Page 160 of Queen of the Crimson Throne

Declan split us up into two groups, Luka, Declan, Nico, Luciana, Caspian, Zienna, and I along with the Aquatic Kings and a handful of others would take off toward the city. Arlo, along with the rest who had volunteered would remain at the palace, defending against anything else that might breach the walls.

“We will protect your palace, Your Majesty,” Arlo said as Declan finished dividing the group.

“Thank you,” I told him, and I meant it. “Thank all of you for being willing to help protect my people.” Luka took my hand and squeezed it. “I love Lethenia, but as I’m sure you all understand, the people of Alethens, this is my home. These people mean so much to me. Thank you for helping protect them.”

“For Alethens.” Ceto stepped forward, raising his trident.

“For Alethens,” Alon repeated, echoing Ceto’s movement.

All throughout the room people raised their weapons and chanted.

“Lennox, are you ready?” Declan asked as I continued toscan the room, marveling at the support of the people around me.

“Yeah.” I took one last look at the people volunteering to protect my city. “Let’s go.”

62

LENNOX

We saddled our horses and took off towards the city. Declan led the charge on his black steed, the rest of us trailing behind him as we whipped through the woods.

My head snapped to the left as a roar broke through the stomping of hooves. Before I could shout out a warning, the Dhampir came crashing through the woods. I called Odin to a stop, clamping my thighs tight around him as his front legs reared off the ground to avoid the Dhampir.

The Dhampir in front of us pivoted, leaping over Caspian’s horse, swiping at the duke with his claws and slamming him to the ground. Caspian’s horse reared back before taking off into the dark woods. Red blood seeped through the duke’s clothes where the Dhampir’s claws had met their mark. He lay motionless on the ground gasping for breath.

Yells rang out from the group ahead of me, I couldn’t see too far in the darkness, but the growls reverberating through the air told me enough.

“Odin stay!” I leapt from my horse, sword in hand as I ran toward Caspian. The beast’s teeth ripped through his leg with its back to me.

I wasted no time burying my sword in the Dhampir’s back.

Its shriek echoed in my ears as its claws clamored for the sword, attempting to pull the steel from its chest. Had I missed its heart? I removed my sword as the Dhampir continued to shriek, its red eyes burning. Before I could strike, the Dhampir ran toward me. I stumbled back, my foot catching on a rock.

I landed on the forest floor with a grunt, a curse slipping from my lips as the Dhampir leapt for me. I gripped my sword in my hand as I rolled out of its path, moving to stand before the Dhampir could track where I had gone.

It turned toward me, a growl slipping from its unnatural jaw as it swiped out with its claws. Blood was seeping from the wound I had inflicted on its chest, but it didn’t appear to be slowing. The other Dhampirs we had encountered died easily, this one was a different story.

A chill found its way down its spine.

Was whoever was creating these abominations making them stronger somehow?

I blocked the Dhampir’s claws, the sound of their scratch against the steel of my blade causing me to wince. I swiveled, the Dhampir following me as I danced around it, paying no attention to the person approaching from behind.

Luka’s sword was cutting across its neck before the Dhampir could even turn.

The Dhampir’s severed head fell to the ground with a sickening thud.

“The only way to kill them is to behead them,” Luka panted.

“Fuck!” I scanned the woods around us, bringing a ball of fire to my palms as I scanned for the rest of our group. Decapitating these beasts was a lot harder task than a sword to the chest. Dozens of Dhampirs swarmed the woods.

Nico was in his wolf form, as was Zienna, her coat the same dark chestnut as her hair. The two worked back to back, ripping the heads from the Dhampirs as they came for them in a constant stream.

Declan stood alone, piles of dead Dhampirs surrounding him as he pressed his boot into a still-living Dhampir’s chest before thrusting his sword through the beast’s neck.

Where was everyone else? My gaze landed on the Aquatic Kings fighting side by side, Ceto’s hand was pressed to his side, as he struggled to fight one-handed, Alon kept one eye on him as he continued to keep a Dhampir at bay.

Behind them, laid two mutilated fae bodies.

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