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Chad smiles faintly, his pale lips curving ever so slightly in his pale face. “Hello, Kade.”
Elara looks between them, trying to understand what’s going on.
“He’s a shifter,” Kade snarls, not taking his eyes off the enemy. “He’s the one who ordered the killing of those humans in the sacrifice.”
Denzel growls deep in his throat as he stands up from beside the tree he’d been resting against. Kade glares at him, warning him to remain still. Their enemy is here for a reason.
“What an auspicious night,” Chad purrs. He draws in a deep breath. “The power it unleashed was intoxicating.”
Kade coils every muscle, tightens every tendon. He’ll reach Chad long before the bastard tries to attack Elara and Jordyn.
Except Chad unwinds, looking like he’s quite happy to remain where he is. “I've been asked to relay a message.”
Elara tenses. “From whom?”
Chad waves a dismissive hand. “You’ll find out soon enough.” He flashes his teeth. “Stop preparing for a war you can’t win.”
The promise of death drips from every word.
Kade’s hands are hot, trembling fists by his side. There’s no way the wolves won’t protect the world from what’s coming.
Elara snorts. “Well, that’s not going to happen.”
Pride fills Kade as she lifts her chin. He can feel her fear, yet here she is, flashing courage like she has an endless supply.
Chad curls a bloodless lip. “The wolves have no chance of victory. No matter how many flock to Mercy City.” Elara stiffens and the sneer morphs to a twisted semblance of a smile. “That’s right. We know of all the different wolf packs in the city now. We also know you were scratched by Kade." He says Kade’s name with all the venom he can coat it in.
Heat flashes through Kade, a potent mix of fury and shame.
"We know a lot more than you think,” Chad continues, seeming to enjoy the audience. And feeling smug. “Kade is Arthurian. So are you, Elara. As is your little friend, Laith."
“Let him go!” Elara cries. “He has no idea about any of this.”
"For now," Chad says, ignoring her, "all we want is Excalibur. Hand it over or he dies."
He lifts his arms and Kade leaps, a growl erupting from his throat. Denzel moves a split-second later.
But Chad isn’t there for them to grab. It’s a glossy, black crow that lifts to the branches, caws loudly, and flies away.
Kade curses, turning to make sure Elara and Jordyn are okay, when Dinah appears from between the trees.
“Thank the moon he didn’t hang around,” she says drolly, then hefts a large silver sword. "We're ready."
21
Elara
Elara stares at the replica of the historical sword she thought was a fairytale until very recently. Disbelief washes over her as she reaches out to touch it. The hilt is soft gold, the blade a blazing silver. She’s immediately captivated by the intricate carvings that adorn its grip. Amongst the fascinating scrollwork, she notices delicate etchings of wolves, their forms intertwined with the symbols of valor and strength.
The wolves, rendered with astonishing detail, seem to leap and prowl across the hilt, their eyes fierce and determined. Each stroke of the artist's chisel brings forth the wild spirit of these creatures, their presence imbuing the sword with a primal energy that resonates with Elara's own.
As Elara runs her fingers along the hilt, she can feel the raised contours of the carvings, as if the spirits of the animals themselves have been woven into the very fabric of Excalibur. It’s a testament to the harmony between humanity and the natural world, a reminder that even in the midst of conflict, there is beauty and strength to be found in the bond between man and beast.
Which is exactly what Merlin was trying to capture when he first created werewolves to protect this powerful sword.
Elara draws her hand back, reminding herself this is a replica. The real Excalibur is still missing out in the world somewhere.
Movement beside her has Elara looking up into Denzel’s somber face. "Are you sure you can handle this?" he asks, his voice low although Kade and Jordyn would undoubtedly be able to hear it.
