Page 47 of The Wars of Monsters
I realized my siren was right. Now that I had my dragon form, I didn’t have the same fears as I had before, and I hadn’t really been in any life-or-death situations. Of course, we’d had to fly from the outliers at the mountain not too long ago, but I needed my dragon to help with that, not my magic.
“That’s true,” I started, “but we need all our tricks if it comes to all out war.” And that included me being able to use my fae magicandmy monster abilities.
Since returning with Warrick and the news that the fae would arrive any day now, most in the rebellion had been training twice as hard, while other monsters made armor and weaponry tirelessly day and night. With Warrick and King Adrien ready to be gifted to the fae, there was hope we wouldn’t have to fight at all, but we still planned for the latter.
Monsters from the lower houses in Katakin City continued to join our ranks, but there was no more news from the House of Saceris or the House of Faren. Still, so many monsters had joined the rebellion that even the surrounding caves had become crowded, and monsters had begun camping in the surrounding forest, sheltered by the tree canopy.
Despite the overcrowding, this time me and my mates had a training room all to ourselves. I was sure our private room mostly had to do with the fact that no one wanted to be around me when I went into dragon mode, especially after what had happened with Losak’s shifters. But that suited me just fine.
Lifting my hands again, I concentrated, trying to use wind power to blow Asher across the room, just like I’d blown back the Dazra when they were attacking us in the fae realm, but…nothing happened. I could hardly sense the spark of power that I usually felt when I focused.
Letting out a frustrated noise, I dropped my hands, almost ready to shift and burn something, when Darian stepped in front of me and grabbed my hands in his. Gently, he leaned down and pressed a kiss to my forehead. “Burning this place isn’t going to help you find your magic again,” he said with a smile like he knew exactly what I’d been thinking. “I think it’s time for a break.”
“What?” I asked incredulously, though I was already beginning to lean into him, my body subconsciously starting to calm. “We found out that Warrick basically plans to kill us all, and everyone’s working their asses off, so I need to as well. We might have him unconscious, but who knows what that means for his outliers.” With Warrick passed out rather than dead, Lyr’s scouts had noticed that the outliers were dormant in the city, like they were waiting for his next command, but we still didn’t know what would happen in the nights to come.
“You’ll be no good to anyone if you exhaust yourself,” Darian reasoned. “This war doesn’t all come down to you.”
I knew he was right, but I couldn’t help feeling like I’d let everyone down. “When Prince Azaren had embedded the information about the curse in my mind, I’d thought that at least we had the answers we needed,” I said softly. “That even if the fae didn’t accept another peace treaty, somehow we would find a way to end the curse.”
Darian’s fingers brushed over my cheek. “Whether we remain monsters or not doesn’t matter, as long as I have you. And I’m growing rather fond of your dragon side, I have to say.”
One of fae, blood so blue.How had I been so stupid to think we might find a way to break the curse? I gave him a weak smile. “But Warrick’s outliers… You heard him. He hasthousandsof the creatures. What if we can’t defeat them? We need to survive this. If we don’t, I’ll never find my sister.”
Darian pulled me into his chest and rested his chin on my head. “We will find her. I promise you. When the war is over. And right now, Warrick is safely sleeping and contained just like King Adrien. Locke has been dosing him up with that gray powder every few hours, and he’s restrained and under constant watch. He’s not going anywhere. If the fae don’t accept our offering of peace, we’ll end Warrick’s life ourselves. The outliers might still be in the city, but without him controlling them, at least they won’t be organized.”
What Darian was saying made sense, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that everything was going to go horribly wrong, and that by the time the war was over, it would be too late to find Cara. Asher came closer to us just as the door opened. Noise rushed in from the commotion of the monsters beyond the training room, and I turned my head as I recognized Quinn’s voice. “Hands off, goblin,” he snarled, to which another male responded. “Those weapons aren’t for you, shifter. They’ve already been requested by the alpha, Borren.”
“The House of Thorem got the last set you made,” Quinn protested. “I think they can wait until the rest of us get our share before receiving more handouts.”
Darian let out a suffering sigh, and I didn’t get to hear any more because Kade and Locke entered the room and closed the door behind them, striding toward us.
“Sounds like the monsters are gettin’ along,” Asher commented sarcastically.
“From the moment we shared the news that Warrick is intending to murder us all, things have gone downhill,” Kade growled. “No one believes the fae will accept our offer, and it’s way too crowded out there for this many fucking monsters. Even my wolf is getting agitated.”
Locke adjusted the collar of his black coat. “Which is why Lyr has announced that we’re all to take the night off. We’ll be useless on a battlefield if we can’t stop ourselves from being at each other’s throats. A group of monsters snuck into the city and managed to grab some supplies including a few barrels of liquor. We have orders to put down our weapons for a few hours.”
Darian perked up, his eyes brightening. “Well now, I’ve always known Lyr was a clever one. I agree. A good drink is just what we need.”
~ Asher ~
The main hall was cleared for the party, and the celebration spread from there through to the larger rooms of the hideout. I sat with Raine and my brothers as Darian topped up my goblet with more wine.
Putting down the jug, Darian leaned back, and his lips stretched into a smile. “Remind me to thank the tiger shifter the next time I see her.”
Kade frowned. “Don’t thank her just yet. All it’ll take is one monster saying the wrong thing, and we’ll be brawling.”
I followed Kade’s gaze to where he was staring intently at the monsters relaxing around us. Despite Lyr’s request that everyone try and get along, the monsters mostly remained in their respective house groups, keeping separate from one another.
“Speak for yourself. I have no intention of fighting anyone right now,” Darian said, tipping back the rest of his wine and letting out a satisfied sigh. “Unless of course, they try to touch our lovely Raine. Then they might lose a hand or two.” He grinned, baring his teeth in an uncharacteristically sadistic way for my siren brother. A female goblin passing by must have thought he was smiling at her because she batted her lashes back at him and started walking with a saucy sway to her hips.
I turned my head, interested to see how our possessive little dragon would feel about the attention Darian was getting. Raine’s goblet was pressed to her lips, but as her eyes narrowed on the goblin, flames beginning to flicker in her amber gaze, she…choked? Raine pulled her goblet away from her mouth and coughed, her eyes watering. “Wrong hole!” she wheezed.
Rubbing her back, I leaned down to stare at her reddening face. “You all right there, Sharachi?”
She nodded enthusiastically. “Yep, all good,” she replied, her words strangled as she tried to clear her throat, but the next time she coughed, fire shot from her mouth, burning the back half of the goblin’s dress. I grinned when I realized it was the same goblin who’d been giving Darian an appreciative look and was swishing her ass from side to side as she walked. With a startled cry, the female ran off, the flames spreading and her dress turning to ash as she fled.
“Oops,” Raine commented with a wince when she spotted the fleeing goblin, her naked ass now on display. “Goddess, should I go after her and try to help?” Raine looked genuinely remorseful as she coughed a few more times, managing to keep her fire contained.