Chapter 23

ANA

Clad in the flimsy silk once again, Ana ditched the glittering trinkets. Leaving the cave, she guided Quinn to his sword. Stone juguais, once terrifying, now served as perches for chirping red birds and a startled lizard. Nature had reclaimed its dominion.

"You truly are extraordinary." His eyes gleamed with pride as he leaned in to kiss her. "How did you accomplish this?" He snapped off a petrified hair.

Ana retrieved her phone from the grass. "With this." She held it up.

He tilted his head and poked it with his finger. "Is it magic?"

"No." She giggled. "Science, not magic." A pang of nostalgia hit her. "A relic from a different life."

"Is this your current life?" he asked, cupping her cheeks.

She nodded, then a passionate kiss stole her breath. When he pulled away, his gaze burned with desire.

"We need to return," he said, his voice filled with regret and promise. "We can continue this in the comfort of our home."

"I like the sound of that." She smiled and looked at the debris from her house. "But I would like to come back and try to salvage some of my stuff… my memories" She paused, gripping her phone. "I think I'm going to keep this. It's dead. But I'm feeling sentimental."

"It was alive?" He scratched his head. "Did it take its last breath in the battle against the juguais?"

Ana chuckled. "Not quite. It held energy… light. A charger could bring it back." She furrowed her brow. "But it shouldn't have worked. It couldn't of had any battery left." Weird.

His eyes narrowed. "Interesting tool." He took her hand. "Ready to fly? My father awaits. Our bond will please him."

A flicker of unease crossed Ana. Being presented as a trophy wasn't appealing. She chewed her lip—the whole sexual scent-detection was unsettling enough.

"Forgive me." Quinn kissed her palm, then pulled her into his hug. "I didn't mean to upset you. At times, I forget you're not of here. We can see my father when you're ready."

Relief washed over her. "Thank you." She met his kiss, genuine warmth blooming in her chest.

They launched into the sky, wings a blur of coordinated beats. Exhilaration rocketed through Ana as the world unfolded beneath her: a gurgling stream, vibrant forests teeming with life, and creatures grazing. The wind whipped through her hair, a cool caress against her heated skin. Each powerful stroke fueled a surge of pure joy. This, soaring beside the one she loved, felt right.

Suddenly, Quinn halted her. A gargoyle soldier with midnight black hair and piercing blue eyes blocked their path. High above the ground, they hovered, the castle a hazy silhouette in the distance.

"My lord, you can't go home." The warrior held up his hands. "And you need to get grounded, now."

Quinn, concern etching his features, nodded, and they descended. Ana, stumbling slightly as her feet met the earth, found herself caught in his secure embrace.

"What's happened, Luke?" Quinn's voice held worry as the soldier landed and kneeled. Ana recognized him—the skillful warrior from the tournament.

Two more soldiers joined them, swords strapped to their backs. One possessed vibrant green eyes and flowing brown hair, and the other had fiery red locks and hazel eyes. A flute dangled from his belt. Both knelt before Quinn.

"Stand," Quinn gestured with a flick of his hand.

Recognition dawned on Ana. "Zach! Sebastian!" she cried, rushing to hug them. However, they tensed in her grip.

Luke cleared his throat. "Feeling excluded here. Doesn't the most handsome and talented soldier deserve a greeting?"

Quinn growled. The atmosphere thickened as Sebastian and Zack sniffed the air, their eyes widening in alarm. They dropped to their knees before Ana.

Luke turned toward the other two soldiers with a puzzled look. After a sharp inhale, his nostrils flared, and he fell to his knees. "My queen."

She raised an eyebrow. "What?"

Quinn stepped next to her. "Why did you call her your queen? She is your princess."

Luke rose, jaw clenched. He offered Quinn a brief, tense bow. With another deep breath, another flare of nostrils, he gawked at both Ana and Quinn. "My apologies, my lord. I … didn't scent… your mating bond."

"Sire, we need to get to safety," Zach interjected, his tone urgent. He glanced at the sky, worry etched on his face.

"Explain yourselves," Quinn growled, frustration and fear warring in his eyes.

"My lord," Luke insisted, his voice tight, "we need to hide first. There's much to tell you, and we can't risk being seen."

Nodding curtly, Quinn's brow furrowed. The group dashed under a nearby canopy; the rustling leaves offering a fleeting sanctuary. All three soldiers dropped to their knees again.

Quinn's grip tightened on Luke's arm, hauling him upright. "Tell me," he barked. "What happened?"

Luke, eyes downcast, responded, "My Lord, they've seized the castle. Your father … he fell defending it. You're king now."

Quinn stumbled back, Ana reaching out to steady him. "Who?" His gaze darted to each soldier. "Centaurs?"

Zach shook his head. "Gregor, Sire. He … attacked. Apologies; the king is dead by his brother's blade."

"Sire, Gregor has laid claim to your mate." Sebastian's eyes flickered to Ana. "He hunts you, King. We three are your only unshackled warriors."

Quinn's face hardened. "What of the soldiers who accompanied me to the village? "

"Captured. In the search for you."

A zephyr ruffled Quinn's hair. His pain was etched on his face. Their lips pressed tight, his jaw clenched. The weight of the news must have slammed into him like a juguai's fist. The prince she loved, now a king burdened with grief, a crown, and a kingdom in chaos.

Ana squeezed his hand, showing her support. He reciprocated, their eyes meeting for a fleeting moment. Then his gaze turned skyward, fury hardening his features.

"Rise." Quinn placed his hand on Luke's shoulder. "I'm glad you're all safe. What of my cousin, Daxos?"

"Alive, but hurt. Gregor holds him and others in the dungeons." Luke rose, followed by the others.

Quinn paced, leaves rustling under his feet. "Gregor's forces?"

"Fifty gargoyles," Sebastian answered, gripping his sword hilt. "Perhaps more."

"Further distressing news," Zach said grimly. "Dygo … he sided with them. We believe he sparked the attack."

Ana gasped, clutching her throat. "Dygo, a traitor?"

"Yes, he removed guards from your room," Zach confirmed.

Memories of Dygo as a caring figure flashed past. The betrayal stung.

"Did Guignol join them?" she asked.

"He is no traitor," Sebastian said. "He seeks forgiveness, regretting his actions, claiming Dygo manipulated him. The gothi deceived him about your loyalty, Sire, and fed him treacherous lies. He desires redemption and a place to fight at your side."

She hugged him. Quinn, stripped of his father, his home, and a friend, needed her.

A flicker of hope ignited in Quinn's eyes. He lifted his chin. "We won't hide. We avenge my father, rescue the captured, and take back my kingdom!"

QUINN

Quinn surveyed his loyal soldiers, their blades catching the sun's rays as they stood resolute. With a synchronized thud, they pounded their chests, a display of unwavering loyalty.

"Our lives are yours, Your Majesty," Zach declared, his voice echoing through the ranks. "We avenge the fallen!"

"For king and crown," Luke bellowed. "We fight to our last breath!"

Sebastian, however, cast a doubtful glance toward the distant fortress. "The castle is teeming with guards," he observed, his tone laced with concern. "Even with all of us…"

Luke rested a reassuring hand on Sebastian's shoulder. "True, even with my sword arm, we might not overcome them."

Quinn's face contorted with frustration, his claws raking through his hair. "There must be a way," he growled. "Gregor must not triumph."

Ana paced the clearing. She kneeled, gazing upon the vibrant mushrooms dotting the forest floor. "The gnomes," she suddenly exclaimed.

Luke snorted. "Gnomes? Those harmless tinkerers?"

Quinn raised an eyebrow. "They lack the skills for battle, my love."

Ana's cheeks flushed. "We're outnumbered, and you underestimate their potential." She stood again. "Is there a way to get to the gnomes beneath your castle?"

Quinn's expression shifted from surprise to contemplation. "You know of the gnome chambers?"

"Yes, I have my ways." She smiled.

Quinn protested, but Ana silenced him with a kiss. "Consider the hundreds of gnomes within your realm and those under Gregor's thumb. Together, they could turn the tide."

Quinn nodded slowly. "Like a pack of kabegar hunting their oversized quarry."

Sebastian's skepticism pierced the air as he unsheathed his sword, the steel blade glinting in the dim light. "Gnomes aren't warriors," he said, doubt tingeing his voice while his hands methodically polished the blade. "They lack a kabegar's venom."

"With those numbers, they don't need venom." She shook her head. "Plus, they love games, and they're masters with boomerangs, which they can use as weapons. And they can fly on their beetles."

Quinn turned to his men, and he commanded, "You heard your queen. We're besieged, and this is our sole strategy."

"Aye, Sire," Zach agreed.

Ana's vulnerability in this situation gnawed at him. The weight of her coming journey pressed heavily on Quinn. "The journey ahead is fraught with danger. Are you truly prepared for what lies ahead?"

Her smile, though faint, held a resolute spark. "I swore," she said, her voice unwavering, "to remain beside you."

"Your safety is my utmost priority." Quinn's worry deepened, etching lines on his forehead. "I can't bear the thought of anything happening to you."

Ana met his gaze, her own filled with fierce determination. "How am I safer away from you?" She placed a hand upon his cheek. "By your side is where I'm safest."

He sighed. "A fair point."

Luke suggested a division of tasks. "Some could liberate the gnomes, while others gather forces."

Quinn shook his head. "Without Orry, the gnomes' leader, they shall not rise with us."

Ana nodded. "They were terrified of your uncle."

"We make for my castle first," Quinn resolved, pointing upward.

Sebastian looked down the way, sheathing his sword. "We risk being spotted on the gnome paths."

Quinn set his jaw. "We shall move unseen, off the beaten path."

"Sebastian, can you stash this in your bag?" Ana held out her phone.

He nodded curtly, taking it without meeting her eyes.

"Where's Bo?" she asked. "He was so cute hiding in your hair before."

He hesitated. "I… sent him away. I needed to ensure his safety."

Quinn stepped forward. "We need to move."

Quinn plunged into the forest's maw, the towering trees forming a dense maze. Leaping over gnarled roots and logs, the forest became a blur of emerald. Branches tore at his skin, leaving angry red welts. The damp earth squelched underfoot, releasing the scent of decaying moss that mingled with pine in a suffocating embrace.

Sunlight filtered through in dappled patches, fleeting glimpses of the distant castle. Animals scattered with startled cries that echoed through the ancient trees.

An unsettling tension prickled the air, a shift that sent shivers down Quinn's spine.

"Look out," he barked, ducking beneath a glistening spiderweb that stretched like a deadly snare.

A massive spider descended on a silken thread, eight black eyes gleaming with malice. Its hairy mandibles clicked menacingly. Ana, catching up, shuddered.

They trudged deeper, through mud and sand, scaling rocks and navigating fallen trees. The atmosphere grew thick and humid as the landscape transformed. Large, yellow fungi dotted the forest floor, and ancient trees, taller and wider, seemed to swallow the path ahead—strands of blue moss draped from their dead branches.

The cacophony of animal cries ceased, replaced by a deafening silence. Mist intensified, creating a chilling pressure that limited their vision. A sense of being watched prickled his skin.

Quinn tensed and raised his sword defensively. Yet the sight ahead caused him to come to an abrupt halt, and Ana skidded into him. He caught her, briefly enveloping her in his warmth.

"No time for that!" Luke snapped. "Back up! It's the home of the leviathan."

A dark, obsidian pond blocked their path, the dense foliage making it impossible to discern its boundaries. Skeletons of various creatures lay scattered around, a stark reminder of mortality. Mammoth trees towered with broken limbs reaching toward the sky. Above, branches crisscrossed, creating pockets of dappled sunlight.

Quinn's gaze narrowed as he surveyed the ominous water before them, the stillness of the air amplifying Sebastian's cautionary words. "Stay back from the edge, my queen," he warned.

"What is a leviathan?" Ana searched for a glimpse of the creature.

"Leviathan? Imagine a nightmare given form. Picture an immense, shapeless creature with a pulsating head with large, yellow eyes, rows of razor-sharp teeth, and thick ebony tentacles," Sebastian said.

"We must avoid it," Quinn insisted. "A leviathan is no easy foe."

Luke's frustration was palpable. "But, Sire, time is of the essence. Gregor might find the gnomes or kill your captured soldiers." He peered through the canopy, the light casting a glow upon his face. "Can't we just fly over it?" he suggested, but Quinn's head shake was firm.

Sebastian's eyes were wide with fear. "Its tentacles will snatch you from the air," he said, his voice tinged with dread. "Its reach is vast."

Luke scoffed, crossing his arms. "Speak for yourself," he retorted, but Zach's sarcastic remark cut through the tension. "It'll pluck most of us out, but not the oh-so-mighty Luke."

"Naturally," Luke replied, smirking confidently.

Sebastian gestured to the crowded trees. "And we can't go around them. They're too dense."

Quinn's frown deepened, his jaw clenching. "When did this beast take up residence here? I don't recall it before."

"I don't know." Zach's eyes sparkled with a hint of excitement. "But a delicious feast it would make."

The stench of decay was overwhelming, and Quinn wrinkled his nose in disgust. The land, once fertile, now lay barren, save for a few resilient trees that stood out with their vibrant autumnal hues.

"The leviathan?" Ana held her nose."

"Yes." Zach nodded. "They are quite tasty despite that smell."

"We must backtrack," Quinn declared, his voice heavy with frustration. "Though it wastes precious time."

Ana's tone was hopeful. "Can't we paralyze it with our venom?"

Sebastian shook his head. "It is too large."

Zach's hand gripped his sword tighter. "With the beast's magic in its eyes, we could gain an advantage."

Quinn considered this, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "The time it takes wouldn't be worth it. We'll find another way."

In a heartbeat, the world turned to chaos. A violent yank tore Ana from her feet. Her scream, a high-pitched shriek, pierced the stillness as she was dragged mercilessly toward the inky pond. Quinn's heart thundered in his chest, a primal fear igniting his veins as he lunged forward. Mud splattered, churned up by Ana's desperate attempts to resist, her fingers clawing futilely at the earth. The pond's icy tendrils closed around her, muffling her cries, dragging her into its murky depths. She disappeared, the water's surface returning to a deceptive calm, leaving only the haunting ripples of a nightmare unfolding.