Page 105 of Shadows of Destiny
Then he blinked again because he couldn’t believeshe’dkilled another living creature. The light fae were here, but they’d all stated they wouldn’t pick up a weapon in this battle. Yet here was his mother with a sword in hand and black blood dripping from her face.
And she’d done it to savehim. Unable to find words, Varo simply nodded at her, and though tears streaked her face—probably because she’d killed a man—she smiled in return.
“Thank you,” he finally managed to say.
She opened her mouth to reply, but a wolf burst out of the fray, bit down on her head, and dragged her down.
“No!” Varo screamed.
He ran toward them, but the lycan had already vanished into the melee. Varo followed.
CHAPTERSEVENTY-SIX
The shadows studiedthe warlocks standing there with their giant balls of fire meant to keep them restrained. But shadows were things of freedom, and they found ways around the light. They weren’t meant to be constrained and were too strong to be beaten back by these immortals.
The words of the shadows’ enemy lingered in the hall. The enemy was taunting them and trying to intimidate them. The fool didn’t know shadows weren’t things to ridicule, but he would learn.
The shadows hissed at the man who believed he could trap them. From within, the vessel responded to these words with a fury the shadows relished.
The vessel’s hatred awed the shadows. They believed only they could feel such wrath toward another, but the vessel had proven them wrong on this, and they liked it. This was a fine host for them to have.
A fine host indeed.
But first things first. They had to take care of the warlocks with their fire, the guards, and that fucker on the throne. The host was pleased with the idea of tearing the Lord apart and intended to do it in the most vicious of ways. The shadows were more than happy to help.
The shadows’ attention shifted to the arach, and when it did, an emotion they didn’t understand stirred within the host. They couldn’t name the feeling, but they didn’t like it.
However, the shadows had to protect her at all costs. She was why they existed and why the hostfinallylet them all the way in.
No, they didn’t understand the host’s emotion, and they didn’t like it, but they understood the host’s compulsion to keep her safe, and they would do anything to make it happen.
“You planned this as your way to die?” the host inquired of the asshole on the throne.
The Lord laughed as he slapped a hand off his knee. A dozen guards stood around him, but while he looked entirely confident, the guards did not.
“You played right into my hands, King Colburn. You’ve taken on too much power, a power you can’t contain, and a power that I can stop by the simple act of providing too much light. King Colburn no longer exists, and the shadows are contained, so yes, I planned this as my way to kill you.”
Beside them, Lexi stirred, and the flames engulfing her hands burned higher. She glanced back at the warlocks before looking to the Lord again. “I can withstand their fire, but can they withstand mine?”
Pride stirred within the host, and the shadows bobbed in agreement. They liked brutality. It made them happy.
“You’re nothing more than a child,” the Lord retorted. “I have more fear of a ladybug than you.”
“Maybe you don’t have any fear of me,” Lexi retorted, “but your warlocks do.”
The shadows shifted their attention to the warlocks; they were pleased by the fright shimmering in their enemy’s eyes. A couple dozen of the stupid men moved closer to surround them.
Every one of them had at least some sign of distress; either sweat beaded their foreheads or there was a flicker in their eyes, and some stood with one foot slightly back like they were about to turn and run.
The shadows chuckled over this even as the fires kept them contained. The sun shining down from the open roof of the throne room kept the ones in the corners at bay, but they wouldnotlose today.
It wasn’t an option.
The doors rattled as immortals pounded on them, but they were sealed shut, probably by some magic either from the Lord or the warlocks. It didn’t matter.
They didn’t require help.
When one of the warlocks crept closer, Lexi spun toward him, and fire erupted from her fingers. It crashed into the warlock and smashed the ball of fire he held into his face.
