A Clash of Storms (A Shade of Vampire #50)(9)

“Serena, we have to talk about this,” he said, instantly reading my emotions. We were so connected that he, too, felt what I was experiencing in that moment. I sighed, and nodded. “Once I take his pendant away from him, you all strike hard and without hesitation.”

“Yes, Draven.”

“And if I have to take Asherak’s soul into me, you know what you have to do…”

I couldn’t answer that one.

“Serena, look at me.”

I listened, but tears were already rushing to glaze my eyes. I blinked several times, forcing them to roll down my cheeks. He brushed his knuckles along my jawline and gave me a weak smile.

“Once he’s out of the pendant’s reach, all we’ll have to do is chop his head off,” I said. “It’ll be over quick.”

“I agree, darling, but let’s keep all options open. Nothing about this situation has ever been fully predictable,” he replied gently. “If I have to take Asherak into me for you to kill Azazel, I will. And you’ll have to take me down, then, Serena. Do not waiver on my account. Go straight for the head before he takes over completely.”

“Shut up,” I growled, and hid my face in his chest, holding him tight.

I felt his kiss on the top of my head and his hands moving slowly up and down my back, and I felt his heartbeat echoed in my chest. I’d heard enough. We were not going to have to cross that bridge, I told myself.

“I love you, Serena,” he whispered in my ear as I swallowed back more tears.

“I love you, Draven.”



Less than an hour later, six Bajangs boarded the ship in the derelict harbor, along with the dozens of cubs who had known nothing but Stonewall their whole lives. I understood every emotion that flickered in their wide eyes—the anguish, the fear, the confusion, and the longing to be with their parents, but they had no choice but to listen if they wanted to survive.

We waited on the eastern terrace, watching Rebel on the pier below as she waved goodbye to them. The old vessel moaned and creaked as it was pushed out farther into the ocean. Draven and the Druids lined up on the edge of the terrace, bringing their hands forward and muttering a spell. Bright white lights shot from their palms and vanished into the deep blue water below.

Incandescent pulses spread out like liquid ripples of light, pushing the ship farther and increasing its speed as it cut across the waves.

“Is it the same thing you did when we sailed to Marton?” I asked.

“Yes and no,” he replied. “This is much more powerful. We gave them water wards to keep them safe. Those light pulses you saw are ancient wards we summoned. They’ll guide the ship to Marton and keep it above water at all times. The weather can do nothing against it.”

“That’s impressive.” Jovi came up from behind us.

I turned around and saw the rest of our group there, satchels packed, weapons and shields ready for battle. Rebel joined us after a quick sprint and climb up the jagged rocks separating the pier from Stonewall. Her expression was firm, but her eyes were glazed with tears and her lower lip trembled. I didn’t need to reach out with my sentry power to understand her grief and worry for her pack’s cubs, the future generation she’d vowed to protect.

We gathered in a circle in the middle of the terrace, occasionally glancing at each other.

“Our time has come,” Draven said. “Are you ready?”

We all nodded. Jovi rubbed the neck of his shape-shifter horse, while the shape-shifter Destroyer towered behind him.

“Yeah, we’re ready.” Jovi winked. “My friends here are quite the accomplished thespians, in fact!”

I held back a smile, pressing my lips together as I hugged him and wished him good luck. Jovi held me tight, sinking his nose in my hair for a moment.

“You be safe out there, you hear me?” I said. “Make liberal use of Telluris, as well. You have the castle plans, right? Patrik will be there when you get in on the fifth floor, based on what Aida told me.”

“I most certainly do,” he replied, patting the satchel on his back.

He then turned and kissed Anjani goodbye. They whispered something to each other before he got on the flying horse in front of the Destroyer. It was incredibly creepy to look at the creature, and yet I couldn’t peel my eyes off the elaborate trickery. Those shifters were, indeed, excellent at replicating not just the physique, but also the demeanor and speech patterns of other creatures – a skill that had nearly cost me my life when I’d first encountered them.

Anjani took a deep breath as Jovi took off. When he had become just a black dot in the bright blue sky, I turned my attention to Field, my heart feeling heavier than usual. We’d talked about all this already, but still, it felt difficult to watch my friends fly into clear and present danger.

“The same goes for you, Hawk,” I muttered as he hugged me. He closed his hand into a fist and rubbed down hard into my forehead with his knuckles, making me curse under my breath.

“Worry not, my dear. Got two trustworthy copies here to keep me company and the enemy distracted.” He gave me a half-smile and spread his wings out.

The remaining two shifters took on his form, complete with large black wings. Their eyes glowed violet, and they looked to him, waiting for him to take off. It was part of our initial plan for Field to fly out and give the signal to our allies once Nova was out of the castle.