Page 29 of Twisted Souls (Twisted Souls #1)

Xavier

The moment I saw Daka sprinting past the tavern door in the village, I knew something was wrong. Dedra had rushed to find Zara, but by the time I stormed outside, I had seen her chestnut hair on the back of one of the Daka.

My power, reacting to my panic, surged—but it was no longer there. Only pain and a wisp of shadow answered me, twisting in the pit of my chest. Fear, unlike any I had ever known, clutched at my heart as I mounted my horse, the Daka already disappearing into the trees ahead. They left an obvious path, each broken branch and disturbed patch of earth taunting me—this was a trap laid out for me to follow. I knew it, but I didn’t care. All I could think about was Zara. Getting her back. Whatever the cost.

The path led me to this clearing, where he waited, the male with the sapphire eyes who had eyed my mate in the tavern. The male who had made Zara blush. It had been infuriating enough at that, but this? It sent me into a blind rage.

I charged at the male, and my sword met his blade with a sharp chime. His sapphire eyes were alight with smug triumph, and I tightened my grip, the vibration from the clash traveling up my arm. I swung my sword, unleashing strike after strike upon him. He seemed to take pleasure in my rage, taking each blow of my blade with a cruel smile.

Dedra was engaged in a fight with another witch and its Daka as I fought the male. The witch shot her magic wildly around her, trying to strike at me as I battled, but Dedra countered her attacks with a ferocity bordering on reckless. Her magic crashed against the witch's defenses with explosive force, and the air crackled with electricity as Dedra’s power spread in the air around us.

The witch’s Daka launched at Dedra, its jaws snapping viciously as it sprang toward her in the air. Dedra met its charge head-on, sword singing through the air as she struck at its underbelly. She tore through its armored skin with her blade, driving the creature back with a snarl of pain.

The male launched toward me again, seeming tired of our sparring. He formed a blade of ice in his palm before sending it hurtling toward me. The blade skimmed my shoulder as I dove out of the way, and he began to cast more as I shadowed out of their path. I appeared in front of him, tackling him to the ground. My fists connected with his face, the crunch of bone beneath my knuckles barely satisfying the rage burning inside me.

He blasted me off him with a gust of wind, sending me hurtling across the clearing.

“Now,” I yelled, and Dedra snapped her head toward me, watching as I crashed into the surrounding trees. She seemed to erupt with light as lightning shot down in a deathly explosion. The surrounding trees and grass burst into flames, and smoke began to spread around us.

I rolled, narrowly missing a strike, as I peered through the smoke. Dedra, the witch, and the Daka seemed to be unconscious on the ground twenty paces away, and I sprinted toward Dedra.

Before I could reach her, something heavy slammed into me. The force knocked the breath from my lungs, and we tumbled together in the dirt, throwing punches as we rolled.

We broke apart, standing immediately and facing one another. He was covered in black soot, and blood ran down his face from a laceration on his head. His hand crackled with power, ice forming on his palm.

He smiled cruelly at me. “Such a pretty thing she is. A prize I’m sure my queen will allow me to keep.” He flashed his teeth at me, and I shot toward him. His magic tore toward me, ice spearing toward my heart. I shifted, allowing it to pierce through my shoulder as I ignored the tearing pain and continued to run toward him.

His smug expression faltered as my hand wrapped around his throat. I didn’t hesitate as a roar escaped my lips, “ Mine .”

My other hand came to the base of his skull, twisting with a bone-crushing snap.

I ripped his head from his body, tossing it aside as his lifeless body crumpled next to it. Panting heavily, I stood over him. I stared at his corpse, relishing in his death, my hands dripping with his blood.

A choked gasp rang out behind me, and I spun around to see Dedra gasping on the ground, covered in blood. I rushed to her side, my heart jumping into my throat.

Dammit. A black spike protruded from her abdomen, the green liquid seeping from the wound.

“You’re going to be alright. We just have to make it back to the village,” I soothed, but Dedra’s eyes started to roll back as she lost consciousness. No . Her healing was working too slowly, and her injuries were too severe. She was drained from using her magic and losing too much blood.

I pulled the spike from her stomach and threw it aside, tearing strips from my shirt. I wrapped them around her wound, pulling tight to slow the bleeding. The poison was what would kill her if we didn’t get her the antidote—and soon.

“Such a shame,” a silky voice called out, and I swung around to find a short, dark-haired woman behind me. Her almost white-yellow eyes met mine with a familiar glint. Scars covered her skin, and she watched me with a curled lip.

“You’re supposed to be in my dungeon,” I remarked, recognizing the witch that had been trapped under the oak the night of my dinner. I had shadowed her to the dungeons for interrogation. I had forgotten about her after the chaos with Zara and my brother, and…my eyes widened slightly. She hadn’t been in the dungeons when I visited my brother. He had been the only one down there.

“How did you escape?”

Her smile grew as she stared at me. “Morgana grants many gifts. Some are knowledge, and some are loopholes to certain magic.” She grinned again.

“And what loophole would this be?” I gritted out, glancing at Dedra to ensure she was still breathing. Her chest rose weakly, and I growled; I had to get her to a healer.

“I think I’ll hold on to that secret in case you try to whisk me off to the dungeons again.” She let out a bitter laugh. “Although Morgana may already be making herself at home.”

“I know for a fact she cannot access her magic, and it would be impossible for her to have reached my castle,” I said, rising to my feet. I grabbed Dedra’s blade from the ground next to her.

“Perhaps,” the witch said, her smirk making me uneasy.

“Where is Zara?” I demanded, my voice low and deadly. A twig snapped behind me, and I turned, keeping one eye on the witch.

Jaxon stepped into the clearing, and relief swept through me at the sight of him.

“Lana?” Jaxon asked, his face twisting in confusion.

“Hello, prince ,” she purred, and I looked between them, anger rising in my chest.

Jaxon’s brow furrowed as he took in the clearing, his eyes landing on Dedra’s unconscious body. His eyes snapped to mine in panic.

“You know her?” I hissed angrily.

“Yes,” he said, coming to my side. “She was my informant for the witches.” His face twisted in anger and grief. “She was the one who told me the rumor about our mother.”

Jaxon glanced at me briefly, guilt evident in his golden eyes. “She helped me do what I did,” He bit out reluctantly, narrowing his eyes at the witch.

Lana laughed girlishly, crossing her arms and resting her chin on her knuckles. “The mere thought of your mother being alive.” She chuckled again. “It was too easy, really, and me—” She laughed, fluttering her lashes. “How easily you trusted me.”

Jaxon started to hum with power next to me, but Lana tutted and shook her finger in our direction. “Such a temper.”

“Zara,” I barked toward her, and she sneered at my outburst. It looked familiar somehow, but I couldn’t place how.

“Safe, for now. Although I don’t see what it is you two see in her,” Lana said, rolling her eyes. “She is quite dull.”

I growled at her insult, but she only smiled back at me. “I have been learning so much while here.” She paused, her smile widening. “Mated.” She clapped her hands in delight. “I do love a tragedy.”

“What is it you want, witch?” I barked again; we needed whatever this was resolved to get Dedra the help she needed and find Zara.

“I am delivering a message.” Lana grinned.

“Then deliver it,” Jaxon hissed.

Lana only grinned further. “Morgana has received your message and has agreed to meet with you.”

“What happened to our uncle?” Jaxon said, taking a step forward.

She paused, and we stared at her silently, waiting for her to answer. “No idea, but this has the location and time. No negotiations.” She pulled a parchment from her pocket, tossing it between us on the ground.

“Where is Zara?” I demanded again, my patience gone.

“She is around here somewhere,” Lana whispered, her eyes sharpening as the air around us seemed to thicken.

A roar pierced the air as a Daka tore from the trees behind her.

I shadowed behind her but as I appeared, she was no longer there. Turning, I saw her sprinting up the leg of the beast, grinning wickedly as she blocked attacks from Jaxon, who was now shooting his magic toward her wildly.

I threw my blade, and it chimed as it rotated in the air. Lana deflected it with a shot of light, and I shadowed again toward her, but she evaded me again. She and the Daka rolled into the tree line and disappeared.

Jaxon was now at my side, and he punched the ground, ice shattering toward her as he flung more shadows with his other hand. Her eyes gleamed as she maneuvered around the attacks, sprinting through the trees.

Jaxon lunged to go after her, but I stopped him with my arm. “Dedra,” I barked, and I met his gaze. “You need to get Dedra to a healer.”

Jaxon glared, turning his attention back toward where the witch had escaped.

“Jaxon! Now!” I snapped and pushed him in her direction. He winced and sprinted for Dedra, scooping her in his arms; dark mist surrounded him as they both disappeared. It wouldn’t get him there, but it was faster than riding.

I cursed and stalked to where the witch had dropped the parchment. I picked it up, putting it in my pocket before sprinting into the woods. The air was full of smoke from Dedra’s lightning, and I coughed, clearing my lungs as I hurdled over fallen trees and branches.

The side of a small mountain appeared, and I had a strong feeling I knew where she was holding Zara. I sprinted faster, my heart pounding in my chest. If they hurt her…I couldn’t think that, not now.

I scanned the side of the mountain and tucked into a ridge toward the top was what looked to be a cave entrance. I secured my weapons around me, grabbed onto a rock ledge, and began climbing. My fingers ached as I neared the top, and my foot found an outcrop of rock to push off as I hauled myself over the last ledge and stood before the cave entrance.

I knew she was in there; I could feel it in the core of my being.

I didn’t take a moment to catch my breath, my senses sharpening as I stepped into the cave's darkness. My eyes adjusted quickly to the dark as I ran down the chamber, the walls narrowing around me.

“Zara!” I shouted, not caring what creatures might be lurking down here. Foolish, as I knew the caves in Nexia laid host to numerous creatures, some dark and ancient. They were the sort of creatures one heard about around campfires or whispered about in pubs. Creatures so terrifying they made even the toughest of Fae shiver at their mention.

The narrow passage opened up to a large cave tunnel, its walls expanding out in every direction. The ceilings here were at least twelve feet tall and the walls were about the same across. Three other large tunnels branched off this one but a small narrow passage straight ahead caught my eye.

A small tug at my center told me that was where I needed to go and ran forward. The soft, damp earth muffling my footsteps underneath me.

The walls narrowed further in around me as I entered, the rocks jutting out threateningly from the cave walls. I was aware of eyes on me, and the air felt colder and damper than before. My skin prickled at the invisible gazes upon me, but I didn’t sense a threat, at least not yet.

A cough rang out to my left, and I turned and ran. “Zara!” I shouted into the darkness again, and this time, she answered.

“Xavier! I'm here! Down here!”

My chest tightened as the tight tunnel I was in opened up to a large chamber.

Larger tunnels branched off this room on the opposite wall but my attention went to the opening at its center. Water seeped from the walls and into the opening. The splashing reverberating around the room.

I peered over the edge to find Zara standing at the bottom, about twenty feet below. She was shaking, and her hair and clothes were damp, clinging to her skin like a second layer. I growled at the sight of her like that and shadowed to the bottom of the cell in front of her. She jumped at my sudden appearance, but the relief on her face made my chest loosen a fraction. I scanned her body for injuries, but it was too dark to see anything properly. She was shaking with cold, and I met her gaze, her blue eyes piercing into mine.

“Nev- ver we- earing a da- damn shirt,” Zara said, teeth shattering as she gave me a small smile. I pulled her into my chest, letting out a small, breathy laugh. My shirt was indeed in ribbons from the attack, and I held her tightly in my arms, her arms going around my waist as she held me back.

“Are you hurt?” I asked, relishing the feel of her, alive; she was alive.

“I’m fine,” Zara whispered, her breath tickling my chest as she breathed deeply against my exposed skin.

I shadowed us to the top of the cave, reluctantly releasing my hold around her, and took her face in my hands. The sight of her hair soaked in blood made me growl, and though she tried to wrench herself away from me, my hold on her remained firm and unyielding. “You are bleeding,” I hissed.

“I’m fine, but Xavier, I have to—”

A guttural roar ripped through the cavern, shaking loose small stones that clattered to the ground. My body went rigid, the sound twisting my gut with dread. I cursed under my breath, my hand already wrapping protectively around Zara’s waist. I tilted my head, straining to catch any hint of movement beyond the echoes bouncing off the damp cave walls.

“What—” She started to speak, but I slapped my hand over her mouth, my panicked gaze locking on hers. My expression said everything: Stay silent.

Another roar bellowed, louder this time, closer. My jaw tightened. The sharp beat of heavy paws thundered in the distance, a chaotic rhythm that seemed to come from everywhere at once. The air felt thick, oppressive, cold.

“Run.” I said low, urgent, and I didn’t wait for a response. I yanked her hand and bolted toward the narrow tunnel behind us.

The passage plunged into darkness, my Fae sight adjusting to the dim light, revealing the treacherous path of sharp turns and jagged edges that she could not see. Her hand was clammy in mine, and I gripped it fiercely, guiding her forward as the uneven ground jarred our every stride.

The narrow passage that led out to the larger chamber of tunnels was just ahead and I caught Zara as she stumbled over a loose rock.

We were about to exit the narrow tunnel when I saw movement. I stopped abruptly, spinning her toward the rough cave wall. Her back hit the stone with a muted thud, and I pressed against her, shielding her with my body. Before she could speak, I clamped my hand over her mouth again, my breath shallow but controlled despite the frantic rhythm of my pulse.

We were inches from the tunnel entrance and the air grew hotter, heavier, around us. A rush of putrid air carrying the stench of rot filled my lungs and I tried not to gag on the rotting stench.

The creature emerged from the shadows, massive and grotesque. Its head swung into view, leathery sockets housing milky, sightless eyes. Its form was massive, filling almost the entire space with its massive black body. Jagged, needle-like teeth lined its snout, glinting like fangs in the faint light. Its long claws scraped against the stone floor, and thick, matted fur, damp with filth, covered its hulking body.

The creature sniffed the air, its head swiveling as though it could see, though its cloudy gaze betrayed its blindness.

I stiffened, my arms tightening around Zara. A faint shimmer of magic enveloped us—my desperate attempt to mask our presence, our scent. Zara glanced up at me, her wide, fearful eyes mirroring mine.

Another ear-shattering roar erupted from the creature. The sound vibrating through the walls and through my chest. Loose rock fell around the cave, the echoing sound slowly disappearing as the creature sniffed again, its massive head turning toward them.

For a moment, I stopped breathing, every muscle in my body screaming to move, but I stayed rooted, forcing her to stay still beneath me.

A distant sound—a rock tumbling or the distant cry of another beast—caught the beast's attention. Its head jerked forward and with a ferocious leap, the creature bolted into the tunnel, the sound of its claws against the ground echoing like a screeching wail through the passageway.

I exhaled slowly, my hand slipping from her mouth, but I didn’t dare speak. I grabbed her hand again and tugged her into motion.

We sprinted across the open space and through the opposite tunnel. As we turned a corner, the faint glow of the cave’s mouth appeared up ahead. Relief surged through me as the azure sky came into view, the cool air stinging my lungs as we stumbled out onto the ledge.

We were breathing erratically, but I didn’t want us to linger, not here. Not so close to that thing.

I shadowed us to the nearby tree line and only then did either of us dare to speak.

“What was that thing?” Zara said shakily, her wet clothes clinging to her body. Her fear hung heavy in the air, and I raked a hand through my hair, my expression turning grim as I tried to process what had just happened.

“I think it was a Vorrak.”

“What the fuck is a Vorrak?” she stammered, her voice tight.

My jaw clenched in response. “I believed they were just stories, myths to scare children.” I stopped speaking, the words catching in my throat.

As a child, I remembered my mother telling us about them, seeing drawings. She would always threaten us that she would find one if we misbehaved. I shuttered again. The creature was much worse in real life and way more menacing than those drawings.

“They paralyze their prey with their fangs and feed off your fear. They make you see things—horrors so vivid you can’t tell what’s real. You’re trapped in your own worst nightmares as it tears into you, devouring your body one agonizing piece at a time. And you feel it all—your skin, your bones, your life slipping away, helpless to stop it. It's not a quick death. They can feed on you for years, centuries even if the myths are true.”

Zara shuttered at my words and my hands curled into fists at my side. Her face was pale and a low growl rumbled in my chest as my eyes fixed on the blood matted in her hair. The sight sent a jolt of anger through me.

“Your head,” I snarled, yanking her closer to me, my hand instinctively moving to her skull to gauge the severity of her injury. My other arm encircling her waist and holding her firmly against me, making it impossible for her to break free. She gasped at the motion, and she narrowed her eyes up at me, her hands pushing against my chest futilely as she tried to get away.

“Stop moving,” I growled, my eyes scanning the shallow cut on her scalp.

“Let go of me, I feel fine,” Zara spat, continuing her attempts to escape my grasp. I let her go, seeing enough.

“There is a gash on your skull. You are not fine.” I said, glaring at her. “Did she do that to you?”

“Yes,” Zara said in a huff, and her eyes seemed to scan over my body. She swallowed, but lifted her chin. “I take it that blood isn’t yours?” she added hotly.

“Worried about me?” I said, lifting my mouth into a half grin and raising an eyebrow.

“No,” Zara said sharply, but she seemed to scan my body again.

“My shoulder was hit pretty badly, but the majority of the blood isn’t mine,” I admitted, and her eyes went straight to my shoulder. “I'm fine,” I reassured her. “Your head, however, is not; we need to get you to a healer.”

“My head is fine. I don’t even feel it,” Zara scoffed and turned away from me, crossing her arms. I stared at the back of her stubborn head, but she spoke before I could argue again. “Did you kill her?” she asked, looking over her shoulder at me.

“No,” I said, letting out a breath. “She escaped, but her male friend and another female were dealt with.” I paused. “Dedra, she—” I swallowed, and Zara spun around to face me again. “She was badly injured. Jaxon took her back to the village to find a healer.”

I couldn’t bring myself to say more. The reality of her injuries weighing on me.

Zara stepped closer to me, seeming like she wanted to comfort me but didn't know how. I met her gaze, and her eyes seemed to search mine in question, but I didn’t know what she was asking.

“It's my fault…” Zara whispered.

“It's not,” I rumbled, reaching out and tucking a loose strand of her hair behind her ear. Zara’s cheeks reddened, and my arm prickled with that same strange sensation. She remained quiet, and I lowered my arm to my side.

“We should go.”