A huge surge of fire emitted from the dead body, taking on a fiery form of part-man, part-beast, with blazing eyes, horns, and a tail. He towered far above me, easily measuring over ten feet tall, as his aura threw us all back. The heat was burning our skin, and I looked down at the dead body of what once used to be the Alpha of the Fuego de Ceniza Pack at his feet…
“Keep your distance!” I commanded before darting forward. I may have killed him, but I needed to get his body for the pup.
“Al!” Marcel growled.
Al, get the fuck back!Darien shouted through the link.
I ignored them, but before I could even get to the body, the Djinn stepped on him, instantly turning him to a burned crisp. My heart plummeted, and I jumped back.
“Don’t let it touch you! One touch and you’re fucking burnt toast!” I growled.
The Djinn let out an unearthly roar, waving his fiery tail. It connected with two wolves, one of his own and one of ours. I felt the snap as I lost yet another man. The Fuego De Ceniza Pack was without an alpha... but it was obvious that whatever magic was on these wolves meant they were under the Djinn’s command. I couldn’t command them to step down as a whole because even our side would fall to my command.
Liam was gone, and I was glad. We needed that pup far away.
The witches were trying to contain the Djinn from advancing, but we were failing.
She’s ready.Darien’s voice came through the link.
My heart thundered, and I looked at Maria, who was far behind the Djinn. Her grey eyes met mine, and I felt the agonising pain of what was to come. I had already lost several… but to know I was going to lose her…
Her hair was hidden beneath a turban-like black scarf, which also covered her face. She was dressed in complete black with her signature look of flared pants, fully covered… only her eyes could be seen. Her long curved swords were held in her hands.
I love you, and I’m going to fucking miss you,I said hoarsely through the link, hoping she heard. If she did, I knew she wouldn’t be able to answer.
I saw her eyes sparkle with unshed tears, yet the crinkle on the corner of her eyes told me she was smiling. She was happy. Fuck…
This was it. The time had come.
Letting out a howl of rage, I shifted, ready to keep the fucker occupied so she could do what she needed to.
Forgive me for not being able to keep her happy, Raf.
In the Cells
Elijah
Ihad just done the round of the pack grounds when I felt a searing pain that made me double over.
Scarlett.
Fear enveloped me as the pain blinded me, making several men run to me, but soon it was gone, and I knew she was okay. I hadn’t felt the bond snap… fuck…
Unlike the rest of the pack, who was tied to Liam, my mate was the only one bound to me. She needed to be okay. Whatever had happened had been a close call, and although I wanted to get someone to find out, they needed to focus on the battle.
It took me a few moments to regain myself before I entered the Night Walkers’ Headquarters to go have a look to see if Kiara was okay. Doctor Callum was waiting for me inside, as he needed to administer the dose to keep her weakened and unconscious. A few guards and others working were carrying on with their jobs, but the tension that hung in the air was obvious. Several gave me a polite nod as I walked past and headed down to the cells. Two of the guards flanked the door, and Doctor Callum was already there, his kit in hand.
“Alpha Elijah.”
“Doctor.”
He gave a small nod and a forced smile, but it was obvious he didn’t like doing this. Neither did I, but there wasn’t much we could do but keep her sedated.
I frowned deeply, remembering what Alejandro had said about Dante and what he was. It had beenfucking shocking, to say the least, but it made sense. Dante was the only one with such a powerful aura from birth. Even alpha pups did not hold that. He knew far more than Liam and Kiara’s intuition… but the Djinn also knew his truth, and the fact that he wanted him meant he would go to any lengths to get him. We needed to make sure Kiara was kept unconscious no matter what.
I keyed in the code Alejandro had changed specifically so that no one else knew it but me. I stepped inside, shutting the door behind Doctor Callum.
“We just need to keep her unconscious for a while longer. I do hope the King can deal with this threat immediately so I don’t have to do this to the Queen,” Callum said gravely. It was taking a toll on him; I could see it in his eyes.
