Page 76 of The Fated and the Damned
My hands trembled, my chest constricting as I struggled to breathe, my forehead cold with sweat.
Because those were heads stuck on the pikes and, in the middle of them all, beside one blonde head with a sharp bob, was my mother’s.
I fell to my knees and rocked, my hands ripping at the hair on my scalp as I stared at what remained of my mother.
And I screamed.
And screamed.
And screamed.
THIRTY-FIVE
Dante
Kitarnifelltotheground beside me, inconsolable as she screamed until her voice went hoarse, her fingers wet with her own blood as I pulled them from her skull and lifted her into my arms.
“Shh. I’ve got you.” I held her close, stroking her hair, ignoring the chaos surrounding us. For those few moments, there was nothing but my wife and her pain—raw and utterly consuming.
Anger coursed through me, poisonous and crippling, but rather than give in I let it stoke my flames. They’d mutilated the whole diplomatic party and I looked at each face on those pikes—faces that belonged to soldiers, friends, and loyal allies.
Humans had done this. Humans so blinded by faith they’d revealed themselves to be true monsters born from fear. Nora had treated with them under a white flag and they’dmurderedher. Ignored the rules and mutilated her body. I would not stand for it.
We had lost our only parents.
The humans had lost their rights to mercy.
I cradled Kitarni in my arms, pressing a kiss to her bloodied brow. When her sobs quieted, she pulled back, a glazed, blank look in her eyes. “She’s gone,” she whispered, so quiet I almost didn’t catch it. “Her body is … she’s gone,” she repeated, almost like she couldn’t believe what she was seeing.
Her whole body shook as she tried to gasp down air and I rubbed her shoulders. “You’re in shock. Deep breaths, my love.” She did as I bade, her shoulders heaving until that golden breath filled her lungs. I sighed in relief, stroking her cheek with the pad of my thumb. “Make them pay, Kitarni. Make them suffer.”
Those hazel eyes hardened as she looked once more at the humans descending the hill. I knew she’d destroy them all to avenge her mother’s death. Iwantedher to. She set her jaw, rising to her feet and rolling her shoulders. I watched as she strode through the ranks to the rear end of the army.
When she reached the other side, she planted her feet in the ground and looked at Erika, the two of them speaking quickly before the latter conjured a platform of interwoven roots and vines from the earth. Kitarni stepped onto it and the damn thing lifted her into the air, suspending her over the oncoming army.
I didn’t go to her, try to hold her back or help. This was something she needed to do on her own. My hellcat was more powerful than any of us and that wasn’t even considering the crown. Sylvie was the only one who posed a real threat.
They were only a few hundred strong—no match for us normally, but with the losses we’d sustained, their presence could be troublesome. Being surrounded was the worst-case scenario, but if the castle gates held strong, Mistvellen would be safe.
Kitarni raised her hands and the very air seemed to hold its breath as all but the demons and the reanimated dead stopped fighting and looked to her—my blood witch, my queen.
Thunder rumbled in the skies and lightning lashed with forked tongues, the first drops of rain suddenly pattering down, tinkling on armour as the armies paused to see her might. Red exploded out of her hands and my gaze flicked to the humans quivering in their damn boots and painting the sign of the cross across their small-minded heads.
The humans? Nothing but fodder for Kitarni’s beast to feed on.
Something inside me shivered, demanding I head towards her and I obeyed without hesitation, breaking through the lines hurriedly to reach my girl.
Her power washed over them in a cloud of red so mighty it blocked out all else. When it passed, dust scattered and their weapons and armour tumbled to the earth, forgotten, never to be held by human hands again.
Hadur’s. Fucking. Blade. Hundreds of humans gone, just like that. Whispers broke out among the soldiers, then our army cheered, chanting her name and pumping their fists into the air.
‘Wolfblood Witch’, they called her. My chest puffed with pride to hear their acceptance, their loyalty to this woman.
Kitarni stumbled and I sprinted as she dropped, holding out my arms and catching her before she could dash her skull on the dirt. She was out cold and I crouched, laying her head against my lap.
“Come back to me, Freckles. Don’t you dare give in yet.” Her eyelashes fluttered and I stroked her hair, whispering sweet nothings in her ear. She groaned, muttering something unintelligible, and I held her tighter, putting my ear to her lips. “What did you say?”
“I said you’re choking me. And not in a good way.” She half-smiled as her eyes snapped open and I laughed, kissing her deeply on the lips. By the gods, I’d take her right then and there if the world wasn’t watching. Maybe even then, but we had cultists to kill.
