Page 147 of Shrouded in the Dark
It was the right move. If anyone would make sure my stepdad and Wyn were safe, it was Seth. We moved off to the side as the resistance continued to speak amongst themselves.
“You two better come back unharmed.” I glanced between Wyn and Seth. “If you get hurt, you’re both grounded.”
The guys all chuckled at that. They thought I was joking. Seth stepped forward, wrapping his arms around my waist as he pulled me against him. My hands rested on his chest as I looked up at him.
“We’ll get in and out quickly. We got this, baby.” His azure eyes were bright against the dark. “Trust in us.” He kissed me gently, offering comfort and a promise.
Wyn was next after Seth let me up for air. He went to the others as Wyn held me. He was like a rock wall. No emotion showed on his face.
“I’ll take care of both of them.” He brushed our mouths together gently. “No grounding.”
“Alright,” a loud voice rang out, garnering everyone’s attention. Abram, wearing full body armor, stepped forward. “Groups one through three, we’re moving out.” He glanced at Tarragon. “On your mark, we’ll begin.”
Gary walked over to us, gave me a tight hug, before he led Seth and Wyn off to join the second group. My mates gave us reassuring smiles before following him. It felt like my throat was closing. My animal was just as worried as I was, which meant she was having a hard time helping me cope with my anxiety.
Axel came up behind me, resting his hands on my shoulders. “They got this.”
I covered his hands with mine as we watched the groups of people moving into the night. Volinda, wearing the most outrageous black dress that was actually a ball gown, was speaking with a few people off to the side of Tarragon.
Who wore a ball gown to a fight?
Jasper and Cody appeared on my sides. They didn’t touch me, but their presence helped ease my anxiety slightly.
Twenty minutes passed in silence when Tarragon stepped forward, away from Volinda. “The time is now.” He raised his arms over his head.
Just like that, the dark energy that had been around him during the meeting suddenly warped around him. What looked like tentacles whipped around as the wind picked up around him. The Fae’s hair lifted as his eyes bled white. His palms turned a sickly green as he began speaking a language that hurt my head. The sound felt slimy as my ears throbbed.
Axel’s hands tightened on my shoulders and he pulled me behind him as Tarragon’s voice raised. The magic that was building pressed around us like a heavy weight. I started to feel a little woozy. When Tarragon shot his hand forward, facing the compound, the black tentacle-things whipped out, rushing toward the area like a tidal wave. As they rushed past us, the heavy weight lifted and my ears popped, still leaving that sick feeling behind.
So that was a curse. I was glad it hadn't been aimed at us because just being near it was making me feel weak. My animal suddenly stood at attention, bringing my focus toward the compound that was less than a mile away. An explosion rocked the night. If my mates hadn’t been there, I know I would have fallen from the force of it.
“What the hell?” I could barely hear Cody as more explosions rang out around us.
I whipped my head around to look at Tarragon. He was laughing. The energy around him started to build again. Volinda, with the remaining resistance members, surrounded him as she demanded an explanation.
“Did you really think that we’d just let these vermin off with a little curse?” Tarragon’s voice rang clear as he eyed the resistance members. “Getting rid of your little group in the process is a bonus.” He turned his face to look at us. “It’s too bad about the tiger. I would have liked to add him to my collection.”
* * *
Seth
“Something doesn’t feel right.” Keeping my voice as soft as possible, I looked at Wyn as we waited in the shadows outside of the first wall, near the gate, that surrounded the compound.
“I don’t trust the Fae.” My hybrid pack member looked up at the ten foot wall.
“As you shouldn’t.” The vampire leader popped up next to me. If I hadn’t been alert, I would have taken his face off with my claws. He smirked, clearly aware of my thoughts. “I fully expect a betrayal. That’s why I had Gary give you two those pendants that you put on. They’re made of iron. All of the people in the attack groups have them on. It won’t offer a hundred percent of protection, but it should help in case our Fae friend decides to try something.”
I looked down at the round necklace that Becca’s stepfather had handed to me as we’d begun the walk here.
“Did Becca get one of these?” Wyn looked at Gary. “She and the others are the ones still with him.”
“No, we couldn’t give those in his vicinity one without risking his notice.” Gary glanced at this watch. “Don’t worry. Volinda has sworn to protect your mates with her life. It’s time.”
I bit my tongue in annoyance. At least they’d kept the necromancer with the Fae to watch his movements. I still didn’t like it.
A gust of wind rocked against us. It was so strong that Gary stumbled. Lario held onto his arm to make sure he didn’t fall as magic began to surround the area. My tiger growled, preparing for a fight. Something was coming and it wasn’t friendly.
“He’s released the curse.” The vampire kept his cool as we all looked back to where we’d come from. “And something else.” His body jerked as if sensing something I couldn’t, and pushed Gary to the ground. “Get down!” He didn’t bother keeping his voice down as he screamed for his people to drop.
