Page 181 of Their Rejected Queen

I was so busy thinking of my sponsors that I forgot I do have a weapon, if I choose to use it.

But I can’t take in a breath.

Sofia curses, then pulls out the healing vial I had given her.

“I thought you said that would draw them to us,” I mumble before a coughing fit hits me.

She uncorks the potion and places the rim on my lips. “A little late for that,” she whispers as she glances up and watches Renalt fight off another two monsters. More of them are coming after us now.

But my sponsors are homing in. He won’t stand a chance against them.

Godric’s wolf growls on the edge of a cliff as Arwan flits in and out of sight, moving through the shadows like he’s walked right out of one of my nightmares.

Ze’ev lingers on the edges of the horizon, disappearing every time I think I’ve caught sight of him.

Then there’s a stranger sight.

More wolves emerge from the fog in the distance.

Led by a panther.

I recognize those green eyes immediately as a swallow works down my throat.

“Ulara?” I whisper as Sofia helps me to my feet.

I always knew she was different.

I just hadn’t realized she was a freaking cat.

The new entourage splits off and cuts between us and the obsidian tower in the distance. The candidates are still fighting their way to the castle, leaving shadows and blood behind them, but the majority of the monsters are blocking off the jagged cliffs.

That’s where the tower rests like a dark trophy waiting to be claimed.

That’s the true prize.

I head toward it, nodding to Ulara as she roars and barrels onward, fighting her way through the beasts until there’s a path for me to take.

“Watch out for Sofia!” I order her.

The panther snarls. I take that as agreement as I skid to a halt when someone appears.

Between Renalt and Ulara’s panther, I don’t worry about Sofia surviving this.

Now it’s time to worry about me.

“Move,” I tell Arwan, who has shadowed in my path.

His bloodshot eyes flinch as he vanishes, then reappears right in front of my face, much closer this time.

I arch back my neck to stare up at him. My stomach drops as he places one claiming hand on my hip.

His eyes fluctuate between darkness and his iridescent blue as if he’s fighting something that’s clawing from within him. “I didn’t… tell you everything,” he whispers as his fangs grow and shadows unfurl around our joined forms. My hair whips around my face as he teleports us.

I hope it’s closer to the tower rather than farther away.

His eyes darken again, and whatever concern was in his gaze is replaced with rage.

“No shit,” I say as I draw out the golden whip and use it to block him just as he moves for the strike.