She was alive. For now. He had to keep it that way.
He’d almost reached the door when four massive, grey wolves circled him. Their teeth were bared and dripping saliva.
He could force their submission, but he had to do that one at a time. There was no way he could get through them all without the others ripping him to shreds. So he did the only thing he could do.
He sheathed his sword and shifted as he leaped for the closest wolf.
They landed hard and rolled into the large, white building. He pounced on his opponent’s stomach and pinned him to the ground. Clamping his massive jaws around the wolf’s throat, Rhys ripped it out as he slashed into his belly with his hind claws.
It all happened in seconds.
Rhys’s wolf spit out the flesh and faced the rest of his foes. Blood dripped from his mouth. Skin and fur clung to his fangs. He let out a spine-tingling, guttural growl. He’d killed their pack mate so quickly, they hadn’t had time to react, still stunned from his unnaturally fast shift.
Their shock faded, and they lunged for him.
Though they were smaller, their numbers skewed the odds in their favor. But they shouldn’t have tangled with a male who was trying to protect his mate. He was the most vicious creature in existence.
Teeth dug into his left flank and his right leg as he clawed and tore at the flesh of the one in front of him. Rhys bit into the wolf’s front leg. A satisfying snap sounded. The wolf whined and dropped to the ground.
Rhys whirled and swiped his paw across the snout of the one on his flank. Blood sprayed and fur flew. He turned for the next one in time to prevent him from latching onto his throat.
Rhys flipped in the air and landed on the animal’s back. He ripped his claws down each side of the wolf’s spine. Rhys dug deep and hung on as another wolf barreled into his side. He clawed through tissue to bone and nerves with his front paws as he pushed the wolf under him away. Rolling to his feet, he jumped at his opponent.
Landing on the wolf’s side, Rhys kept him pinned while he clamped on his front leg. He tightened his bite and pulled up and out. The crunch of bone and tear of flesh urged his wolf on. He ripped the leg from the wolf’s body and tossed it aside. But he didn’t have a chance to finish him.
The wolf with the broken leg had made it to his feet. He slammed into Rhys and they rolled over and over. With fewer injuries than the other, Rhys made it to his feet first. He howled, needing to get to his mate. Feeling her pain.
Rhys blasted into the other wolf. They flipped in the air. Rhys landed on top. Rage that his mate was hurting and the need to make those who’d done it pay tore through him. It charged his flagging body.
He latched on to his enemy’s neck. Yanking hard, he ripped the entire head off the body. The last foe standing in the way of him getting to Makenna was gone.
There was no time to celebrate the victory. No sooner had he shifted back to his human form than an alarm sounded through the camp. Rhys surveyed the area. His people had been victorious. The enemy lay dead. The siren was pointless.
Just as he turned to go to his mate, the sound of chains and rolling metal filled the camp. Rhys and his warriors looked around to find the source.
Dust rose and sections of dirt and grass fell into the earth as great holes had opened up in the field around them. As if garage doors had opened in the ground. Enemy soldiers poured from the holes like ants.
“Son of a bitch!” He called his magic to his hands. “Throw your magic! Take out as many as you can!”
Their only hope was to disable as many as possible before they got close enough to engage. Hundreds and hundreds of warriors came at them from all sides. All aiming for his pack of approximately seventy-five.
All from clans who had been under his rule.
Magic flew, sparks filling the world with violent color. The colors of death. Soldiers were thrown from the incoming lines, erupting into flames. Some knocked into others and scattered like bowling pins.
Bowen and his mages conjured a barrier and attempted to wrap it around the pack. The pack’s magic could still flow out and continued to hack away at the enemy lines.
The mages weren’t fast enough.
The barrier had only encircled them halfway when the swarm of warriors reached the pack.
Rhys didn’t have to give the command to engage. It was a moot point. Some of his pack swung blades or fought with tooth and claw, others continued to throw magic out the half-finished barrier. Some of the mages worked to complete it while others joined those launching fire at the opposing lines.
Rhys drew his blade and resumed throwing fire as he cut through the mass of soldiers barreling toward him.
Foes swarmed him like locusts.
Fire seared into his leg. Steel cut down his arm opening a wicked gash. A sword cut a swath across his abdomen. Blood poured. He kept fighting. Twirling one way with blade swinging, then the other letting magic fly, he fought like a man possessed.
As his strength began to ebb, he sent out a mental call to Makenna to fight. To get out any way she could. To save herself so that a part of both of them would live on.
She sent back a resounding no. She’d fight, but there was no way she was leaving him to die.
Rhys was about to order her to do it when a blade skimmed his neck. He barely pulled back in time to save his head. He whirled and returned the favor, sending the attacker’s head flying into the oncoming soldiers.
Two more came at him. He summoned all his remaining energy and put up the best defense he could. It was no longer about destroying the enemy. It was a fight for survival.
Quick glances told him what he’d already felt. His pack was falling one by one. He watched two lose their heads. Trystan was cut down and barely fought back to his feet. Talon and Amanda were flagging. Their speed waning as their blood and magic drained from their bodies.
Just as he was about to fall to his knees, Bowen closed the barrier around them. The act buoyed Rhys’s weakening body and spirit. He charged into the enemy with a roar, as did the rest of the pack. They’d get rid of the enemy within their circle, then they’d figure out how to get to Makenna.
A ferocious yell rang in his head. Makenna was furious.
She’d been bound.
Fuck. He had to get to her. Now.
Laying waste to the few enemies left around him, he turned to Bowen. There had to be a way to get him inside that building.
The door to said building flew open. Brianna sauntered out, for all the world looking like a regal queen in her long, flowing purple gown. Though she resembled his mate, the sight of her turned his stomach. Kylian followed. He strutted onto the body littered battlefield wearing a smug smile. His eyes flared, even his wolf taking joy in the carnage before him.
Behind them was Makenna. Bound between two of Kylian’s soldiers. Her precious blood covered her neck and chest.
Rage like he’d never known set him on fire from the inside out. He howled. It was a sound of fury. The sound of the Alpha enraged beyond sanity.
Warriors from both sides stopped cold at the sound.
Kylian laughed. “Have your mage drop the shield or she dies. Now.” His smile faded, and death flared in his eyes.
“No! Don’t do it!” Makenna roared.
Rhys’ gaze went to her. He wondered why she wasn’t using her magic to free herself. Then he saw the ropes at her wrists. Rope specially designed to contain magic. They wrapped around her neck as well, one of the soldiers holding the end of the length. The male gave it a yank. Rhys lunged, intent on dishing out a bloody death.
“I wouldn’t.” Kylian shook his head. “You make a move and she dies painfully.” He glanced between Rhys and Makenna. “Now drop that shield.”
Rhys’ heart was being ripped from his chest. The sight of her bound and bloody nearly brought him to his knees. Makenna pleaded with him through their bond to fight. She said Kylian was going to kill her anyway.
He couldn’t take that chance.
If they played along, it would give Bowen time to concoct a way to get them out of here. If he ordered his warriors to engage and went for Kylian’s throat, they had no hope. They were severely outnumbered and those still alive were badly wounded or barely on their feet.
He nodded to Bowen. Through the pack link, he ordered him to drop the shield.
Then get to cooking up something to get us the fuck out of here. We’ll distract Kylian.
Bowen tipped his chin. Message received.
A moment later, the light around them wavered, then sputtered out as the shield dropped.
“Ah, now that’s better. Cooperation.” Kylian stepped to within a few feet of Rhys. It was all Rhys could do not to swing his sword and sever the male’s head. “I always knew it would end this way. It was just a matter of time.”
“It’s not over yet.” Rhys gritted his teeth.
Everything in him urged him to destroy the evil in front of him. One glance at Makenna stayed his hand.
He couldn’t risk her.
“I’m afraid it is.” Kylian signaled the soldiers holding Makenna. They dragged her toward the center of camp to a platform with one pole rising from the beams. “My daughter seems to have chosen you over power and glory.” He leveled a glare at Rhys. “Over her family.”
“I am her family.”
“In a manner of speaking. Still, she chose you over her blood. She betrayed me just like her worthless mother.”
“You don’t exactly inspire loyalty.”
Rhys shook with the need to taste Kylian’s blood.
Kylian stood tall. “I don’t need to inspire loyalty when I have all the power. I can force it. Though it seems our dear Makenna can’t be bought or controlled.” He smirked. “You should thank me for ridding you of her. She’ll only turn against you to fulfill her own desires, just like her mother did to me. You’re better off without her.”
Rhys didn’t bother to respond. He kept his eyes on Makenna as they secured her to the pole. Brianna strode past him toward where her sister was restrained. The witch smiled. Her intent written plainly on her face. He took in the wooden structure, and the truth hit him with a force that buckled his knees.
It was a pyre.
Kylian planned to burn his mate alive.
CHAPTER THIRTY─THREE
The Morrigan
Makenna’s insides turned to jelly as they tied her to the pole.
Her heart cried for her mate, terrified they would take him from her. They could do what they wanted to her, not him. But she couldn’t give in to that fear. She stood tall, shoving down the terror that would only weaken her. She wouldn’t give these assholes the satisfaction of seeing her squirm.
She focused on her mate. Covered in blood and wounds, she sensed his pain. She felt his heart breaking at the thought of what Kylian and Brianna were about to do to her. His mind roiled with the effort of coming up with a way out. She feared in his desperation he’d do something stupid.
Like sacrifice himself to save her.
She couldn’t allow that. For once in her life, she’d protect the ones she loved. If a sacrifice had to be made, she’d be the one to do it. Though her death would cause Rhys hurt for a while, he’d be alive. He’d heal. He’d go on.
That was all that mattered.
Brianna stood in front of her, a smug look on her hauntingly similar face. “Well, big sister. Looks like I’ll be the only one of us left standing when this day is over. The triad will be combined into one with me having all the power. Just as it should be.” She sneered. “Why the gods chose you as queen I’ll never know. But I’ll fix their mistake.”
Makenna snorted. “You’ll never be queen.” She couldn’t resist needling her. “The gods knew what they were doing. They chose the better woman. One who wouldn’t hide behind daddy like a spoiled little brat.”
Brianna punched her in the mouth. Makenna’s head snapped to the side. She licked the blood from her lip as she turned back to face her sister. She let a wicked grin split her face.
All she had to do was keep Brianna talking while Bowen cooked up a plan. She saw him out of the corner of her eye. The mages huddled around him. They shielded him from Kylian’s sight as he chanted, his magic glowing bright.
She could feel through the pack link that he was close. To what, she didn’t know. But whatever it was would be their only shot of getting out of here.
She continued to work against the magic of the ropes restraining her. They were weakening bit by bit, but it was slow going. She wouldn’t stop trying. She’d done it before. A little time, and she could do it again.
Brianna prattled on, and Makenna let her. She met Rhys’ eyes and tried to send him comfort. Assurance that they would get out in one piece.
At least, she hoped they would. If nothing else, she’d use what power she had to somehow get Rhys and the others out. She kept that part of her thoughts from him. His raised brow said he saw through her and didn’t care for what she was planning.
She smiled sadly, then glanced at Bowen before turning back to her sister. Bowen was so close. His power grew even brighter and a few of Kylian’s soldiers were starting to notice.
She needed to keep their attention on her and Brianna. And she needed to get Brianna to throw some fire around. Even though she knew it would hurt like hell, it would mask what she was trying to do with the rope. She could now free her hands easily. Her neck was a different story.
They might notice if flame erupted at her throat.
Makenna eyed Brianna. While her sister had had longer to learn her power, Makenna knew hers was greater. She just needed to work on the rope and at the same time, try to shield herself from Brianna so Makenna wasn’t weakened.
Her chest tightened with resolve. She’d never attempted two things at once with her magic, but it was as good a time as any to try. If she could release herself, she could really cause a distraction. She could pull all the focus to her and leave Bowen free to work his miracle.
Doing things she’d never done before, with a power she hadn’t mastered, in a situation she’d never been in, in a world she didn’t fully understand yet.
How hard could it be?
One thing was sure. Fear wouldn’t be holding her back any more. Determination and rage had taken over. And annoyance at her crazy bitch of a sister.
Brianna raved on as she paced the platform. The woman had issues. Big time. There were lives hanging in the balance, and all she wanted to do was whine about the injustice of Makenna being given more power, and detail how she was going to strip Makenna’s magic and peel her skin before she set her aflame.
Blah fucking blah.
Makenna was about to start spouting off insults to get Brianna pissed enough to throw when Kylian unknowingly helped her out.
“Brianna!” Her sister stopped rambling and turned to their father. “Get on with it! We’ve wasted enough time.”
Brianna huffed like the brat she was and faced Makenna. “Show time, sis.”
Her hands lit up with a red glow. The light was a shade darker than Amanda’s. Almost as dark as Makenna’s.
So Brianna had some juice. Things might get a little hotter than Makenna had assumed.
When Brianna drew back her hand to throw, Rhys yelled. With a flick of Kylian’s wrist, four soldiers restrained Rhys. Makenna shot him a smile and the message to trust her. His brow furrowed, and his mouth opened to argue, but she shook her head.
The first volley impacted her gut with the heat of a thousand suns.
Makenna doubled over. Air whooshed out of her lungs. Son of a bitch! She should’ve been faster raising that shield. Agony the likes of which she’d never experienced burned into her. Tears filled her eyes. Her skin sizzled and smoked before the flame was extinguished. She fought to get her bearings.
She had a job to do. A couple of them, actually.
She focused part of her energy on maintaining the shield, the rest on getting rid of her bonds.
Brianna continued to t
hrow.
The world lit up. Flames licked her entire body. The shield kept her from feeling most of it, but it was difficult staying on task with the pain and the hits jolting her. Especially when the ropes kept her magic from being at full capacity.
The flame did what she’d wanted. It provided the perfect cover for escape. Overwhelming relief consumed her when the ropes fell from her hands. All that was left was her neck and her power would be completely unleashed.
A particularly brutal hit slammed into her chest. Her heart stuttered. Her power wavered. Breathing became impossible as immense pain rippled through her being. Fuck! She was so close.
Twin roars echoed across the field. One from Rhys. He fought his captors, but more descended upon him. He wasn’t getting free.
Makenna turned to find the source of the other, already knowing who it came from but hoping she was wrong. Hoping her sister wasn’t stupid enough to try and get herself killed.
That hope was futile.
Amanda leaped over warriors from both sides, cutting down the shocked enemy on her way to the platform. Her eyes were black and fathomless. Her magic glowed a deeper red than yesterday, signaling her fury.
She dropped her sword as she cleared the crowd and threw from both hands with a war cry that had some covering their ears.
Brianna ducked one hit. The next impacted her in the leg, kicking it out from under her. She fell to the platform with a shout. She was back up in a heartbeat. Angry red light barreled through the air toward Amanda while Brianna muttered under her breath.
Amanda ducked and rolled. She lobbed one shot after another, never pausing. Brianna continued to dodge as her chant grew stronger, her light darker.
One woman putting herself in harm’s way to protect her sister, the other trying to kill both of them. Makenna couldn’t stop her heartbreak that it’d come to this.
The triad had a broken point, and it cut into Makenna’s soul. But as much as she wished they could, there was no saving Brianna. Now their only option was to destroy her.
Sleeper (Rise of the Fianna Book 1) Page 34
