AllFreeNovel
Share Us
For a split second, my gaze dropped to my father’s sword, the sight of it drenched in crimson blood slicing through me almost as deeply as I did the sentry. Yet, there was no time for guilt. Lights illuminated the palace and a wave of Raithian’s army began to pour out of the gates.
“Go!” Asher yelled to Athina, jumping off her. Her wings snapped close over her back, protecting the people he was about to take away while she turned.
Tharion instantly ignited, sending a stream of his scorching breath to the enemy, and engulfing them all. Screams erupted from those on fire, and the freed people who witnessed it, but Athina soon jumped into the cave, opening her wings again to fly them out of there. In an instant, she was gone.
A new wave of men sprinted towards us. Luna and Spartan joined Tharion, spewing fire to those who sought to harm us, but Raithian’s men kept coming. Asher and I fought our way shoulder to shoulder, trying to get to Evie and Kingston so we could retreat. They fought by Nikau’s side, his betrayal to the Warlock King revealed, and the sentries went after him too.
Sword slicing, plunging, and cutting, I went through the motions I had learned without thinking about it. I couldn’t. All I could worry about was reaching Evie, and getting us all out of there. Unfortunately for me, that wouldn’t happen.
Grey smoke suddenly descended from one of the windows above us, the wisps forming stairs straight across from me. Raithian appeared on top, somehow standing over the elusive smoke like it was a grand staircase. His eyes glowed green through the demon mask, yet his body wasn’t clad in armor like I had previously seen him wear. Long black robes covered him.
Taking two steps down over the dancing mist, he stopped, lifting a hand as though to pause the battle. Every man froze with the motion, not because of his silent order, but actually restrained by his dark magic.
“If I had known I would have visitors tonight, I would have made myself presentable.” He twirled his finger in the air and the smoke coiled around him. When it evaporated, he was dressed—not in armor, but in a black-burgundy royal outfit worthy of a costume design award, cape and all. “There, much better.”
The cocky bastard. He knew he had us trapped, and he was basking on it.
My gaze briefly flickered in the direction where Kingston and Evanna had been, finding them well. Their heads searched their surroundings, realizing just like I had, that the Warlock King had frozen only his army… and our Dragons. Tharion’s stream of fire paused mid-way out of his mouth. Kingston threw a pointed look towards Asher and me, urging us to stay alert. His spear pointed to Raithian, and my grip tightened on the sword.
“As you might know, stranger, it is a tradition to bring something of an offering to the host’s home, during a special occasion such as tonight. And I am overjoyed to see you brought me the princess.” There was no need to see his face, the smile was clear in his voice, and every inch of me tensed with disgust and anger.
“I willneverlet you put another finger on her!” I roared, twirling my sword and taking a step forward. Harshly gripping my arm, Asher stopped me, giving me a reproaching glare.
“If you want me, then face me, you coward!” Evie shouted at Raithian from the other end of the yard.
“Nonetheless,” he continued, ignoring her completely, “tonight, I have a gift for you too.” He swung something my way, and I watched in horror as a head bounced against the wispy steps, rolling over the ground and coming to a stop before me.
It belonged to the sentry who had looked the other way tonight. Raithian had killed him.
Ire blinded me.
With a cry of justice, I leapt forwards before anyone could stop me. My feet slammed against the magical staircase while I made my way towards him. The others desperately yelled my name, but it was in vain. I could hear nothing except the roaring of my blood… and the voice in my mind that ordered me to kill the Warlock King.
Reaching him, I brought down my sword against him with all my might. His staff materialized in a split second, blocking my attack effortlessly, just as the throws of battle resumed below us.
The instant our weapons clashed, reality was jerked away from me, and I was no longer outside, fighting Raithian. No. I was inside the Crimson Fortress, standing without my sword in a lavish hall of some kind. I had no interest in admiring its decor, only noticing that it was way overstated, even for a king such as him.
Heart pounding against my ribs, I urgently glanced all around me, looking for a way to escape.
“Now we can talk like civilized men.” The Warlock King’s voice made my head whip towards the other end of the vast room. He stood beside an intricately carved wooden bar, pouring himself a glass of dark amber liquid. “Mead?” he offered, as though this was a meeting among friends. “Or perhaps you would prefer wine?”
I didn’t answer.
“Suit yourself, but please know there is no need for such hostility between us. I just want to talk.” He shrugged, lifting the red goblet and taking a sip.
“You could have written,” I spat, hands fisting, and dared to look out the window near me, seeing the brawl raging outside. Unfortunately, our Dragons were still frozen. We appeared to be all the way up on one of the towers. Evie, Kingston, and Asher were dropping bodies with each strike, pushing their way towards the castle—fighting to get to me, even when they didn’t know exactly where I was. Given the painful distance between us, there was no way they’d ever get here safely. I had to get to them.
Chuckling, Raithian took another sip, strolling across the space lazily. The embroidered black cape that hung from his shoulders, swept the dark marble floors with each step. “I could have,” he conceded. “Then again, I was not entirely sure my messenger would be welcomed in your little refuge inside the mountain.”
Every cell in my body became rigid with his words. “You know where we are?” I pushed down the panic that threatened to rise up; I needed to keep my mind focused on finding a way out of there.
“Not for a long time,” he admitted. “Until those ravens came knocking on my door. You see, after crushing one of those insignificant things in my grasp, I sent one of my own back with the rest. It followed your warrior to the mountain, showing me the way through his eyes.” A finger taped at the side of his demon mask. “I have to admit, taking residence behind the Lost Kingdom was quite brilliant. I would have never thought to search there.”
Holy hell. Had this all been his plan? Was this a distraction to attack those back home? Terror festered inside of me. “Why haven’t you come for us then?”
Raithian sighed as though the subject was boring him to death.
“Having the princess in my clutches would be nice, yes. Devastating those ungrateful sentries who turned their backs on this, forsaking their king would be satisfying, sure. Roasting those insignificant slaves, until not even their bones are left intact… Well, you get the point. Recently, however, something else has caught my eye. Something I deem far more valuable…you.”
