A Love Untamed (Feral Warriors #7)(79)

Finally, ahead, he saw a faint glow of light and knew they’d found the entrance into the underground prisons where Sly had come out. He’d seen that much in the vision though little more. Hopefully, the Mage never knew how Sly had gotten inside their stronghold. With any luck, they hadn’t barred the passage from the inside any more than they had the outside.

Following the path to the light, Fox sniffed, scenting no one close. In a spray of lights, he shifted back to human, then bent low and peered through the decorative grillwork that hid the passage, confirming with his eyes what his animal senses had already told him.

Another flashback hit him out of nowhere, hard and fast, his animal helping him once more as he showed him Sly being led through a passage, seeing the grillwork through which he’d stolen into the castle as he was led past it and down two more passages to a bank of cells. Sly had watched it all through the eyes of the enchanted, his will no longer his own.

Fox came back to himself to the feel of Melisande’s soft hand against his cheek, his animal spirit leaping with joy at her touch, loving her. In another part of his mind, he heard the snarl, but knew it for the darkness it was. He grabbed her against him, kissing her soundly.

“Are you okay?” she whispered.

“Another flashback. My animal’s trying to help us. I think I know how to reach Kara.” But he needed to know something first. Releasing Melisande, he shifted back into his animal.

Kara, is there anyone there with you? Any Mage in the vicinity at all?

I’m not sure, Fox, but I don’t think so. My cell door is locked. I don’t know where they keep the key.

We’ll free you, Radiant. Never fear.

Fox . . . I’m not well. I’ve brought two more new Ferals into their animals, and it’s taken so much out of me that I can barely stand.

Have they hurt you? He growled low.

No, not really. It’s just the ritual that drains me so badly. I may need help.

I have strong arms, Kara.

He shifted back to human, then turned to Melisande, reaching for her hand.

She shook her head, as if reading his mind. “Don’t even think about asking me to stay here. We’re safer together, and you know it.”

“Unless we get caught.”

Her eyes flashed. “We’re in this together, Feral.”

He grinned at her suddenly and pulled her close for a quick kiss. “Is that a promise?”

To his surprise, the look she gave him was as deep as the sea and filled with an emotion he hardly dared credit. She reached up, stroking his jaw with her palm. His breath caught as he waited for her words, but all she said was, “Let’s get Kara.”

Carefully, silently, he removed the grill and slipped into the empty corridor, then motioned for her to follow. Replacing the grill, he led the way to the right. If he shifted, he could probably follow Kara’s scent, but he couldn’t risk the darkness in his animal barring him from shifting back, not out in the open like this.

Sweat broke out on his brow. Somewhere above sat Inir, the most dangerous immortal alive. A bastard who, if they couldn’t stop him, would free the most vicious immortal who’d ever lived, Satanan, turning the Earth into a living hell.

Hand in hand, Fox and Melisande made their way through the corridors, following the path his animal spirit had shown him. But as they approached an intersection with a second corridor, the magic swept through him yet again, forcing him into his fox, forcing him onto his belly on the cold stone floor.

Frustration and fury roared through his muscles, the fox spirit crying out inside his head, but he couldn’t move. He’d been shut down. Again.

Melisande fell to her knees beside him, sliding both hands into his fur, calling up the warmth. And while his animal leaped at the healing gift, Fox felt no easing of the invisible chains this time. Just as the darkness had grown stronger in Castin as he’d breached the stronghold’s walls, so, too, had the darkness within himself.

The sound of voices and footsteps heading toward them from the cross corridor had him whimpering with fury, frantic to shift back.

Go, pet! Someone’s coming. Go back to the tunnel, back to Castin, and get out of here!

By the sound of the voices, he guessed he had a minute, maybe two, before the pair—and he was fairly certain there were only two—reached the intersection of the corridors and saw him.

“No,” she whispered, pressing her hands more firmly against his back and head. I’m not leaving you.

Melisande’s warming gift ran through his body, his animal spirit leaping up to accept it, but the darkness refused to let him go.

As the voices grew louder, closer, he became crazed with the need to save her. Mel, go. Please go.

She shook her head, her eyes gleaming with determination. I can take them.

Mel . . .

Her eyes filled with an emotion that could only be love, and she kissed his head. I’d give my life for you, Feral.

He prayed she wasn’t about to do just that.

Melisande rose from beside Fox, pulled her knives, and moved to the corner, pressing her back against the wall where she would stay hidden from the approaching Mage until the last moment. Her heart pounded in her chest, perspiration rolled in rivulets down her back as she eyed Fox, lying on the floor, a giant fox trapped by the darkness that had infected his animal spirit. If she failed, he’d die. Or worse.

She eyed his location, deciding he was far enough out of the line of sight that she could wait until she saw the sentinels out of the corner of her eye before she attacked.