Wolf's Fall (Alpha Pack #6)(68)

Rogues and hunters started laughing, celebrating. In wolf form, Nick ran for Calla, ignoring his healing injuries. The battle was all but lost, but he would save his mate. Or die trying.

Then a loud clap of thunder shook the mountain. Pebbles were dislodged from the walls, and people lost their footing. Nick reached Calla and pushed her behind him, backing her toward the escape route—and then stopped to stare in awe at the sight before them all.

Sariel.

The Fae prince was hovering above the now-halted battle, looking down upon their enemies, his face etched with a smoldering rage Nick had never seen before. His hair cascading around him like a jeweled blue waterfall. Matching wings were spread to a great width, easily keeping him aloft above the carnage.

A hunter raised his rifle, prepared to take a shot.

And Sariel reduced the unfortunate man to a puff of smoke with the flick of a wrist.

“Hunter and rogue vermin,” his steady voice proclaimed. “For your crimes against my friends and family, who’ve never done you any harm, I sentence you to death. Go to the devil, if he’ll have you. I really don’t care.”

With that, his arm swept out and blue fire shot like a torch from the palm of his hand. Everyone hit the ground, friend and foe alike, but the fire only incinerated their enemy. Men screamed, their voices cut mercifully short. Probably a kinder end than they’d deserved—except for the fear they’d experienced while staring at Sariel in shocked awe.

That they’d deserved in spades.

When the cries finally died, the blue flames gentled. They danced among the wreckage, and touched the fallen. Caressed them with care, almost lovingly. Nick’s throat grew tight, thinking it was a fitting good-bye to those they’d lost.

And then everyone the flame touched began to stir, and come around with a groan.

“Holy f*cking shit,” John whispered.

“Nick,” Calla said, fingers digging into his fur. “He’s—he saved them. Gods, he’s saved them all!”

It was true. The injured and formerly dead began to rise, looking down at their whole, uninjured bodies. Patting themselves in disbelief, looking around them with wide eyes.

Uncaring of his nakedness, Nick shifted back. A slow smile spread across his face as Aric, Jax, Ryon, and Micah came into view. Whole and without a scratch, and totally dumbfounded.

“Nick, what the f*ck just happened?” said Jax.

“Sariel just saved our collective asses—that’s what.” He’d never forget the sight as long as he lived.

Or his debt to the Fae prince.

Calla flung her arms around him, squealing as her confused brother stepped through the hole in the rock. “Tarron’s okay, too!”

“I think so,” her brother said, walking over. “Jesus, this is unbelievable. Your Fae prince wiped them out.”

“That I did,” Sariel said, landing in the middle of the group with a flutter of wings.

“I don’t know how to thank you,” Tarron said, getting emotional. “You saved my coven. My family.”

“And mine,” Sariel pointed out.

“Still, I know what using that kind of power must’ve cost you. So thank you.” It was all Nick could think of to say.

“I’m all right. I’m a lover, not a fighter,” the Fae quipped, “but when I’m called, I’ll come. Especially for those I love.”

Nick clapped a hand on Sariel’s shoulder as his friend went on.

“In my own realm, I’d be executed for what I just did,” Sariel said with a half smile. “I’m not allowed to interfere with destiny any more than you are, Commander. But I’d do it again in a second. Know that.”

“Thank you,” Nick said again. “I don’t know how we’ll ever repay you.”

“I’m sure I’ll think of something.”

With that, the Fae prince spread his wings and took to the sky, bound for home.

Nick couldn’t wait to do that as well. Wherever home was going to be for him and Calla, he didn’t care.

As long as he was with his mate, nothing else mattered.

But the next words out of John’s mouth gave Nick pause.

“Hey, where’s Kalen? I see everybody but him.”

Nick frowned. “I haven’t seen him since he was battling with Jinn.”

That caused some mild concern, but the consensus was Kalen was around here somewhere, that Sariel’s magic had destroyed Jinn as well. But as they searched the stronghold, calling Kalen’s name, Nick started to really get worried.

Kalen was nowhere to be found. At least not inside.

The search moved to the outdoors. Nick pulled on his clothes again and strode into the sunlight. He, Calla, and the others spread out while Aric and Micah changed to wolf form and tried to catch Kalen’s scent. There wasn’t a sign of him, until a loud barking reached them from about a hundred yards away.

Grabbing Calla’s hand, Nick walked with her through the brush. At last they reached the spot where a group was gathering, all of them staring at a wide black swatch that had been cut through the trees and brush, all the way down the mountain.

Nick nodded at the path. “Looks like maybe Kalen and Jinn fought it out all the way down to the bottom.”

Aric appeared worried about his friend. “But that means Kalen and that monster weren’t inside when Sariel showed up and saved everyone.”