Loki went off like a shot, nose to the ground. It didn’t take long for them to exit the dungeons, the gardog winding them through the tunnels and halls, scratching on doors he needed open. The deeper they went into the castle, the more elaborate the decorations. Everything was so ornate, it was like walking in a mausoleum of the past.
And so fucking quiet that her breathing sounded loud to her ears.
She followed Loki distractedly, trying to push away her unease. When they rounded the next corner, Morgan came to an abrupt stop. She wasn’t sure who was more surprised when she came face-to-face with a guard.
Before she even had time to react, Caedmon leapt the distance between them, sword lifted high.
“Don’t kill him if you can help it!” At her demand, Caedmontwisted his arm, the hilt of the sword coming down on the guard’s temple. The poor fellow barely even had time to pull his own weapon from his scabbard before he crumpled to the ground.
“I know you don’t want to harm anyone, but we might not have a choice.” Ascher casually grabbed the dark fae by the ankles and dragged him to the nearest door, shoving the man none too gently inside before slamming it shut behind him. “The closer we get to the throne room, the more guards we will run across.”
“I know, but I would like to avoid it for as long as possible.” Morgan cast a worried glance at Atlas and Caedmon. “Are you sure you’re okay with fighting the fae? If you hesitate?—”
“In a heartbeat.” Caedmon didn’t even pause.
“Not a problem,” Atlas answered at the same time. “You are our family now. Anyone who threatens you dies.”
It was as simple as that.
Their vow to kill anything who threatened her shouldn’t have been sexy, but it was one of the most romantic things anyone had ever said to her. She grinned at the both of them. “You guys are just so sweet.”
“You bloodthirsty thing.” Draven sighed dramatically, clutching his heart and batting his lashes. “A woman after my own heart. It’s no wonder that I fell in love with you the first time I laid eyes on you.”
She snorted and rolled her eyes at his antics, doing her best to ignore the heat that filled her cheeks at his confession.
Which only made Draven shoot her a smug grin.
“Enough.” She pushed him away and shook her head to clear it. “Save the flirting for when we’re done.”
Like flipping a switch, her mates turned into warriors determined to keep her safe. Loki headed down another hall at a fast clip, his tail swishing behind him. Kincade and Caedmon kept close. Ascher and Atlas guarded the rear, while Ryder and Draven remained at her side.
The farther they ventured into the castle, the more guards they encountered.
And the more vicious the fighting became, the guys ruthless in taking down anything that came near. Even Loki had taken up the fight like it was a game, the two-ton beast easily knocking out his prey by slamming them into the walls and floors.
It was brutal, and the pup was loving it.
The sounds of battle reached them through the castle walls. It felt like the place was being bombarded, the ground and walls trembling under the blows. They didn’t have much time before the wards were breached and the fae went to war.
They had to hurry.
As if they sensed her urgency, everyone picked up their pace.
Morgan knew they were getting close when the walls practically radiated magic. She was just about to caution them when Loki picked up his speed. She leapt after him, barely tackling him to the ground in time.
Caedmon edged forward, thrusting the edge of his sword around the corner for only a second, using it like a mirror, before pulling it back. As he made his way toward them, his face was grim. “A contingent of forty trained soldiers. We’ll never get through them without taking casualties.”
Unacceptable.
Morgan bit her lip and winced when only one solution came to her. “We turn ourselves over to them and surrender. It’s the only way we get past them and survive.”
“Absolutely not.” Atlas shot her down, even before she finished, the rest of the guys agreeing. “Elves will see it as a sign of weakness and use it against you. We will lose the upper hand. Everything you sacrificed to get here will be for nothing.”
Morgan slammed her hands on her hips and scowled at the lot of them. “Better alive than dead.”
Caedmon shook his head. “Not when dealing with the fae.”
Then the arguing became irrelevant.
