Time slowed down and I saw it all clearly, how everything was going to play out.
Blind, I side stepped Andrew’s every move. I heard every breath he took, the sound of his clothes rustling, and his feet when they moved. I could see with my ears, and he couldn’t get a single hit on me.
“The throne is mine!” he screamed. “I will rule the Lycan. Only I—”
There.
I got behind him, and before he knew it, I pushed him off the roof, hard enough that he didn’t slide down the shingles, but he actually fell. I couldn’t see, but I heard when the spiked statue in front of the hospital, penetrated his abdomen, the gurgle of blood when he tried to take a breath as he struggled to disconnect himself, but failed. Thank you, elephant.
“Goodbye, Andrew,” I sighed, and waited until he took his last breath.
I stood on the roof of the hospital—listening. Using my other instincts such as smell to see where everyone was located.
My team fought behind me. Ahead were the Succubi and Vampires. To my sides were the Lycan and the rebel Fae. The Gargoyles and Harpies flew above me, and the Water Nymphs and Mermaids ensured no escape from the river. The Witches held up the privacy screen around the island to keep on lookers away, and the warlocks were in the throngs of battle. Other small clans were mixed in, but the Fae never stopped coming. More and more came out of the building.
“Malakai!” I called out. “Protect the left flank! Ranulf! Retreat to the shore!” And on and on I went. Giving them the heads up on attacks to come. I saw it all without seeing. The victories and the losses. Many of our own were dying. I guessed Finn didn’t get their whole stash because the use of iron by the Fae played a big part, as well as the number of Fae that were on the island. With my Oracle insight, we got the upper hand on the fight. Now it was just being able to keep up with the visions.
I felt invincible. Up so high, I could touch the clouds—I saw it all until…
Amara tossed her magic with grace when an arrow struck her chest. She gasped and dropped to her knees when a Fae came up to her and shot an arrow between her eyes.
The visions were coming too fast for me to keep up and let everyone know. My chest heaved as I saw her body splayed on the lawn, and others trampling over her as the battle continued. I couldn’t save her in time.
“Mackenzie!” Sebastian yelled, he’d shifted back. I side-stepped an arrow that zoomed past me. I turned my body in his direction. In a half-shift, he gutted Fae and the Ghouls that joined the brawl. His sapphire eyes gleamed as he tore through them, taking minor hits here and there.
Amy was still a new vampire, and with all the blood around her, she slowed and took wavering steps as if she had a hard time concentrating. I’d been about to call for her when a Fae came up behind her with a sword. Out of no where, Jackson’s honey brown wolf roared through the field, tackling the Fae before he could decapitate Amy. She spun around and gasped. Her flaming red hair was matted and stuck to her face, covered in blood. She trembled, but Jackson rolled up beside her. He nuzzled her with his wet nose and gave her the confidence she needed to fight. Together they were impenetrable.
Jonah and Cassidy made a great team as well. Jonah went into a half-shift, and Cassidy’s white wolf prowled through the lawn. Cas’s wolf took an arrow in the side, but Jonah was there to take it out—it must not have been deep enough.
Ranulf slayed in his human form, a steel sword in hand. I could hear the clanging as it met the steel of a Fae. I never thought he’d choose to face war without shifting.
I could see the battlefield clearly as an Oracle…but there were a set of footsteps that I didn’t recognize. I couldn’t see this person.
Before I could ask, a blast shook the island, the vibration moving like a wave.
“Mackenzie Grey,” that silky voice sang. “It’s me you want,” she purred.
Drusilla beckoned me, and I shook my head, trying to get a clear vision of her, but it was foggy. She was doing something to hide herself from my sight.
I couldn't see her, but I could feel her. Her voice slithered around me like a snake; it tightened around my body up into my neck. She was sneaky. I was almost positive she was using the Druid. She’d blinded an Oracle—which was an impressive feat, but I wasn't going down easily. My visions gave everyone a fighting chance, at least until now.
I got closer to the edge of the roof, where I could hear her voice, it was interrupted by the deep growl of a wolf. I saw him. His black fur bristled, glowing silver eyes flashed as his canines snapped at whatever invisible force was before him. He barked and growled and howled. His anger radiated off him like a wave of heat. It was Alexander who stood before Drusilla. He was angry and rightfully so. She took everything from him. She took away his wife, the son he thought was his, shit, she destroyed his kingdom, and now she threatened his daughter.
My body tensed. The last thing I wanted was Alexander to face off with Drusilla. I knew he was strong, he wouldn't be the ruler of the Lycan if he wasn’t, but Drusilla had tricks up her sleeve that I worried would hurt him, or worse, kill him. If Alexander died, Ranulf would take me out of this battle quicker than an Oracle vision could give me the heads up. He would swoop me away and I would be the next leader of the Lycan. I was not ready to take up that mantle, so if I had to give up my life to protect Alexander, I would. He needed to stay exactly where he was.
My eyes rolled back to MacCoinnich silver and I hovered on the roof in a squat. Drusilla watched Alexander's wolf as he prowled toward her. She watched him with a smirk as if he were a mere child compared to her.
“Oh, Alexander, you have not aged a day,” she chimed.
He growled.
“Don’t be rude. We haven't seen each other in ages, and this is how you greet me? How you treat a dear old friend?”
He barked and snarled, foam spittled out of his mouth. She was goading him when Jonah ran towards Alexander, trying to stop him, with Sebastian chasing behind. They had to stay away.
I leapt from the roof and landed in a crouch. The ground trembled as a deep and loud roar blasted from me. My wolf awoke.
Everyone from Fae to Lycan, to warlocks and vampires—they all fell from the force. Not only was my wolf released, but my inner alpha—the power to knock everyone down in one single blow.
I stood before Drusilla who was standing awkwardly trying to keep her balance.
“Get the hell away from him,” I snarled. Alexander howled for me to get away, but I wasn't moving. If anybody was going, it was him.
“I see those beautiful Oracle eyes have retracted. Were you hard of seeing?”
“Funny,” I said. “You won't be laughing soon.”
“Oh, because you killed my lover? Poor Andrew. He didn't stand a chance,” she gazed over at his impaled body. “You think I kept him around because I truly loved him? Please, Mackenzie, you are smarter than that. Andrew was a pawn in the game that you've been in the middle of for years,” she smiled. “I wish I had known of you sooner though. I will grant you that: Lucian did an excellent job hiding you. Fortunately, that witch Cosima told me a tale about a baby born out of wedlock, under a powerful family. One that could have the powers and the abilities that no one in this world could ever have. A miracle. Call me intrigued,” she said. “With a little truth serum, Cosima sang like a canary. I mean I almost couldn't get her to stop, but when she told me of you, Mackenzie, it was like I’d struck gold.”
“I wouldn’t say gold, but you struck something…my nerves,” I said as I stepped forward.
“You are what I’ve been waiting for all along,” she gushed. “Never in our history has there been a hybrid—not with any species—but you, Mackenzie, with the blessing I gave the MacCoinnich bloodline, well you owe me your life.”
“I thought you wanted me alive?”
“I just need your eyes, a trophy of my victory,” she said as if I’d asked the stupidest question known to man. “King Conall had promised me an exchange. I strengthen his bloodline, and he
made me his Queen, but he reneged when he met his Anam Aonachd,” she spat. “It’s why I’d been grooming Andrew for years. He would become the next King of the Lycan—we would marry and merge our two lines and get what I was owed.”
I was done talking. She was stalling, for what I didn’t know, but it was over. I took a step toward her, when she flung her hand like she were swatting a fly, and I flew back. My eyes widened. That was impossible, I had my tattoo again, her magic shouldn’t have touched me.
“Stay right where you are,” she commanded as the Mad Hatter revealed himself, uncloaking beside her. Of course she had the Druid.
Everyone on our side of the island had stopped fighting. I heard the clank of steel and the whooshing sound of magic on the other side of the hospital as the battle raged on, but here and now? Drusilla and I were center stage and our audience waited captivated.
“I am leaving this island unharmed,” Drusilla said.
I couldn't help the laugh that erupted. “Are you serious? Drusilla, this is the end of the line—it's you and me.” I’d die before I let her leave. I had no clue how to defeat the Mad Hatter, but I’d figure it out.
“I beg to differ,” she chimed. “I cannot wait for the epic Battle of the Queens, but it is not now. When you take your place on the throne, then it will be our time. I know how to play the long game.”
This bitch was crazy if she thought I was going to wait this out any longer. I went for her, but the Druid swatted me down. His laugh was hysterical as he clapped with glee.
“You killed my master, Mackenzie Grey!” He giggled. “Now I get to kill you!”
Drusilla stroked the Druid’s disfigured face. “Don’t kill her, Maddie. Just make her hurt.”
I took ten steps forward, and he’d throw me back twenty.
“You think you can fight against me? Oh, child you haven't learned.”
“Yes, I have,” I gritted between my teeth. I kept running and he kept flinging me back, but I wouldn't stop.
“Give it a rest, Mackenzie. You would never stand a chance against me, the Queen of the Fae. I have been alive for thousands of years.”
I was exhausted. It was a back-and-forth, until someone unexpectedly showed up.
“Need a hand?” Bobby asked as he came up behind me. “Someone told me about this party on Ellis Island; said it would be killer,” he grinned.
“I thought you didn't care?” I rasped.
“I don't,” he shrugged. “Now go on before I change my mind.” Bobby raised his arms, blues and greens and oranges swirled together, glowing in his hand as he shot it out towards me. He placed a shield between the Druid and I, stopping his effects on me. Then Bobby and the Mad Hatter faced off. Magic bounced between them as each tried to strike the other.
I couldn’t let them distract me from Drusilla, but I should've known she had another trick up her sleeve. She whipped her hand aside, and Jonah started gliding across the lawn toward her until she wrapped her long, silky fingers around his neck. She slid out a knife from her other sleeve and before I could reach them, she stabbed him in the stomach.
An inaudible sound came from my throat and it echoed across the island as I skidded to a stop. Everyone froze, even the sounds of the battle behind me quieted. Not a single person made a sound.
I watched Jonah's eyes go from Drusilla, to me, back to her again. She hadn't killed him, his hand laid on her wrist as he tried to pull away. He gasped, trying to catch his breath, and all she did was grin victoriously. She caressed him with such love and care, her fingernails stroked his face. A single teardrop fell from his eye, and she gave it a gentle kiss, licking the saltiness from her lips.
“Don't cry, Jonah,” she whispered. “You've always been my favorite. I won’t kill you, I promise. I just need to make it hurt a little,” she coddled.
I couldn’t take the pain in his eyes, the screams of Jackson as Sebastian held him back. If Jackson lost Jonah, I didn’t want to imagine what would become of him. I’d taken so much from him already.
“Stop,” I croaked. “Stop. Let him go,” my voice cracked. I would do anything, just like with Amy. I would have done anything for all of them. I needed to save his life and I wasn’t going to make the same mistakes as before. I had to do something and if it meant letting Drusilla go free, I would do it. “I'll do anything,” I said.
Her smile turned to me. “Now we're talking the same language,” she said. “Come on, Maddie,” she called out to the Druid. He turned his back to Bobby and went to his new master.
None of us expected what came next. It would have been the perfect time for my Oracle vision to give me the heads up, but the universe was fickle like that.
Jonah turned to me, those pools of milk chocolate turned to gold, and that single dimple poked in his cheek as he attempted to smile. I could see the strain it took for him to breathe, the drizzle of blood on the corner of his mouth.
He smiled again. “For Amy,” he whispered before plunging the knife deeper in his stomach. Jonah crumpled to his knees as he choked on his own blood. For the first time, Drusilla gasped in shock, her hand still holding on to the knife, her mouth ajar. She watched as his gold eyes lost its glow, and paled before her.
Bobby took the opportunity and launched a ball of magic to the Druid’s retreating frame that absorbed him into a crystal ball which dropped on the lawn.
I was blind with rage. A blast of power shot out of me as I screamed at the sky. I roared and howled, my face drenched with tears as my eyes silvered and I zeroed in on Drusilla. I let out a battle cry so intense, so terrifying, that the whole island of Manhattan shook. I couldn't stop the tears that rushed out of my eyes like waterfalls. I dry heaved and hiccuped as I ran. My feet pounded the ground harder and faster as I got to Drusilla. I cried and I screamed and I yelled as she stood frozen, not knowing what had happened. I leapt and slashed my claws through her neck, the cut was so precise, so clean. I dropped on all fours as her head teetered on her body before rolling to the ground beside me. Eyes opened wide, long white hair that stretched for miles, it laid there. It was done.
The Queen was dead.
34
I couldn’t move. If I did, I would look behind me and find him dead. I couldn’t move, I couldn’t breathe. My heart galloped, threatening to burst from my chest.
Amy fell to her knees in front of me, her small cold hands moving strands of stray hair away from my face. Her fingers wiped away the tears streaked across my grim filled skin, her tattooed arms wrapped themselves around me as I hunched over and cried. I released every bit of emotion I had coiled up inside me for the last three years. It was over, but it felt like my nightmare had just begun.
“Shhh,” Amy soothed as she rocked us back and forth. I could hear the silent, muffled cries of Jackson, and the shrieks of Charles Cadwell as he ran across the lawn to find his son.
“Why!” I screamed into Amy’s arms. I was inconsolable.
Alexander fell beside us. He’d shifted back, his torso was painted red. He laid a single hand on the back of my head and held on to me. Not knowing what to say to a grieving child.
The quiet was so loud and all I could hear was my agony. The pain of being ripped open from the inside out, and the feeling of not being able to breathe. I lost track of time as an infinite amount of tears and heartbreak poured out of me.
“Mackenzie,” Jackson’s hoarse voice filtered in. He stood above me, wiping his face. “Kenz.”
I peered up at him. “I’m so sorry, Jackson. I’m so fuckin’ sorry,” I cried.
He nodded. His hands engulfed my arms and he lifted me off the ground, pulling me into him. Jackson held me as I cried into his blood stained, and ripped shirt. “It’s not your fault,” he whispered in my ear.
It only made me cry harder. I didn’t understand. He should have been blaming me.
“It’s not your fault,” he repeated it over, and over again, and didn’t stop until I started believing it.
Most of the Fae had surrendered, whil
e some got lost in the chaos. The moment their Queen was beheaded, they had no fight left.
The cleanup was the hardest part. All the innocent supernaturals who lost their lives in such a senseless war had to be picked up and handed over to their clan’s leader for a proper burial. The Lycan suffered casualties, but none of them hit us harder than the loss of Jonah. Jonah was well-known and loved, kind-hearted, wearing his damn emotions on his sleeve, but he was one strong-as-hell wolf.
I stayed for the cleanup as long as I could before Alexander thought it would be best if I went back to the station. With Amy and Ranulf in tow, we returned to the SIU to help on that end. Where did we go from here? The threat that loomed over us was gone, but we’d lost so much—everyone did.
“Pet,” Lucian muttered as he took a seat on my desk. I’d been staring mindlessly at my computer screen.
I pulled my gaze away and to the Head Vampire of New York City. I felt some relief knowing he was okay.
“Roman?” I croaked.
“He’s fine. Everyone—they’re fine,” he corrected himself. “Emma is safe. She is tending to some of the injured upstairs in the infirmary. Scarlet is watching over her.”
“Good,” I nodded. “Good.”
“What are you doing here, Pet? Everyone is gone.”
My gaze traveled around the squad room and I realized I was alone, in the dark.
“You called me, Pet,” I realized. He hadn’t called me that since I made him turn Amy into a vampire.
He gave me a small smile. “Yes. Today has taught me much. It has showed me that we have placed a tremendous amount of pressure on you, a burden that Adaline would have never wanted you to have.”
“Aye,” Ophelia agreed, as she stood beneath the doorframe. “Yer mum left her sisters to keep ye away from such horrors like today.”
“You weren’t there,” I muttered and rubbed at my puffy eyes. The old woman had been in the infirmary since the seizure she had the other day relaying a vision about me.
OMEGA: A New Adult Urban Fantasy (Mackenzie Grey Book 4) Page 27
