Reclaimed (Shadow Beast Shifters, #2)(92)

And even if I did know, it was my duty to save them; I had promises to keep.

As we crossed above Trinity, the mists concealed our position. From this bird’s eye view, I could see how widespread the lava fields were, not to mention the lava chasm that nearly divided the land in half.

“We’re almost to the royal compound,” Shadow said, his hand grasping mine. “And I expect you to be alive and functioning when we get there, or I will release the lava and let it wash this world clean.”

He’d do it too; the truth was written across his face.

“You’d burn The Concordes down for me?” I swallowed roughly.

“I’d burn the entire world down for you, Sunshine.”

It hurt in the best way to hear him say that. In my pack, everyone outside of Simone had turned their backs on me out of fear of being shunned. No one supported me, not my alpha, or Jaxson, or my true mate, or my mom. But Shadow, he would literally let it all burn.

“I lov—” I started, needing him to know how I felt if this was our last moment together, but before I could get more than half a word out, a massive explosion from below rocked into us.

Shadow shot me a look, and I had no idea if he’d heard me or not because there was no more time to delve into our softer emotions. The world he’d just threatened to burn down was already on fire.

Inky and Midnight slowed their journey since we’d clearly arrived. I leaned over the side, trying to take it all in, only turning away when flapping wings brought Angel to our side.

Her magenta eyes were burning as they clashed with mine. She would have known I was alive through our bond, but she looked relieved to see me somewhat awake and functioning.

“What’s the plan?” she asked as we stared at the chaos below.

“I have to get to Cristell,” Shadow said. “We need to break her bond to the creatures and find my damn bloodstone. Without both, she should be rendered weak enough to destroy.”

“As easy as that,” I joked, knowing that it was going to be anything but.

Shadow shot me a look, his eyes hooded as he stared for a beat longer than I’d expected.

“Can you see Ixana?” Angel asked, drawing our attention back to what was happening below.

There were beings everywhere, running and shouting, while a huge wall of flames burned. It looked like chaos, but it might actually have all been planned.

“I can’t see her,” I said, having another decent look. “But I feel my creatures are here somewhere.”

Here and being slaughtered. My hand pressed to my chest as another was stolen from me, and the urge to scream filled me so strongly that I barely managed to keep it down.

“Royal guards below—she’s prepared for us,” Shadow observed. “We’re going to have to fight our way into the compound, and as soon as I enter her securities, she’ll hit us with everything she has.”

Angel flapped her wings, blades spinning around her hands. “I’m more than ready to fight my way through. Sheer numbers won’t keep us from that bitch.”

“I need to get my creatures back,” I said suddenly. “If Cristell’s main focus is on Shadow, maybe I can sneak in and find where she’s hiding them. If I get close enough, I’ll separate them from her and she’ll be weakened.”

Ixana or Cristell. We were about to find out who was the true queen of illusion, playing her war games.

“Not a fucking chance,” Shadow said shortly. He didn’t even sound mad; it was just a matter-of-fact response.

“You know that if you’re the target, it will be easier for me to sneak in,” I reminded him. “You’ll be the one in danger.”

He set his jaw, shaking his head, not giving me a chance to reply before he was ordering the mists to take us down. “Stay with me, Mera. Keeping you safe is all I have to worry about.”

We all knew that was a lie, but I couldn’t leave now even if I’d wanted to. This was my world too. My energy. And my creatures being slaughtered.

I wasn’t leaving without making it right.





46





Inky and Midnight descended toward the guarded entrance, and it seemed that everyone was on board with Shadow being a total dominating asshole, keeping me locked down.

Everyone except me. And thankfully, my bonded mist.

I’m bailing as soon as we hit the ground. It will be chaos. Shadow can’t keep track of me at all times.

I sent that message through in a rush since we were losing sky and would soon be on the ground.

I will watch your back. Keep you safe as we track the creatures.

Do you have any insight into where they are?

The mist was silent for a beat. Their exact location is hidden, but I believe we’ll find them underground. Another pause. Below with the leicher mists. I cannot follow you there.

Dammit. I would be on my own, but that was okay. I could do this, and I’d figure out how to save my creatures.

When we landed a moment later, the guards came straight for us, the noise intense enough that my ears rang for a moment before they adjusted.

Angel was already fighting, her blades slashing through the air, taking out guards. She sliced across the throats of two black-shrouded figures who looked a lot like hunters. They weren’t, because I could see their faces—faces that were grey and crumbly, like they’d sat out in the sun for too long.