AllFreeNovel
Share Us
"It’s a ransom demand," Kira says, her hands tightening on the paper and making it crackle. "The people who have abducted Laith want Excalibur in return for his safe release."
The girls look at each other, a new shade of pale sweeping over their faces.
"I don't know where Excalibur is,” Elara says, like it’s a confession. “Not even Kade knows where it is.”
But without it, Laith's not going to be released.
He’ll be killed.
Elara gets up and starts pacing the floor, unsure of what to do or think. The sense of responsibility has never been heavier.
"You’re Arthurian?" Jordyn asks out of left-field.
Elara looks at Jordan, who’s looking at her with awe. Instead of the fear she's had recently, she's looking at her as if she's some kind of lost princess.
Elara shrugs. "It's possible that I'm Arthurian, but there's another possibility. Morgana. I won't know until I handle Excalibur, which brings us back to our problem."
Kira’s staring at the wall, her gaze unfocused. Elara doesn’t disturb her, even though she has no idea what her friend’s thinking. It could be as simple as Kira’s still being in shock about Laith.
Elara’s phone rings again, flashing Denzel’s name. Elara’s stomach clenches. Why would he be ringing back so soon?
"I’ve been talking to the pack and there’s something you should know," Denzel says with his usual forthrightness. "One of the pack betas has reported that Kade had an argument with Laith a couple of days ago. Kade threatened Laith against getting closer to you.”
Elara’s hand goes cold and numb and she instinctively clutches the phone a little tighter. Kade targeted Laith? Surely he can’t say that was shifters, too…
“I know the shifters could be involved,” Denzel continues as if he read her mind. “But Kade’s a lone wolf and an abomination. So you might want to watch out there."
He hangs up, leaving Elara staring at the wall in the same way Kira was a moment ago. Her mind’s spinning and her heart’s stuttering. She trusted Denzel and she shouldn’t have.
Now she thought she could trust Kade.
Kira stalks past her, her fury communicating she heard everything Denzel said. “I’m outta here,” she snarls, slamming the door behind her.
Elara stands too, remembering to send Jordyn an apologetic smile before she also leaves. She needs to talk to Kade.
She needs to know who’s telling the truth.
16
Kade
Kade’s been preparing for this moment since he found out who he is. This is the first time he’s ever been so close to the prophecy being fulfilled.
Yet so close to ruining everything he’s fought and sacrificed for.
His mouth twists as bitterness stains his tongue. The fact the crone warned him there would be all obstacles is a truth he could’ve done without. Dead, turned wolves, shifters pretending to have his face, and a girl he’s fallen for even though he knew better than to get too close, yet had to somehow protect, are just a few of the obstacles he faced.
Falling in love with Elara has turned out to be the one he can’t overcome.
Doesn’t want to.
As Guy just discovered.
Guilt flashes through Kade, hot and searing. He should’ve known it would come to this. After all, this isn’t the first time he’s defied Guy in the name of protecting Elara. It’s just that this is the first time Guy knows about it…
Pressing his fingers into his temples hard enough to hurt, Kade pushes all that away. He may have no idea where he fits in all of this anymore, but he does know one thing. He has to find Excalibur.
Elara’s life depends on it.
