Chapter 19

Nineteen

~ Princess Blake ~

It’s not until Nate starts to make his way over again that Dante finally steps away. He reappears back at the campfire shortly after, visible, and with the biggest grin on his face, and I’m pretty sure the shifter and archangel quickly figure out what power the demon has. Neither of them comment, but the pair of them are extra irritable when we leave the demons and head back into the city streets.

Dante stays close to me as we walk, but I’m distracted as I stare at the surrounding buildings. Every so often, I detect the faint scent of chocolate, and I peer at the empty houses half expecting to find the Drozac assassin watching me, but all I see is shadows.

Nate prowls up on my other side. “Four mates are plenty to keep you busy, don’t you think, gorgeous?”

I know what he’s really asking. Have I found all my mates?

Another waft of chocolate reaches my nose, and I jerk my attention to a rundown building on my right that’s leaning to one side. Again, the only thing waiting for me is shadows, and I frown. “I don’t know...maybe?” Before we’d found Dante, I was so sure I had more mates out there, but now all I can think about is the fact that the assassin still hasn’t joined our group. The next logical thing to do is for us to all try and bond, and after my recent encounter with Dante, I’m feeling more hopeful that my mates will survive it. But going by Prince Callan’s hard expression, I don’t think he’s come around to the idea of bonding just yet.

I’m still trying to decide whether I think I have found all my mates when a pool of darkness falls over us. I stop walking and crane my neck, peering up at the ancient temple now towering above us. The structure is crafted from white marble, its thick pillars charred and marked but still standing strong.

“Do you think King Dalton has left a nasty surprise in there?” Shade asks, hopping from one foot to the other on my shoulder.

“Dad wouldn’t have defiled their temple,” I reply, and it’s not until Nate looks at me strangely that I realize I’ve spoken out loud.

I clear my throat. “King Dalton might be ruthless, but he wouldn’t dishonor a sacred space. This is probably one of the few places we can be sure he hasn’t touched.”

“Well, that’s comfortin’” Nate responds sarcastically.

Ignoring him, I make my way up the cracked stone steps, striding between the central pillars and moving inside the structure. My mates follow behind me, and my eyes widen as I take in the concave ceiling high above us. Whatever used to be painted there looks as if it has been scratched off with giant claws, the deep marks digging into the marble. In the left corner, I spot a small blue eye that was somehow missed.

“Well, that’s…unusual,” Prince Callan comments as he strolls past me, moving to one of the eight pedestals around the temple. A metal plaque with strange symbols is fixed to each base, but the writing is undecipherable. Piled above the pedestals are handfuls of black stones. There’s nothing else in the temple, and I walk closer to another one of the pedestals.

“Do you think these were for their eight gods?” I ask, eyeing the pedestal that’s cracked down the center almost as if it has been struck by lightning.

Nate searches the temple like he’s hunting for treasure, his keen gaze taking everything in.

“Or eight kings and queens,” Prince Callan suggests.

I think about the temples we have back in Seral. They’re built to honor Lady Fate, but I know the giants of Rostof worship their royals as if they’re gods.

“Maybe they worshipped animals?” Shade adds. “Just like the Egyptians worshipped cats.”

“Wait, they thought cats were gods?” I say aloud in confusion.

Prince Callan stares at me blankly. “What?”

“Oh, I was just thinking about something. I, uh, once read about humans worshipping cats. It’s nothing,” I blurt out.

“No, no, I like where this is goin’,” Nate says with a grin from a few paces away. Lifting his chin, he puffs out his chest like he’s imagining a statue of himself on one of the pedestals.

I roll my eyes. “Yeah, I don’t think the humans worshipped cat shifters,” I point out.

He shrugs. “What’s the difference?”

“Animals don’t talk as much, for one,” Prince Callan drawls. “Even Toralyn has domesticated cats, and I can attest that they’re far more agreeable to be around than shifters.”

Dante smirks, and I get the feeling he’s enjoying the strange dynamic between us way too much.

“Either way,” I say, “I think we can agree something terrible happened here.” I peer back at the scratched ceiling, and a heaviness settles onto my shoulders. “Shade, Seral could have been like this.”

She tucks her wings in tighter. “Why would the witches defile the temples if they were only after power?”

“No one knows what fully motivated the witches. For a long time, I thought we’d never find the truth, but now that we know some of the witches survived, maybe one day we’ll get to the bottom of it.” Stepping forward, I move closer to a pile of the black stones that are sitting atop one of the pedestals. A tiny patch of white is showing on one of them, and I pick up the stone and rub it with my thumb. To my surprise, the black smooths away revealing a glittering white crystal that sparkles and shines, resembling the stones we’ve seen embedded in the paintings around the city. Flecks of color appear in bursts, and I bring the crystal closer to my face.

Dante’s keen gaze is on me, but he doesn’t move from where he’s leaning against a pillar, watching silently.

“What is that?” Nate asks. Leaning down, he picks up a crystal from the same pile. Like the one I’m holding, it gleams when he cleans away the layer of black, and his gaze lights with curiosity.

“I think I’ll keep this for now. For, uh, studyin’ later,” he mutters and slides the crystal into his pocket.

I stare at the small bulge. “You’re going to steal from a temple?”

“Think of it as borrowin’,” he replies. “Who knows. You might thank me later.”

I give him an exasperated look. “If you say so.”

It’s daylight when we leave the temple, the weak sunlight streaming through the layer of clouds above and shining on the surrounding buildings. Aside from the crystals, there wasn’t anything in the temple to explain what had happened there, and I make a mental note to check it out again once this is all over and I return with my exploration party.

Prince Callan steps up to my side. “It’s too quiet,” he comments, his alert gaze scanning the street ahead. “By now I would have expected to find more alphas wandering the city confused and starved.”

“Or dead,” Nate adds.

Dante’s brows lower. “The other alphas didn’t get their hands on provisions?”

“You say that like you haven’t seen anyone else for days,” Prince Callan comments.

The demon shrugs. “The group of us woke up not far from each other around the park. Once we defeated the monsters at the fountains, well,” he smirks, “you saw what happened.”

“We saw somethin’ that’s for sure,” Nate mutters.

I frown at the empty buildings around us. Prince Callan isn’t wrong. There were hundreds of alphas at the ball, but we’ve hardly seen anyone. I stop walking, and my mates halt as well, each of them staring at me.

“I think we should head for the castle,” I say abruptly.

Nate raises a brow. “The castle?”

“It should only take the rest of the day to walk there,” I go on as I peer up at the ancient castle in the distance. Built atop a large hill in the north of the city, the crumbling towers of the castle are visible above the surrounding buildings, the blackened spires tall and imposing. It was probably magnificent once, a gigantic structure of stone and glass, but now it’s just as ruined as the rest of the city.

“Every time I’ve visited Perstalia in the past, King Dalton created a gateway in the castle. That way we could step straight from Seral, and attend whatever conference was being held,” I explain. “So, I think it’s safe to assume that’s where he’ll arrive when he comes. Undoubtedly, he would find us no matter where we are in the city, but we may as well start making our way there.” I think of the enchanted gold ring that allows Dad to open gateways to different realms. Each of the rulers of the five allied realms own one, and when I ascend the throne, the ring will become mine. “At least when we’re back in Seral, the other alphas will be sent home.” If they’re alive, that is…

“I agree with the princess,” Prince Callan says. “We may as well head for the castle and see what happens.”

“And what if you haven’t found all your mates?” Dante questions me, his dark gaze sliding to my face.

“Then we keep searching while we’re on the way,” I say with a tight smile.

Nate looks thoughtful, and his nostrils flare as he scents the air. “And what about our assassin friend?”

“What about him?” I ask.

Nate stares at me. “He’s out there watchin’ us. Do you want me to hunt him down?”

My lips quirk into a smile. “Let him follow. He’ll come out eventually.”

“Yeah, but it doesn’t mean he won’t try to kill us first,” Nate mutters.

“He won’t,” I counter. “Not now that he knows we’re fated.” I pause and tap my finger on my lip. “At least…I don’t think he would.”

When no one else objects, we start moving again, traveling the winding streets. I’m busy staring at a faded painting that’s on the road when Nate lifts his arm, stopping me from taking another step.

His body stiffens. “You smell that?”

Lifting my head, I turn my attention to the end of the street. Prince Callan flicks his wrist, sending a gust of wind rushing toward us, and a distinct coppery scent reaches my nose.

“Blood,” I say, drawing my sword.

“Freshly spilled,” Nate adds, striding ahead of me.

We turn right onto the next street, and I slow my steps when I spot the carnage up ahead.

“I count six bodies,” Shade comments grimly as we get closer.

Nate growls, but he doesn’t identify any of the shifters, and we keep moving.

There are more bodies down the next street, and my expression hardens when I stop near the bodies of four broken alphas.

“Demons,” Dante says, looking over them.

“Look at how their horns have been harvested,” I comment to Shade, my heart rate picking up.

“Wait, Blake, you don’t think there are witches here, do you?”

My lips press together, and I share a tense look with Dante. We both knew these demons and the clans they belonged to. Fuck.

“Guess they didn’t make it to that park you were all at,” Prince Callan says to Dante.

Nate squats down to check on a body that’s crumpled near the side of a building in a pool of blood. “Still warm. Whoever did this, they can’t be far.”

It’s all I need to hear.

Gripping my sword tighter, I flap my wings and launch into the air.

“What are you doing?” Shade asks as she flies from my shoulder, pushed away by the force of the wind.

Dante calls after me, but all I can focus on is the ringing in my ears and my pounding heart. No demon has had their horns harvested since the witches were defeated, and these alphas were here because of me.

Beating my wings, I fly above the houses, scanning the nearby streets. Prince Callan and Shade follow after me, and I hear Nate’s roar from somewhere below. Dante is probably not far behind either. A small part of me knows we shouldn’t have split up, but I can’t let the witches get away. If they’re here, I need to keep one alive for questioning, but the rest will die by my blade. They roamed this land once, destroying everything in their path, and I’m not willing to let the demons be next.

I fly faster, the wind whistling in my ears as I frantically search every shadow and movement below, but all I see is more scattered bodies. A trail of dead alphas leads me further into the city, and they’re not all demons and shifters. There are archangels and water monsters, too, and I clench my jaw, fury swelling in my chest.

The cool metal of my hilt bites into my palm, and surprise mixes with my anger when I spot three alphas walking the street below. They’re not witches. They’re giants. Blood drips from the two-sided axes resting on their massive shoulders, and the demon horns hanging from their belts. I land silently on the street behind them, and Prince Callan drops down next to me soon after. Shade stays in the air, circling from above like she’s letting the others know where we are.

“You sure this is a good idea, Drax?” the voice of one of the giants rumbles down the street. “These are dangerous folk we’re messin’ with.”

There’s a grunt of agreement, and another alpha responds. “The demon king likes to play games, but for once, he’s gotten more than he bargained for. I’m just glad the tip off we received about the king’s plans turned out to be accurate.”

Tip off? My blood chills.

“They knew we were going to get sent here,” I mutter under my breath in disbelief.

Prince Callan draws his sword, his face a mask of casual indifference. “How fortunate for them. Now, who gets to take the extra one. You or me?”

I adjust my grip on my sword. Before I can answer, Nate bounds onto the street in his shifted form and pads up beside us. His gaze focuses on the giants up ahead as the three of them turn toward us.

“Well, I guess we get one each then,” Prince Callan amends like he’s disappointed.

“Ah, Princess Blake, you’ve finally found us,” Drax, the giant in the middle of the trio says. Now that he’s facing me, I instantly recognize that he’s the same giant Prince Callan toyed with in the ballroom. Drax smiles cruelly when he spots the archangel. “And I see you have company.”

“Sorry to keep you waiting,” I say, my voice dripping with sarcasm. “Had I known you’d throw a temper tantrum until you had my attention, I’d have come sooner. Though, I must say, if we’re fated mates I think I might have to cut out my own eyes.”

Drax scowls. “That’s big talk for someone in your position.”

Prince Callan strokes his chin. “And what position would that be?”

“The position of someone who’s about to lose a kingdom and witness the downfall of the demons,” the giant on the right laughs, and Drax shoots him a stern look.

Nate starts to pace, and the churning in my stomach intensifies. “What are you talking about?”

Drax’s smile grows wider. “Yeah, I suspect you have no idea what’s goin’ on, do you, your highness? All you need to know is that you won’t need to worry about becomin’ queen of Seral. Arrangements ’ave already been made.”

The giant on his right laughs again, and as if on cue, the other giant who’s been silent this whole time lifts his hand and brings a small, tubed instrument to his mouth. I frown. No, it’s not an instrument… “Stop!” I shout as Nate and Prince Callan launch forward.

My warning comes too late, and Nate growls as a dart sinks into his chest. Prince Callan deflects a dart aimed at his face, but another strikes his arm.

The wind whips around us as Prince Callan tries to use his power, but it dies off quickly as the archangel staggers and then collapses to the ground. Nate keeps trying to run toward the giants, but his legs buckle and his chin slams to the stones beneath his paws.

I narrow my eyes at the giants, but my vision starts to blur. Peering down, I blink at the dart that’s now protruding from my lower leg. I hadn’t even felt it.

“I’m coming!” Shade’s distressed voice fills my mind, and she swoops down, her claws closing around the small, tubed weapon. Before she can fly off, the giant holding the weapon swats at her. She lets out a pained squawk, and I hear a thud.

“No!” I stumble forward, trying to clear my vision, but I can feel the poison polluting my bloodstream and weakening me. My body tingles as it tries to heal, but it’s not fast enough to beat the poison.

“What’d I say?” Drax chuckles to his friends. “It can’t get easier than this.”

As they stride closer, I prepare myself to fight. Anger flows through me, but I can hardly lift my arms, and the sword slips from my grasp. “What have you done?” I slur as the three giants seem to multiply until there’s an army of them in front of me. My teeth begin to chatter, and a blow comes from my left driving me to my knees. For the first time in a long while, fear trickles through me. Fear for Shade. And for my mates.

Before the giant on the right can strike me again, a fist smashes through his ribcage from behind, and splotches of red coat Dante’s body. Dante wrenches his arm back out and the giant falls to the ground, but Drax’s ax slams into the demon’s chest. I don’t see what happens next through the spots of black clouding my vision, but I hear Dante’s body fall.

“No,” I breathe.

“Oh, don’t worry, your highness, you won’t need them where you’re goin’,” Drax mocks by my ear, and his stench of rotting flesh makes me gag. Focusing on the sound of his voice, I take a second to judge the distance before smashing my head into his. Pain shoots through my skull, stars bursting behind my eyes, but I smile when he lets out a stream of curses.

“Rostof will pay for this,” I tell him, smiling even though I can no longer see at all. “The giants won’t get Seral.” I knew negotiations between our realms weren’t going well, but I hadn’t expected them to resort to this.

There’s a moment of silence, and then Drax lets out a braying laugh. “What makes you think we’re doin’ this for the giants?”

My mind spins, and my heart stutters when I remember the horns hanging from their belts. “The witches,” I hiss. “Why would you side with them?”

“It was an easy deal to make,” he replies smugly. “They care about the power and energy they can take from you demons. They don’t care about ruling the kingdom and owning the land.”

“So they promised you Seral?” I say like he’s an idiot. “And you believed that?”

A fist slams into my jaw, and I spit out the blood pooling in my mouth.

“Good thing they came to me, too,” he snarls. “Because right now I’m the only one who has you. You should be thankin’ your Lady Fate or whomever your god is that I’ve been instructed to keep you alive.”

I think about the stories I’ve heard about demons who were captured by the witches and experimented on. From what I’ve been told, the witches were trying to find a way to harvest our power without having to kill us, but as far as I’m aware no solution was found. And now they’re about to get another test subject.

“The only one I’ll be thanking is myself,” I reply dryly. “When I rid us of the witches once and for all.”

Drax only laughs again, and the next time a fist smashes against the side of my head, I detect the faint scent of mint and chocolate before I lose myself completely to the darkness.