Chapter 21

A heavy silence followed the mention of Maci, crushing our tender moment. If she was here, in the Unseelie realm, she wouldn't be alone. No doubt she'd have an army of demons at her command, guarding the Archive of Shadows with ruthless efficiency.

I rubbed my forehead, a miserable sigh escaping my lips. "Tell Garrick we will be there shortly," I told the servant.

As the servant bowed and left the room, Justice came up behind me, his strong hands clasping my shoulders. "We'll find a way to defeat her," he assured me.

I placed my hand over his, drawing strength from his touch and the unwavering belief he had in us. "But at what cost?" I whispered.

Justice's grip tightened. His warmth seeped into my skin, chasing away the chill of fear. "This is Garrick's land," he reminded me. "He knows it better than Maci. We have the advantage of his knowledge and resources."

I nodded, trying to let his words sink in and push back the doubts. He was right. Garrick was the king of the Unseelie Realm and our ally. With his knowledge, we could obtain the secrets of the Archive of Shadows.

Yet, even with that advantage, I couldn't shake the feeling we were walking into a battle where the odds were stacked against us. Maci was a formidable foe, her power and cruelty legendary. And the Archive of Shadows, with its ancient secrets and dark magic, was a prize she would not relinquish easily.

I turned to face Justice, seeking the strength and comfort only he could provide. "Promise me," I whispered, my voice trembling. "Promise me that no matter what happens, we'll face it together. That we won't lose each other in the darkness."

Justice's gaze softened, his hand coming up to cup my cheek. His thumb brushed away the single tear that had escaped my eye. "I promise, Sawyer. We're in this together until the end. Nothing, not even Maci and her army, can tear us apart."

I leaned into his touch, savoring the feeling of his skin against mine. As long as I had Justice by my side, I could face anything, even the darkest of shadows.

With a deep breath, I pulled back, squaring my shoulders and steeling my resolve. "Let's go meet with Garrick." I flashed him an amusing smile. "First, you need to get dressed."

He tilted my chin up. "I fed on you, Sawyer. Are you sure you're up to this?"

I drew a deep breath, assessing my body's state. A wave of dizziness washed over me, and I reached out to steady myself against the wall. "I'm a little tired," I admitted, my voice sounding strained even to my own ears. "It feels like a slight hangover."

Justice's brow furrowed, his hand moving to support my elbow. "I'm so sorry, Sawyer. I shouldn't have taken so much. I let my hunger get the best of me."

I shook my head, immediately regretting the action as the room spun around me. "No, it's okay. I wanted you to feed. You needed it."

Despite my reassurance, I felt weakness in my limbs, the way my body seemed to be moving through molasses. It wasn't only the blood loss. It was the emotional toll of the intimate act, the way it had forged an even deeper connection between us.

I leaned into Justice, letting him support my weight. "I'll be fine," I insisted. "I just need a moment to catch my breath."

"Maybe we should wait," he suggested. "Give you some time to recover."

"No. We can't afford to wait. Maggie's life is at stake, and every minute we delay is another minute she's in Maci's clutches."

Justice searched me for any sign of hesitation or doubt. After finding none, he nodded. "Okay. But promise you'll tell me if it becomes too much. I won't risk losing you, Sawyer. Not for anything."

I managed a small smile, my heart swelling with love for this man who would move heaven and earth to keep me safe. "I promise. We're in this together, remember?"

He pressed a gentle kiss to my forehead. "Together," he echoed.

I straightened my spine, pushing past the weakness that threatened to overtake me. Hand in hand, Justice and I exited the room, ready to face whatever depressing news Garrick had in store for us.

He sat on his throne, his grip on the armrests so tight that his knuckles had turned white. Despite his tense posture, he held his head high, a king struggling to maintain his composure. "Maci has her." His strained voice shook with barely contained anger.

My heart broke for him, understanding the depth of his pain. "Maggie?"

Garrick scrubbed his face, the weight of his worry etched into his features. "According to my scout, she has them in cages. Shadow wolves and shifters don't do well in confinement. It drives them mad."

Justice glanced at me, a silent exchange passing between us before he turned back to the king. "We'll free her, Garrick," he assured.

"I can't lose her," Garrick's voice nearly broke under the strain of his emotions. "She's to be my queen."

"If Maci knows this, she'll want to manipulate you. It's the only thing that makes sense," I pointed out, my mind racing with the implications.

"I agree," Justice chimed in, his tactical mind already at work. "Maci's a master manipulator, and she'll threaten to kill Maggie to keep you from rising against her."

A spark of hope flickered inside my chest. "That means she's scared. It might give us an advantage," I suggested.

Determination flickered in Garrick's eyes, the fire of a king ready to fight for his love. "I won't risk her life," he declared.

Justice squared his shoulders. "You won't have to. We'll get her back," he promised.

I nodded, stepping forward to stand beside Justice, a united front against the darkness. "We'll find a way, Garrick. Maci may be powerful, but she's not invincible. Together, we can outsmart her and bring Maggie home."

Garrick's eyes softened. "Thank you," he whispered. "I couldn't do this alone." He turned to face his men. "Guard the castle and shoot at anything that comes near."

A guard unleashed his sword. "We'll keep Angarth Stronghold secure, sire."

Once more, I prepared for our journey to the Veil of Shadows. I had my bow and the only two men I trusted in this dreary land. Garrick might love this place, but I was counting the minutes until I got back to Edinburgh.

Justice insisted I eat something before we departed. Garrick had ordered three backpacks filled with meats, cheese, and fruits. Before we left, Justice insisted I eat a sandwich. I didn't think I was hungry, but I was wrong. I devoured the sandwich as we left Angarth Stronghold.

"The Veil of Shadows is a day's walk from Angarth Stronghold," Garrick revealed as he led us across the drawbridge. "We probably won't make it there until dusk."

As we headed down the path away from the castle, Garrick and Justice walked on either side of me like I was a weak female who needed protecting. Usually, I would have countered this male chivalry, but I didn't argue this time. We didn't take the same path we had earlier. This time, we headed west toward a thick forest.

We walked in silence, except for my pounding heart, which I feared would alert the demons we were coming. As we approached the thick forest, a swirling mist skimmed the uneven ground. I thought about what might be hiding underneath the mist. Creepy-crawly things gave me the willies.

I glanced at the deep blue sky, where dark, angry-looking clouds concealed the sun's light. I hoped we wouldn't get rained on. The trees were like gnarled giants, their limbs contorting as if in agony. They clawed at the dark clouds, their silver leaves flickering with deceptive luminescence among the shadows.

I stumbled over tangled roots covered by a thick underbrush of dark, thorny plants and vines.

Justice caught my arm, practically lifting me into the air. "Careful, beautiful."

"Thanks," I mumbled as he placed me on stable ground.

I was glad he was with me, and I didn't have to fight in this place alone. Guilt swelled within me, knowing he'd been lost in this land while I was asleep in a nice comfy bed.

It wasn't only the foliage that daunted my spirits. A subtle, malevolent energy lingered, as if infused with the essence of the forest.

We reached a roaring black river that would be dangerous to cross. It was so dark it didn't reflect any light. Not even the sun glistened off the water.

Garrick walked along the bank. "This river is known as the Shadowmere Torrent. If you fall into the water, you'll lose your memory."

Unfortunately, I couldn't spot a bridge anywhere near us.

"Can't have that. I would never want to forget about you," Justice mumbled, but he wasn't looking at the river or Garrick. He was staring at me.

I scowled and gestured. "How are we going to cross this thing?"

Justice gave me a mysterious grin as he wrapped his arm around my waist. "You remember the Shadow Mines?"

I groaned. "Seriously?"

He winked as he wrapped his arms around my waist. "It's the only way." He flicked out his wings. "I'll return for you, Garrick."

"Can't hardly wait," Garrick intoned as he folded his arms.

Justice's arms tightened around me as he launched us into the sky, the sudden rush of wind whipping through my hair and stealing my breath. I clung to him, my heart lodged in my throat. It was like riding a rollercoaster, thrill and terror intertwined in a dizzying dance.

As we soared higher, the moisture in the air kissed my skin, leaving a trail of goosebumps in its wake. I inhaled deeply, filling my lungs with Justice's masculine scent that had become synonymous with safety, with home.

I risked a glance down. The ground fell away beneath us at an alarming rate. The river, once a formidable barrier, now looked like a thin black ribbon winding through the landscape. I felt a moment of vertigo, my stomach dropping as the reality of our height settled in.

Yet, as fear threatened to overtake me, I found solace in Justice's unwavering strength. His broad chest reminded me that he would never let me fall. In his arms, I was invincible.

He landed on the opposite side, and I sucked in a big breath of air.

"Stay here while I get Garrick."

He lunged into the air again, a magnificent dark angel flying toward the other side.

A twig snapped behind me, the sound echoing through the eerie stillness of the forest. In one fluid motion, I pulled an arrow from my quiver and nocked it into my bow, my heart thundering. I scanned the trees, straining to penetrate the dense foliage, searching for any sign of an adversary.

Phantasmal lights darted between the trees like restless ghosts, their ethereal glow casting shifting shadows across the forest floor. A shiver ran down my spine, a primal fear awakening within me. In this realm, where the veil between the living and the dead was thin, I couldn't be sure if these lights were illusions or something far more sinister.

I felt the weight of unseen eyes upon me, their malevolent gaze boring into my skin like hot coals. It was a sensation I had grown accustomed to in my battles against the supernatural, but it never failed to set my nerves on edge.

Goosebumps erupted across my flesh as I tightened my grip on my bow, the familiar texture of the wood grounding me in the present.

I forced myself to take a deep breath, the damp, earthy scent of the forest filling my lungs. I couldn't afford to let fear cloud my judgment. Not when the stakes were so high. Maggie's life and the fate of the realms depended on my ability to navigate this treacherous landscape and confront whatever horrors lay in wait.

As I stood there, poised for battle, my mind raced with the possibilities of what lurked beyond my sight.

Another snap rang out, this one closer than the last. The sound sent a jolt of fear through my body, and my muscles tensed in anticipation. I held my breath, straining to hear any other signs of movement, but the forest had fallen eerily silent. It was as if the air had stilled, holding its breath along with me.

Then, I felt it. A whisper of breath brushed over my skin, the sensation so faint that I almost believed I had imagined it. Deep down, I knew the truth. Only one creature I knew could move with such stealth, could hide in plain sight and strike without warning. A shadow dragon.

Maci was here, and I was alone.