Page 90 of Shadows of Light
The merfolk tried to maintain their nonchalant air, but uneasiness grew as they stirred and looked at each other again. The blonde tried to break the shadow’s hold on her legs, but they laughed as they squeezed. The redhead tried to claw at the shadows; it was useless.
More shadows erupted from the ocean while they dragged the merfolk’s queen from beneath the sea. Her scream drew the attention of the others as the shadows held her above the water like the sacrifice she would become if these assholes didn’t help him.
Some of the merfolk transformed and leapt to their feet while the queen clawed at the shadows around her neck. The merfolk were renowned for their abundance of riches, sexuality, and fighting ability. Many who came to capture one didn’t survive. Those who did were often tricked out of the things they’d gained.
“Don’t do anything foolish, Cole,” Del cautioned. “We’re not armed for a war, and Dragonia can’t take another one right now.”
“I’ll slaughter all of them before they ever step foot in that realm,” Cole vowed.
“They may be a bunch of assholes, but we need the merfolk,” Sahira said. “They might not know where there’s some crudue vine, but their scales are precious and necessary for spells. Not to mention, they’re living, breathing creatures. You can’t slaughter them because they won’t work with us.”
“If they continue to fuck with me, then yes, I can.”
“You have to calm down,” Varo said in his soothing tone. “Violence won’t help us here.”
“Reasoning wasn’t helping us either. So now, it’s time to make them understand I’mnotfucking with them. If they can help us, then they better do so.”
The queen thrashed in the shadow’s grasp as the other merfolk crept closer. The thunderous expressions on their faces said they’d gladly kill him if they got the chance.
More of the merfolk transformed while some jumped into the water and swam out toward their queen. Before they could reach her, the shadows formed a wall between the two to keep them away.
A torrent of water burst from the sea as the merking erupted from the waves. Kept aloft by a fountain of water, he held a trident in his hands as he searched for his queen.
For a second, the king calmed when he found her, but his face clouded with rage when he spotted the shadows around her neck. Twisting inside the fountain of water, the king’s eyes found Cole’s.
Cole smiled in return.
CHAPTERSIXTY-NINE
“Hello, King Firth,”Cole greeted.
Before he could say anything more, the king of the merfolk lifted his trident, waved it at the sea, and swung the trident toward them. A giant wave of water rose from the previously calm, crystalline, blue water and surged toward them.
Not even the shadows could fight against that wave. “Run!” Cole commanded.
As the shadows pulled the queen toward Cole, the others scattered behind the boulders. Leaping forward, he wrapped his arms around her before diving behind a group of boulders.
The wave crashed over him with a thunderous roar. Water pummeled his body and battered his muscles and bones until it flattened him into the ground. He kept the queen beneath him to ensure she didn’t break away and swim back into the sea.
And when it finally ended, the queen squirmed in his arms, clawed at his flesh, and kicked against him, but he refused to let her go as he spit out water. Keeping hold of her, he waited until the shadows reported the others were safe before rising and emerging from behind the boulders.
When he turned to face the king, he wasn’t surprised to discover the merfolk advancing on them with weapons. They’d either had those weapons stashed behind the rocks or the sea swept them into their hands. Either way, Cole wasn’t backing down.
“This doesn’t have to be a fight!” Cole shouted as he planted the squirming, pissed-off queen down. She’d lost her crown and tail, but she was still volatile. “I came here looking for help that your merfolk refused to give, so now I’m askingyoufor it.”
“Diplomacy could have gone a long way with that,” Sahira muttered from where she hid.
“Fuck off,” the shadows hissed.
When the king pulled his trident back again, the shadows surrounded it. The king struggled against their grip on his weapon, but they wouldn’t relent.
More shadows encased the approaching merfolk, halting them in their place. Cole’s joints popped as the lycan sought to break free. The dark fae sought to take control of the water, but though he could manipulate the elements, the merfolk had far more control over water than him.
“Listen to me!” Cole shouted.
The shadows sought blood and didn’t understand why he was holding back. He could easily destroy these fish, but enough reason remained for him to know he couldn’t killallthe merfolk. They couldn’t help him if he did.
But he’d gladly flay them all if they didn’t smarten up.
