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“No,” Bash groaned. “No, to the others.” He looked up at the sky and spotted Spooky. “There. I need to get there.”
Every word he spoke raked against his dry throat. He coughed, but he started to squirm in Ezra’s arms as the dragon shifter insisted on carrying him like he was some dainty thing.
“You need to be looked over.”
“I need to find my men,” Bash growled. “So put me down or I’ll fight you too, Ezra.”
The man paused and stared down at him. “Fuck. If you get hurt, Ardoneous will skin me alive.”
Bash shook his head. “If we don’t save him, he’ll wind up dead long before we can get to you.”
“Trust me, we’re trying. But they were prepared for this, we weren’t. Every time we break through, there are more of them.” Ezra put him down and glanced around. “But we’re ready now. Can you make it to them? We can start taking out the troops and you guys can go for the head.”
The bear slapped a hand on Ezra’s shoulder. For some stupid reason, a wave of emotion swept over him. He blamed it on the heat, the blood loss, the exhaustion; but he would never admit that it was just him.
“Thank you,” he said, his voice wavering as he sucked down the need to break down, fall apart, and cry. Later, he would do it when he was in Arden’s arms. Where he wouldn’t be judged for it, but held. “Be safe.”
“We will.” Ezra reached out and squeezed his shoulder back. “Go and save my pain in the ass little brother.”
They parted ways and Bash ignored the searing pain in his body. Instead, he shifted. His bear form would make him heal up a hell of a lot faster than his human one. Besides, he didn’t care about him, he only cared about all ofthem.
“He’s here!” Gamble panted from where he leaned on Eldon. The vampire had an arm slung around him and it looked as if he was the only reason the witch was still upright. “Let’s move forward.”
“Wait,” Bash said as he waited.
“What the fuck are we waiting for?” Eldon snapped.
Bash gazed up at the sky. It was eerily quiet before the sound of flapping wings and growling filled the air. Bash stumbled forward and back, caught up in the tug of the wind that their wings created.
“That,” he said. “Ezra will clear us a path.”
Justice was right there with him and he had never been more saddened that he didn’t have a family of his own. This was what it meant to be one with other people. And he almost craved it, to have a family that would have his back the way he had theirs. Like when he was younger.
Arden is that. So are the rest of these troublemakers. That’s why he had to keep them safe.
“Move,” Bash said.
None of them hesitated. Bash shifted and they all headed off into the garden, deep into the maze and beyond. The garden spilled out into the woods and Bash slid to a stop. Standing there, surrounded by enemies, was his mate.
Arden shocked a group of wolves so badly that the smell of singed fur filled the air. Their bodies were charred by the time they hit the ground, but the dragon wasn’t finished. He used his tail to clear out a few lions and snapped at a couple of witches that raised their hands and chanted.
“He’s being outnumbered,” Eldon growled. “Kill these motherfuckers!”
Bash had never seen Eldon so angry before, but he thrived on his energy. He sucked it in, turned it around, and used it to destroy every enemy that stood before them. One by one they worked together to pick them off. Gamble and Spooky teamed up spinning magic and smoke in equal measures. Eldon ripped through throats and shoved people Bash’s way for him to do the same.
Slowly, the enemies thinned. Bash turned just in time to see Arden stumble forward. He crashed to the ground and the magnificent dragon disappeared. In its place was just a man, one that looked like he was on the brink of death.
Janek grabbed a handful of his hair and yanked the man’s head up. Every last one of them raced toward Arden, but Janek clicked his tongue, raised his hand, and shot a spear of solid ice at them. It shot into the ground, but the message was clear. If they came too close, he would shootthemand they would be gone.
“Is this what you all came to save?” Janek asked. He chuckled but it was mirthless. “Do you even know what he’s done?”
“None of that matters,” Eldon snapped.
“It matters to me!” the man screamed as he stood up. “My daughter was so small, so innocent, but did Arden care? No. He killed her and they let it go because it was part of the war,” he spat. “She was a child. My little Kyree,” he said, stumbling before he righted himself again. “And her mother? Oh, Arden let her live. And she lost her fucking mind!” he yelled. “I had to bury her six months after Kyree and everyone thinks this fuckingthingis a hero. But not me,” he said as he kneed Arden in the face and all of them jumped. “Not. Me.”
“Please, stop.” Micha stumbled toward them, his arm wrapped around his waist. “Janek, he didn’t mean to and you know that. That list I found, all those numbers. I couldn’t help myself why they always bothered me and I realized why. Those were names and numbers of people Arden had hurt or killed. He’s been taking care of their families all these years…”
“And that absolves him of his sins?” Janek snarled.
