fortress loomed less than a fourth of a mile ahead.

An unsettling current surged all around us, raising the fine hairs on the back of my neck. I searched for the source. There! Enormous metal posts planted at the four corners of a square plot of land we now occupied, each post topped with a large glass orb. But were they cameras or something else?

A bluebird flew low, and a lightning bolt shot out of the orbs, striking it. The poor creature fried and fell to the ground, dead and still smoking.

Okay, so, definitely something else. I plastered myself against Viktor’s chest. “Nope. We’re finding another way.”

He kissed my temple and set me on my feet, keeping his arm around my waist. “Shifters are weaker than berserkers, so the fence is the preliminary defense. Meant to weaken us on the way in. Nothing to worry about.”

“I can get us past it,” Bodi said. Then he pointed. “They are the real concern.”

I followed the direction of his finger. High atop weathered gray stones streaked with hints of green from years exposed to the humid jungle moss and lichen, was a parapet where an army of shifter guards patrolled. A stunning show of Deco’s force for the ball. They must be on the lookout for specific intruders. Namely us.

The fortress itself was, well, a fortress, a mix of ancient and modern with thick walls designed to withstand an assault. Arrow slits broke up the symmetry, allowing sharpshooters and archers to do their thing. More armed guards patrolled the courtyard amongst the guests, while still others escorted attendees from an unused helicopter pad.

Wind kicked up, strong gusts rustling leaves. Branches clapped, and my skirt whipped at my ankles. We remained in the shadows, at the edge of the jungle.

Torches illuminated the courtyard where turul-shifters mingled awaiting their turn to enter the towering stone monstrosity. The males wore finely tailored suits. The females dazzled in flowing gowns in every color of the rainbow, and the kind of jewels that were so opulent they inspired awe rather than envy. They displayed turul feathers in their hair.

Face painters and jugglers entertained the partygoers who’d already had too much to drink. Acrobats leaped, dancers twirled and fire eaters astounded the growing crowd.

I glanced down at my genie costume and muttered, “I know how I’m getting in.”

A muscle jumped beneath Viktor’s eye. “You will…” A thousand emotions crossed over his features in an instant, none of which I could read.

“Be careful?” I finished for him. “Yes.” I might not be a super-soldier who’d trained for battle all my life, but I was a woman determined. Nothing could stop me from helping my team. Well, other than death. But even then, I’d probably keep fighting. “I’m immortal. I won’t die.” I mean, not easily anyway. “Plus, I shouldn’t waste this incredible outfit you picked for me. This girl has no problem working things to her advantage.”

And not to brag, but I was a major asset. Look what I’d done to those shifters. Not that I remembered any of it. But still! I’d defeated ten master warriors with my bare claws.

Viktor looked to Bodi, who shook his head and spread his arms, all not helping you with this.

“My men are immortal, yet five have died on this trip,” Viktor stated in a flat voice. “Though I wasn’t going to ask you to remain behind.”

“As if you ever ask me anything anymore,” I muttered, with only a little bitterness. Wait. He’d intended to go into battle with me at his side?

He started opening and closing his fists again. “You won’t be happy until your sister is free, and I require the Valkara to answer some questions. To successfully oversee both goals, I will make use of every weapon at my disposal.”

I beamed up at him. First, he sought Valkara for questions, not romance. Second, he considered me a weapon. “Good. What’s the plan?”

“We walk in together. I create a distraction, and you and Bodi proceeds to the dungeon. I’ll keep Deco and his forces occupied.”

“Walk in, just like that?” I snapped my fingers. “Not with those handsome faces and delicious muscles.” They weren’t shifters and it showed. “But as I said, I have an idea. Bodi, you mentioned getting us past the orbs, yes? ”

He nodded. “With Viktor’s help.”

“Great. Do it. Then I’ll get us in unnoticed.”

Viktor sighed, the very picture of an exasperated boyfriend. We approached the edge of the invisible fence tentatively. With each step, the waft of electricity intensified until the scent of ozone singed my airways. Though I recalled the bluebird, I didn’t dare give Viktor a reason to insist I remain behind.

“Stay between us,” he instructed.

His protective instinct gave me a sense of security and belonging, and I soaked it up. I hadn’t felt as if I belonged anywhere or with anyone for a very long time.

Bodi did some weird motions with a pair of daggers, seeming to cut through the air. Then he passed one of the weapons to Viktor, and both men held up the blade. “Now,” he said.

The three of us stepped forward, with me sandwiched between the two beefcakes. Static electricity pricked my skin and lifted my hair as energy arced between the two daggers. Vik and Bodi took the brunt of the charge, their muscles flexing and straining, absorbing the worst of the onslaught. The hum of the voltage made my eardrums vibrate, and I tasted something metallic in my mouth.

We trudged forward, as if wading against a fierce ocean current. Just when I thought my eyes would catch on fire, we emerged on the other side of the invisible barrier. My fingers were a little numb, but I was otherwise unscathed.

In relief, I lifted onto my tippy toes and dropped a kiss on Viktor’s cheek. “Thanks, pudding pop.”

“I’m here, too, you know,” Bodi grumbled good-naturedly.

I patted his head. “Thanks, Bodi. You’re growing on me. But now it’s time to put my plan into action. You two stay here, and I’ll be back in a jiff.”

Before either could protest, I raced toward the courtyard, quickly doing my best to blend in with the crowd. I snagged a scarf here, a hat there. My biggest achievement was swiping a palette of paints and a brush. The boys weren’t the only ones good at pilfering from the enemy. Though, yes, in any other situation, I held firm to a no stealing policy.

Five minutes later, I was back with my booty—without setting off an alarm. “Yeah,” I said, “I’m that good.” I set to work, looping a scarp around Bodi’s neck and plopping a hat on Viktor, King of the Turuls. I dipped a brush in paint and began dabbing the brightest colors onto their cheeks in feather patterns. They let me work without comment.

“Is this really necessary?” Viktor asked.

“Yes.” Absolutely. “Can either of you juggle?”

He blinked at me.

Bodi’s eyes widened, and he gave a clipped shake of his head. “No. I refuse.”

Too bad. “Can you mime? Do magic tricks? Make balloon animals?”

They shared a look before staring at me like I’d come from another planet.

In the distance, horns sounded, and two wide wooden doors opened, allowing the guests to enter the palace.

“I suggest we get through the crowd as quickly and stealthily as possible,” I announced. “Your expert disguises will only last so long.”

“Once we are inside, you will accompany Bodi to the dungeon,” Viktor instructed.

“Okay. Yes.” Perfect plan. Zero tweaks necessary.

“Are you sure that’s wise?” Bodi asked, and I pursed my lips. “Deco might go with a contingency plan and kill his prisoners before we can free them.”

“He won’t.” Confidence radiated from Viktor. “If I thought there was the slightest chance either female would be harmed, I wouldn’t risk doing this. Having served him for over a decade, I know how much he thrives on pomp and circumstance. How he loves gloating. He won’t be able to resist an opportunity to make a public spectacle over the Valkara’s capture. In fact, I’m certain he’s in the throne room, awaiting us. Once we’ve confirmed this, lock me in with him and his men. I won’t come out until I’ve done what needs doing.”

The flat statement drew forth a frown. And a memory. On the day we met, Viktor mentioned his love for Deco. That love hadn’t died. “Please don’t kill him if you don’t have to.” I didn’t want to be a source of eternal regret for him. “Maybe, once he’s in his right mind, he’ll remember who he used to be and become who he should be.”

Shockingly tender, Viktor grazed the pad of his thumb over my shoulder. “I will never forget the bloodstains I saw on your shirt when I came upon you in that clearing. I thought you had received the injury that caused it during battle. I hadn’t realized…” Viktor worked his jaw. “He dies today. Badly.”

“If we’re going to do this,” Bodi piped up, rolling his shoulders, “let’s do it.”

“Are you sure you can?” Viktor asked him.

Conflicting emotions crossed the prince’s face, one after another. Clearly he wasn’t keen on the idea of losing a brother today. He had probably hoped to return Deco to his berserker state too.

There was a chance Bodi possessed divided loyalties. The shifters had certainly tried to win him over. We could be rushing into a betrayal waiting to happen. But Viktor knew him best and trusted him, so I would do the same. Together, we stood the greatest opportunity for success.

“I can,” Bodi said with a nod.

“Very well.” Viktor slapped a dagger into my hand, bent his head, and pressed a swift kiss into my lips. “Stay alive, or face my displeasure.”

“Right back at you, darling.”

With a low growl rumbling in his chest, he started forward. Bodi and I kept pace. My heart thudded, but not with fear. Not excitement, either, but resolve. We must succeed.

The prince embraced the role of entertainer a fraction better than Viktor, which meant I had to work double time, smiling wide and giving an extra dose of enthusiastic, wish-granting-genie style magic waves to divert attention from our true aim. Several women blew kisses at my companions.

I made a growling sound, drawing the notice of multiple guards. Oops. “My bad, guys,” I muttered.

From their perches, the guards squawked and excitedly flapped their wings.

“I honestly expected to be spotted sooner,” Viktor said, a roundabout way of praising my efforts. “Keep going.”

We reached a cobblestone walkway that led to the entrance. Still no attacks, but the crowd heading into the fortress noticed the commotion and parted like the Red Sea, creating a path. Every eye glued to us. Whispers arose, blending together, evincing glee.

Evil all but coated the air, making my skin crawl. These people craved our deaths. Well, except for her. She made a call me sign and winked at Viktor. I ground my teeth .

Two shifters stood sentry at the open double doors. They grinned at our approach.

“Told you they’d come,” one bragged to the other.

Viktor punched both in the throat, ripping things out as we passed. He dropped his bloody bounty and kept walking. That’s my man . And he was, wasn’t he? The king who’d cared for me my first night in a foreign land. Who’d held me. Fed me. Warmed and protected me. Aided me just because I asked. Saved me when I hadn’t. The warrior who calmed for me alone. The only one who calmed me.

One hundred percent, he was my firebrand. I didn’t just want him to choose me over Valkara; I needed him to. Mark me? Yes, please! My knees grew a little shaky, but I didn’t have time to do a full analysis of our relationship. First things first.

We would take care of Deco.

Save Juniper.

Deal with Valkara.

Either the guardian of the Starfire admitted she’d lied about me to win Viktor for herself or…something. I didn’t know, but it would be terrible!

The foyer felt cool and dark, a stark contrast to the humid jungle outside. Torches lit the narrow hallways, used to light the rooms despite access to electricity. Walkways led to various chambers and corridors, designed to confuse and funnel any invaders into easily defendable bottlenecks. Even I, a war amateur, realized that. Tapestries adorned the walls, the floors of polished quartz.

Finally, we approached an arched doorway etched with mythological creatures. The wide-open doors revealed a majestic space, with a high vaulted ceiling and stained-glass windows depicting turul-shifters attacking and killing .

The bejeweled crowd split just like they had in the courtyard, giving us a direct path to a dais made of polished stone. Atop it sat an elaborate throne, intricately carved and inlaid with gold. Gold draperies covered the walls, shimmering as if dipped in diamond powder. The room was meant to be both beautiful and impressive, but a terrible malevolence tainted the space. Shadows dimmed the brilliance of the golden hue, hinting at the shifter king’s evil.

Holding a glass of champagne, peering straight at us, Deco grinned. His smile—if you could call it that—set my nerves on edge.

“Hello, Viktor,” he said in the best supervillain voice I’d ever heard. I detected notes of manic anticipation, pure insanity, and stone-cold killer.

“Deco.”

“I’m so humbled you fit my little party into your busy schedule.”

Viktor shrugged. “When I want to kill someone bad enough, I make the time.”

The shifter king appeared unfazed. “And you brought our brother and your firebrand. I was hoping you would.”

Viktor shifted from side to side but otherwise remained stoic.

Deco pressed his fingers to his mouth, mockingly contrite. “Oops. Have you finally admitted her importance to you, or are you still pretending not to know?”

He hiked a shoulder. “She killed your elite with ease. How could I deny it?”

The shifter king narrowed his eyes. Finally, a reaction. He caught himself a moment later and righted his expression, grinning once again. “Welcome my guests of honor, everyone,” he called, and our audience cheered. “He’s going to help me with tonight’s grand finale. Come, come. See what awaits you in the ballroom.” Deco waved us toward a pair of gilded doors, his excitement returning and doubling. “Let me show you what I’ve done.”

He was too happy. What did he know that we didn’t?

Viktor brushed his fingers against mine in a gesture of assurance before stalking forward. With a prickle of foreboding on my nape, I notched my chin and followed.