Chapter 103

Caleb was in the thick of the chaos with me, my need for vengeance setting my blood aflame as I fought to bring down the monster that had murdered my parents, my pack, my family. I howled in fury, casting a blast of wooden spears away from me in a vortex of air, my earth-made weapons slamming into the towering creature and drawing more blood on its flesh.

Caleb raced around it, slicing his twin blades at every piece of skin he could reach, the hideous beast's horse-like legs suddenly giving out as it hit the ground with a tumultuous bang. My Moon Mate had come to me in my moment of need, fighting at my side like a rogue of death, and I found my heart strengthened by the closeness of him. Together, we would finish the beast who had taken my parents from me.

I aimed for the monster's head, casting an air shield around it and wrenching, tightening my hold on the air and pulling, pulling, pulling. A loud crack sounded and the beast's head was torn clean off, blood spilling out in torrents as its body crumpled to the earth.

I panted, healing the wounds I'd incurred as Caleb came running to join me, his gaze racing over me to check I was okay.

"One more," he exhaled, catching his breath. "We can do one more."

I nodded, my throat thick with bitterness at the fact that my pack hadn't defeated this fallen monster sooner. Perhaps if we'd shifted, used magic…

My eyes glazed, shock leaving me frozen, arms leaden. I felt my inner Wolf cub crawling away into the darkest, safest, numbest place it could find inside me, refusing to come out again. Caleb stepped closer, casting a wall of earth around us to keep us shielded from any oncoming attacks.

"Seth," he growled, gripping my arm. "You're so fucking strong. Don't let them break you now after everything."

He squeezed my arm, the warmth of him coaxing heat into my bones, awakening me once again. I exhaled, realising I'd been holding my breath, my chest tight with wrought emotion.

"Your pain is your greatest weapon," Caleb said darkly. "Wield it like a blade and cast your enemies from this world."

A snarl built in my throat, my pain turning to a bloody rage that demanded payment for what I'd suffered. What had been stolen from me.

Caleb dropped the earth shield and there beyond us was the hulking form of the final monster tearing through the heart of our army. Its body resembled a giant tree with no leaves upon its branches, its overly long arms metallic and covered in spines, and its head bird-like with serrated teeth in its pointed beak. It looked part Nymph, part Caucasian Eagle perhaps, but whatever it was, it was an unnatural horror that needed to be put in the ground.

"Together," I growled.

Our magic tore from each of us, coiling into one entity, the power of two Heirs, two mates bound together by the moon. Cinder, soil and sky. Fire, earth and air. Between us, we held three of the great Elements, and we were a force to be reckoned with.

Our power drove into the earth, making the ground rumble with an ominous promise, while a tornado began to form from the clouds above, my air magic ripe with violence. Caleb lit that vortex with flames, the towering inferno a thing of destructive beauty as it grew in size, gathering momentum and spinning its way towards the last monster. Its bird-like head twisted around, a horrid squawk breaking from its parted beak before the tornado of fire slammed into it.

The beast was thrown backwards and flames lit along its torso. Caleb made them take root, burning it faster while I controlled the earth beneath it, opening it up into a wide chasm.

The monster fell with a shriek, its metallic arms catching on the edge of the dirt and streams of our soldiers raced forward to stab and kick at its gnarled claws, forcing it to let go.

I gritted my teeth in concentration as I willed that earth to close, clogging dirt into its mouth, its ears, every orifice it could find while Caleb's fire drove deep into its chest.

The ground closed up and a roar of victory came from our forces, my heart lifting as I realised it was done. The monsters were gone; their reign of terror was over. And the closest legion looked to Caleb and I for direction, gathering around us with a glint of hope shining in their eyes.

"Follow the fire!" I bellowed, sending the tornado of flames into the nearest line of our enemies.

"Follow the fire!" the legion cried, letting Caleb and I move through their ranks to lead the next charge.

Adrenaline burned hot in my veins, and I fell into the mania of war, not letting my mind slip back to the pain, only focusing on the task that had to be completed. To finish every last one of the False King's warriors at the side of my Moon Mate and dress myself in their blood.