“Kenna. Listen to me, love. Stop.” Rhys dropped to his knees, putting himself in range. She turned to her enemy, then back to him as he called to her. “No, Kenna. Look at me. Come back to me. Pull the wolf in and be Makenna again.”
He moved closer, and she growled at him, baring her teeth. She didn't want his touch right now. She wanted more blood. The flash in his eyes and in her heart said that hurt him. She didn't want to hurt her mate.
But she had. So many times.
She needed to rid him of this enemy, then go find the other and do the same. That could make up for the pain she'd caused.
She turned from Rhys, ignoring his call, and lunged at Trystan.
He shifted as she leaped.
The wolves clashed with a sonic boom, tumbling into the chair and shattering it to kindling. More yells. She was too far gone to acknowledge them. Rhys moved into her line of sight. She mentally warned him to stay away.
There would be no coming between them.
Snarls. Growls. Teeth snapping. Claws raking.
Sharp points dragged down her flank. Across her nose. She swiped back, digging deep into his belly. He pulled away before she slashed it open.
The male wolf got his feet under him, and she followed. They circled as Rhys, Talon, and Amanda yelled for them to stop.
Instead the wolves lunged again, meeting midair. This time, the raging bundle of fur and teeth and claws smashed through the wall of the shed and out into the camp. They rolled and bit and fought with uncontrolled wildness, their human sides taking out their pain and anger on their wolves.
Her sides heaved. The chaos in her mind began to slow her reflexes, allowing Trystan to get in shots he otherwise wouldn't. But she still held the upper hand.
They broke apart for a moment, and the wolf froze. So many unfamiliar scents. She looked around. People everywhere. Her people. Their faces showed shock, confusion, and fear.
Her own people feared her.
The goddess screamed to get Makenna and the wolf's attention. They needed to end the fight. There was a larger, more threatening enemy they needed to save their strength for.
An enemy that deserved a slow, painful death.
The goddess told them there was an easy way to stop the fight so she could get away and get to the enemy she truly wanted to destroy.
She was Alpha, and they would submit.
The wolf stood tall, ears pointed. First she made eye contact with Trystan. He started toward her, then halted when the light around her began to pulse again. This time, she released the power of the Alpha. He fought the wave, growling. But it was too much. He whined, then dropped his head and backed up.
She walked toward the rest of the pack who'd come out to see the commotion. Each one lowered their heads and bowed to their Alpha, their queen. Even if they didn’t want to.
Satisfied they would stay put, she swung around to face her mate. She couldn't force his submission, but she didn't have to. He could sense her plan. While he didn't like it, he wouldn't stop her. He knew he couldn't.
She stepped closer, pleading with him mentally to understand.
Rhys reached out to her, then pulled his hand back. “Don't do this, Kenna. I can't lose you.” His voice broke and he dropped to his knees.
He was unafraid of showing emotion, of showing his love for his mate in front of the pack.
She whined and nuzzled his neck. The wolf wouldn't recede. They would need her speed to get to Kylian as quickly as possible. Makenna agreed. While she longed to touch Rhys, to tell him thank you for saving her, to tell him she had to do this for him, she understood they had little time.
They had to destroy Kylian. Tonight. It was the only way to protect her people and atone for her sins.
She licked his jaw. With one last, longing look, she took off into the swamp.
CHAPTER TWENTY─FIVE
Something Wicked This Way Comes
Rhys stayed on his knees as he watched Makenna's wolf bound away, carrying his heart.
His chest ached. She would never succeed. It wasn't that he doubted her strength, but there were too many obstacles. Too many forces against her. Not the least of which was that Kylian would be surrounded by vicious warriors.
There was no way she'd reach him.
She was on a suicide mission. All in a misguided attempt to atone for something that wasn't her fault.
With her having forced the pack's submission, there had been nothing he could do to stop her. At the moment.
He could do something now.
Galvanized by the need to save his mate, Rhys leaped to his feet. His pack moved around the center of camp, some whispering and some yelling. All were stunned at the events they'd just witnessed. Somehow, he had to get them to understand.
To follow him to rescue their queen.
He ignored Trystan. If his Beta spoke right then, he'd kill him.
Rhys raised his hands as he moved to the center of the group. He had no idea what he'd say. All he could do was speak from the heart and hope they accepted it.
Accepted Makenna.
“I know most of you are in shock, but I need you to listen. Makenna is your queen and my mate. We have bonded.” He took a deep breath, letting that sink in. Savoring the freedom of the words. “She was under Kylian's control for a time.” Gasps all around. Angry shouts. He forged on. “Bowen broke the trigger. She had no knowledge of what she'd done under his magic.” That earned him some sympathetic looks and murmurs. “I don't have time to go into detail, but know your queen is on your side. She's gone to take out Kylian. For you.”
A wave of sorrow and support flowed through the crowd, infusing Rhys with hope through his link with the pack.
Talon looked at Rhys, his eyes asking a silent question. Rhys nodded. Maybe hearing from her brother would help bolster the slowly growing support.
Talon stepped up. “My sister's heart is pure. She's no threat to you. She needs us. Her pack, her people. If we don't stop her, Kylian will win.”
Rhys came to his side. “I will not order you to follow me on this mission. Your shock and anger is too fresh, and I understand it. But those of you who are willing, will you join us? Will you follow me to save your queen?”
He held his breath.
A few shook their heads. They weren't ready to accept her yet. It hurt, but he understood.
Then hope rose again as the majority of his warriors stepped forward. They bowed to him, acknowledging their support.
Rhys smiled. “Thank you. Those of you who are with me, suit up. We're leaving now.” He lost the smile as he turned to Trystan, who stood near Amanda. “Stay here. I won't have you jeopardize her life for your revenge.”
Trystan gave Amanda a pleading look, guarding his rapidly healing wounds. She begged him with her eyes to do the right thing.
He raised his tortured gaze to Rhys. “I may not trust her or think she belongs here, but I trust you. I won't harm her again.” He edged closer, his words for Rhys alone. “I can't let Amanda face Kylian without me by her side. Please, don't make me stay behind.”
The words were sincere, but Rhys had to be sure. Makenna's life hung in the balance. He searched deeply within Trystan, looking for any subterfuge in his friend. His heart was a mess. Anger and grief suffused his being. But he was being honest.
Rhys nodded once. “I'll give you this one chance.” He met his friend nose to nose, letting all the power of the Alpha radiate from him. “But if you hurt her, or make one wrong move, I'll end you myself.”
Trystan exhaled sharply. “Understood.”
Rhys turned to the group, now fully armed. “Only engage if necessary. We get in, get her, and get out. We’re not prepared to take on his full force. Yet. Let's move out.”
Talon sidled up to Rhys. “I'm guessing since you're bonded, you're following your connection to her location?” At Rhys' nod, Talon sneered at him with a brother’s anger. “We're going to have a discussion about that. Soon.”
“I assumed.” Rh
ys turned to his friend. “We'll bring her home, Talon. I swear it.”
Talon gave a sad smile. “I appreciate it, but you can't promise that. We'll do our best. Hopefully, we'll find her before she goes in.”
Words finished, they shifted and raced through the swamp, the pack on their heels. The sense of urgency pounding in Rhys' veins intensified. It urged him forward, pushing harder and faster through the water and thick growth.
His worry for his mate only cranked up as he sensed her mental state deteriorate. Makenna was furious and in indescribable pain. The power coursing through her was like a drug. She rode a high of sorts, running toward danger to find an outlet for the fire in her blood. A fire she couldn't control. A fire that was quickly consuming her.
She was also scared. The new world she'd been so abruptly dragged into overwhelmed her. He felt her push aside the fear and focus on the anger. It was easier.
It would also get her killed.
Rhys slowed as they neared the outskirts of an old, defunct plantation. He skidded to a halt. The sheer number of signatures shocked his senses.
Evil rode the wind like a raging dragon. A black abyss of malevolent energy sucked the oxygen from his lungs. His skin crawled. He felt his pack's reaction, similar to his own.
Never before had they encountered such a sucking void of maliciousness. It was more than the power Brianna could have amassed. Multiple sources merged together, creating the force that sent a shock wave of raw fear through his pack.
Kylian was massing his forces.
Rhys dug deep, latching on to his bond with Makenna. Sensing her not far away, he motioned his pack. They took position, staying out of visual range of the guards at the compound.
He followed the tether holding their souls together.
Shock consumed her at the heaviness in the air and the sheer number of warriors before her. He breathed a sigh of relief at finding her wolf on the fringes of the compound, eying the perimeter.
The air whooshed from his lungs as he lifted his gaze to the compound. It was overrun. Warriors crawled the grounds. Two large trucks pulled in. More fighters poured from them, lining up in formation. Some he recognized. Two were leaders of clans who were under his rule. Their warriors stood with them. They moved as if in a trance, no light, no thought in their eyes.
His heart shattered at the same time rage fired his blood. Kylian was enspelling their race, stealing warriors right out from under Rhys' nose and turning them against him.
He shoved down the need to storm the compound. He knew it would be pointless. Breaking the spell would require much more power than he had. At the moment, he had more pressing concerns.
Like saving his mate.
Rhys shifted. He had to convince her that her plan was folly. He hoped he could cut through the chaos and reach her.
“Kenna, come back. Please.”
The wolf sensed him before he'd neared, part of her knowing he'd followed. Soulful, pained eyes met his. Makenna's eyes.
He inched closer, not wanting to spook her. “Come back to me, love. I don't blame you. None of this was your fault. I know that. But I need to talk to you. Kenna.”
She whined, casting a longing glance back at the compound.
“I know. We'll get him. But we have to have a plan.” Not that he had any idea what that plan was. He'd need to speak with Bowen and have him gather every mage they had.
Another mournful whine. Then she shifted, and his mate stood before him.
Her legs gave and he caught her before she hit the ground. She curled into him, clinging to him as if he were the only thing tethering her to the world.
“I'm so sorry.” A sob tore from her.
“Hush. There’s nothing to apologize for.” He sank to the ground, pulling her into his lap. He tapped the device in his ear. “She's safe. Regroup at camp.”
Talon's voice crackled over the line giving the order. Then he spoke to Rhys. “Is she all right?”
“She will be.”
“The wind is malevolent. He's amassing too much power, Rhys.” Talon's voice shook. He of all people knew what his father was capable of and the lengths he would go to.
“Bowen is already on it. I sense it through the pack link. He'll have a plan soon.” He pressed his cheek to the top of Makenna's head and held her tighter as she trembled. “I'll take care of her, Talon. We'll see you in the morning.”
“Understood. Talon out.”
Rhys ran a soothing hand up and down Makenna's spine. “Love, we need to get somewhere safe.”
She lifted her eyes to the compound again. “He has to be stopped.” She stated the obvious, the full truth of what her father truly was becoming clear.
“Yes. But not tonight.”
“Three, I mean I, knew he was growing his army. I'd forgotten until I saw it.” She brushed the tears from her face. “It's too late. He's too strong.” Her red rimmed eyes met his. “I feel it. In my chest. It's like a weight. Like the darkness is crawling under my skin.”
She rubbed the center of her chest.
“I know. I feel it too.”
“I killed your friends.”
“Kylian killed them. You were an unwilling weapon.” He held her tighter. He wanted to suck the pain from her soul into his.
“I didn't know. Kylian. The wolf. This power.” She extended a hand in front of them, the red glow dimming.
“I know.” He didn't know what to say, so he let her talk. She was working through it, and he had to let her. It was the only way she'd find peace. But they had to do it elsewhere. At any moment they could be discovered. “Love, we need to go. Now.”
She nodded and extricated herself from his arms, still trembling. Still acclimating to the power within. “Okay.”
They rose and Rhys took her hand. “Can you shift?”
“I think so.” She shook out her arms.
“We can move faster that way.” He leaned forward, pressing a kiss to her forehead. “Follow me.”
“Are we going back to your home?” Her eyes widened, and her heart rate sped up. “I don't think the pack will be─”
“They'll come to terms with it. They just need a little time. But we're not going back there tonight. I'm taking you somewhere else I can tend to your wounds, and you can rest.”
Makenna would need space to do whatever it took to work off the excess energy and adrenaline from the power rush. Eventually, she'd learn how to absorb it. Until then, it would rattle in her system, leaving her restless and edgy until she released it.
Rhys had a few ideas on how she could expend that energy, but reined them in. He doubted she'd be in the mood to exorcise her demons on him.
She glanced at her bloody clothes and winced. “They don't hurt.” She hissed as she patted a deep gash. “Much.”
Rhys had to look away from the claw marks on her back he’d put there before he’d known who she was. “They've already started healing. The process will be slower until you learn how to use your power.”
“Can you show me?” The vulnerability and trust on her face flayed him.
“Of course. I'll help you any way I can.”
“Thank you.” Her voice was barely a whisper. She glanced at the busy camp one more time.
“We'll get him, Kenna.” Hopefully he could keep his promise. “Let's go.”
She nodded and followed suit as he shifted. His wolf had been fighting for contact with his mate and took a moment to nuzzle her neck, saying hello. She returned his affection, rubbing her body along his.
Knowing they could get better acquainted once they were safe, he turned to run. Nodding at her over his shoulder, he took off, Makenna's wolf on his heels.
The wolf ran fast, wanting to be away from the heaviness in the air.
Something wicked was coming for them and they'd have to deal with it soon enough. It seemed Makenna had come into her power just in time. He could only hope she would learn to wield it quickly. That it would be enough to turn the tide.
For now,
he'd take solace in having his mate with him. For good.
CHAPTER TWENTY─SIX
Now You're A Home
They ran for what seemed like forever.
Makenna loved it.
Being in wolf form was exhilarating. She was faster. Could see in the dark. The wind tickled her fur.
The best part? She was with her mate. The completion and utter joy that ran through her wolf infected her as well. Though it didn't take much.
She could admit even though she'd been furious, it wasn't really with Rhys. He'd been an easy target. The representation of a new world she didn't understand.
Despite how she'd treated him, the hurtful things she'd said, he'd saved her. Not just from rushing headlong to her death at Kylian's camp, but he'd broken the hold Kylian had on her. He'd set her free from the dark magic that had nearly ruined her life and caused her to unknowingly destroy others.
She stomped on that train of thought. She'd have to deal with it eventually, but right now she didn't have the capacity to sort through her feelings about her father on top of everything else.
Power still coursed through her veins. Her blood was on fire with frenetic energy that had nowhere to go. The run helped, but it only took the edge off.
Her thoughts skidded to a halt along with her body as Rhys stopped in front of her. He shifted, and she did the same.
Makenna spied a small cabin tucked in a grove of trees. They hadn't returned to the bayou but had run to the other side of the parish. They were in a small forest near the river. Huge trees surrounded them, moss crawling up some. Moonlight glinted off the slight waves in the river caused by the wind.
She closed her eyes and let the sounds calm her. When she opened them, Rhys watched her, a smile on his face. Suddenly, she was nervous. There was so much to say.
She stepped into the soothing rays of the moon. “Is this your home?” The realization she knew next to nothing about him had her avoiding those eyes that saw too much.
“No. I live at the camp with the rest of the pack.” After whispering something in that language he used sometimes, he took her hand and led her to the homey looking cabin. “This was my parents' getaway. They'd come here to reconnect, have some peace and quiet.” He walked up the stairs and waved a hand in front of the door before opening it. “It's where I come to think and be alone.” Rhys turned to her. “Now it can be our escape.”
Sleeper (Rise of the Fianna Book 1) Page 26
